9v LED Light!!! First Instructable!

This light is basically for begginers at LEDs and circuitry, but it is still fun to make for pros. If you don't like it give me contructive critisism for my next instructable (not: This F'ing Suxs!!!). HAVE FUN!

(This picture is before i covered it with electrical tape and made it neat)

Step 1: What you need!!!

What you will need is all at radioshack, Frys or any other electronic store (NOT home depot!). Buy boxes that have more than one item in it because they are usually less.

Items (for one Light):

x1- LED light (smaller wire coming out is -)
x1- Resistor
x1- 9v Battery
x1- 9v Battery Clip

Tools:

Soldering Iron (with solder)
Glue Gun (need about 2 sticks)

Comments

[dabombmaker]

 Hey great instructable! Just one suggestion better camera XD

[The_Conqueror_Worm]

Resistors are not polarized (there is no front or back), LED's are.

[robotkid249]

You do know they have lead free solder right?

[wize]

When soldering, just open a window and put a fan on for ventilation.

[disturbedreaper]

the fumes arent the lead its the flux resin core that is in 99% of solder to prevent rust and helps make a connection easier. the fumes is just the flux boiling away

[LED master22]

DUDE clean it up and re design

[jrgcool35]

The last picture is of the newly redesigned version.

[imarzouka]

http://ledcalculator.net

[CameronSS]

Nice! Where do you live that you have a Frys, and is it as cool as the one in Houston? That is the only one I've been to, and it was only to see the full-scale replica of the ISS suspended from the ceiling. Where I live there are three Ripoff -er, Radio- Shacks, but they are all on the other side of town.

[jrgcool35]

I don't really know. lol. But here is a good way to find a ton of frys stores. Go google: google earth and dowload it then search for frys at it will show you all the locations (google earth is free if u get a certain version) here is the link: Google Earth Dowload

[CameronSS]

Already have Google Earth, who doesn't?...closest Fry's is two states away. And another one two states away in the other direction. Rats.

[Wonderground]

Fry's is...alright look in the yellow pages for electronics wholesalers, it is surprising how many turn up. Also asking around local engineers is a good way to find some local stores.

[n0ukf]

That'd be fine if my local yellow pages were thicker than 1/4"

[jrgcool35]

or try google earth as i said that helps a lot. -.-

[hemlocke]

*diagram of 9v_led. http://www.kpsec.freeuk.com/components/led.htm
*wonder if i should have been wearing a snorkel this afternoon with a hepafilter on it while soldering and desoldering. *oh well.

[heyzuphowsitgoin]

haha i once blew up a led i guess i gave it too much voltage... it smelled bad too!

[Shifrin]

I Know It add's effect how it is now and all but, maybe we should put it in a case or sumthing...

[foto]

MY KIDS LIKE THESE. I LIKE THE TOPS OF OLD 9V FOR FIXING THE SWITCH AND LEDS TOO. THEN EPOXY IT! THESE LED'S ARE FROM BESTHONKONG AND WORTH THE WAIT.

[jrgcool35]

Sorry for the launguage but BESTHONGKONG sucks... I only use digikey, radioshack, or sparkfun. They sell the best for very low prices. (Radioshack only is low when bought in bulk).

[Shifrin]

how nice you leave him a comment like that when he thanks you...

[private eye]

can you use a smaller battery?

[jrgcool35]

Yes its possible jsut make sure your battery puts out enough voltage or the LED won't come on.

[T3h_Muffinator]

Use the macro function on your camera next time =)

[jrgcool35]

macro function??? Um.... I used a web cam for this i don't think those have that. Just to tell you -.-

[T3h_Muffinator]

Oh, I'm sorry. In that case, disregard my previous comment.

[Wonderground]

Meh, stuff like this has gotten a little dull for me. However it is not a bad start.

Try making a joule thief, here are some good links.

http://homepages.tesco.net/alx.smith/HowTo/011JouleThief.html
http://www.emanator.demon.co.uk/bigclive/joule.htm

-]PDF Beware[-
http://www.ledsales.com.au/kits/joule_thief.pdf

[bigpinecone]

BUY LEAD FREE SOLDER NEXT TIME

[LasVegas]

The fumes contain no lead. The only benefit to lead free solder is protecting the environment. BTW: Normal electronics solder with lead contains 40% lead and 60% tin. The fumes are entirely from the flux and is normally pine based. It might make you cough a little, but it's safe.

[irwinner]

as long as you don't eat the solder your not gonna get lead poisioning, thats why you can still buy it

[bigpinecone]

i'm trying to make the point that lead free solder is a much berrer alternative

[ARVash]

but leaded solder is good for eating :<

[schimmi]

i eat lead for breakfast lunch but not dinner, i eat steak for dinner, but for desert i eat a wonderful icecream sherbert with lead sprinkles!

[Brennn10]

Nice job for your first instructable. I hate going to Radio Shack, unless it is urgent because I got 1 blue LED there for 4 dollars, and I got 10 of them for 3 dollars off of a few of the electronics store sites. (besthongkong.com)I made a forum post about the "10 Great Electronics Suppliers" Check it out! Nice work!

[jrgcool35]

Thats the problem most people don't understnad they charge more when its only 1 in a box i bought a set of over 30 LED lights there for $2-$3.

[mark101]

that mask doesn't do anything, if anything it gives you , is a false sense of security and you might breath in deeper. The mask is for particulate materials. If there is mercury in the air ,it is in vapour or gasous form. Gas goes right through any filter kind of mask. Maybe an army activated charcoil filter mask would filter out mercury gas, I don't know.

[jrgcool35]

Its still better than nothing -.- But if you don't wanna wear it don't be stupid and try to inhale the fumes

[jrgcool35]

The radio chack next to me isn't very super inflated i don't really know why but everything that i bought was less than $2. : )

[jrgcool35]

Shack*

[Trans_Am]

Wouldn't it be more effective to use more led's instead of a resistor?

[LasVegas]

Even using more LEDs, you should always use a current limiting resistor. The purpose of the resistor isn't to drop the voltage, but to maintain the current at the optimal specification of the diode (LED). Your battery will last longer and your LED will run cooler.