Easy LED Color Changing "Candle"
by Cats Science Club in Circuits > LEDs
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Easy LED Color Changing "Candle"
This is a simple color changing light that is great for kids and adults. Looks beautiful in a dimly lit room, great for the holidays, and makes a pretty cool night light.
Materials
Glue Gun - We are using a low temperature glue gun. It hurts when the glue touches your skin but it does not burn your skin
3V Battery
Film Canister - With inside closing lid (Fuji style)
5mm RGB LED
Two Magnets - One must have a hole in it and not be bigger then the battery. The other magnet must be small enough to fit into the lid of the film canister
All these parts can be bought off of e-bay. We will be selling kits at Cat's Science Club if interested.
3V Battery
Film Canister - With inside closing lid (Fuji style)
5mm RGB LED
Two Magnets - One must have a hole in it and not be bigger then the battery. The other magnet must be small enough to fit into the lid of the film canister
All these parts can be bought off of e-bay. We will be selling kits at Cat's Science Club if interested.
Make the "Candle"
Take your LED and bend the longer (positive) leg at a 90 degree angle.
Insert the short (negative) leg through the hole of the magnet.
Bend the short leg up and around the magnet as shown.
Add the battery negative (-) side facing the magnet and LED.
Bend the longer leg around the outside of battery as shown.
We like to bend the positive leg around so that it is not touching the battery. There is a bit of a spring in the wire. In this way, when we set the "candle" on to the base the pull of the magnets forces the leg to touch the battery, causing the light to go on.
Hot glue around the bulb of the LED.
Move battery around to adjust as needed.
Insert the short (negative) leg through the hole of the magnet.
Bend the short leg up and around the magnet as shown.
Add the battery negative (-) side facing the magnet and LED.
Bend the longer leg around the outside of battery as shown.
We like to bend the positive leg around so that it is not touching the battery. There is a bit of a spring in the wire. In this way, when we set the "candle" on to the base the pull of the magnets forces the leg to touch the battery, causing the light to go on.
Hot glue around the bulb of the LED.
Move battery around to adjust as needed.
Make the Base
Take the second magnet and check its polarity. We do not want the magnets to repel each other when we try to connect them.
Take the second magnet and glue it into the lid of the film canister. If the polarity is correct it will pull the "candle" into place. Do NOT put "candle" on to base yet. Test polarity before gluing.
Add glue around the top of the magnet that is in the lid. Do NOT over do it. A nice thin layer that stays inside of the lid works best.
Let all glue dry.
Take the second magnet and glue it into the lid of the film canister. If the polarity is correct it will pull the "candle" into place. Do NOT put "candle" on to base yet. Test polarity before gluing.
Add glue around the top of the magnet that is in the lid. Do NOT over do it. A nice thin layer that stays inside of the lid works best.
Let all glue dry.
Altogether
Now it is time to put it altogether.
Once the glue is totally dry, put the LED, magnet, battery ("candle") onto the film canister lid, magnet (base).
Adjust as needed to get light to turn on.
Put film canister over the light and snap into place.
Simple, easy, and very cool looking.
Once the glue is totally dry, put the LED, magnet, battery ("candle") onto the film canister lid, magnet (base).
Adjust as needed to get light to turn on.
Put film canister over the light and snap into place.
Simple, easy, and very cool looking.
Alternatives / Suggestions
Instead of the bead of glue on top of the magnet in the lid, add a washer to the lid. It provides for a better connection with battery, a flatter surface to set the "candle" onto, and it looks nicer. BUT it is not necessary.
The light can be turned off pretty easily just by sliding it out a tiny bit to stop the wires from completing a circuit (touching the battery on both the positive and negative).
Flip the battery around to turn off the light or for storing.
Light does not turn on? Try sliding the battery around to adjust where it is touching the legs of the LED. Is the positive leg toughing the positive side of the battery? Is the battery upside down?
The light can be turned off pretty easily just by sliding it out a tiny bit to stop the wires from completing a circuit (touching the battery on both the positive and negative).
Flip the battery around to turn off the light or for storing.
Light does not turn on? Try sliding the battery around to adjust where it is touching the legs of the LED. Is the positive leg toughing the positive side of the battery? Is the battery upside down?