Spectacular Spectra Lamp Box

This is a simple DIY construction that you could use to put a rainbow spectrum light in almost anything you chose. I made Lamp Boxes as a night light for myself but you could adapt this for putting inside all kinds of objects, I have used PVC pipes, cardboard boxes, an old telescope for example.

I chose this solid box construction so that I could convert later into a cymatic spectra speaker box... by inserting an old Logitech surround sound system into light boxes, and shining the spectra through using a petri dish with water I hope to make rainbows vibrate and dance... stay tuned for that instructable laters.

Pre-purchased or self Fabricated box. Dimensions variable.

Screw drivers P1 and P2 Phillips and flat

Cordless drill and bits

Black Paint (I used Acrylic house paint) or colour of your choice

Old CD’s

Scissors or scalpel cutting tools

Low Voltage Transformers

I used 12V to 60watt. Please be aware that these will come with a warning that require a certified electrician to wire them up, so you know, at your own risk

MR16 12V leads, safe extra low volatage push ins (for the LED globes)

LED MR16 Bulbs – DO NOT USE HALOGEN as they will get hot and burn your house down

Cable ties or twist ties

Staple gun

Wood stand or an old soldering stand, paddle pop sticks, foam core or card (to create CD holder)

Some kind of diffuser if you so desire like an old magnifying glass/ Old telescope or projector lens/ Fresnel or step lens/ Petri dishes/ Lighting Gel/ Diffusion Lenses/ Clear Acrilic/ Black Foam Core or card with slit cut out of it ]

Step 2

If you have wood skills, construct a box if that is how you want to roll.

I recommend creating a lid with a slit cut into it rather than a open hole

I bought these boxes for $5.00AUD from KMART ready to paint

Paint the box the desired colour you so choose, I chose black

Paint the inside of the box Black.

Step 3

Unscrew the positive and negative on the exposed end of the tranny (The end that is opposite the blue plastic)

Insert the Extra Low voltage push in leads into corresponding holes and screw back in, firm enough that it cannot be tugged back out but not so tight as to break and corrode the wires

Place the Transformer inside the box

Now Drill a hole in the back of the box for the power cable (the 240v end that plugs into the wall) and thread it through the hole

Now pull it through and pop the blue plastic end of the transformer case

Screw the positive and negative ends into the correct outlets of the transformer (SEE IMAGE) The GROUND and LIVE outlets should be labelled clearly on the transformer for you

Test your work out by plugging in- ALWAYS test by plugging into a trip switchboard, do not plug directly into wall.

Step 4

Put on some safety goggles please and cut an old CD in half using scissor or marking with a scalpel and snapping in half.

Secure the CD at a 45 degree angle inside the box. To do so I cut slits into foam core and card and inserted the CD. I then marked out a 45 degree angle on a paddle pop stick and stuck them inside the box with the angled end hard up against the top of the box.

Secure the Transformer in place by staple gunning a cable tie or twist tie in desired position and then fastening

Place the box against a wall with the lid off

Plug in the Globe and experiment with how much rainbow, which colours etc you want

When you are happy staple gun and cable tie the Globe into position.

I secured my globe with a staple gun and cable ties, in the top left corner to shine down and across the CD. I found that I got the best result by using half of the LED globe to shine from below or above from a side angle, but play around with it.

I had a prefab lid, if you are building yourself make sure you create a snug/ light proof finish

I glued a petri dish with watertight glue to the lid of my box so that I could fill the dish with water

I used a box that had a pre-cut circle but you could cut a slit into your lid to hide the mechanics if you wanted to. I experimented with creating a slit in black card or foam core and glueing it to the underside the lid, it takes a bit of play to line up the slit with the rainbow spectra but when you do it works just fine.

I don’t mind if you can see inside the box if you do you could experiment with building barn doors or using gel diffusion, magnifying lenses etc to achieve your desired lamp box configuration.

!!HAPPY RAINBOWS!!