Topic: Timing strobes: Why are they so Big?

[Scrubs]

Just curious, I've never seen the internals of a strobe timing light, but I can't imagine there is much that justifies the huge
plastic surround case - Or is there? I'm wondering if the whole thing could be compacted into the size of a key fob with led..

would be a handy thing to carry around

[kghost]

Yeah probably...

Just wouldn't look beefy and manly then 

[Loudpipe]

Perhaps, but the light needs to be big enough to be seen clearly in bright daylight.  That's the only drawback to a very small one that I can see.

[NickC]

Yeah, mine has a very large LED in it. I couldn't see it being very much smaller

[martino1972]

ok,just for this is opened up my timing light
it excually has a pretty large board in it,2 boards excually,one for the lighting funtion,the other for the digital display..
here you go>>>

[333]

I'll have to ask where he got it, but my former boss has a nice small one that even runs on batteries, so the only hookup is the clamp around the spark wire.

[Green550F]

an old traditional timing light used a Zenon strobe bulb with reflector and focusing lens. hence the large size. (transformer and trigger curcuits were also fairly large.)

Since then I think it's mostly a tradition/perception thing. But Yes a timing light could be done a small as a keyfob using LEDs and SMT circuitry.

[BobbyR]

They also had a long barrel so you could reach further down in the engine compartment. The timing marks on cars were down low on the crank.

[dustyc]

Found these, but I can envision them being made even smaller.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Self-Powered-Inductive-Clamp-Timing-Light-Pro-Model_W0QQitemZ120272406249QQcmdZViewItem

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=pro-67414

[bradweingartner]

An old school timing light without an inductive pickup has virtually NOTHING inside. A zenon bulb and a switch at the trigger. You could make one of these the size of a film-canister pretty easily...

In fact, you might be able to USE a film canister...

[Dave-and-his-550]

In fact, you might be able to USE a film canister...

Someone begin to brainstorm fast 'cause I'm in the market for one!

[troppo]

Someone begin to brainstorm fast 'cause I'm in the market for one!

+1

[Scrubs]

I'm gonna pop to the electronics store next week, pick up some components and see what I can come up with
there's been big advancements in LED bulbs latley and I know that there are a couiple of bulbs that will be bright
 enough to do the job. Will Keep you all posted.