LED String Lamp Base

I wanted to build something unique for my daughter that could also charge her mobile devices. With only a little hacking of consumer products, I came up with this lamp with a string of LEDs.

I found a desk lamp that had a USB port built into the base. Another desk lamp had a simple base about the same size gave me the idea of sandwiching something between them. I found that the coupling for ABS 4 inch pipe has a diameter about the same as the inside of the simple base. Since ABS pipe is easy to work, stable, light and non-conducting, it seemed like a good place to start. Lamp making parts found at the local hardware store provided enough flexibility for making the lamp and an LED string added a little flair.

I used a collection of basic hand tools, sometimes creatively, and survived without any scrapes, cuts or pinched fingers.

After pulling the bases off the lamps, it was pretty clear what wires provided electricity to the different parts of the lamp. I used parts of the cord from the simple lamp to feed the inside of the tube so I could power the LED string. After cutting the center rod to length and cutting a notch for the wires, I fed the wires in, connected the ends, soldered and taped the connections and installed the LED power block.

I started the LED string end inside the tube and peeled the sticky cover off as I rotated the tube. With the LED spool on an axle, I was able to use both hands to keep the tube wrap tight and straight.

A quick test of the LED string and then added the lamp socket on the top.