Thread: Need an Idea for Lightning with contactor

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Hi all,
Just looking for some brain storming here. I have set up a industrial fixture with 2 dual compact fluorcesent lamps in it as a crime deterent, but I was messing around and thought it might make an excellent lightning effect .
I'm an electirican so I have contactors and motion sensors available to me. Was trying to come up with an idea to " pulse" the contactor so if I hook up multiple lights to the contactor I can bang then on and off as quick as possible. I'm open to all ideas. Send em my way.

I've tested CFL's with the classic fluorescent lamp starter flicker circuit, and it will make CFL's blink rapidly. I understand that the CFL won't last very long under this stress, though. I think you'll do better with floodlights or photoflood bulbs. You could probably drive the contactor(s) with the flicker circuit I mentioned, but unless it's an SSR, it'll be working it's butt off.