<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
          <<  Lancair Builders' Mail List  >>
          <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>
Lots of discussion recently regarding lighting topics, with much focus on
halogen bulbs, school bus flashers, etc.  In the October '97 issue of
Kitplanes there was a very interesting article which commenced on p.59 that
included the schematic for building a recognition light flasher circuit.  I
ordered all the materials except for the bulbs but including the mini-box
from Mouser for about $12 to build one of these circuits.  Now all I need
is a simple guide to help me identify which leads on the various semis
equate to which connections on the schematic... any suggestions for an
inexpensive handbook that shows this stuff?  (For example, the circuit
includes a 555 timer which is in a DIP-8 case... when looking at the IC
from the top, where do you count pin 1 (is it the first pin clockwise or
ccw from the notch) and do you just keep counting in the same direction
around the case for the rest of the pins?  And what about a simple NPN
transistor... which wire is which??)

As for bulbs, I noticed that JC Whitney (and probably every other auto
supply house) has those 'Blue Diamond' halogen bulbs available in power
ranges from 50-100 watts for anywhere from $7 to $12.  The only problem I
see with using them is that there is no reflector and one will need to be
adapted from some other device.  Any ideas about what one might use for a
lightweight reflector with these bulbs?  They really seem to penetrate
thanks to their primarily blue wavelength and I'd really like to use them,
if only I can come up with the proper reflector.  Suggestions?