Rigging a Camera Flash

[Andrew1990]

Well I am trying to rig up a Camera Flash I pulled out of a broken Coolpix L11 to see if I can make some sort of prank with it.

I got the Flash Battery as well as the Flash out of it. I am just a little confused as how the wiring should go. I assume that there must be some toggle switch to it and extra batteries somehow hook up to it to charge up the flash battery.

Here is a pic of the 2 items I have.

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/7791/picture6666.jpg


Any tips?

 

[esun]

Hook up a battery to the cap and the flash bulb via a switch (when the switch is in one state, it connects the battery to the cap, when in the other state, it connects it to the flash bulb). Keep it in state 1 for a few seconds to charge the cap, then switch to state 2 to light the flash bulb.

 

[Andrew1990]

So that little white wire is nothing important?

 

[drinkmorejava]

Originally posted by: esun
Hook up a battery to the cap and the flash bulb via a switch (when the switch is in one state, it connects the battery to the cap, when in the other state, it connects it to the flash bulb). Keep it in state 1 for a few seconds to charge the cap, then switch to state 2 to light the flash bulb.

Nope, need a charging circuit. The caps are 330v, which is around the ionization voltage for the flash.

Your best bet is to use a disposable camera.

1) Find the GND and Vcc on the charging circuit. These will be routed to the caps.
2) Disconnect Vcc
3) Solder this to the middle terminal of a two pole slide switch
4) Plug the the end of the cap that you just disconnected to terminal 1 or 3 of the slide switch
4) Attach one end of the flash to Gnd
5) Attach the other end to the remaining terminal on the slide switch

Turn the slide switch to connect Vcc to the Cap. Start the charging circuit by pressing the button on the camera. When charged, flip the switch.

And of course, the flash can be replaced by many things, including your finger.

 

[theflyingpig]

Actually, the best pranks involve string, a door, and a shotgun.