How to make strobe flasher

Other Hardware LEDs and Multiplexing
1

I'm new to electronics and I was wondering how to take my Arduino Uno processor and make it flash 12v led lights in a strobe pattern similar to police or fire? I'm on the fire dept and wanted to make my own flasher unit for my lights. Thanks

2

This should do it for you.
http://nootropicdesign.com/projectlab/2010/01/08/arduino-police-lights/
Add the appropriate 12V drivers for your LEDs.

3

Thanks, got one issue, how do I DRIVE 12V led's off of board? Everywhere I hook wires to, the light flashes very dim. Apparently I'm missing something.

4

Technically you don't have "12v LEDs" but often LEDs are packaged with a resistor that is suitable for use with 12v.

Assuming that's what you have you can connect the anode of the LED to 12v, cathode to a transistor's collector and the emitter to GND then control the transistor's base with an Arduino output pin through a resistor.

There is an example somewhere in the playground but I can never find anything there. Hopefully somebody can provide a link.

EDIT: Found something

Just pretend the solenoid is your 12v LED and don't use D1.

Rob