Re: Drug store bonanza: AA cells & low VCE(sat) xstrs

From: Watson A.Name - \ (NOSPAM_at_dslextreme.com)
Date: 03/26/05 

Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 13:30:06 -0800

"Michael" <NoSpam@att.net> wrote in message
news:4245008D.A2F593FB@att.net...
> Disposable cameras contain, among other goodies, one AA alkaline cell
and a low
> VCE(sat) transistor. Great for 1-cell LED V boost P.S.
>
> Thanks to Watson's tip, I checked around at photo counters for free,
used
> disposable cameras and finally hit a gold mine after being told by
three stores
> that they don't give them away. The gal happily dragged a BIG
cardboard box
> over to the counter and began emptying it into plastic bags for me.
Jeez ... I
> wanted only 2 or 3; later count revealed I'd netted 45!
>
> The batteries have lots of life left in them (none measured less than
1.5v,
> static measurement) and those little xstrs work a treat for V boost.
>
> I'll wait a week and then go back for more. Thinking about lashing
several
> dozen of the flash units to a PIC (or PICs) for a July 4th display.
>
> Thanks, Watson, for the tip!

HTH! Glad to hear you've hit a bonanza. Watch out for them charged
caps! They BITE!

BTW, some guy built a strobe from a disposable flash and it got so hot
it melted the plastic lens on front! If you're going to flash the flash
at a rate higher than once every few tens of seconds, you should reduce
the capacitor to 1/10 or less of its usual value. The usual cap is
about 120 to 160uF at 330VDC. I think they said that 22uF was a bit on
the high side, maybe should be even lower.

> --
> Michael