The Juliet (candle) :: $25
Download the complete specs here
The Juliet Candle is a small integrated LED candle module that simulates the natural flicker of a candle. In its default mode, it accurately replicates the flicker pattern of a tea light, while it can be easily switched into a high flicker pillar candle mode if desired.
The candle has a total of 100 seconds of flicker profiles stored onboard, split between low flicker (tea light), and high flicker (pillar candle). These profiles are based off of recordings of real candles, and on startup, the candles start at a random point in the recording to avoid syncing between multiple candles. However, if you have more than 18 candles on stage, there is a 50% chance that two or more will start up at the same place in the data.
From the factory, we have four candle profiles available: A, B, C, & D. If you do not specify upon ordering, we’ll ship you profile A; if you order more than 18 units, we’ll ship you a mixed group to avoid syncing.
The candle is available without a power supply, or with attached or separate power supplies in a variety of shapes and sizes. See below for power supply options.
The candle is also programmable through the use of optional add-on modules to modify the way the candle flickers and to provide remote control, or to allow the candle to react to the environment. Add-on modules will be available in the coming weeks – see below for details.
Available in Amber, White, Red, Green, and Blue.
When ordering, please include the following information in the comments:
- Which flicker profile you’d like (A, B, C or D – default is A)
- What color LED (Amber, White, Red, Green, or Blue – default is Amber)
- If ordering an power supply: whether you’d like it attached, and if so, how long a lead you’d like between the battery and the candle.
Power Supplies
Micro Tealight (add $3)
This is a standard configuration that allows the candle to sit upright without additional support. The candle is factory soldered to a CR2032 battery holder, giving it an overall size of 1.25″ x 0.875″ x 0.875″ tall.
In this configuration, the only way to turn the candle on or off is to install or remove the battery. Add-on boards cannot be attached, since the board is tight to the battery holder.
A CR2032 battery has a capacity of 225mAh at 3V, allowing the candle to run for approximately 4 hours at full brightness.
2x AAA Battery With Switch (add $3)
We can supply the candle attached to a battery holder that takes 2 AAA batteries and has an on/off switch. We can also supply this battery holder separately, without attaching it to the candle. AAA batteries have a capacity of approximately 1000mAh, allowing one candle to operate for 20 hours before starting to dim. You can also run up to 10 candles off of this single battery pack.
2x AA Battery with Switch (add $3)
We can also supply the candle attached (or not) to a battery holder that takes 2 AA batteries, again with a switch. Two AA batteries will power one candle for about 40 hours, and can run up to 20 candles.
1x AAA battery with switch and boost (add $5)
Particularly for taper candles, having a skinny battery pack is preferred. We can supply a AAA battery with a boost circuit that raises its voltage to 3.3V. The boost circuit is about 80% efficient, so you will get approximately 6-8 hours of capacity from a single AAA battery.
AC Supply (add $5)
This is a plug-in power supply, which connects to 120V AC power (or a dimmer), and can power up to 10 candles. Dimming the AC supply is not recommended; please provide 100% or 0% to avoid unpredictable behavior.
Accessories
The Juliet Candle has several accessories, available Spring 2012:
Friar LS (light sensor)
This add-on board will cause the candle to turn off when the light drops below a certain level. By default, this is programmed to be fairly sensitive, needing close to a full blackout to turn off the candle. This allows you to use a very low light level on the candles to turn them on, setting the scene.
Multiple candles powered by the same power source can be operated by a single Friar LS with the addition of a single wire run between the candles. Instructions for this are included with the light sensor.
It is also possible to configure the candles to turn ON in a blackout (if, for instance, you are using the candles as stage markers), having them turn on when the light drops below a certain level and turn off when the lights come back up.
Tybalt MS (movement sensor)
This add-on board will switch the operating mode of the candle when it senses movement. In its default configuration, this will cause the candle to start to flicker more (switch from low to high mode) when the candle is moved. This has the effect of causing the candles to flicker more when being picked up and carried, similar to the way a real candle would.
The Tybalt MS can also be configured (with the Nurse Candle Programmer) to turn off the candles when their orientation changes. That is, if a candelabra is knocked over, its candles can turn off when they begin to fall.
Similar to the Friar LS, only one Tybalt MS is required per set of candles run from the same power supply, as a single wire run between the candles will cause all to react the same.
TrinculoNet Adapter
This is a small add-on board that converts the pinout of the candle to the standard 4-pin TrinculoNet connector, allowing you to control candles with any of our controllers, including the Rosencrantz DMX Master Controller.
Nurse (candle programmer)
This board is more of a bench tool. It allows you to connect candles to your computer and change the configuration of individual candles. Our easy to use software allows you to load new flicker profiles, configure thresholds for blackouts, and adjust reactions to movement sensors.
The Nurse also functions as a general purpose programmer, allowing you to download your own programs to the candles; it will also program our Prospero 328 Controller and Ariel Tiny85 Controller.