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120v "steampunk" light bulb

120v \"steampunk\" light bulb
This is a 120v "steampunk" lightbulb. I used http://www.instructables.com/id/Making-a-120V-LED-C7-bulb/ by http://www.instructables.com/member/Lynxspring/ to use the 120v led set up. It works awsome, and the fact that you just screw it in to a light socket makes it all the better. I'll try to explain everything in super simple explanations.
Needed are 2 l.e.d.s of a color of your choice i used 2 uv leds. a 1n4004 diode,  a 100k 1/2 watt resistor, various copper wire, a quartz crystal,  a standard light bulb hollowed out at the base, a stopper of some sort, a short screw, and led holders.
Tools needed are : a soldering iron, a hot glue gun, wire cutters of some sort, and a good sense of danger. THIS DOES INVOLVE HAZARDOUS VOLTAGE!!!!!!!!!! DO NOT ATTEMPT IF YOU DONT UNDERSTAND HOW TO SAFELY WORK WITH 120V A/C. EVEN THE SMALLEST MISTAKE, OVERSIGHT OR CARELESSNESS COULD CAUSE, ELECTROCUTION, EXPLOSION, BURNS AND OR DEATH.
Now that the disclamers are in, I first laid out my parts in order. Resistor, led, led, diode. Check for polarity. the diode is only going to let the current flow in one direction (sorta like d/c). I set up my breadboard to use 120v a/c with a disconnect. board your parts in this order, resistor, led, led, diode, the stripe on the diode is going to be on the outside of the circut. Double check polarity. Energize your circut and your leds should light up. DO NOT TOUCH WHILE ENERGIZED. If your leds dont light up turn off the power and turn your leds around.
The rest is up to your imagination on how to make a finished product.





 
4 comments
Nov 27, 2011. 9:30 AMdthomas-1 says:
I created my bulb and it looks really cool. It didn't blow up or anything and even light up! The LED's tho are really dim. Compared to the 3.3v power supply illumination they are maybe 1/10 the brightness. What did I do wrong?
Dec 27, 2011. 2:03 PMamz-fx says:
You should try a smaller value resistor... I suggest 15k as a start but you could go to 10k or even 7.5k but they will need to be larger than 1/2w. I would suggest 5w resistors to be on the safe side.

regards, Jack
Nov 28, 2011. 6:42 PMdthomas-1 says:
Thanks, I'll have to go over the ratings again and recalculate resistor values when I make my next one. Initially I liked the smokey, filmy glass that I got from torch residue but aside from making it look old, it makes it harder to see the insides and especially to photograph it. The insides are parts from a salvaged floppy drive.

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Author:ulrich77