Hello everyone.
I'm attempting to build a variable rate 555 Timer, Astable multivibrator to switch a circuit on and off. I am running into trouble working through the theory here.
A little background. I have acquired some retired professional strobe lights from my theater group. The company no longer has whatever device was used to control them. The connection is a 3 pin XLR. Across pins 1 and 3 there is a voltage of 6vdc give or take. Shorting the two pins together makes a single strobe flash. Therefore I conclude that completing the circuit between the two is the trigger. From there I figure that an astable circuit with a potentiometer to control rate is the best bet to get this thing working.
My brain is breaking over whether it is possible to power the 555 circuit as well as switching the pins from the strobe supply voltage. So far I have got it to strobe super fast but with no control.
Is it possible to make this circuit work or do I need a separate power source for the 555 then switch the pins with a transistor?
I apologize if I am lacking a bit of basic knowledge base please try to help me fill out my understanding.
-Tom
PS, the circuit I'm trying to complete is the at this link. Replace the Buzzer with the strobe (pin 1 = red, pin 3 = black)
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/tim60.gif
I'm attempting to build a variable rate 555 Timer, Astable multivibrator to switch a circuit on and off. I am running into trouble working through the theory here.
A little background. I have acquired some retired professional strobe lights from my theater group. The company no longer has whatever device was used to control them. The connection is a 3 pin XLR. Across pins 1 and 3 there is a voltage of 6vdc give or take. Shorting the two pins together makes a single strobe flash. Therefore I conclude that completing the circuit between the two is the trigger. From there I figure that an astable circuit with a potentiometer to control rate is the best bet to get this thing working.
My brain is breaking over whether it is possible to power the 555 circuit as well as switching the pins from the strobe supply voltage. So far I have got it to strobe super fast but with no control.
Is it possible to make this circuit work or do I need a separate power source for the 555 then switch the pins with a transistor?
I apologize if I am lacking a bit of basic knowledge base please try to help me fill out my understanding.
-Tom
PS, the circuit I'm trying to complete is the at this link. Replace the Buzzer with the strobe (pin 1 = red, pin 3 = black)
http://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/waveforms/tim60.gif