Arc Welding Flashes

[NH Mike]

At a club's open house last weekend one of the scenery buildings was a small welding and blacksmith shop. Inside was a figure that was busily welding away and the arc was done with a small bright white bulb that flashed randomly but continuously. I guess saying the light varied in intensity would be more accurate. About as realistic as you can get. The show was very well attended and I didn't get a chance to ask any of the members about it. Is this a kit item or has anyone else made one? I'd like to add this effect into a blacksmith shop I have on my layout.

 

[CM&W]

Try a camera flash bulb w/o capacitor

I have done enuf welding to notice, that the brightest light you can get is from a flash bulb on a camera. Making it work like a welding flash (constant)would have to be from a constant power source as most flashes have a capacitor built in. Most welding usually lasts around 5 seconds. After that, you could melt your welder.

I guess you would need:
A. One bulb
B. Constant power supply (DC)
C. Timing Circuit for 5 seconds of weld and rest.

Maybe my electronics are a little off but I hope this helps.

 

[jbaakko]

http://ngineering.com/Lighting Effects for the Railroad.htm

 

[Rico]

There's a method that uses a light bulb in place of a speaker on a transistor radio but I'm not sure just now how to do it. I'm sure someone will chime in with the answer...
It does produce a nice flicker effect.

 

[MRLdave]

Cicuitron has a kit......5841 AW-1 (for Arc Welder) lists for $16 at MB Klein.

 

[NH Mike]

http://ngineering.com/Lighting Effects for the Railroad.htm

Found it Josh, thanks!! N8064 Arc welder simulator. Ordered it.

 

[MGWSY]

I have made them using 2 circuits from a Electronic candle and a white led and blue led here are the results total cost less then $4

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...Circuit/?action=view&current=Welder10-086.flv

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...Circuit/?action=view&current=Welder10-084.flv

 

[Rico]

Excellent job Mark!

 

[MGWSY]

I have also used the same setup to make a camp fire flasher using Red and Yellow LEDs instead of White and Blue.

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...ics/?action=view&current=CampFire10-02-08.flv

http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/...cs/?action=view&current=CampFire10-02-082.flv

 

[NH Mike]

Great idea. Not being an electronic wizard I have to guess that the circuit for an electronic candle causes the bulb or led to flicker? I get the idea of the different colors representing a log fire or a welding flash. The unit I ordered from Ngineering was $13 so well within my new stimulus payroll tax decrease. Down the road I'll attempt the candle circuit for other scenes.

 

[SpaceMouse]

I put a circuitron version in a building at my club. Nice effect.

 

[Southwest Chief]

I used this sound module with lighting effects all built into one for my G scale layout:

Arc Welding Module

Nice effect. I'd assume this could easily be adapted for scales other then G. Just hide the module and speaker in a building, under the board, etc...

I got mine from an eBay vendor who included a free speaker.

 

[stationmaster]

I got my "welding light" from Walthers quite few years ago. Placed it in the loco and car repair shops,. Made the diorama(module) come to life. It was the Circuitron product. Don't remember what I paid.

Bob

 

[nmaniac]

Check this site out to have dealt with them great place

http://www.berkshirejunction.com/