I ran across your instructions on making a flickering light using a fluorescent starter a while ago and decided to make a version of my own. Seeing as I don't have a site of my own to put this on and share it, I was wondering if you would include it on your site. It is simply a modification on your own idea, but used to create a more realistic fire effect. My design uses a total of 6 lights, of different colors, along with a small fog machine to create the illusion of a large fire.

 

Instead of modifying an extension cord to wire into, I created the cord from scratch using a replacement 3 - prong (grounded) male plug end. I included an on/off switch using a common single-pole light switch, and used a total of three FS-2 fluorescent starters. The three starters were wired in parallel to each other and were each wired to two 25w light bulbs. I constructed a wooden box to mount the lights to and run the wiring in.

 

The coloring of the lights is as follows: 2 orange lights, one red light and one orange light, and 2 red lights. The end effect is three groups of lights flickering independently of each other. the light box is placed out of direct sight so that the viewer only sees the blending of the lights and it looks amazingly similar to the glow from a campfire. add smoke and presto - instant fire effect.

 

I've attached an electrical schematic (below) and can take pictures of the finished product if you want. Feel free to use this idea as is or modified. All I ask is that you give me credit where you can and that you don't sell this idea in any way. Let me know what you think of the idea and thank you so much for putting your instructions out there!!!

If you have any questions or comments for Shawn you can contact him directly at Kudos2HIM at gmail. (Posted this way to avoid web crawling bot from collection his address and spamming him.)

 

Thanks Shawn!!!