Bell Target Help (Video Added)

[gunnerair]

I created an airgun bell target, and attached a led push button light powered by four AA batteries to it. For my purpose, I cut the push button off and attached one wire to the metal paddle and the other to the bell and when the paddle hits the bell the bell dings and the connection is made the light comes on for a split second. 

Here's a video link. I like the light to stay on for the duration of the bell ding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRbhKdEkfw

I want the light to stay on for a few seconds longer once the connection is lost. 

I think that may be accomplished with a 555 timer and possible a POT to adjust the time but I do not have the knowledge to put it together.

Here are a couple more pictures of the bell target for those interested.

Thanks for any input or advise!

 

[FunGun]

Try this circuit.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Flashing-LED-using-555-Timer/

If you do a search on the internet there are all kinds of hobby/projects that might fit the bill you need.
best of luck and have fun with it.
Thinking a little more you could use the conductivity of the flapper hitting the bell to act as a momentary switch to activate the light circuit. Do a search for "momentary latching activation using a 555 timer chip" You should get several circuit ideas.
Gotta give you a +1 for creativity!

 

[crittahitta]

Thats pretty cool. I love seeing the ingenious projects you guys come up with.

 

[MartinT]

Awesome idea!

 

[T3PRanch]

Actually you might make a simple delay for the light by hanging a large electrolytic capacitor of the appropriate voltage across the lamp terminals.

Thurmond

 

[Widget23]

"T3PRanch"Actually you might make a simple delay for the light by hanging a large electrolytic capacitor of the appropriate voltage across the lamp terminals.

Thurmond

You'd need a resistor as well. Search for "RC time constant" and you'll find info on what I'm talking about.

 

[Mousefart]

You probably already know this, but juuuuuust in case you meant for your diagram to be taken literally: The light will always be on in your circuit as currently depicted. Until the battery goes dead, that is. Swap the positions of the light and battery though and you're back in business. 

Either way your project kick butt and has me wondering if a piezo buzzer might work in place of the bell in some future iteration. 

Congrats on your innovation, and please do post a video of your final results!

 

[gunnerair]

"Mousefart"You probably already know this, but juuuuuust in case you meant for your diagram to be taken literally: The light will always be on in your circuit as currently depicted. Until the battery goes dead, that is. Swap the positions of the light and battery though and you're back in business. 

Either way your project kick butt and has me wondering if a piezo buzzer might work in place of the bell in some future iteration. 

Congrats on your innovation, and please do post a video of your final results!

Not sure what you mean by always on. The way it's working now the light is off unless the metal paddle touches the metal plunger of the bell and then it comes on for a split second. I'll make a video and post what I have so far .

 

[Mousefart]

If you've already wired it and the light works as desired, then your actual build is different from the schematic. That's good news and makes my previous post irrelevant, as I was only referring to the schematic. Congrats again on your innovative project. 

 

[Mousefart]

I found a relay for you on Amazon. The site has instructions. Seems simple enough. Function #12 will (I think) turn on your light for some programmable interval following the momentary contact at your bell. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PD65UGA/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza#customerReviews

There are similar devices also listed, and the above is just one place to start your search. Enjoy!

 

[gunnerair]

Thanks! I'll give that a try and it's cheap enough I'm not out much if I can't get it to work.

Here is a video link and a picture of how the wires are attached.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCRbhKdEkfw

I'd like the light to stay on for the duration of the bell ding.

 

[Mousefart]

Dude that looks so cool! One thing about that timer is that u can also make the light flash, say...5 times in one second every time you hit. (It looked even cooler imo when your light did that double flash)

 

[Deja]

nice! looks fun, perfect winter plinking