3 replies to this topic

[sebastianpatten]

I ultimately want to build a robotic snowblower. I have no electronics experience nor any netduino experience. This question may sound awfully basic, but id appreciate any high level/general input. For the first step towards this project I want to take is to make a flashing light - much like the one on a police car. I was just trying to visualize what would roughly have to happen. Now I would assume this flashing light that I will buy will be a higher voltage/amperage, but I want it to be controlled by netduino. How do you go about either stepping up the power to the light or stepping down the power to the netduino board? Assuming they are different power requirements. Thanks!

[Omar (OZ)]

I ultimately want to build a robotic snowblower. I have no electronics experience nor any netduino experience. This question may sound awfully basic, but id appreciate any high level/general input.

For the first step towards this project I want to take is to make a flashing light - much like the one on a police car. I was just trying to visualize what would roughly have to happen.

Now I would assume this flashing light that I will buy will be a higher voltage/amperage, but I want it to be controlled by netduino. How do you go about either stepping up the power to the light or stepping down the power to the netduino board? Assuming they are different power requirements.

Thanks!

I think you can get some VERY high power LEDs to use. Look into NPN Transistors for supplying external power to the LEDs.

Here is schematic for the arduino, but it should work the same with the netduino: http://www.arduino.c...tiple_leds2.jpg .... but remember if you want to power lots of them you'll need to use an external power source.

[sebastianpatten]

Thanks I'll try to make sense of that I was thinking of just buying one of those flashing lights and wiring it up, but a high power led could be fun

[CW2]

I was thinking of just buying one of those flashing lights and wiring it up

Make sure you get the right 'flashing light', most beacons are mechanical, i.e. there is a reflector rotating around the light source