Although very minimalist, this design shows what can be achieved with a small microcontroller and a smattering of LEDs on a thin PCB.
An interesting twist would be to integrate a randomiser into the software so that there was no specific pattern to the flame. It could also allow the choice of a soft or strong flame effect.
Not sure who makes the AatLB chip. But I'd guess you could use a standard YX solar light chip in its place.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
http://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm
This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's advertising algorithms allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty.

11 thoughts on “Minimalist flame effect solar light with schematic”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Electro Kalari says:

    Which MCU is used here.?

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Master Man says:

    Fucking double 15 second unskippable ads now! I said 2 years ago that this was coming! This is bullshit and now no different than television! I think I'm going to start a campaign to not only dislike the individual videos that contain them but entirely blocking the channels that they are broadcast through. Perhaps induced pressure from content creators will have an effect where viewership complaints have not. While I find some content informative and useful the irritating ads ruin the entire experience and distract from any useful takeaway.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Dangcil says:

    โ€œDutch import company?โ€ Uh oh. Wait, wrong one

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Eugene Human says:

    Problem with these solar lanterns is, they all come with 350mah or 400mah AAA battery's (i'm guessing for smaller size) – AA battery's slightly bigger but much bigger capacity. So if you buy a good solar lamp, they only last like 6-8hours maximum. So if it gets dark around 7pm. by 3am they dead. Won't last a full night through. So best to go buy a good quality 700mah or 800mah or 900mah Rechargeable. If the 350mah would give 6-8hours something like a true capacity 700mah or 800mah would last the full night through till sunrise. When it will just start charging up again.

    If you buy the bigger Solar lights they sometimes have 2x AAA or 1x AA battery (again only 2x 350mah AAA or 1x 800mah or 1000mah AA)- So if the bigger one's , i would slot in a nice 2000mah or 2300mah or 2600mah AA <maybe Energizer or Duracell rechargable or any good known brand> Sometimes the no-name battery's are not true capacity. They rate 700mah but in reality it's maybe 500mah.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars TimelordUK says:

    I absolutely ADORE your voice

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dad.0 says:

    Great video! I love my solar lights in my backyard!

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alan Jenney says:

    This is a very low power lamp, but the rise and fall glow is very effective for what it is, if you do not pay attention to it. To get a natural flame look, manufacturers need to introduce some colour variation, perhaps the tip of the flame licking away in red, some orange and yellow lower down and the warm white and red at the base to emulate glowing embers and a hot flame. All the same colour is a bit false. I guess the different forward voltages would make it too complicated to simply exchange the LEDs. Those mains lights that used a flexible circuit board rolled into a tube would look realistic!

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars cargy930 says:

    Is it sad that I liked this light so much that I bought one?!!

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alan Toop says:

    Hi, Clive Hope you're well. About four years ago you did a DIY project for the meteor lights and I was wondering if I could be reprogrammed to do the flame effect?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ElfNet Designs says:

    I bought some of those from Family Dollar (USA) for like $5 ea. Nice effect in front of my house.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Olaf Elsberry says:

    I just love this fellas accent. Definitely a Brit.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.