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Madcow
11-16-2006, 12:54 PM
Corbin has a sweet looking Power Level Indicator...
http://www.corbinscomponents.com/PLI.jpg

It got me thinking of smaller, less complex ways of doing the same thing. But alas, I don't have the electronics expertise required.

I want to do something that's the size of 3 small LEDs or smaller. Does anyone know how to make a small circut that would have its own momentary button, when pushed would activate a green, yellow or red LED depending on whether the battery is fully charged or low???

Or... is there an LED out there designed to do this already?

MC

james3
11-16-2006, 01:00 PM
There are some designs out there. Do-Clo may know where to get ones that are not already in devices.

otherwise it would just be a matter of making one up.

Firebird21
11-16-2006, 01:04 PM
I don't think this is quite what you're looking for, but you may still be interested in it.

As posted before...
http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/SwitchBox.jpg
http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/SwitchBox1.jpg


It's an On-Off (Latching) Power Level Indicator and Recharge Port all in one.

Unfortunately it is much bigger than Corbin's and it's not momentary. I just thought I’d give you some ideas.

Dregan
11-17-2006, 09:09 AM
I'm still hoping someone can post an online source to that switch, as my local hobby shop looked at me like a deer in headlights when i asked about it.

Firebird21
11-17-2006, 10:56 AM
I'm still hoping someone can post an online source to that switch, as my local hobby shop looked at me like a deer in headlights when i asked about it.


lol
I'll see what I can do.
Check back later.

Edit:
Here's a link to one

http://www.maxxprod.com/mpi/mpi-4.html

I'll keep looking for more options. I'm not having much luck.

james3
11-17-2006, 11:09 AM
So are the prices of this joint at least comparable to what you got locally or do we need to get you to be the distributor.

Firebird21
11-17-2006, 11:23 AM
So are the prices of this joint at least comparable to what you got locally or do we need to get you to be the distributor.

Yes they are.

But you'd have to pay shipping online, so you have to add that to it.

Madcow
11-17-2006, 01:26 PM
FB, how easy would it be to take that thing apart and use the guts in a saber?

MC

Firebird21
11-17-2006, 03:29 PM
FB, how easy would it be to take that thing apart and use the guts in a saber?

MC


I don't know...

It appears to be glued together (no screws anywhere), so I'm guessing that it would be quite destructive...

Delmustator
11-28-2006, 04:23 PM
I was thinking the same thing.

Garrity makes an LED flashlight that has a (3) LED power indicator. The board also has the microswitch for the power. I'm thinking of intergrating this into a lightsaber. The power level LEDs are Green, Yellow, Red. They flash when it's not in use to indicate the current status.

http://images.hdweb.com/i/jpg/773004015-300.jpg

The electronics are already designed to be in a round tube. Trick is getting it to drive the Luxeon LED.

987654321a
11-28-2006, 04:47 PM
a cool idea is to use corbins pli on a switchbox. i believe erv has done that before.

james3
11-28-2006, 04:48 PM
That's easy!

Run your Luxeon with a buckpuck, Corbin driver, or soon Erv's buttered toast! :D

I am not a big fan for using off things to drive the LED though. I think using a Hasbro board with FOC might have done that.

Firebird21
11-28-2006, 06:53 PM
I suppose I should post these pics...

I was persuaded to disassemble my switch. It was rather easy actually, it wasn't actually glued like I thought, and it even went back together rather easily too.


http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/Switchbox1.jpg
http://www.yankeetoys.org/lee/Switchbox2.jpg

Madcow
11-28-2006, 11:14 PM
Now we're talkin!

What's the voltage that it is set up to use?

MC

Firebird21
11-29-2006, 05:21 AM
6v and 4.8v

jjshumpert
11-29-2006, 09:39 AM
i didnt so much talk you into it, i just asked if the plug would come apart to work with my application... btw fb ive got a box full of these now and my plan i told you about works well on the ani, still tryin to figure out the vader

thanks for the link and help my friend

Firebird21
11-29-2006, 11:27 AM
i didnt so much talk you into it, i just asked if the plug would come apart to work with my application...


Hey, I didn't name names.... :wink:



btw fb ive got a box full of these now


Holy crap! @ $25 a pop, what are you doing with them?


Must get photos.......

http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_needpics.gif

jjshumpert
11-29-2006, 11:46 AM
well i told ya what i wanted to do with these and the volume of sabers i go thru, im gonna add it into all my personal collection designs...

Madcow
11-29-2006, 01:24 PM
Thanks FB,
I think this will work for me!
Did you get it online?

MC

jjshumpert
11-29-2006, 03:20 PM
fb got his at a local rc hobby shop, i got mine from the site he gave you. ive worked it into a few ani rots hilts so far putting the recharge on the back left side across from the switch and the pli on the front left and it works out really well with little modification to the inner working of the activation box, just a little trimming of the black plastic retainer. also just worked this into a vader with the recharge on the bottom end of the the activation box and the pli on the top. both are a bear to get the cut outs clean, i sugest a lot of time with and exacto and make a pattern from the original housing once you pull out the plug and pli to ensure a clean fit

Tenric Starkindler
11-29-2006, 03:57 PM
a cool idea is to use corbins pli on a switchbox. i believe erv has done that before.

my plan exactly.
To use a PLi on a graflex clamp in place of the bubbles or circut board.

jjshumpert
11-29-2006, 04:00 PM
now that is a really good idea, havent thought of that one, ive just been cutting up old pci headers and puttin them in the clamps, ill have to give that one a shot!