If it was 20 years ago, I'd recommend a different method, but today, the way I would do it to to buy a PICAXE 08M2. It's an 8-pin chip, and you would need the chip, 3 resistors, and the LED. Plus, you would need a 5-volt power supply (3 AA batteries would do). There is free programming software that can be downloaded, and used to program the chip to flash the LED at just about any rate desired, from thousands of times per second, to a timespan so long, that the power supply is likely to fail before there is a second flash.I need some help from a pro. Is it possible to build a simple circuit to make an LED light flash once every 3 minutes?
On one occasion I used a blocking oscillator running on a single 1.5V cell to generate a bit more than 34V, that charged up a 47uF capacitor, when it got to about 32 - 34V a diac in series with an LED load triggered and dumped the charge in the capacitor.Thanks for the responses. The Led would only have to flash, not stay on for any prolonged time. The three minute interval is important but does not have to be millisecond accuracy. Within a couple of seconds would be fine. This project is for a missionary friend. I am somewhat of a novice working with circuits. I have a good working knowledge of electronic circuits but not done too many projects. I am actually a watchmaker with a hobbyists interest in electronics. Helps immensely with quartz watch circuitry.
If you need precise timing, the blocking oscillator/diac probably isn't for you.Thanks for all the help from you pros. As soon as I get a chance to figure out the schematics I will try one of the suggestions.
I like your help. What resistors would I need?If it was 20 years ago, I'd recommend a different method, but today, the way I would do it to to buy a PICAXE 08M2. It's an 8-pin chip, and you would need the chip, 3 resistors, and the LED. Plus, you would need a 5-volt power supply (3 AA batteries would do). There is free programming software that can be downloaded, and used to program the chip to flash the LED at just about any rate desired, from thousands of times per second, to a timespan so long, that the power supply is likely to fail before there is a second flash.
The PICAXE 08M2 is a microcontroller, it needs more than just resistors, it needs to be programmed.I like your help. What resistors would I need?
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