Portal Test Chamber Streaming Light

After playing through my first test chamber, I was hooked. The mentally demanding puzzles, the witty humor. Portal has been a proper obsession of mine since.

I just recently built a super cool desk and PC, and I needed a streaming light to go with it. I tossed around the idea of using a run-of-the-mill drop ceiling fluorescent fixture, but when I discovered these LED panels it was a done deal.

Cost to make: $100

Materials

heavy duty picture hanging wire

black adhesive vinyl

smoked headlight tint or window tint

transfer tape

painters tape

dimmable 4'x2' LED ceiling panel

grounded lamp cord

length of wire                                    

Wago lever nuts

electrical work box

cable management supplies: cable ties, conduit, etc

Tools

vinyl cutter

vinyl squeegee

wire cutters

wire strippers

screwdriver

Electricity is dangerous and can kill you. Work at your own risk. If you're not comfortable, find a friend or a professional. Always follow local wiring code.

First, let's start by cutting some picture hanging wire and twisting it around the top two hanging tabs several times. Leave yourself some slack so you can fine-tune the position on the wall if needed. Use appropriate mounting hardware for your wall, I used a simple drywall anchor and screw combo.

Scale your graphics accordingly and cut the vinyl. Graphics can be found here.

Scaled proportionately, lengths are as follows:

Big numbers: 15.737"

Progress bars: 17.25"

Eight icons: 17.25"

Two icons: 6.595"

Aperture Logo: 5.25"

Cut all your graphics using the opaque black, except the image with eight icons which will be cut in the transparent black. Use the lightest tint you can as it increases the "grayed-out" effect. Use a good blade in your vinyl cutter, and make sure to dial in the cutting depth. Weed the excess vinyl (sorry in advance about the water fountain icon), apply transfer tape, and crop. Using painters tape to make guides, apply your graphics (sorry again about the water fountain). 

Determine mounting location for the switch, plan your cable management ahead of time, and cut and strip your wire. Get the right dimmer for your panel and application. If it explicitly needs a 0-10V dimmer, make sure to use a 0-10V dimmer; the panel will not function with a standard one. Smart 0-10V dimmers are also available. Mount the box, I put mine under my desk.

To connect the box to the panel, I used one 2-wire and one 3-wire extension cord with the ends cut and stripped. Although a 5-wire cord would have been better, basic extension cords were readily available.

Safely manage your cables for your application! This could shock you if one of the wires becomes disconnected! 

Close your box up, plug it in, and let 'er rip. Start on the lowest setting, this thing is bright.

I absolutely love this panel. The lighting it puts off is soft, but bright. I usually only use mine on the lowest setting (mind you it's supposed to be ceiling-mounted).

Now you're thinking with Portals.