This is my first post, I'm an electronics noob so be easy on me.
I'm trying to build a Color Organ circuit which is basically a circuit that takes an audio input and uses it to control a strand of Christmas lights. I've done some searching elsewhere on the internet and I've found a bunch of information on how to do this with LEDs but I can't figure out how to do it with Christmas lights.
My requirements are:
I want to have the entire circuit powered by my wall outlet.
I want the circuit to be all analog (no microcontrollers or pics)
I want to be able to plug in a 1/8" stereo cable from an iPod or any other audio source and have the Christmas lights react to the swells in the music.
My problem is:
Christmas lights are wired in series so they need to be plugged straight in to a ~120v wall outlet in order to operate. Since I want the circuit to be run entirely from my wall outlet how can I drop the voltage down to a low level that the control circuit can handle? Is this possible or will I have to isolate the two circuits with an optocoupler, etc. and power the control circuit separately with a 9v battery or something like that? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I'm trying to build a Color Organ circuit which is basically a circuit that takes an audio input and uses it to control a strand of Christmas lights. I've done some searching elsewhere on the internet and I've found a bunch of information on how to do this with LEDs but I can't figure out how to do it with Christmas lights.
My requirements are:
I want to have the entire circuit powered by my wall outlet.
I want the circuit to be all analog (no microcontrollers or pics)
I want to be able to plug in a 1/8" stereo cable from an iPod or any other audio source and have the Christmas lights react to the swells in the music.
My problem is:
Christmas lights are wired in series so they need to be plugged straight in to a ~120v wall outlet in order to operate. Since I want the circuit to be run entirely from my wall outlet how can I drop the voltage down to a low level that the control circuit can handle? Is this possible or will I have to isolate the two circuits with an optocoupler, etc. and power the control circuit separately with a 9v battery or something like that? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
