Electrical question..

Equipment Ghost Traps
1

My apologies for asking this question as I am sure that it has been asked before.

I am using Sean Bishop’s plan to build a trap. I getting close to the point of attaching the battery compartment to the body and I have a question about the electrical because I dont know how to do it. What switch is being used for the trap and how do I connect it to the pilot light and where does the battery fit into all of this.

Thanks again fro the help. I did a search on the forums and couldnt find what I needed.

2

You can wire the lights to any of the switches on the trap, but generally the switch on the top of the battery compartment is used just because it is the easiest. I would simply drill a hole from the battery compartment to the trap box and place batteries in there.

3

I used that top switch as well.. you can “thumb” it while holding the handle as well.

I also picked up sylvania twinkling battery powered led lights from Target. There are 18 on the string, with only four flashing.

You can house the battery compartment inside the trap cartridge, and run the lights so the back light flashes, you have 14 solid on lights in the cartridge, and 3 flashing lights in the front display. Only changes I made was wiring the switch in.

4

Thanks for the advice so far. I am still a bit lost on a couple things.

How do i hook the batteries up to the switch and lights?

Got it figured out. I have a AA battery holder for 8 batteries hooked up to a 12v LED.

Where would I pick that switch up?

Radio Shack .. Very helpful

NOW:

If anyone can explain how to use a 555 Timer that would be great

5

There are tons of datasheets and project walkthroughs using a 555 on teh interwebz though they’re often unclear. I’m guessing you’re just looking for a simple blink circuit?

6

What do you need a 555 timer for?

If all you want is a blinking LED, buy a blinking LED. You really don’t want to build a 555 circuit just for that. It’s a pain in the ass.

Also, you don’t need 12v to run one LED. Two AAA or AA batteries will do.

Also, type led wizard into google, and it will tell you what size resistor to use for the amount of voltage you’ve got.

7

This thread wasn’t quite dead but verging on comatose before Ghostguy bumped it. I want to clear it up though that he’s using a 12V LED because that’s the only thing RatShack sells that resembles the accurate light cap. Unfortunately you can’t really dissassemble the lamp so you’re kinda stuck with it. The next best option (over buying an accurate lamp cover) is to use a red lens cover like the one used for the Slo Blo light on the thrower and putting in your own LED that doesn’t require high(ish) voltage.

8

Actually I’ve found you can pull apart those 12v indicator lamps. They actually have a “grain of wheat” incandecent bulb that you can unsolder and replace with an LED. I’m doing this for my SLo-Blo light since the tapered lens is more accurate than the clip-on lens that most people use.