Ron Gross’s Electronic Circuit
This circuit design was created by Ron Gross several years ago with design assistance by Bob Gardner and is presented here with Ron’s kind permission.
This is just one way to light the Jupiter 2.
PLEASE NOTE!
A certain degree of electrical assembly experience will be necessary to build this circuit! If you have never attempted this sort of thing before, I suggest you find someone who can assist you.
To locate these chips, I suggest you try Mouser Electronics.
In response to many questions about the forthcoming Polar Lights J2 model and the possibility of a lighting circuit, I thought I would post this message.
While the model will not come with any specific lighting features or references, the bottom “reactor core” (as I call it) is cast in clear plastic to allow for this possibility (other associated requirements would be to forego the lower level detailing and to cut a round hole in the bottom of the hull). Many of you have asked me about the lighting circuit which I used in my prototype and described in the article.
The circuit provides 16 discrete LED outputs, and permits paralleling of multiple devices on each. If fewer outputs are required, insure that terminals are selected equidistantly to provide a continuous rotation effect. Standard 20mA LED’s require eight outputs and four simultaneously lighted devices on each to complete the full circular array of 32 LED’s. Less standard 10mA LED’s will permit a total of eight simultaneously lighted devices on each of only four outputs, which is true to the effect of the original studio miniature. The requirement to parallel multiple LED’s for this application usually precludes the need for a dropping resistor between the common anode bank and +vcc.
The fact is that this circuit was originally designed all the way back in ’82 for another modeler whom I consider to be my mentor, David Merriman. (David has worked on film projects with Greg Jein on occasion, and among his many accomplishments was to build the submarine miniatures for “Red October.” He is quite simply, in my opinion, the best there is). Since I had a small supply of parts that dated all the way back to that time frame of Dave’s early Jupiter 2 project, I simply used what I still had on hand. If anyone decides to try this circuit, be aware that all parts except the 74L193 and the 74L154 IC’s are available from your local Radio Shack store. You can still find these IC’s as well if you are diligent enough.
Ron Gross
Abe Duran writes:
Mouser part numbers are as follows:
74L154 is also: 526-NTE74154 and 599-SK74154
74L193 is also: 526-NTE74193, 599-SK74193, 511-40193, 511-40193BM, 526-NTE40193B, 599-NTE-40193.com, and 599-SK40193B
The L in the number stands for low power. If an IC has a letter in it you can usually omit the letter and use just the numbers. Some letters include H for high speed, C for cmos, S for Schottky, LS for low power schottky, etc. We would really not see a change in the way we are using the chips. It would make a difference in computers. The letters before the numbers can also be omitted. These are manufacturers ID’s, such as LM 555 and NEC 555, etc.
Steven Satak writes:
“These chips are easily acquired through just about any reputable electronics distributor (such as Mouser or Digi-Key), and even the Electronics Goldmine has them in abundance. Expect the 74193 to cost about $.75 and the 74154 about $2.50.”
“Ron Gross’ schematic for lighting the power core of the original Jupiter 2… is based on a 555 timer sending a clock pulse to a 74193 4-bit Up/Down counter, which in turn feeds a four-bit “word” to a 74154 4 to 16 line Demultiplexer. This results in each of the 74154’s outputs goes low in sequence. The 74154 can directly sink about 25mA per output, so you can drive LEDs directly (be sure to use a current-limiting resistor – one will do, as all the LEDs share a common line to the (+) side of the circuit).”
This circuit is ©1998 Ron Gross and may not be reproduced without his permission.
