Blue LED light box

Build your own blue LED light box to combat SAD and winter blues. Sleep better and wake up with more energy while exploring the world of high-power LEDs. If 18 watts of LED power isn't enough to wake you, just add more LEDs!

Also, check out Blue LED dawn simulator for Soleil Sun Alarm.

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Step 1: Why blue light?

According to light box manufacturers 446 to 477 nm wavelength light is supposed to be the most effective for treating seasonal affective disorder (second to natural sunshine, of course). Instead of buying a commercial product that lacks external control and might be based on psuedo-science, I decided to take advantage of the rapidly falling price of high-power LEDs to build an 18-watt blue light.

oconnorm says: Feb 21, 2006. 5:40 PM

Thank you for sharing this project. You beat me to it!

You might be interested in reading the following article, which will be published in Biological Psychiatry this summer:

Light Therapy for Seasonal Affective Disorder with Blue Narrow-Band Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Glickman G, Byrne B, Pineda C, Hauck WW, Brainard GC.

You can find a preprint of this article on PubMed.

One of the problems with your implementation is that there is a huge tolerance on the light output of the devices you've chosen. If you want to replicate the device in the paper, you need 607 uW/cm^{2 at 50 cm.}

Entertainingly enough, Apollo LIght is trying to patent the use of LED arrays to treat SAD. If you're American, and you care about this, please be sure to voice your opposition to patent application # 20060009822 "Hand-held programmable ocular light therapy apparatus and methods"

a11en in reply to oconnormMay 10, 2007. 4:54 PM

Ok, I tried to find that pat application- can't seem to find it. :( Is there an inventor name to go along with it? Has the application been accepted already, or perhaps I'm searching for the number in the wrong way? Thanks!! [yes, patenting a number of blue led's in a row is definitely not a good patent]

a11en in reply to a11enMay 10, 2007. 4:56 PM

that's not a link- sorry!!

dan in reply to oconnormFeb 22, 2006. 7:47 PM

i can only read the abstract of the paper without paying, but even there it sounds like this study only tested one light intensity setting, so there is no data to support the idea that the intensity is highly critical. the distance from the lamp to your body will affect the received radiant energy tremendously.

i am not impressed with the quality of this study anyway, because they only tested red vs. blue, and did not test intensity effects. far more interesting would be to test against white light, which includes blue. why bother building a blue-only light when a bright white light has just as much blue in it anyway? oh right, so you can sell $500 blue lamps.

refer to the bottom of this page:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00269633
one of the studies listed tested white vs. blue and found little difference. all the studies agree that red has no effect. others found little effect from bright light at all. the results are all over the map.

mori in reply to danOct 21, 2007. 6:08 PM

I'm pretty impressed with this.. basically takes the possibility of melatonin suppression as a given and researches different wavelengths.
http://www.jneurosci.org/cgi/reprint/21/16/6405.pdf

oconnorm in reply to danFeb 23, 2006. 1:35 PM

>this study only tested one light intensity setting, so there is no data to >support the idea that the intensity is highly critical. Yah, it being an inverse square law and all, I see what you're saying. The study attempted to control for this - they showed people what 50 cm looks like at the beginning of the study, and asked them to reproduce that viewing distance at home. I would gently suggest that the idea that has no experimental support is your idea that the intensity doesn't matter. This study gives evidence of an effect at a particular intensity, and that is the only evidence that exists (at least, in my limited, nonspecialist survey of the literature.) >i am not impressed with the quality of this study anyway, because they > only tested red vs. blue The reason they tested against red is that it has been previously established that red has no effect. It's an experimental control thing. If you want to do an experiment where you tell the people that you're trying to see if light has an effect, you have to give the controls some colour of light since it would be a little bit of a tipoff if you gave them a box that doesn't light up at all.

dan in reply to oconnormFeb 23, 2006. 2:25 PM

ok, you can send this paper to medicalresearch@zblob.com i'm familiar with experimental methods. i'm not suggesting that intensity of light does not matter, of course it does. its just that we have no reason to think that the value selected by the experiment is anywhere near the useful minimum or maxium because they didn't test that variable (at least, according to the abstract). similarly, their study of red light vs. blue light is i'm sure completely valid scientifically, the problem is that it is not a very interesting question to be studying. answering this question sheds little light on what we are really interested in, questions like: can SAD be reduced through environmental therapy? what is an optimal strategy for doing this? what is the scientific basis (proposed mechanism) for any observed effect? could an understanding of the scientific basis lead to development of enhanced SAD treatment methods? there are many variables involved in answering those questions, and such a specific test as 'red vs. blue' gets very little further data towards an answer. some of the earlier studies seemed to have been more logical in terms of the variables tested in the studies. from a brief look at the abstracts of a number of papers it seems that a couple studies showed (unsurprisingly) that white light is just as effective as blue - which of course is completely logical since white includes blue. i'm not aware of any detrimental effect of the non-blue part of the white light (except the UV), so why is anyone bothering with making blue-only lights? it seems very silly. if you could show that blue-only was somehow more effective than white, now that would be interesting.

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ewilhelm (author) in reply to danFeb 23, 2006. 4:23 PM

I think manufacturers are making blue-only light products because blue-only can be smaller, more portable, and perhaps more power efficient than white light products that include the same amount of power in the specific blue frequencies. For the time being, take as given that they are correct about the specific frequencies; the amount of blue power from the GoLite could be replicated by a certain size incandescent bulb (for example a halogen bulb that would generate "waste" power in other visual frequencies and make a lot more heat than the LEDs). If this size halogen bulb could be housed in something smaller and more portable than the LED-based GoLite or this Instructable it wouldn't make sense to use blue-only lights. Off the top of my head, I don't know what size incandescent would be required, but I do know where Dan's next Instructable should be focused!

oconnorm in reply to danFeb 23, 2006. 3:59 PM

Yah, I agree that there are lots of questions still to be answered here, and that the study isn't perfect. For one thing, the study only used 20 people or so; it would be nice to have larger numbers. They used a pretty big array - wouldn't it be great if you only needed one (possibly high brighness) LED to get an effect? My light is going to try to reproduce the irradiance they used, since that's the only evidence-based treatment I've found. It would be really great if it didn't matter though - I have to drive 3 hours and beg shamelessly for access to a suitable radiometer.

dan in reply to oconnormFeb 23, 2006. 8:20 PM

if you know the rated output of the LED's (which is always on the spec sheet), you can calculate the irradiance. you don't need a meter.

oconnorm in reply to danFeb 24, 2006. 12:00 AM

Hee. Have you ever actually looked at the data sheets on the high-brightness LEDs? The tolerance on the light output is like 50%, and nobody is binning these parts for brightness. I suspect that's why Apollo is using old-style 5mm LEDs.

oconnorm in reply to danFeb 23, 2006. 1:11 PM

If someone were to post a (munged) email address, someone might receive a copy of the paper from an anonymous donor.

oconnorm in reply to oconnormFeb 21, 2006. 5:46 PM

That's Apollo Health, not Apollo Light.

calskin says: Oct 21, 2011. 12:28 PM

Do you remember an approximate cost of this project?

ABaruwal says: Jan 25, 2011. 5:14 AM

Im making a wake up light for my final engineering project and and unable to find useful information :(
Can anyone help me with the circuit for the wake up light, please.
Help much appericiated

Ragasteady says: Oct 31, 2009. 9:41 AM

This design involves a risk for the eyes. According to Lumileds documentation :

"Blue and RoyalBlue power light sources represented here are IEC825 class 2 for eye safety."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety#Class_2

This means that LED can cause damage is the user stares at them. HB LEDs should always have a diffusor in front of them.

jkollin in reply to RagasteadyJan 16, 2011. 2:04 PM

Yes, all commercial LED light boxes have diffusers on them.
I am looking into the blue light hazard and while it is not completely settled at what point it starts to be dangerous, it is clear that small point sources will be much worse than diffuse ones. Given how powerful the Luxeons are, I would STRONGLY urge you to use a diffuser. Even a thick piece of vellum an inch (3cm) away would help a lot.

If the mechanism for BLH is as expected, even 480nm light is likely to be hazardous, and even when diffused. 505nm light ("Cyan" for Luxeons) would be < 10% as dangerous as blue while being 60% as effective for reducing melatonin levels (the presumed mechanism for reducing SAD and restoring circadian rhythm).

So I am looking at building a box with 505nm to replace my Philips unit.

Finally, make sure the light box is in your upper peripheral vision - it appears the receptors for melatonin/circadian are there, and the area of most concern for BLH is the macula (center point of vision).

sensoryhouse says: Oct 14, 2007. 11:56 PM

I suggest heating the aluminum before bending any angles tighter than the ones used in this project. I wanted a true 90 degree angle for my project but the aluminum broke without heating with a torch. It made the bending easier too!

DELETED_gootchums in reply to sensoryhouseDec 21, 2008. 7:10 PM

(removed by author or community request)

Treknology in reply to DELETED_gootchumsJun 8, 2010. 7:17 AM

They've started flogging these in Oz too. How confident are you regarding 660nm and 880nm?

sunlike422 in reply to sensoryhouseSep 19, 2008. 2:05 AM

Just think my company make the similar products Morris Shenzhen aglare lighting co.,ltd

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ewilhelm (author) in reply to sensoryhouseOct 15, 2007. 11:40 AM

That's a nice looking light!

sensoryhouse in reply to ewilhelmNov 1, 2007. 2:56 PM

why thank you, Mr. CEO.

larsmunck says: Mar 3, 2010. 4:34 AM

Ok guys!... This will sound like Sci-fi i know, so bear with me!

Scientists in finland have found out that if you insert a pair of LED lights... in the ears (!) it cures SAD. Simple. Yes. Weird. Yes. Effective. Yes, because they have launched a product called the "Valkee". A moblile light theraphy gadget, that looks like a ipod with earplugs (i even think there is a mp3 player in it).

http://www.arcticstartup.com/2010/01/22/valkee-projects-light-onto-your-brain-literally/

So, now I am very curious of how to make a DIY version!
I am uncertain about size, color, power and if there is any risks of heating/ burns of the earcanal. But, please if you too are willing to test this, put the results up and lets hear it! My local electric store suggested a pair of 20 MA LED 5mm lights. What do you think?!!

larsmunck in reply to larsmunckMar 3, 2010. 4:36 AM

Here is a pic of the Valkee

1403 says: Jan 18, 2010. 9:38 AM

this is a great insperation to my school work

larsmunck in reply to 1403Mar 3, 2010. 3:35 AM

LED in ears cures SAD!!

Listen guys. This is going to sound like SCI-FI i know, but bear with me because this is awesome news! :)

Scientist in finland have found out that if you insert a pair of very strong LED lights in the ears, it cures SAD.... Simple. Yes. Weird. Yes. Effective. Yes, because they have allready launched a product thats on the market now caled "Valkee": http://www.arcticstartup.com/2010/01/22/valkee-projects-light-onto-your-brain-literally/

Its a portable lighting device, looks like a walkman, but it costs like 200 euros!

Now I am really curious to make a DIY set for myself, but a bit unsure how strong the LED should be, what size, color, and if there is risks like burns/ shock. I asked my local electrician and what he could produce was a white 20 MA LED.

What do you think!!?

larsmunck in reply to 1403Mar 3, 2010. 3:35 AM

hanlin_y in reply to larsmunckFeb 14, 2012. 12:22 PM

According to the study, 1 lumen was effective at treating SAD. It looks like 20 mA white LEDs are more than bright enough.You can dim it further with resistors if you prefer.

Blue and cyan may work too but the longer the wavelength, the safer it is. I have never used the Valkee before. If you have, please let me know about it. There is little if any risk of getting shocked from 3.6V but shorts can burn at any voltage.
http://www.valkee.com/uk/Transcranial_Bright_Light_Treatment-IFMAD.pdf

Here's an article about my opinion
http://hanlin-y.blogspot.com/2012/01/opinions-on-valkee-brain-stimulation.html

Thav says: Jan 11, 2010. 9:41 AM

I haven't looked at LED prices lately, but maybe something like this would be easier for some people to deal with.

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=6790284

I think all you would have to do is then provide a power supply and mount that enclosure to a heatsink. It certainly doesn't have the aesthetic appeal of your design, but it's an option.

Farles says: Aug 7, 2007. 1:29 AM

Why use those Luxeon Leds, as you could simply use raw LEDs... anyways, looks great, love the aluminum shaping... gives me ideas :P

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ewilhelm (author) in reply to FarlesAug 7, 2007. 10:33 PM

I used the Luxeon's because they are much brighter.

moep in reply to ewilhelmAug 17, 2009. 2:17 AM

very professional :-) thanks for sharing. We are in the Led lighting field also, manufactuer in Ningbo city, China I am Annie from Paneralighting Co., www.paneralighting.com annie.deng@paneralighting.com , hope we have a change to talk about the lighting details:-)

captdecoy says: Jan 16, 2009. 12:39 AM

Have you considered a hat version of a lightbox? I've been thinking of modding a Luxion LED headlamp with a blue LED and attaching it to a hat visor facing inward.