DIY Lightning Trigger Report.
Jun 3, 2018 10:58:36 #
You folks that are gear heads and don't mind building photography tools from scratch this post is for you.
I have constructed the DIY lightning trigger described in the URL below and can report that it seems to be working as it should with a couple of modifications that I will describe. Since I had many of the parts on hand my out of pocket cost was around $14.00.
So here is the URL:
http://solorb.com/elect/lightning/index.html
This circuit consists mainly of a quad op amp, a photo darlington transistor, a 4047 flip flop, and a miniature reed relay. The two modifications that I made were to place a 500 ohm pot in the emitter circuit of the photo darlington to adjust the output. I also replaced the 1megohm resistor in the feedback loop of the input op amp with a 500kohm pot in series with a 1kohm resistor to lower the overall gain of that stage from 60 db to 54 db, and below, as the pot is adjusted. In the 60 db configuration that stage was unstable and would go into oscillations. The adjustments are necessary to make the trigger usable in daylight.
I have the trigger setup to mate with a Nikon N70 film camera; and I used this two days ago during a quite violent thunder storm around 7:00 p.m. and the unit seemed to work as it should. I will post images after the film is developed. In the mean time I'm going to modify this setup to mate with at least one of my other DSLRs.
Here are images of my unit:
I have constructed the DIY lightning trigger described in the URL below and can report that it seems to be working as it should with a couple of modifications that I will describe. Since I had many of the parts on hand my out of pocket cost was around $14.00.
So here is the URL:
http://solorb.com/elect/lightning/index.html
This circuit consists mainly of a quad op amp, a photo darlington transistor, a 4047 flip flop, and a miniature reed relay. The two modifications that I made were to place a 500 ohm pot in the emitter circuit of the photo darlington to adjust the output. I also replaced the 1megohm resistor in the feedback loop of the input op amp with a 500kohm pot in series with a 1kohm resistor to lower the overall gain of that stage from 60 db to 54 db, and below, as the pot is adjusted. In the 60 db configuration that stage was unstable and would go into oscillations. The adjustments are necessary to make the trigger usable in daylight.
I have the trigger setup to mate with a Nikon N70 film camera; and I used this two days ago during a quite violent thunder storm around 7:00 p.m. and the unit seemed to work as it should. I will post images after the film is developed. In the mean time I'm going to modify this setup to mate with at least one of my other DSLRs.
Here are images of my unit:
Lightning trigger attached to camera
(Download)
Back of trigger showing gain controls
(Download)
Close up of trigger showing photo darlington
(Download)
Over all back of trigger, screws are plastic
(Download)
Jun 4, 2018 06:15:18 #
I love DIY projects! Look forward to the photos and the update when you complete this for your dlsr!
Jun 4, 2018 06:29:00 #
Excellent Idea. But, here in FL we never have lightening [Florida leads the nation with an average of 1.45 million lightning strikes a year]
Not many "Gearheads" in UHH. But I did post a mod to using a drop down lens [cut from old eye glasses] attached to folding sun shield for camera screen; did mods as suggested and we developed it in real time!
Gearheads: Started with cars but has expanded ... One who is knowledgeable or enthusiastic about the equipment and functioning of mechanical devices
Keep up the fun, thanks for the link.
Not many "Gearheads" in UHH. But I did post a mod to using a drop down lens [cut from old eye glasses] attached to folding sun shield for camera screen; did mods as suggested and we developed it in real time!
Gearheads: Started with cars but has expanded ... One who is knowledgeable or enthusiastic about the equipment and functioning of mechanical devices
Keep up the fun, thanks for the link.
Jun 4, 2018 08:32:22 #
dpullum wrote:
Excellent Idea. But, here in FL we never have ligh... (show quote)
Thanks, I lived between Ft. Lauderdale and Bocca Raton for 25 years and was in the telecommunications business so I have more than my fair share of experience with lightning, just not the pictures to prove it.
Jun 4, 2018 08:34:22 #
mrova wrote:
I love DIY projects! Look forward to the photos and the update when you complete this for your dlsr!
Thanks for stopping by and taking a look; I suspect the film may be developed and scanned before the next thunderstorm happens, however.
Jun 4, 2018 08:44:56 #
Freaking awesome! I really admire folks who have the knowledge to do things like this.
Offer: If you mail me your negs...I'll make some wet 8x10s for free for you. (or an 11x14 if I could find a way to mail it) along with a contact sheet.
Black and white or color film?
Offer: If you mail me your negs...I'll make some wet 8x10s for free for you. (or an 11x14 if I could find a way to mail it) along with a contact sheet.
Black and white or color film?
Jun 4, 2018 09:03:22 #
rpavich wrote:
Freaking awesome! I really admire folks who have the knowledge to do things like this.
Offer: If you mail me your negs...I'll make some wet 8x10s for free for you. (or an 11x14 if I could find a way to mail it) along with a contact sheet.
Black and white or color film?
Offer: If you mail me your negs...I'll make some wet 8x10s for free for you. (or an 11x14 if I could find a way to mail it) along with a contact sheet.
Black and white or color film?
Thank you for your kind offer. I'll PM you when they get back from processing assuming that there's anything worthwhile there. This was shot on Fuji ISO 200 color film.
Jun 4, 2018 09:07:24 #
Great project - for someone. I'd buy 90% of the components (unable to locate the other 10%) and get about 75% finished assembling those parts before I was stumped or lost interest. 
Jun 11, 2018 14:24:24 #
Jun 26, 2018 09:15:05 #
tommy2
Loc: Fort Worth, Texas
jerryc41 wrote:
Great project - for someone. I'd buy 90% of the components (unable to locate the other 10%) and get about 75% finished assembling those parts before I was stumped or lost interest.
Yep, same here! This old ham could most likely still muster the project along if it had an 815 somewhere in the circuit.
Been wondering if something like this was out there, just wish there was one available to buy in kit form or complete.
Nice post, thanks guys!
Jun 26, 2018 09:50:12 #
tommy2 wrote:
Yep, same here! This old ham could most likely still muster the project along if it had an 815 somewhere in the circuit.
Been wondering if something like this was out there, just wish there was one available to buy in kit form or complete.
Nice post, thanks guys!
Been wondering if something like this was out there, just wish there was one available to buy in kit form or complete.
Nice post, thanks guys!
Its really not that hard to build from scratch. I had the circuit board, the resistors, the caps, and the case on hand, all were part of component assortments I bought on EBay from China. I used 14 pin and 16 pin dip sockets for the op amp, the flip flop and the miniature relay which came from Mouser Electronics. I also had the two pots for the controls on hand. It took me probably the better part of a day to fabricate the housing like I wanted and solder up the board and get it mounted. I used #6 /1" nylon screws to mount the board to the case. Oh and I used one of those MC-22A Nikon remote cords with banana jacks mounted to the case to attach the camera; They are on EBay for $9.95 + shipping.
If you seriously want to build yourself one PM me and I'll dig up the parts list from my Mouser order.
I should mention I'm using this now with my D700 and I have found it works very well just strapped to the tripod and does not have to be mounted on the camera as is shown in the images above.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.