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Learn to wire up two sequences of three LEDs to a PC board, mount to a project box (Altiods tin), and control them with the use of a power and variable switch.
Please note that this is a beginner project, and that I am just learning to solder and wire myself.
The wiring here is fairly simple, but it takes some thinking to figure out, especially without an equally confusing diagram...
It's amazing how much I'm getting flamed for such a simple project. I fully acknowledge that it was possible for me to use a bigger battery with a resistor, however I did not have a resistor with the appropriate ohm value at the time for any of the batteries I had present. Not to mention this is a beginner project, and the button cells work fine, even with a sequence of three LEDs. To go even farther, the maximum voltage for the green LEDs is exactly 3v. A 1ohm resistor would be useless here. The maximum voltage for the yellow is slightly less than 3v, but enough that they've been left on for more than a couple days combined, and are doing just fine.
Please note that this is a beginner project, and that I am just learning to solder and wire myself.
The wiring here is fairly simple, but it takes some thinking to figure out, especially without an equally confusing diagram...
It's amazing how much I'm getting flamed for such a simple project. I fully acknowledge that it was possible for me to use a bigger battery with a resistor, however I did not have a resistor with the appropriate ohm value at the time for any of the batteries I had present. Not to mention this is a beginner project, and the button cells work fine, even with a sequence of three LEDs. To go even farther, the maximum voltage for the green LEDs is exactly 3v. A 1ohm resistor would be useless here. The maximum voltage for the yellow is slightly less than 3v, but enough that they've been left on for more than a couple days combined, and are doing just fine.
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Signing UpStep 1Materials
The materials required for this project are fairly basic, and most can be bought/obtained from RadioShack and your local hardware store.
Tools:
Needlenose Pliers
Soldering Iron
DREMEL (woo!)
Parts:
Wire - Any scrap will do, just make sure you have enough, it is extremely helpful if you have two colors
PC board - I got mine at RadioShack, they're cheap
Six LEDs - Three one color, and three another. All should be low enough voltage to be powered by 3-4 volts. (two 1.5-ish button cells)
Two switches - One 1-way and another 2-way
Solder
Two 1.5V Button cell batteries - Power
Electrical Tape
Multimeter - Optional, helps test connections
Tools:
Needlenose Pliers
Soldering Iron
DREMEL (woo!)
Parts:
Wire - Any scrap will do, just make sure you have enough, it is extremely helpful if you have two colors
PC board - I got mine at RadioShack, they're cheap
Six LEDs - Three one color, and three another. All should be low enough voltage to be powered by 3-4 volts. (two 1.5-ish button cells)
Two switches - One 1-way and another 2-way
Solder
Two 1.5V Button cell batteries - Power
Electrical Tape
Multimeter - Optional, helps test connections
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A standard LED would (typically) have a maximum forward voltage of 2.5V applying a greater voltage will cause damage to them.
The two button cells are not really up to the job of powering 6 LEDs in parallel.
Cheers,
Pat. Pending
Throwies are generally made with a single LED and a Lithium cell. These cells have much higher capacities than the ones you are using (e.g.,CR2032 > 200mAh).
Yes you can get away with not using a current limiting resistor in this case because the button cells are so underpowered for this application. The excess voltage is dropped across the internal resistance of the button cells.
Having a large tin and using tiny button cells just doesn't make sense. My advice would be to use two AA cells and series resistors of the appropriate size.
Cheers,
Pat. Pending
Why not? Easier mounting.
2) why a one way switch then a 2 way switch?
I'm not quite sure what you mean here, but the one-way switch controls the power supply, (on/off switch) and the two-way switch controls which color LEDs you want to light up.
Using two two-way switches would be pointless, because half of one of them wouldn't be used at all. I can't use two one-way switches because I wouldn't be able to switch power between the LED banks, which was my goal.
But Good Instructable , Easy To follow , Great Beginners Project