Medium

Capacitor Bank Flash (Camera-Flash-Style Discharge)

Several large capacitors, charged slowly and discharged quickly through a power LED, produce a short, intense flash — the principle behind every camera flash, at a small and safe scale.

Circuit Diagram

+9V R large (limits charge current) C bank 2×10000uF discharge button 220R Power LED 5W Capacitor bank charges slowly, then dumps energy in a quick, bright flash

How to Build It

  1. Connect two or three large electrolytic capacitors in parallel, forming a capacitor bank.
  2. Connect the bank to the positive rail through a large resistor (limits charging current).
  3. Connect a power LED, with a limiting resistor, in parallel with the capacitor bank, through a discharge button.
  4. Power the circuit and wait a few seconds for charging.
  5. Press the discharge button — the power LED should emit a brief, visibly intense flash, then go dark.

Bill of Materials

ProductCodeQty
Actuation push button H570033 1
Capacitor (electrolytic/ceramic/SMD/film) GT2A109M35100SB 2
LED component 53 941 1
Resistor DR47K-8/9 1
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