Altoids Bike Headlight On The Cheap!

This instructable is an entry in the Bicycle Contest, so please vote!
This instructable is an entry in the Hurricane Laser Contest, so please vote!
This instructable is an entry in the Green Tech Contest, so please vote!
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Everyone riding a bike at night needs a headlight, or else someone might hit them with a car! But headlights are so expensive. I went to a bike shop in VA and the cheapest headlight was $25!!! That's crazy! So here's how to make one for pretty cheap!

WARNING: THIS INSTRUCTABLE USES POWER TOOLS AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING STUPID YOU DO TO YOURSELF WHILE MAKING THIS FLASHLIGHT. WHEN USING THE DREMEL, IT DOES MAKE SPARKS, SO BE CAREFUL AND WEAR SAFETY GOGGLES!

Step 1: Ingredients

For the electrical part:
1- Altoids Tin (or Small project box)
3- 5mm High-Brightness LEDs
3- Snap-in LED holders
1- Switch of your choice. I used a sliding STSP switch.
1- 9V battery, or other battery. Just know how much power your LEDs need and what resistance to give them. I used noahw's instructable "LEDs for Beginners" to find out how much resistance to use.
1- 9V battery snap
Some wire
Wire cutters/strippers
Solder & Soldering Iron
Heat Shrink (optional)

For everything else:
1- old bike horn
E-6000 glue (or similar)
Electrical Tape
Drill will assorted drill-bits
Dremel with cutting wheel & sanding attachment
Safety goggles for when using power tools

Comments

[jolshefsky]

I saw this one come up on Adafruit's blog and thought it was hilarious that I made the exact same design with four changes:

• I used 2 LED's and a resistor so the LED's would work even if the battery got very dead.
• I added a "horn" with a piezo buzzerM
• My handlebar mount is a screw-type hose clamp.
• My switch is a pull-chain type because I thought it would be funny to have a light with a pull-chain.

Nice job regardless!

[Winged Fist]

Adambowker98 - You got my votes for all the contests you entered! (And 5 stars;-) Great use of an Altoids tin!

[Adambowker98]

Thanks! I made it because I had an empty tin and really needed a headlight that didn't cost $50!