Plant Light Fixture

This is the electronics portion of the This is Light project. With this instructable I will teach you how to integrate electroluminescent (EL) wire to a nyctinastic plant or a plant that moves at night.

• Nyctinastic plant

• Electroluminescent wire

• tilt sensor(s)

• 3V inverter

• 3V power source

• insulated hookup wire

• heat shrink

Preferably the Maranta leuconeura a.k.a Prayer Plant. But any plant that moves dramatically during the night works.

The tilt sensor is a simple switch that either completes the circuit or breaks the circuit depending on the orientation. When the little metal ball inside the sensor touches the pins, it completes the circuit so be sure to take that into account when setting up the electronics.

Use insulated hookup wires to make the connections and cover the tilt sensor with heat shrink. Any electricity exposed to the plant will fry it.

Also make sure that the battery has a 3V output.

Place the tilt sensor along the stem and on a leaf that can bear the weight and wrap the wire along the stem. Wrap the EL wire around the plant and shape it to look like leaves.

Make sure to leave the power and inverter outside the pot to be able to water and mist the plant as intended.