Hello I've mostly been doing only static lights, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations on which kits to buy for the following effects in N scale? I've seen generic ones on ebay, Circuitron, Ngineering, Evans Designs, Busch, CMR, and Miniatronics kits to name a few. 1) Light bar strobe array/circuit board for mounting on police cars, ambulances, firetrucks 2) realistic camp fire flickering LED's/circuit board 3) realistic ARC welding flicker LED's/circuit board 4) in track mounted opto sensors and circuit board for actuating my railroad crossing flasher (runs on 12V)
The December 2016 MRH magazine had an introduction to Arduino and lighting effects. I remember it specifically addressed the welding bit. Low cost and Arduinos are fun to learn (plenty of starter kits with tutorials are available at low cost)
Actually, the MRH artcle specifically addresses campfire, rotating beacon, and welder specifically (among other projects)
Thanks for the suggestions, luckily the MRH mag was free to read online! Unfortunately I don't have any experience with Arduino's, but it did come to mind when I saw all the circuit boards needed to handle the inputs and outputs.
When I first heard of Arduinos, I was rather overwhelmed. But I bought both an true Arduino 'Starter Kit' and a similar kit from Elegoo (they had different components and projects for learning). The guide that comes with the true Arduino is much better written than the cheaper kits, but both work fine and are pretty much interchangeable. Best yet, I now have two boards for testing and eventually using on the layout (I have not yet used them on an actual railroad project).