Super Simple Sewing Machine LED Light

This is one of those projects that turned out much simpler that how I had imagined it in my head. The project itself is what the title says, an LED light for a sewing machine. The project is quite simple and most of the images speak for themselves, so lets start with the materials.

WARNING: This project involves handling mains voltage, replicate at your own risk !!

0.5W LED bulb - these are the bulbs used as night lights in a children's bedroom or hallway. they usually have white LEDs covered with various color polycarbonate diffusers.

Small transparent dipping sauce container - this should be big enough to enclose the base of the LED bulb as you will see in later steps.

A small magnet - This is to attach the light to the sewing machine and must be small enough to fit inside the container and yet stick to the sewing machine.

A length of 2 core insulated wire to connect the bulb. Depending on how you want to connect the other end you may use a 2 pin plug and add a switch as well.

First pry the diffuser off of the LED bulb then solder two wires to the bulb as shown.

Make a hole at the side of the small container and pass the wire through it and fit the bulb inside.

The magnet I had could fit inside the container along with the bulb, I also put a bit of foam packing to keep everything together inside. If you want, the magnet may be taped to the outside of the container. The remaining images show the finished lamp from different sides and when attached to the sewing machine.

My sewing machine motor had a terminal block to attach such a lamp. You may connect a separate switch and plug depending on how you want your lamp to be setup. Don't forget to attach the wire securely to the sewing machine so that it does not snag anywhere while working. Please take all precautions when working with mains voltage, remember the wire carries ⚠ lethal voltage ⚠ up to the lamp enclosure! It might be safer to just use a power supply and power the LEDs with low power DC such as with LED strip lights, but that's a project for another day.

As a bonus, with a sufficiently long wire this lamp may be used as an ad hoc spot light where needed as long as there is a metallic surface to stick to such as work area under a drill press or bandsaw etc.