Hi everyone,

In these 3 years I was full of things to do which took me a lot of time.

Last month I decided to come back on Instructables.

So I decided to collab with my friend Riccardo, that shares my same passion, to come back publishing Ible.

Together we decided to start a Youtube channel and change the profile name in DIY Brothers.

We hope that our project will like you :D

This guide is present in the Light Contest. If you like this project please vote it !!

Step 1: Watch the Video!

The video gives you an overview on how to build the LEDs lamp.

In the next steps we'll give you other additional and helpful information.

P.S. The video is also subtitled in english

Step 2: Bill of Materials

Electronic components:

1--Timer NE555
1--Linear Potentiometer 50Kohm
2--Resistors 1kohm
1--Capacitor 100nF
1--Capatitor 0.01uF
2--1N4148 diodes
1--TIP 31C NPN Transistor
1--Heatsink for TIP31C
1--4mm red connector
1--4mm black connector
1--Toggle switch
1 Single sided stripboard
1--Step up converter You can choose another type if you want. The important thing is that the input voltage is at least 3 Volts and the output voltage is at least 16 Volts
2--18650 batteries. We used Panasonic CGR18650CG but you can use another brand.
Led array (6000-6500 K)

Mounting Parts:

1 sheet of plexiglass
4 M5 screws
4 M5 bolts
Copper cables
Optional: aluminium plate

Step 3: The Control Circuit

We decided to use the versatile NE555.

The NE555 is in a variable duty cycle multivibrator configuration.

The output pin it's put on the base of a NPN transistor.

When the output of the NE555 is high the transistor goes in saturation.

The advantage of this tecnique is that, controlling the duty cycle we can control the power on the load, in this case the LEDs.

Bigger is the duty cycle more the LEDs turns bright. In this way we can control the brightness for our needes.

P.S. You can download the eagle files if you want to create a pcb.

You are free to modify and improve that circuit.

Step 4: Power Source

Let's explain this step.

We found the Li-Ion batteries into an old laptop battery.

The capacity is about 2250mAh with a voltage, at full charge, of 4.2 Volts.

So if we solder them in parallel we can obtain about 4500mAh at the same standard voltage.

But the LEDs start to activate at 12 Volts and the same it's for the NE555 circuit, so we decided to use a step up converter that can rise our 4.2 Volts in 16 Volts.

Once the batteries are solded together we can't remove them and it's a problem when we have to recharge them.

In order to solve this inconvenience we have used a toggle switch that can turns off the main circuit and allow to recharge the batteries by an external power supply.

P.S. Refer to the wiring diagram attached in this step

CGR18650CG-Panasonic.pdf
Download

Step 5: Box Design

We decide to use a panel of plexiglass, because it's easy to work and it's very very cheap.

First of all, cut two panel of 185 x 110 x 2 mm using a cut knife.

Now drill 4 holes on the edges using a drill bit of 5mm

When you drill and cut go very slowly otherwise you can break the thin plexiglass

Once you have drilled one side, do the same thing to the other

And at the end we drilled 2 holes in the middle to put the potentiometer and the toggle switch

For the diameter of the 2 last holes use a caliber to measure the right diameter, because our components could be different than yours.

Step 6: Final Assembling

Ok, now we can asseble all the parts together.

Put the potentiometer and the toggle switch through their hole.

Now you can glue all the circuits on the plexiglass sheet.

Once you have placed all the circuits on the plexiglass you can proceed by mouning the other panel using the 4 M5 screws.

Now you have to solder in parallel the LEDs strips.

At this point you have to solder the output wires on the LEDs and you have done.

Now you just have to try and see if everything works.

We used an aluminum plate to mount the lamp on the camera. If you want to do the same thing you have to measure the top of the camera, where the flash is mounted, and cut an aluminium plate and then bend it about at 90 degree.