Get the LED Out: Glass Filled LED Lightbulb

by LinuxH4x0r in Circuits > LEDs

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Get the LED Out: Glass Filled LED Lightbulb

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How I made this awesome glass filled led light bulb.

THIS PROJECT INVOLVED HANDLING BROKEN GLASS.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR HOW YOU USE THIS INFORMATION. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS PROJECT. IF YOU DO I AM NOT LIABLE FOR ANYTHING

Materials

What you need:
Tools
-Pliers, leatherman, or similar
-Soldering Iron
-Screwdriver, hammer, etc (for breaking glass)
-Clips or clamps


Parts
-Blue led (other colors would work)
-Light bulb (best if its burned out)
-solder
-Wire
-Broken glass (clear)
-Scrap of plastic
-Power source (batteries, usb cable, wall wart)
-Shower thingie (what goes between the head and the wall to cover the hole)
-glue (testors model glue, or just use epoxy)
-epoxy
-Tape

Prepare Light Bulb

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Now that we have all of our materials, we start by taking off the bottom of the bulb and breaking out the filament and other inner parts.
Using pliers pull off piece of metal on the bottom.
Using a screwdriver break out the dark glass on the bottom.
Break out the glass holding the filament

Fill With Broken Glass and Insert LED

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Fill the bulb with pieces of broken glass.
Solder wires onto the led and put it into the glass.

Fill With Glass Part 2

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Fill the bulb up the rest of the way with more glass.
Take a piece of plastic and cut it into a circle the size of the hole on the bottom of the bulb.
Poke 2 holes in the plastic for the wires from the led to go through.
Pass the wires through the holes and put in on the end of the bulb and glue or epoxy it.

Epoxy Base to Bulb

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Take the bulb and stand it up in a jam jar with a rag.
Place the shower flange thingie on it and make sure it is on straight
Epoxy them together, and let it dry

Solder on Plug

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Next strip red and black wires of the usb cable and solder it on to the wires connected to the led. You might want to use a resistor depending on your power source.
Cover the solder with epoxy.
Clip the usb cable to the underside of the base in a loop shape and epoxy it.
Let the epoxy set and then remove clips

Plug It In

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Now all you have to do is plug it in.

If I had the parts and time I'd make this powered on 120 vac instead, so I could plug it into a socket.
http://www.discovercircuits.com/DJ-Circuits/aclinepilotled1.htm

I hoped you liked reading this instructable as much as I enjoyed making it.

I'd like to thank Patrik for the circuit diagrams, Eric, and the rest of the crew for helping make this contest possible, and to everyone who donated prizes to it.

If you like this project or have questions please comment, and don't forget to rate it.