Magnetic Refrigerator Lights

Step 5 Assemble The 3.6 Volt LEDs (blue, white and green)

Bend the pins on the LEDs to lie flat, then use the wire wrapping tool (or similarly tipped tool) as a shape to bend the wires around so that they encircle the tool. Try to make it so the outside of the circle shapes reaches the outside edges of the bottom of the LED and that both circles are on opposite sides of the LED.

Once the wires are bent, use nail clippers or small wire cutters to cut off excess wire. You only need one looping of the wire to form a circle with each LED pin. Next, use needle-nose pliers to adjust the loop so that the inside of the circle is just a little bit smaller than the diameter of the magnets. This will add a bit of spring to the wires so that they clamp over the magnets when you push them in. (Don't add the magnets just yet.)

Before attaching the magnets to the LEDs I used modeling clay to hold the LEDs upside-down. Get your magnets ready. Mix up a small batch of epoxy. Apply a small bit of epoxy into the center of each circle of wire. Apply just enough for the magnets to hold without having the epoxy overflow over the bottom of the LED.

Now place magnets onto one side of each LED. They will most likely just jump onto the top edge of the circle of wire as the wires will attract the magnets. Once one row is place, use the cap from a cheap pen to push the magnets into the center of the circle and press down on them until they "click" into place. If they don't "click", or are too hard to push into the circle, you may need to adjust the diameter of the looped wire on your next batch of LEDs.

Add magnets to the second row of pins in the same way. If any epoxy gets onto the pen cap, just wipe it clean with a tissue. This will prevent covering the tops of the magnets with epoxy.

For the next minute or two, use the pen cap to level off the tops of the magnets. Then let them sit for 20 minutes or so. You do not want to be moving the magnets now because it will potentially break it's contact with the looped wire.

After 20 minutes, you can use a toothpick to carefully scrape any epoxy that may have covered the top surface of the magnets. Don't try placing the magnets onto your fridge until several hours have passed as the metal surface of the fridge will pull at the magnets and break the contact with the LED wires.

You can test your LEDs before the epoxy has completely hardened with a 3V battery attached to small wires - simply touch the wires to the magnets to see the LEDs light up. Try both ways because LEDs will only light up if power is hooked up in the correct polarity.