Building chasing airport lights -- Attn: Jim Weir?

wrote in message
...
| C J Campbell wrote:
|
| "Tom Sixkiller" wrote in message
| ...
| |
| | Can someone have a seizure watching the wheels spin in the slot
machines?
|
| Do slot machines even have wheels any more? I don't know; I haven't
taken a
| close look at a slot machine in 20 years.
|
| Only on old machines, all the new ones are video displays, though it will
| be years before all the mechanical machines go away.
|
| The trend seems to be away from the classic 3 wheel machine to more
| interactive games.

That's what I thought. We were on the Maasdam in December and when strolling
through the casino it looked to me that all the slot machines were actually
some sort of card playing video game. Frankly, they look unbelievably boring
compared to a real game of cards.

I was basically thinking of that very circuit in a small PLD (you wield a hammer long
enough and everything starts to look like a nail). You also need at least an inverter to
realize a counter. For one light on at a time, which I think is what the 'rabbit' does,
you'd need a little bit more, especially if you wanted it to recover should it hiccup. A
johnson counter (last register output inverted and fed back to the first) would make the
all the lights go on in sequence before any started going off. So, to your timer and
shift registers, add a package with a gate. For the cost and circuit board complexity,
you'd probably come out ahead using a small PLD (there are several in the $1-2 range that
would suffice) , assuming you had a way to program it. You could also use a 4 bit
counter, timer and 16 line decoder (7493, 74154 and 555). 16 Leds is probaby enough for a
Rabbit, I think most only have about 10 strobes. I'd be tempted to use white LEDs.

In any event, since he was asking, I presumed that working with logic chips was probably
beyond his capability, so I was trying to come up with solutions that would not require
any logic design. (I guess that means a CPLD would be even further out of reach of
course).

If he could live with orange lights(or perhaps green if you can still find the green neon
lamps), you could also do it with NE-2 bulbs and resistor and capacitor for each bulb. It
is a ladder network of relaxation oscillators that depends on the neon lamp's high off
resistance and low on resistance to make it flash, and the ladder network makes them flash
in sequence.

Maurice Givens wrote:

Ray, I'm shocked!! 1 timer, 2 16-bit shift registers, and 32 LED's

Maurice

Ray Andraka wrote in message ...
Jay,

There are inexpensive christmas light sequencers available. They generally use
3 circuits with every third bulb on the same circuit. I had one a few years ago
that had a switch to select chase, random or all on, and a knob to vary the
rate. Cost no more than 3 or 4 bucks and came with the lights.

That is a little bit different than the rabbit, which has only one light on at a
time, so it may not achieve the effect you are looking for. A possible low
tech solution would be a motor driving a cam that closes a series of
microswitches in sequence...easy enough to produce by someone with a little bit
of mechanical talent and not much electrical know-how. A higher tech solution
would be to use electronics consisting of a programable logic device and a set
of solid state switches to switch the current. Could also be done with a
computer with a relay card plugged into it, but would need a little bit of
programming to make it work (such relay cards are available from electronics
firms like Jameco). The computer solution would be a bit of overkill, but could
be done with off the shelf stuff.

Jay Honeck wrote:

Today a pilot-guest had the coolest idea for the side-entrance to our lobby:
"Chasing" lights recessed in the drop-ceiling tiles, leading to the main
lobby area, that look just like the "rabbit" lights that lead to the
approach end of a runway!

(Background: Over half of our guests come in the "wrong" door to our lobby,
which leads more directly to the pilot's lounge than to the reservation
desk. As a result, we've often got people milling around looking "lost" in
the pilot's lounge. These chasing lights would "lead" them to the correct
area, and be really cool looking, too.)

So, I stopped at the local Rat Shack, and found the perfect little 12 volt
blue lights, 1/2 inch in diameter. (Blue would be a bit toned-down from
white strobes!) It would be a simple matter to drill 1/2 inch holes in the
ceiling tiles, every 12 inches or so, and push them through the tiles from
above so that only the blue "dome" was sticking out through the hole. I
think 12 volt lighting would be safer in the ceiling than 120 volt Christmas
lights, as a couple of people have suggested...

Here's the problem: How to sequence them? The guys at Radio Shack had NO
advice at all -- they were all stumped. The lights should flash
sequentially pretty fast, but I think they'd look pretty stupid if they
weren't coordinated properly. I'd also want to incorporate a motion
detector on/off switch, so that they weren't running all the time.

Anyone got any ideas? Are there affordable electronic "sequencers"
available? Is this something RST Engineering could build for me, Jim?

Thanks!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759

--
--Ray Andraka, P.E.
President, the Andraka Consulting Group, Inc.
401/884-7930 Fax 401/884-7950
email
http://www.andraka.com

"They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little
temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Something is getting et, that's for sure. I didn't see your ORIGINAL post, so I
can only infer from the answers you are getting that you want some sort of
miniaturized "find the runway" strobe system (rabbit). How many lights? LEDs
would be find; white ones are down to a couple of bucks in onesies these days
and those suckers are BRIGHT.

One wall wart power supply, one small piece of CMOS (simple counter) and your
lights. Even YOU could do this, Jay.

So, how many lights and what kind of sequence. I'll send you the parts for free
and instructions to go with them. I'll do it for a free beer at Oshkosh.

Jim



"Jay Honeck"
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

- I just told them how to do it. Somebody said they can follow my plans and
-they
- can do it.
-
- And you give THEM a free room?
-
-Hmmm. I've checked and re-checked the thread, and all I see here is Tom's
-post detailing the construction of said chasing lights.
-
-Did my ISP eat your post, Jim?

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

So, how many lights and what kind of sequence. I'll send you the parts
for free
and instructions to go with them. I'll do it for a free beer at Oshkosh.

Well, after further consideration, we've decided to run TWO rows of LEDs
down the hall leading from the "wrong" door to the lobby front desk area.
This is a distance of about 30 feet. (The center ceiling panel sections are
being replaced with faux pounded-tin-look panels, leaving the original
little "half" panels on either side -- which would work perfectly for these
lights.)

Figuring one light every couple of feet, I suppose we'd need 15 per side, so
30 total? They'd need to be sequenced so that they "chase" properly, both
rows together. And I'll need to wire this into a motion sensor of some
sort, so it's not running 24/7...

This is so crazy, I think it will be GREAT. :-)

Tell you what : Help me make this goofy idea work, and I'll throw in your
night's stay for the 2nd Annual Oshkosh Pool Party!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"
"Jim Weir" wrote in message
...
Something is getting et, that's for sure. I didn't see your ORIGINAL
post, so I
can only infer from the answers you are getting that you want some sort of
miniaturized "find the runway" strobe system (rabbit). How many lights?
LEDs
would be find; white ones are down to a couple of bucks in onesies these
days
and those suckers are BRIGHT.

One wall wart power supply, one small piece of CMOS (simple counter) and
your
lights. Even YOU could do this, Jay.


Jim



"Jay Honeck"
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

- I just told them how to do it. Somebody said they can follow my plans
and
-they
- can do it.
-
- And you give THEM a free room?
-
-Hmmm. I've checked and re-checked the thread, and all I see here is
Tom's
-post detailing the construction of said chasing lights.
-
-Did my ISP eat your post, Jim?

Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

"Jay Honeck"
shared these priceless pearls of wisdom:

-

-Figuring one light every couple of feet, I suppose we'd need 15 per side, so
-30 total? They'd need to be sequenced so that they "chase" properly, both
-rows together. And I'll need to wire this into a motion sensor of some
-sort, so it's not running 24/7...

Not a problem. A bit more efficient of design if you can use 10 or 20, but if
15 is your choice, 15 we can design.

You want TWO rows running in parallel? Not a problem; just a bit more
complexity, but damned little.

What's the problem running 24/7? It uses less power than a flashlight. Best
calculation shows running 24/7 to be less than $0.50 a year in power bill.

Jim


-
-This is so crazy, I think it will be GREAT. :-)
-
-Tell you what : Help me make this goofy idea work, and I'll throw in your
-night's stay for the 2nd Annual Oshkosh Pool Party!



Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

Jay Honeck wrote:
Whoo Hoo! Methinks I'll have to take you up on that! If you would,
drop me an email with the Radio Shack part# of the lamps you bought
so I can check one out, and we can work out some technical details
of the MRALS configuration.

Tom Pappano, PP-ASEL-IA


Haven't bought 'em yet, pending the final design specifications. If you
have a way to use LEDs instead (and remember, the prime directive is that
they must be easily installed so that they stick out below - and through -
the suspended ceiling tiles.), all the better!

So when do you plan to do the installation? :-)

Well, I may not actually be able to *do* the installation but the
controller will be easy to hook up by connecting the wires from
the lamps to a terminal block. I'll be able to send it to you
sooner than I'll be able to visit 8-) The thing will drive up to 16
stages, and handle incandescents (up to 12 volts) or leds. I looked
into some blue leds, and they may need to be "pointed" somewhat
toward the oncoming traffic, due to their 30 degree viewing
angle, to show up best. Should work fine though.

Brightness and timing settings are with four "pots" you adjust
with a small screwdriver.

Tom Pappano, PP-ASEL-IA

Sounds GREAT, Jim. Thanks!

What's the problem running 24/7? It uses less power than a flashlight.
Best
calculation shows running 24/7 to be less than $0.50 a year in power bill.


The problem is that the array will be visible from the pilot's lounge area.
This area becomes rather populated with pilots, on occasion, and I doubt
they'll want to have a string of strobes winking in their peripheral vision
for hours on end.

A directionally-oriented motion sensor, with an automatic shut-off after a
minute or two, would be best, methinks.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Whoo Hoo! Methinks I'll have to take you up on that!

Uh oh. We've got two competing systems now, Tom. (See Jim's posts.)

Perhaps I can put one system in the day lobby, and one in the night lobby?
:-)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:mhmQb.135335$xy6.574091@attbi_s02...

Figuring one light every couple of feet, I suppose we'd need 15 per side,
so
30 total? They'd need to be sequenced so that they "chase" properly,
both
rows together. And I'll need to wire this into a motion sensor of some
sort, so it's not running 24/7...

This is so crazy, I think it will be GREAT. :-)

Uh, Oh!!!

Jay Honeck wrote:
Whoo Hoo! Methinks I'll have to take you up on that!


Uh oh. We've got two competing systems now, Tom. (See Jim's posts.)

Perhaps I can put one system in the day lobby, and one in the night lobby?
:-)

No problem, I'm happy to build you this little controller because
it will allow a little prototype from another project to go on living a
useful life, where otherwise it would be a sad little orphan
forced to watch other microcontrollers frolicking and doing
useful work 8-)

Tom Pappano, PP-ASEL-IA, "Live to program, program to live!"