LED Night Pen

In this Instructable I will show you how to make a pen that lights up when you press a button on it. I am a lazy person who doesn’t like to turn on the lights when I’m using the computer, and so I thought it might also be handy to be able to write in the dark. The picture in the last step shows the pen at work (Don’t worry; it’s not actually as bright as it looks in the photo!). Warning: Glue guns and soldering irons get hot; I can’t be responsible if you burn yourself.

Step 1 Gathering Supplies

For this Instructable you will need:
Materials:
• one ordinary stick pen with a plastic case (not metal)
• one switch (the kind you find inside a computer mouse; look at the first few pictures)
• one USB cord long enough for easy use on table or desk while in reach of the USB port
• one LED
• wire (for leads on the LED)
• newspaper to protect the floor

Tools:
• a dremel tool or a drill with which you can cut the plastic pen casing
• a soldering iron, unless you’ve already removed the switch from the mouse
• a hot glue gun with glue sticks
• scissors or wire strippers
• an electrical tester