The Coolest USB L.E.D. Pocket-Sized Light (Pocket-Sized Entry)

by gamer in Circuits > USB

9961 Views, 21 Favorites, 0 Comments

The Coolest USB L.E.D. Pocket-Sized Light (Pocket-Sized Entry)

100_0473_0001.jpg
100_0473_0012.jpg
100_0473_0011.jpg
100_0473_0013.jpg
In this Instructable, I will show you how to make a USB powered L.E.D. light that can fold away into the size of an X-it Mints tin, and can easily fit in your pocket.
If you like it, be sure to + it and vote for me in the contest!
The materials and tools you will need are:
L.E.D.
USB cable (salvaged)
Soldering Iron and Solder
X-it Mint tin
Small pliers
Wire Stripper
Box Cutter
Calculated Resistor (Total Voltage - L.E.D.s Voltage / Amperage)
Electrical Tape
Tin Snips or "Metal Chipper"
Computer

If you like it, vote for it in the "Pocket-Sized" contest (the contest closer is on my birthday, i couldn't believe it :P)

Preparing USB Wire

100_0473_0002.jpg
100_0473_0003.jpg
Before i start, i don't know how to embed a video into an Instructable, so i will just put a link to the page, until someone tells me how: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocYiEhKEZHI

First, we will need to take the rubber insulation off the "plug" part of the USB cable, so it will fit in the mint tin.
WARNING: Doing this type of project may become addicting, and you also need to be really careful when using a knife, i almost cut myself.

As you can see, I'm experiencing difficulties with the tag tool, so i will explain up here. in the first picture, you will see that i am cutting the rubber off of the USB part of the wire. In the second picture, I'm done doing that, see how you can see the metal, that means it is good.

Strip the Wire

100_0473_0005.jpg
Next, you will need to strip the wire. Pretty self-explanotory. You will also need to strip the red and black wires inside of the bunch, and insulate the white and yellow (?the other 2) to make sure they don't touch anything.

Add Solder

100_0473_0007.jpg
100_0473_0008.jpg
Add solder to the red and black wires and to the leads of the 1. L.E.D and 2. resistor. Next, solder the red wire to the anode of the L.E.D. and solder the black wire to one lead of the resistor. Then you will need to solder the cathode of the L.E.D. to the other lead of the resistor. My resistor was already soldered.

Cut the Tin

100_0473_0004.jpg
You will need to make a hole for the wire and a hole for the L.E.D. I used "metal chippers", put a drill, it a file, or even tin snips will be good.

Insulate the Tin and Other Taping

100_0473_0023.jpg
100_0473_0024.jpg
100_0473_0025.jpg
You will need to insulate the tin with black electrical tape. Insulate everything that might contact anything else. You will also insulate the L.E.D. with tape. Next tape the L.E.D. into the tin with the L.E.D. peeking out of the hole you made for it.

Plugging Into Computer to Test, Winding, and Putting Into Pocket

100_0473_0012.jpg
100_0473_0013.jpg
100_0473_0014.jpg
100_0473_0015.jpg
100_0473_0016.jpg
100_0473_0017.jpg
100_0473_0018.jpg
100_0473_0020.jpg
100_0473_0019.jpg
100_0473_0021.jpg
Plug into your computer, if you did everything right, it should light. Next few pictures, is about winding it up, and after that, How to slide it into your pocket. Thanks a lot for reading and if you like it, vote for it.