LED Flashers Circuits and Projects using

transistor

I like this a dual-LED flasher circuit. Someone calls a blinking LED circuit.
They have two LEDs flash alternately.

There are many ways to flash LEDs on and off using transistors. We may
call it that Free Running Multivibrator.

It works like Flip Flop that triggers itself repeatedly. It also demonstrates
a very important kind of digital logic circuit, the astable multivibrator.

There are 4 circuits ideas for you.

Dual LED flasher circuit using PNP

transistor
To begin with, see in the circuit below. There are ten components only. I
think you do not need to know its principles very very deeply.
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I just want to see you use it in an easy way.

Four important things! you should know

First, Both Q1 and Q2 are general PNP transistors such as

2N3906,2N2907, BC558, etc. They are like switches on-off to drive two
LEDs.

Second, R1 and R2 limit current to LEDs. If you use 9V battery, you can
use them up to 1K, 3mm LEDs. In lower resistance will be high current,
high lighting.
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Third, R3 and R4 make a bias current to base of transistors to conduct

current. They control the gain of amplifiers.

And important, they increase the time required to charge capacitors and
speed up the discharged of capacitors.

Final, the Flash rate is easily changed simply by changing one, or both,
of the timing capacitors C1 and C2. Reducing them will fast the flash
rate. When they have different values, one LED will stay on longer than
the other.

How does circuit work?

This circuit is so easy, learning how it works is interesting. I will tell you
the step of its working. Note: It may incorrect in full academic principles. I
hope you understand it easily.

First of all, suppose that Q1 works first. It is a PNP-transistor that works

as a switch. We need to feed a polarity voltage. It will work only on the
negative voltage.
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You look at the circuit diagram below.

● First, the positive current from B1-battery comes to the circuit. It

is flowing to LED1 through R1 to ground. So, LED1 grows up.
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● Second, At the same time, some current also flows to charged C1

through R4 to ground.

● Third, since the voltage across R4 or Base of Q2 is positive. So

Q2 does not work, LED2 goes out.

The current comes into C1 slowly until full.

After that, you look a block diagram below.

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● First, no current flow through C1. It looks like an opened bridge.

● Second, a negative current from the ground comes to the base of

Q2 through R4.

● Third, it makes the Q2 works. So, the current flows to R1, LED to
ground. Now, LED2 grows up.

● Fourth, at the same time, some current charges to C2 through R3

slowly. No negative current flows to bias Q1. So it does not work,
LED1 goes out.

Next step in Figure below.

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● First, at the same C2 is fully charged. So no current through it.

● Second, the negative voltage flows to the base of Q1.

● Third, so Q1 works again. Then, the current flows to LED1

through the collector and emitter, R1 to ground. The LED1 grows
up. But LED2 goes out. Why?

● Fourth, since now C1 is discharged to run out. It works like a

closed bridge. Then, C2 passes some positive current to R4
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instead of the base of Q2. Thus, Q2 does not work, no current

through R2 to LED2. LED2 goes out.

This process will work in the loop always follow the principles mentioned
above.

Hope friends have fun LED Flasher. This circuit has plenty of fun and
practical application.

Watch video dual-led-flasher-by-2n2907.mov

This circuit is working well on a breadboard. below..

Update

My friend wants a PCB layout of this circuit. So I designed the PCB

layout for him and you. It is so easy to builds as Figure below.
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An actual-size of Single-sided Copper PCB layout.

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Components layout

3V Dual LED flasher using PNP transistors

If you want to use this circuit with 3V battery or 3.7V cell phone battery.
You can use this circuit below.
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It does not need to use the limited current resistor for LEDs.

Next If you have NPN transistor. It also can be made Blinking 2 LED
circuit.

Blinking 2 LED circuit using NPN

transistors
I like Blinking 2 LED circuit using NPN transistors. There are many
circuits here is one of the blinking circuits. We call it Astable Multivibrator.
Often we know it 2 LED Flasher circuit, in this we use PNP transistor.

But now we use 2 NPN transistor. We normally see it in a lot of circuit as

oscillators. Both transistor work alternately likes the automatic switches
that are alternate working. The collector of Q1 or Q2 makes the
frequency signal.
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Simple blinking LED circuit diagram

Operation of the circuit

To begin with, suppose that the Q1 run first. Then LED1 should grow
more brightly.

It makes the current to flow through LED1, R1, and the collector-emitter
of Q1. At the same time, some current will flow through LED2, R4, and to
charge into C2 until full. The voltage BE is lower than 0.7V. So Q1 turns
off, LED1 goes out.
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Next Q2 start working, LED2 also grows more brightly. The C1 begins to
charge until full, VBE of Q2 is lower than 0.7V. It turns off, LED2 goes
out.

After that Q1 will turn on and LED1 to grow up again. the circuit working
will repeat loop in like this.

The bicycle tail light for my son.

The principle of this circuit, I built the bicycle tail light flashing for my son.
At first, he was very appreciated. But he embarrassed every time, friends
to tease. Because it’s funny.

I used a hot food box because preventing water heat resistant and very
economical. And more importantly, it increases the safety of the children.
When riding a bicycle in the evening.

3V Blinking LED circuit using

transistor
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My son wants to build a simple blinking LED. I choose the 3V blinking

LED circuit. Because it is so easy. We can assemble all components on
a breadboard. And use 3V AA battery.

In the circuit below. We use BC549 transistor and not need Resistor limit
current to LEDs.

3V Blinking LED circuit diagram.

and He tests it as the video below.

3v-dual-led-flasher.mov

10 LED flasher using multivibrator

transistor
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This 10 LED flasher is Kind of flashing light circuit which as ideal for use
as string light that looks so beautiful. And To add to the atmosphere at
night. Or other parties as well. Because it is a circuit that is cheap. The
construction is very simple.

You can also adjust the speed of the flashes as well. For flashing that it
will flash on – off. Alternately each 5 LED continuously.

Working of LED flasher multivibrator

The circuit is a low-frequency oscillator circuit. Which we call that a

multivibrator, it uses the dual transistors to work alternating. Each
transistor will connect current to one LED set. They have 5 LEDs for 2
set or include are 10 LEDs.

The potentiometer VR = 10K is the speed flashing controller. Which can

be slow for the first time about one second. Until quite fast.

Figure 1 the circuit diagram of 10 LED flasher using multivibrator

transistor

The creation and use.

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This LED flasher beauty is where to place lamps LED. Here we set the
LED alternately in a circle. and Switch bulbs use colors such as green
and red. This causes the selected color. Because it is easy to buy colors
and bright colors than others.

Assembly, such devices should be R, C, and TR, before, so gradually put

the LED. And be careful with the polarity LED. The long leg is the positive
leg to turn off the PCB layout.

This circuit is normally set to use the power supply 9V. It can even be
used to run low power down to 3V. The brightness is reduced only
slightly. For the PCB layout can see in Figure 2.

Figure 2 The PCB layout of the 10 LED flasher project

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Figure 3 The components of 10 LED flasher using multivibrator

transistor

Components list

Q1,Q2: C1815 or C828, 45V 100mA NPN Transistor

C1,C2: 33uF 16V, Electrolytic capacitors

R1,R2: 330 ohms 1/4W 5% resistors

R3,R4: 3.3K 1/4W 5% resistors

LED1-LED10: LED as you needs.

VR1: 10K, potentiometer

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Super 12V Light flasher circuit using

2SC1061
This is Super Blinking Two LEDs circuit. It has high power out to load
(12V light bulb), with source voltage form a 12V battery or DC supply, at
current 2A up.

We use Astable Multivibrator by transistors and other parts. And two

transistors-2SC1061 or TIP41 for drive load up to 10 watts.

This circuit is easy and cheap. We hope you like it.

Circuit diagram of Super Blinking Two LEDs

There are a lot of ways to flash dual LEDs ON and OFF. The two
transistors are cross-coupled in such a way that the circuit switches back
and forth between two states using transistors.
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This circuit is one of the most stable of LED flashers. The values in this
circuit, two LEDs will alternately flash ON and OFF about once per
second.

The Q1, Q2, R1, R2, R3, R4, C1, C2 are a Free running astable
multivibrator or Oscillator Generator circuit in a square waveform.

The Flash rate or speed is easily changed simply by changing one, or

both of the timing capacitors (C1 and C2).

The Q3, Q4 are power transistors 2SC1061 or TIP31, to drive high up

current to dual LEDs includes a series resistor(R5, R6) to limit current.

If we want to use load is the 12V light bulb. We remove R5, R6 and the
dual LEDs to use multiple LED light by the circuit.

But you need to use 12V at a current minimum of approximately 0.5A.

Other details see the circuit.

Parts will you needs

Q1, Q2: BC549, 45V 100mA NPN Transistor

Q3, Q4: TIP41 or 2SC1061, 40V 4A NPN Transistor

0.25W Resistors, tolerance: 5%

R1, R4: 10K

R2, R3: 47K

R5, R6: 470

C1, C2: 10µF 25V Electrolytic Capacitors

LED1, LED2, As you like

How to builds
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This circuit is small, we can solder them on the perforated PC board to

safe money and time. But you can use PCB layout below to good project.

Actual-size of Single-sided Copper PCB layout

Component layout for the PCB

Note: You may change/remove Resistor-470 ohms. To drive Power

LEDs. Because Q3 and Q4 are power transistors. They can run with
current upto 2A load.
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I hope you are happy with these circuits. Thanks!