Hello,
I am a relative newbie, I would like to use a 555 timer to alternate two blinking LED's, this diagram works for low amp LED's, but I would like to power two 12v - 30w - 2 amp, LED's using the 555 timer and two Mosfets.

How would you add Mosfets to this diagram and have the alternating blink between the two high amp led's. I can only get them to blink at the same time using one N channel mosfet. I am assuming you would need two mosfets, not sure. Thanks for any help

 

Do you wish to use 2 NMOS or would you be ok with 1 NMOS and 1 PMOS?

What version of 555 are you using?

 

I am assuming you would need two mosfets, not sure.

Yup, you do.

 

LEDs, 555s, Flashers, and Light Chasers
Chapter 4....The 555 Integrated Circuit.

​

 

How would you add Mosfets to this diagram and have the alternating blink between the two high amp led's.

 

You may need a pullup on Q2 on the above circuit because when LEDs are not conducting, they are very high resistance.

It may work as shown, but I would not bet money on it.

 

You may need a pullup on Q2 on the above circuit because when LEDs are not conducting, they are very high resistance.

Agree.

 

Do you wish to use 2 NMOS or would you be ok with 1 NMOS and 1 PMOS?

What version of 555 are you using?

Bridgold 10pcs TLC555CP TLC555 TLC 555 TI Lin CMOS Timers IC Chip，DIP-8.

 

How much is "High-Amp" ?
Do the LEDs have built-in Current-Regulation ?
What is the Voltage and Current-Capacity of your Power-Supply ?, is it reasonably well regulated ?
Do the LEDs have a specific Voltage-Rating, or a wide range of acceptable Voltages ?
Do You want to be able to "Dim" the LEDs ?
Do You want to "Fade" between the LEDs ?, or have a "Hard-Switch" between them ?
What is the range of "Flash-Rates" that You would like ? ( Flashes per Second or Minute )
Does the Flash-Rate need to be adjustable ?
Does the Duty-Cycle need to be exactly 50% ?, does it need to be adjustable ?
.
.
.

 

View attachment 293440

Agree.
View attachment 293448

Thank you sghioto,
I connected the drain of Q1 to the gate of Q2 and it worked!
I did not use the R1 10k and it works anyway.
Please advise what is the purpose of R1 10k

 

How much is "High-Amp" ?
Do the LEDs have built-in Current-Regulation ?
What is the Voltage and Current-Capacity of your Power-Supply ?, is it reasonably well regulated ?
Do the LEDs have a specific Voltage-Rating, or a wide range of acceptable Voltages ?
Do You want to be able to "Dim" the LEDs ?
Do You want to "Fade" between the LEDs ?, or have a "Hard-Switch" between them ?
What is the range of "Flash-Rates" that You would like ? ( Flashes per Second or Minute )
Does the Flash-Rate need to be adjustable ?
Does the Duty-Cycle need to be exactly 50% ?, does it need to be adjustable ?
.
.
.

How much is "High-Amp" ? - 2a to 3a
Do the LEDs have built-in Current-Regulation ? - don't know
What is the Voltage and Current-Capacity of your Power-Supply ?, is it reasonably well regulated ? - 12v wall wart transformer
Do the LEDs have a specific Voltage-Rating, or a wide range of acceptable Voltages ? 12v
Do You want to be able to "Dim" the LEDs ? No
Do You want to "Fade" between the LEDs ?, or have a "Hard-Switch" between them ? No
What is the range of "Flash-Rates" that You would like ? ( Flashes per Second or Minute ) per second
Does the Flash-Rate need to be adjustable ? No
Does the Duty-Cycle need to be exactly 50% ?, does it need to be adjustable ? Don't know

This circuit from sghioto seems to be doing the job, I didn't even use the R1 10k, Please explain what sghioto has in his circuit, why the R1 10k

Thank you for your help

 

The purpose of R1 is to turn Q2 off. Apparently, the LED bleeds away enough charge from the gate. R1 might make it turn off faster.

 

How much is "High-Amp" ? - 2a to 3a
Do the LEDs have built-in Current-Regulation ? - don't know
What is the Voltage and Current-Capacity of your Power-Supply ?, is it reasonably well regulated ? - 12v wall wart transformer
Do the LEDs have a specific Voltage-Rating, or a wide range of acceptable Voltages ? 12v
Do You want to be able to "Dim" the LEDs ? No
Do You want to "Fade" between the LEDs ?, or have a "Hard-Switch" between them ? No
What is the range of "Flash-Rates" that You would like ? ( Flashes per Second or Minute ) per second
Does the Flash-Rate need to be adjustable ? No
Does the Duty-Cycle need to be exactly 50% ?, does it need to be adjustable ? Don't know

This circuit from sghioto seems to be doing the job, I didn't even use the R1 10k, Please explain what sghioto has in his circuit, why the R1 10k

Thank you for your help

Spoke too soon the mosfets got hot and I was getting black outs then came back but in and out. Please advise

 

How much is "High-Amp" ? - 2a to 3a
Do the LEDs have built-in Current-Regulation ? - don't know
What is the Voltage and Current-Capacity of your Power-Supply ?, is it reasonably well regulated ? - 12v wall wart transformer
Do the LEDs have a specific Voltage-Rating, or a wide range of acceptable Voltages ? 12v
Do You want to be able to "Dim" the LEDs ? No
Do You want to "Fade" between the LEDs ?, or have a "Hard-Switch" between them ? No
What is the range of "Flash-Rates" that You would like ? ( Flashes per Second or Minute ) per second
Does the Flash-Rate need to be adjustable ? No
Does the Duty-Cycle need to be exactly 50% ?, does it need to be adjustable ? Don't know

This circuit from sghioto seems to be doing the job, I didn't even use the R1 10k, Please explain what sghioto has in his circuit, why the R1 10k

Thank you for your help

Spoke too soon the mosfets got super hot, and I was getting black-outs then came back but in and out. Please advise

 

Agree.
View attachment 293448

The circuit was working then the mosfets got super hot and circuit quit. Where does the pull up resistor go?

 

Agree.
View attachment 293448

I see the pull up is the 10k

 

The purpose of R1 is to turn Q2 off. Apparently, the LED bleeds away enough charge from the gate. R1 might make it turn off faster.

Actually, R1 is to help charge Q2s gate in case the LEDs go into high z before the gate charges.

It's Q1 that turns off Q2.

 

Agree.
View attachment 293448

Update, I did use the pull-up R1 10k and so far so good. Will keep you updated, thank you much sghioto

 

The purpose of R1 is to turn Q2 off. Apparently, the LED bleeds away enough charge from the gate. R1 might make it turn off faster.

Are you saying this "You may need a pullup on Q2 on the above circuit because when LEDs are not conducting, they are very high resistance."

 

Actually, R1 is to help charge Q2s gate in case the LEDs go into high z before the gate charges.

It's Q1 that turns off Q2.

Oh, right, don’t know what I was thinking.