Altoids Flashlight for beginners

A really easy Flashlight made out of an altoids tin!!! Made for beginners!!

Step 1 Gather Materials

Here is Exactly what you need-

Altoids Tin (Rectangle Kind)

Any color LED

Push button momentary switch

3v battery (you could use 1 or 2 AAs, or what im using)

Hook up wire

TOOLS

Clippers

Tape

If your a guy like me, you'll have this stuff lying around, if not, (like normal people) You can get most of this stuff at Radio Shack

Comments

[funnywatermelon]

A LOVE IT

[raza896]

Why you have not used any resistor as i think it increases the life of LED? I am a beginner so don't make fun if I am wrong..........

[Kultz]

Well... A resistor is used when you need smaller curret to flow through LED. LED takes araund 3.5-5v tepends on its colour. if you use 3.5 volts you do not need a resistor, but if you use 9v u should use araund 330 ohm resistor. 9/0.03=300:P
SHORTLY:resistor is used to lower current! :D LED might indeed last longer:P
Sorry for my shitthole english :P

[account3r2]

You could add a led holder for about 1.00 more and not have to deal with the taping the led there. ---account3r2---

[sjoobbani]

a $??? you can buy the cheapy plastic LED snap holders for $1 for a pack of 25+

[MACKattacksnipe]

and a White LED but this is for beginners so good instructable

[jamesrtroy]

I have more of a question than a comment. I noticed that in your design of the Altoids flashlight you used a waffer thin battery. What kind of battery is this, and can it be recharged? Thanks, Jim

[hitachi8]

nice instructable but ; large case for a 4cm by 2cm project ...  

[dungeon runner]

Might wanna use some electrical tape on the tin, or it might short out on the metal.



-Y

[Dr. Pepper]

these are the instructables i love

[jason kb]

this is a really nice instructable

[judelizowski]

thanks man!

[jason kb]

hmm lol i havent been on instructables in months :( stoopid exams...but ahh i actually used ur concept for my science circuitry project...i didnt use leds and i couldnt find an altoid tin but i used the switch idea and i got a 100% so uhmm thx heres a pic...o and maybe u could mod ur idea and use two different colour LED's by using the knob switch or prob even use three flaslight bulbs like mine

[judelizowski]

Hey, sorry for the late reply. Congratz on your 100% in Science last year, great to hear it. I was just thinking of a mod when I saw your comment.

[jason kb]

lol...its no problemo...really...whats the mod gonna be? :P
should be awesome =D

[bobyochen]

(removed by author or community request)

[judelizowski]

Only a bit off-topic?

[bobyochen]

naw brah

[schimmi]

not the place and it's evangelion not eveglashin

[bobyochen]

well as you can tell i have fail spelling

[Connor-12]

Where might I find a place that sells switches? Would they at The Source (radio shack)?

[judelizowski]

Yeah, I buy all my parts at the source. Look in the back ouf the store, they should be there.

[schimmi]

yeah, they should have a lot unless you live in a really rural place

[Shifrin]

I made my holes using a hole pucher and they are perfecto!

[judelizowski]

hole puncher, hmm ill try that thx! :) -jude

[cdousley]

hole puncher is a good idea

[cdousley]

wow that is for begginers

[The Red Button]

dude, haha it looks like some crazy detonator. must build one (altoids detonator)...lmao

[kog103]

Good instructable, but I'm having the same problem as maggiejay below me, that the led is on unless the button is pressed. Do you know why this happens?

[The Red Button]

yeah i had that problem when i made an Infared Pen...you probably bought a momentary switch (nomally closed) you want a momentary switch that is (normally open) or maybe its the other way around....idk but it says on the back of the switch package

[fallenspirit123]

that is because you have the wrong kind of switch try finding a momentary on switch instead of a momentary off switch

[kog103]

Ahh, that makes sense. Thanks.

[Junk Mail]

try reversing the wires to the momentary swich

[maggiejay]

hey, so mine is on all the time unless i press the button then it turns off. strange. im sure i just did something backwards but ive done a lot of trouble shooting and nothing happens. advice? thanks though, this is great.

[fallenspirit123]

that is because you have the wrong kind of switch try finding a momentary on switch instead of a momentary off switch

[Coonie]

THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!! this is my first ever project with leds or wireing of any sort and i loved it after i made it i came back here and noticed i used the exact same battery led and switch!i bought them from radio shack today. the one flaw is that the battery was 5 dollars! yea its not alot but for one stinkin battery...yea. well thank you again! :D

[pyro man]

thats what i paid for mine too. then i went to kroger and saw 1 for like $2.50! and then i went to napa and saw ''' 2 ''' for $2.50!! '''i...was...mad!!!'''

[judelizowski]

I'm glad you liked it. I just took the batterie out of a dollar store mini led flashlight.. Crap batterie but it was $1.00!

[lawizeg]

Uhh, should you add a resistor or two??

[pyro man]

no need to if u only plan on using a 3 volt battery and if the led is a 3-volt