Mini Torch. Runs on Dead Batteries.

This mini torch uses a dc to dc booster to allow a LED light to run on a battery of any size E.g. from button battery up to size D.

It will also run from dead batteries which would otherwise be thrown in the trash.

Purchase a mini DC - DC booster. I got one on line from:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/mini-dc-dc-Converter-0-8-5V-to-DC-5V-Step-UP-Boost-Module-for-Breadboard-Arduino-/271734570473

Connect a LED light to the booster. I cut one off a battery powered 'fairy' light chain I had. By just removing the light and not cutting the connecting wire, the chain continued to work afterwards.

Solder the LED to the booster output tags. (See photo above).

A resistor will probably be required to control the current going to the LED if there is not one built into the LED. You could experiment with different values to see the effect on the brightness starting with about a 200 ohm resistor.

An interesting article on ohms law and the interaction between Voltage, Current and Resistance can be found here evil mad scientist

Solder about a 5 -8 cm long wire to one of the input tags. Solder a small washer to the other end of the wire. This will be connected to one end of a battery.

Solder a small length of of wire to the other input connector. Solder another small washer to the wires end. This will connect to the other end of a battery.

Stick a small powerful neodymium magnetic to the booster and stick the washer on the smallest wire to it - as shown. The magnetic I used had a sticker on one side which also insulated it from the booster. The washer was glued to the magnetic with a touch of glue on its edge. The magnetic making good electrical contact with the washer.

Add a magnetic to the other washer too. The magnetics are used to attach the torch to a battery.

Keep the small powerful magnetics away from small children as they may be a swallowing hazard.

Connect the washers from the torch to a battery for illumination.

If you don't have any neodymium magnetics at hand the washers can be attached to the battery with sticky tape or a rubber band.

You can also make a really easy mini torch from a small solar garden light which you can often buy for about $2. This will also run on low level batteries.

Just:

• Remove the the light and booster from a garden light (one Phillip screw to remove)
• Cut leads to battery holder and solar panel, leaving the battery leads as long as possible.
• Strip the battery leads (I used some scissors)
• Attach to a battery using sticky tape or a rubber band.

Time to make: 5 minutes