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After my botched hot coals prop where the cheap LED strands could have started a FIRE, I'm wanting to find a solution.
The cheap LED strands that I first attempted to use are not only a potential fire hazard, but they also aren't waterproof or even moisture resistance. So, I started looking around and I found some decent LED string lights at Target. They have the steady ON strings and a flickering/twinkling version as well. The problem that I see is that the flicker strings are going way too fast for a realistic hot coals effect.
So, my question to some of you electronic gurus out there is this: How can I slow down the rate of the flickering? Could I use a dimmer to accomplish this goal? Is there a cheap control board that a novice could put together with a little bit of practice? I'd love to be able to make them do a slow fade in and out instead of the fast twinkling.
It would be great to be able to use the product from Target (or wherever), since they are indoor/outdoor and the construction and wiring are far heavier and superior to the cheap LED strings that I got from E-bay, and they aren't that much more expensive at about $12 a string.
I'd REALLY be grateful for some help on this!
The cheap LED strands that I first attempted to use are not only a potential fire hazard, but they also aren't waterproof or even moisture resistance. So, I started looking around and I found some decent LED string lights at Target. They have the steady ON strings and a flickering/twinkling version as well. The problem that I see is that the flicker strings are going way too fast for a realistic hot coals effect.
So, my question to some of you electronic gurus out there is this: How can I slow down the rate of the flickering? Could I use a dimmer to accomplish this goal? Is there a cheap control board that a novice could put together with a little bit of practice? I'd love to be able to make them do a slow fade in and out instead of the fast twinkling.
It would be great to be able to use the product from Target (or wherever), since they are indoor/outdoor and the construction and wiring are far heavier and superior to the cheap LED strings that I got from E-bay, and they aren't that much more expensive at about $12 a string.
I'd REALLY be grateful for some help on this!