talkmagic.co.uk

I have been searching for and have failed to find a good magic wand that flashes. So I want to make one. I have no problem with constructing something but am completely ignorant about electronics.

What I want to create is a wand that I can make flash with a very bright light at the push of a button. Something as bright as a flash gun if possible. But of course the light source needs to be small.

I want a light, not flash cotton and I want to be able to repeat the flash.

Is there such a thing out there?

Im not really a big e0geek, but a simple cicuit with an led-buld would create quite a flash,
I have some ideas, ill get back to you.

Most electronic shops should be able to supply you with a small strobe light.

TheAlkhemist07 wrote:Im not really a big e0geek, but a simple cicuit with an led-buld would create quite a flash

If you half circuit the LED-light to something like a AA-battery with a push-button to circuit the other half, I think that would make a nice big flash.

We sell Harry Potter esq wands with a bright LED in ?

I'm not sure an LED bulb would cut the mustard for a 'shocking' flash.

If it's blinding white light, you could deconstruct a camera flash and whack it in. Beware—there's ballast and charging circuits which hold MEGA high voltage... even when switched off.

This way, the bulb's bright flash would come through a transparent white end cap.

The charging could be done via AAA batteries in the wand, and the wand would need to be at least AAA battery wide to house the charge circuit for the bulb.

You could do this by deconstructing a disposable camera... the £4.99 jobbies you get from Max Spielman etc.

There's a good article here:
http://members.misty.com/don/strobtop.html


I had a pet project to make a 'Distraction Deck' at NUMS, which involved putting a flash bulb inside a card case, and the disposable camera setup did the job nicely... but putting it into production would have been too much hassle!

seige wrote:I'm not sure an LED bulb would cut the mustard for a 'shocking' flash.

Just so you know, the bulb wouldn't determine the flash, it would be the amount of battery power in the wand.

I know, but most LED bulbs run at a set voltage, and even the 'superbright' ones may not produce the kind of room-filling flash required.

And LEDs are low voltage anyway... usually 3V at about 300mA for superbright ones. It's not how MANY batteries or what WATTAGE... it's all dependent on the LED itself (after all, it's a diode).

It never ceases to amaze me that members of this site have so much knowledge about such a diverse range of issues.

Thanks to everyone who has answered, keep them coming if there are any more ideas. Siege, thanks for the flash gun idea, I said I wanted a flash like a flash gun but deconstructing a camera never occurred to me! I will get my hands on a disposable today.

A mate of mine who's into photography asked his wife for a new flashgun for Christmas. She bought him a chromium plated revolver with jewel encrusted mother of pearl handgrips.....

Mandrake wrote:A mate of mine who's into photography asked his wife for a new flashgun for Christmas. She bought him a chromium plated revolver with jewel encrusted mother of pearl handgrips.....

I've got a ladder. It's not mine. It's my step ladder.

Anyway, how about using several Maplin's 3mm superbright Agilight LEDs set into the end of the wand and connected in series to soak up the current of an AAA 250mA/h NiCad?

The other problem with LEDs is that they are very directional - if you are right in front of them they will appear fairly bright, but a few degrees either way and they won't.

Is should be possible to make something using a 12v strobe tube, similar to those used in car timing lights, but I think for the best result a camera flash would be the best bet.

Tomo wrote:

Mandrake wrote:A mate of mine who's into photography asked his wife for a new flashgun for Christmas. She bought him a chromium plated revolver with jewel encrusted mother of pearl handgrips.....

I've got a ladder. It's not mine. It's my step ladder.

Anyway, how about using several Maplin's 3mm superbright Agilight LEDs set into the end of the wand and connected in series to soak up the current of an AAA 250mA/h NiCad?

LED's are more of a twinkle than a bright light. Which is why digital camera manufacturers are still using proper ballast backed flashbulbs.

Trouble is, you see, that the LED light is a) directional and b) contained.

In pure daylight, in a room, a camera flash will fill the room with super bright light. In contrast, an LED will only light itself with visible light, and radiant light is all but invisible.

LED technology is getting better (we've an LED specialist just round the corner, and I've had many an interesting discussion about LED home lighting, car bulbs etc.) but as of yet the actual visible light produced is very poor compared to standard filament bulbs.

In comparison, a camera flash bulb uses a stored charge from a very low power source. A charge circuit pumps a capacitor full of current/voltage until an adequate high charge is available for discharge in the bulb. Hence the wait between taking flash pics.