Hi all, I have a Neon Sign with a blinking part that I need to read into an Arduino and then play sounds on activation (and a few other things). I am NOT MESSING with the 110v or the high voltage neon side (definitely not).
On the blink controller I notice 2 x LEDs that blink in synch with the output. Can i just solder onto the LEDs to input the Arduino?
Secondly, could I solder from the top onto the close resisters that connect to the LED - I would just need to find a ground trace on the PCB top - any tips?
Phil
The wisest, safest course would be to put an optical detector on the top of each LED, and use that detector in your circuit - isolated, safe, and very easy to do. Do NOT wire anything into that circuit, you have zero information about the functioning of any part of it, and the odds of adding your circuit to something that is LIVE are high. You should be able to use a photodiode to detect on/off of either or both LEDs very easily. Ideally, you'll put your detectors OUTSIDE the box the electronics is in.
Thanks for the reply, I ended up doing exactly that, using phototransistors.
