Introduction: Mash Up and LED Contest:A Pez Dispenser Flashlight

By zackharvatine.blogspot.com

This is a pez dispenser flashlight. It is not very bright, but it is bright enough to find keys, door knobs, etc.

Step 1: Materials

Here are the parts and tools you need:
Parts:
LEDs
Small Coin Cells
Pez Dispenser
Wire
Solder
Electrical Tape
Heat Shrink Tubing
A Switch
Tools:
Soldering Iron
Hot Glue Gun
Drill
3/16 in. Drill Bit

Step 2: Taking Apart the Pez Dispenser

To remove the inner plastic, just open it all the way and pull until it all comes out. Then, if you pull and wiggle the head, it will pop off of the white plastic. All you need is the outer shell and the head. To make a hole for the LED, i used a 3/16 in. drill bit. I drilled through the hole where there was a plastic "rivet" (see pictures).

Step 3: Making the Battery Pack and Attaching the Switch

First, you will need to make a battery pack to drive the LED. I took 2 wires and made "balls" of solder at the ends of each. Then, take 3 coin cells and stack them. Put one wire on the top and one wire on the bottom.Make sure you color code the wires so you know which ones you should connect to the LED. Wrap the batteries and wires tightly with electrical tape, which makes a a battery pack. Then, solder one of the wires to a contact on the switch. After that, solder another wire to the other contact on the switch. Remember to shrinkwrap were you soldered so the switch won't short out. Wedge the battery pack into the outer casing and make sure the switch comes out the bottom. Then thread the wire coming out of the switch and the other wire through the top.

Step 4: Conecting LED and Finishing the Flashlight

First, bend the LED's leads to right angle. Then solder the corresponding leads to the corresponding wires. Flip the switch to make sure it works. If it works, then put the LED into the hole in the head and glue it in. Glue down the switch on the bottom and the head onto the outer casing and you're done.

Step 5: Afterthoughts

I originally wanted the stitch to turn on when you flipped the head back, but the little tab broke off. But this is still a good light if you want a unique light with a fair amount of light.