Further to my instructable for the '''Awesome Harry Potter Wand''', here is a more technical version. Still as beautiful to look at (more so if you have practiced on the simpler version) and yet this one actually performs magic (albeit science driven magic). A simple UV LED is used in line with a battery and a home made switch to make a wand that is able to illuminate otherwise invisible UV marker pen writing, and is bright enough to be a torch for the Lumos and Lumos Maxima charms.
Actually, it's very easy to make. If you have wanted to do something vaguely electronic, but the whole electronic thing frightens you, this is a good place to start. You will be building about the simplest circuit there is (a light, battery and switch), but the effect is incredible. This project provides a nice combination of craft and technical challenges with an equally interesting result.
If you thought the other wand was amazing wait till you have seen this, it'll blow you away.
For more great making and doing projects, free printables and templates of the highest quality please see my site dadcando.
And if you make one of these post up a picture of it, or better still email me and I'll put a picture of your wand up on dadcando.
Please Note: You should never point a bright light into someone's eyes. Apart from the fact that it is not very nice to be dazzled, bright LEDs and Bright UV LEDs can in certain circumstances cause damage to the retina (the back of the eye that does the seeing!) and the cornea (the bit the light goes through). When scavenging bits from another device, never increase the battery voltage or add other components designed to up-rate the output of LEDs or lights, unless you really know what you are doing, because you can easily break them, give your self a shock or create a fire hazard.
As Zootboy has pointed out, only use the batteries suggested in the instructable because they have the correct internal resistance. Using batteries with a lower internal resistance could cause the batteries to heat up or the LED to get hot and burn out.
However, this is not a problem at all if you use the batteries suggested.
Happy Making
Actually, it's very easy to make. If you have wanted to do something vaguely electronic, but the whole electronic thing frightens you, this is a good place to start. You will be building about the simplest circuit there is (a light, battery and switch), but the effect is incredible. This project provides a nice combination of craft and technical challenges with an equally interesting result.
If you thought the other wand was amazing wait till you have seen this, it'll blow you away.
For more great making and doing projects, free printables and templates of the highest quality please see my site dadcando.
And if you make one of these post up a picture of it, or better still email me and I'll put a picture of your wand up on dadcando.
Please Note: You should never point a bright light into someone's eyes. Apart from the fact that it is not very nice to be dazzled, bright LEDs and Bright UV LEDs can in certain circumstances cause damage to the retina (the back of the eye that does the seeing!) and the cornea (the bit the light goes through). When scavenging bits from another device, never increase the battery voltage or add other components designed to up-rate the output of LEDs or lights, unless you really know what you are doing, because you can easily break them, give your self a shock or create a fire hazard.
As Zootboy has pointed out, only use the batteries suggested in the instructable because they have the correct internal resistance. Using batteries with a lower internal resistance could cause the batteries to heat up or the LED to get hot and burn out.
However, this is not a problem at all if you use the batteries suggested.
Happy Making
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Signing UpStep 1: Get a cheap UV marker and key ring LED set
you can get these off the web, or from Amazon. I have searched for them and there are some links on the Magical Wands page of dadcando for the cheapest I could find, but most big office stationers or art shops should stock them.
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Just saw off the very top of the wand, and the only about 1mm down on the 'wooden' part. Extract the LED and replace it with a UV bulb.
How long does your LED last?
How do you know the specs on the LED light? I'm looking to purchase the components cheaply, but I want to match resistance, and not burn out the bulb. I can get the batteries and LEDs for significantly cheaper if I'm not buying a whole keyring at $.99 apiece. (I'm making several of these, and don't want to make the cost X10 because I'm spending a dollar per LED when I could spend pennies.)
Do you know what the viewing angle on the keyring light is? Do you know if the wand would get too hot if I put resistors in the circuit?
Q Does the paperclip switch burn out?
A. NO
Q How long does your LED last?
A. 100,000 hours is typical, way beyond what you will need
Q How do you know the specs on the LED light?
A. Look on the internet, there are plenty of websites that will give you the equation for determining the correct resistor to use for each LED and some LEDs have built in resistors. Each type of LED and each colour will have a specific forward voltage and thus require a different resistor value deepening on the power supply (battery) you are using.
Q Do you know what the viewing angle on the keyring light is?
A No, but look on the web, viewing angles of LEDs are pretty standard.
Q Do you know if the wand would get too hot if I put resistors in the circuit?
A. No, the LEDs must have a resistor in series with them to stop them burning out immediately.
Good luck
could i cut it near the end and put the light in and then glue/or tape(lots)it back together
i really want to make it for world book day
please can u subscribe to me then show me easier ways on how to make a
light up harry potter wand on my orange board :)
If you fit a changeover switch with a centre off you can have a white LED at the tip and two UV LEDs at the sides of the tip and if the leds are covered if a UV filter its effect really spooky as the LED's are invisible under the filter
If you find it don't put it in a Epson type The Da... stuff kills the ink jet head
A better way is to get a couple of UV pens and dissolve the ink out with I.S.P.
and then use that in a washed out cartage.
refill black ink cartridge and print away... Be sure to 400 powder ,the granules will explode in the microwave(happened to me ) Don't know about uv ink but ask about it at the site they have everything else