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Connecting the N8014 Variable-rate Flasher

 

This flasher is part of a series that incorporates a state-of-the-art component which provides a constant 20 ma current source for LEDs connected to the flasher. This means any color 20 ma LEDs can be connected without the need of external current limiting resistors, multiple LEDs can be connected in series* and different colors of LEDs can be combined in the same series. All will operate at 20 ma and full brightness.

* A power supply of sufficient regulated DC voltage (not exceeding 16VDC) is required to support multiple LED in series. To determine power supply requirements, add all device voltages of the desired LED series together plus another 5 volts for the current source. This total is the minimum supply requirement and it must not exceed 16 VDC.

Connecting the N8014 Flasher:

Included with the flasher are two 6” lengths of #24 wire (red & black). If necessary, these can be used for connection to a regulated DC power source. The black wire should be soldered to the – DC connection (upper right corner of the flasher board—see Fig 1 below). The red is soldered to the +DC (upper left corner of the board) . If desired, the red can be wired through a switch to turn the flasher on and off.

An LED is connected to the flasher with the anode or + side of the LED wired to the A solder point on the flasher and the cathode or - side of the LED connected to the C solder point. If multiple LEDs are wired in series, the anode of the first LED in the string connects to “A” and the cathode of the last LED connects to C.

                            Figure 1

LEDs wired in series are always to be connected anode to cathode.

Do not connect anything to solder point B. This is used for a different version of the flasher circuit and is not functional with this N8014 Variable-rate Flasher.

Adjusting LED brightness

For certain applications it may be desirable to have the LED or LEDs connected to this flasher operate at less than full brightness (less than 20 ma current). If this is desired, solder a short piece of wire as a jumper (shown in red) between the two holes as indicated in Fig. 2 below.

                             Figure 2

 

 Next, solder pads are included on the back of the flasher board (on the backside of the C solder point) for placement of a resistor to compensate current source output down from 20 ma. Fig. 3 below shows a resistor placed on the C solder pads).

 

                            Figure 3

To calculate the resistor value, divide the LED device voltage by the milliamps (ma) you wish to reduce. This will give the value in ohms of the resistor (we recommend using a 1/4 watt resistor).

Example: Reduce the current output from 20 ma to 10 ma with a red LED having a device voltage of 1.7. Divide 1.7 by 0.010 (10 ma). The result equals 170. Use a 170 ohm resistor. To reduce current through a series of LEDs, add the device voltages in the series together then divide by the amount of ma current reduction.

A mounting hole is provided for a #4 or 4-40 screw for mounting the flasher. A small spacer or non-conducting washer should be placed on the underside so the back of the board is not in contact with a surface or object which might short-circuit the board.

 

Adjusting Flash Rate

This flasher circuit contains a precision variable resistor (small white square component in lower-right corner of board). This variable resistor has a slotted center that can easily be rotated using a small screwdriver or other flat-bladed tool. As received, the alignment of the slot should be roughly vertical (up and down, or 12 o'clock - 6 o'clock position). In this position, the flasher will have a flash-rate of approximately once per second. Turning the slot counter-clockwise (rotating to the left) will reduce the rate and in the full counter-clockwise position, will be approximately once every 3 seconds.

Turning the slot clockwise from the vertical position will increase the flash rate. The precision variable resistor is know as a taper type potentiometer. This means that as the flash rate increases, less and less rotation is required to continue increasing the rate. At very high flash rates (more than 10 times per second) very little rotational change is needed to further increase the rate. For nearly all modeling situations, this type of flash rate is way too fast to to be useful and in fact, we do not recommend rotating the slot past the point that flashing ceases to be obvious and appears to be "on all of the time". Not only is this rate useless for generating an effect, it causes the flasher circuit to "pulse" the on-board current source so fast that it can run quite hot.

 

Using DCC Track Power

 

While it is always preferable to use track power exclusively for things running on the track, there may be situations where it is necessary to tap into track power to drive various stationary devices. Should this be the case in a DCC environment, our Super Flashers can be powered from the track with the addition of two readily available components: a bridge rectifier (our N301S would work just fine), and a polarized (electrolytic) capacitor. Figure 4 below is schematic diagram of the connections required.

                                                    Figure 4

DCC track power is such that to devices requiring plain DC voltage, it looks like AC power. That is because voltage levels on each track go both + and –. The DCC decoders in locomotives “descramble” the track signals and provide correct polarity so their motors can function normally. What this small circuit is doing is running the DCC voltages through a bridge rectifier to “filter” the track voltages so that + DC is output on the bridge’s + terminal and –DC is output on the bridge’s – terminal. This DC signal is still a bit “bumpy” (not a smooth DC signal) so we add the capacitor to smooth it out. As a result, the voltage going into our flasher is smooth DC and the flasher works normally.

One caution: Make sure the DC voltage level at the output of the bridge rectifier does not exceed 16-volts or the Super Flasher will be damaged. Some DCC systems (typically larger scales) can produce voltage levels higher than 16-volts.

 

This completes connection of the N8014 flasher. We recommend a thorough re-inspection of all connections and placement of the flasher be performed prior to applying power .We hope you enjoy the added realism our flasher provides.

 

© 2008 Ngineering