Blinking lights

[TJ9]

I found that you can use a transistor so that when there is no or little current applied to one of its posts it will not allow current to pass through the other two. But when current is applied to the middle post current also passes through the other ones. Or simpley put the presence of voltage (.9 to 2.7) allows up to 60 volts to pass through.

Using this you can take and replace say the hard drive led with one of these to use as the control voltage and this would allow a bigger light to be turned on and off when the HD light would normaly blink.
I am getting the transistors but I still need suitable light.

Does anybody know of a light that can be turned on/off very quickly with out a reduced life span?

[Diggrr]

You can use LED's in larger groups, also the neon bulbs (not tubes) can flash pretty well. Maybe even that light string stuff (el string?)

[3DMike]

If you were trying to drive a more powerful light from the standard motherboard header a relay would really be a much better idea. You wouldnt have to worry about correctly biasing the transistor for a start. Ok so biasing is a piece of cake with a BJT, but if you want to drive a really powerful light then FETs or MOSFETs would be needed. That would mean more circuitry and harder biasing.

I would suggest a simple relay circuit. As long as you know the voltage and current spec of the mobo header this would be much easier. Need any help with a circuit give me a shout!

M