DIY lightning special effects

posted Feb 26th 2011 8:30am by Chris Nelson
filed under: classic hacks

Halloween may have come and gone but thats no reason not to take a look at this neat little special effects setup. Basically it uses an analogue circuit to monitor an audio signal and triggers some camera flashes using 5V relays. The idea is that you can play lightning strikes and other spooky sounds, and the system will trigger camera flashes to coincide with the lightning strikes. Adding in some color organs in addition to the camera flashes will dim your lights to help achieve a thunder like effect. Unfortunately there aren’t any schematics for the color organs (which technically might be just light organs) but that doesn’t detract from the seemingly well designed analogue signal processing. Check it out in action after the break.

Comments [3]

tagged: 555 timer, color organ, light organ, lightning

3 Responses to DIY lightning special effects

Dave says:

February 26, 2011 at 9:25 am

Cool project. But I always thought one sees lightning before hearing the thunder????

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qazwiz says:

February 26, 2011 at 10:47 pm

5 seconds per mile but if overhead,both at same time

there could be an audio delay circuit if you want to simulate a distant strike even half a second to two seconds delay before the speakers get signal would be realistic

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Dean Jones says:

February 27, 2011 at 6:02 am

I live in the capital of lightning Tampa Bay
if you see it you are the grounding rod.. to late.. I’ve been hit 3 times… I make bulbs glow….
5/mile excellent

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