STROBE LIGHT KIT MODEL AK-520 Assembly and Instruction Manual Elenco Electronics, Inc. Copyright © 1994 Elenco Electronics, Inc.
PARTS LIST If you are a student, and any parts are missing or damaged, please see instructor or bookstore. If you purchased this strobe light kit from a distributor, catalog, etc., please contact Elenco Electronics (address/phone/e-mail is at the back of this manual) for additional assistance, if needed. RESISTORS Qty.
IDENTIFYING RESISTOR VALUES Use the following information as a guide in properly identifying the value of resistors. BAND 1 1st Digit Color Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Gray White Multiplier BAND 2 2nd Digit Digit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Color Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Gray White Resistance Tolerance Color Multiplier Black 1 Brown 10 Red 100 Orange 1,000 Yellow 10,000 Green 100,000 Blue 1,000,000 Silver 0.01 Gold 0.
INTRODUCTION Have you ever seen a lightning flash and wonder how the light was produced? This strobe light kit not only explains how a high voltage discharge produces light, but reproduces those bolts of lightning in a small glass tube. Even more amazing is the fact you will be able to control the moment each flash occurs with a trigger circuit. Strobe lights are used to stop motion by adjusting the trigger rate to the speed of a moving object.
pendulum in a grandfather clock. Once the pendulum is started in motion, it will use only a small amount of energy from the main spring to keep it swinging at the exact same frequency. It is this stable frequency rate that sets the time accurately. If the weight is moved up the stick, the frequency increases. This is called tuning the frequency of the pendulum. In electronics, an oscillator circuit also has tunable elements.
THEORY OF OPERATION produce the avalanche process, as shown in Block 2. After the high voltage is generated, a trigger pulse is used to start the avalanche process (Block 3). Once the gas in the flash tube (Block 4) is ionized, the resistance of the tube drops and a large current flows through the tube causing the high voltage to collapse. The gas in the tube returns to its normal state (not ionized) and the process starts over.
CONSTRUCTION Introduction The most important factor in assembling your AK-520 Strobe Light Kit is good soldering techniques. Using the proper soldering iron is of prime importance. A small pencil type soldering iron of 25 - 40 watts is recommended. The tip of the iron must be kept clean at all times and well tinned. Safety Procedures • Wear eye protection when soldering. • Locate soldering iron in an area where you do not have to go around it or reach over it. • Do not hold solder in your mouth.
ASSEMBLE COMPONENTS TO THE PC BOARD C5 - .033mF (333) Mylar Cap. C6 - .1mF (2G104K) Mylar Cap. Wire 1” - Cut a 1” wire and strip both ends. Solder one end to the PC board marked (+). SCR - T106D1 SCR (Fig. D) C4 - .47mF (474) Mylar Cap. R3 - 2MW 5% 1/4W Resistor (red-black-green-gold) D2 - 1N4004 Diode (Fig. B) Wire 1” - Cut a 1” wire and strip both ends. Solder one end to the PC board marked (–). R4 - 1MW 5% 1/4W Resistor (brown-black-green-gold) C3 - .1mF (2A104K) Mylar Cap.
FINAL ASSEMBLY Wire from (–) Legend Side of PC Board Wire from (+) Insert Figure 9 1 Foil Side of PC Board T2 (See Figure 9) Insert the flash tube assembly and solder T2 to the PC board as shown in Figures 10-12. Push in until it snaps. Figure 10 Figure 11 Back Cover Figure 12 Figure 13 2-56 Nut 2 Solder the wires from the (+) and (–) points on the PC board to the flash tube (see Figure 12). Lockwasher 3 Assemble the PC board, switch and pot to the front panel as shown.
Place the lid onto the case and secure it with four 4 x 1/2” screws (see Figure 15). Knob - Turn the shaft on the pot counter-clockwise all of the way. Install the knob with the line pointing in the direction as shown in Figure 16. Strobe Light Kit AK-520 OFF ON FLASH RATE 4 x 1/2” Screws Figure 16 Figure 15 CAUTION: High voltage present on the PC board. DO NOT handle it while in operation! OPERATION 1. Turn the unit on and turn the knob to the desired flash rate.
GLOSSARY AC Voltage A voltage that varies, usually above and below zero volts, thus causing the current to alternate. Atom The smallest part into which matter can be divided and still maintain its identity. Avalanche An increase in moving particles due to sudden impact. Electric Field The force that exists when a difference in charge occurs. Electron A tiny negatively charged particle that rotates around the nucleus of an atom. Electron-volts A unit of energy equal to 1.602 x 10-19 joules.
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM Elenco Electronics, Inc. 150 W. Carpenter Avenue Wheeling, IL 60090 (847) 541-3800 http://www.elenco.com e-mail: elenco@elenco.
