How hard can it be to make a simple LED blinking circuit? Conor's stupid questions to self, Episode 5892

#“How hard can it be to make a simple LED blinking circuit? Conor’s stupid questions to self, Episode 5892”

Last night after a few glasses of vino, I decided to make a simple blinking LED circuit but I didn’t want to involve Arduinos, just discrete components.

Most of that auld internet does them with 555 timers but I don’t have any of those so much googling ensued. I finally found one and tried to make it, learning in the process that soldering and Sauvignon Blanc don’t mix:

blink1

 

To be fair, the LED lit, it just wouldn’t blinking blink.

I’ve written several times before about how an infamous lecturer in UCD put me off analogue electronics almost for life, so after a bit a clueless fiddling I went to bed.

I tried again this morning and found what appeared to be a nicer circuit and I even had the right type of transistor:

led_flash_blink_valentines

A bit of fiddling later:

blink2

Next year I’ll just buy a card in time!

blink3

I even did a video for the full blinktastic experience:

Conor O'Neill

Tech guy who likes running slowly

Bandon, Cork, Ireland https://conoroneill.net