FLASH ASSEMBLY

Since I purchased several of these and modified them in a similar manner, the neon conduction point does not all ways provide enough sharply enough spike to fire the xenon lamp. To make this work in a reliable manner would require a DIAC type device. There is a reasonable variation over the layout and parts of these boards that all will not work as I suggested, but for a hobbyist the price for the tube, Capacitor and Transformer cannot be beaten. I was intending using these for night flights of HP rockets (with flashing strobes :-)

To make this unit auto flash unsolder (remove) the resistor next to the ready light (brown-black-green). Unsolder the brass trigger switch from the wire on the left (red in the picture). Solder this wire to the bottom lead (in the picture) of the resistor that was removed. The Flash rate will be about 1 flash every 8 seconds as long as the Charge Switch is closed.

...trying to make it flash on its own. Soldered the charge switch to the contact and added a toggle switch in place of the trigger thinking it would act as an intermittent strobe. No dice. It will only charge if circuit is open and not constantly closed. Not sure how to bypass that. Other than that, it works great, (if you don't mind manully activating it). 3.5 stars, IMO.

Warning! Handling this bare unit handed can shock you even after the battery has been removed. It is a NASTY bite, don't let the kids play with this one. Don't warn your buddies though ;-)

i'm no electrical engineer but i found a simple solution that works. I wired a double pole double throw relay. one pole - normally open is connected to the wires that have the dangly things on them that triggers the flash. the other pole is attached to the back of the push switch, and then to the solder point on the board for the landing spot of the switch.

i used RLY-519 because i have them around - with the MT14-PC base.

And do watch out for the capacitor. It nearly took the end off of one of my screw dirvers. I bought five of these for a halloween house and mounted them on wood so that no little fingers would get in.

I also intend to connect them all to a single DC source so I don't have to worry about changing batteries (and the flash will reload faster). I plan to connect six conductor thermostat wire so that the only thing i have to worry about in the field is placement of the flash.
what a bargain ... will buy some more