My LED Throwies

This is my version of the LED Throwies project. I'll be using different LEDs and magnets. I just thought it would be nice to post it so everyone could see how it differs from the real, original Throwies. All credit, etc. goes to Graffiti Research Lab, a division of the Eyebeam R&D OpenLab.

Step 1: Materials

Here is what I ordered for my first Throwie set:

100 CR2032 3V Lithium Batteries
100 "Super-Brite" LEDs (50 Red, 50 Yellow)
50 Magnets (1/2" Dia x 1/8" Thick NdFeB Disc Magnet)
Packing tape Roll

Here is what I have concluded about my first set of ten throwies:

-The magnets seem to loose a little of their strength when they are attached to the battery.
-The "Super-Brite" LEDs ARE way bright but,
-My LEDs were not diffused, so they don't "glow", they just "point-shine".
-Packing tape is hard to strip down into battery-width strips.

Comments

[reboticon]

Does anyone know where I can get cheap led lights?

I found a website but am not sure how trust worthy the site is to purchase from (http://www.superbrightleds.com). Radioshack has some, but they are more expensive.

I'm looking to design a costume with a bunch of these led lights in it so I need to figure out how to affix the lights to clothing. But the first step is finding these lights cheaply!

Any leads/help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[no_light]

china, i got 100+ for like 45yuan which is7 dollars

[Linkster999]

ebay bro get 100 for 8.00

[sjs229]

you can get them for a ruppee in india

[thepelton]

American Science and Surplus.

[thepelton]

www.sciplus.com

[wadadli]

That site is great. Thanks for the tip

[omgflyingbanana]

aperture science laboratories.

[anonomas29]

try this link

[tubbychick3n]

around chirstmas time, try this out.

[Jeebiss]

To get them cheap, buy them in bulk. Ebay is great for cheap, bulk LEDs from china.

[Nicrostar]

This reply is almost 2 years after your comment, if your still interested try abctronics.com, 1k red or yellow 3mm or 5mm Leds for 26.99

[MrMacman2u]

I've purchased from www.superbrightleds.com AND another place called www.ledshoppe.com they both have great deals on "cheap" LED's of all colors. The only thing to keep in mind is these are "low quality" LED's that have poor color consistency... meaning you wouldn't want to use them in a 5 million dollar display because it'd look "patchy". As for throwies, they work PERFECTLY and the price is low! Hope this helped!

[apider36439]

http://www.hebeiltd.com.cn/?p=z.pricelist.led.diode less than 4 cents each 99 dollar min order

[montiet]

check out ebay, I got 50 for 4 bucks. just type in "(size) (color) LEDs", you can do the same for batteries, just gotta find some that aren't from china otherwise ur gunna pay a boatload on shipping.

[ugs]

We did this same type idea with IR Diodes. We built tiny throw away circuits out of a IR LED, 3 vdc Lithium battery and photocell. We emplaced them in the daylight at areas we needed marked as perimeter or boundries of types. Then at night we would veiw the area using night vision to gain the exact area marked with the LED. They sell 9 volt White light and IR Light Beacons that plug directly onto a 9 volt battery. They have been around since the Vietnam War and work just like your little contraption does. Good Idea!

[ugs]

How long do they stay lit when using a ultra brite LED / 3 vdc Lithium battery?

[jaredc]

Can you list your per item costs?

[palencia]

hey anyone know where I can get a pack of LEDs in scarborough? get back at me please!!!! : )

[Zem]

What's the shoestring for? A throwing device?

[Redgerr]

to be able to like hang on trees and such

[Zem]

Ooooh. Cool.

[Zem]

I found that the dollar store down the street sells the coin batteries in 5 packs =D Throwies here I come.

[ampeyro]

if magnets are expensive, try with a soft glue or playdough, or something sticky

[thepelton]

Why not use a velcro hook strip?

[chosenangelx]

try stringing on 10 or 15 on 1 magnet ( if strong enough)

[Johnny2x4]

what happens if a building is an engineering test lab???

[Johnny2x4]

haha cool. I dont know why I asked that question.

[fordman15243]

It explodes.

[genius245]

You can get magnets really cheap at DealExtreme. Shipping is free, too.
http://www.dealextreme.com/products.dx/category.1105~search.magnets

[lasoaaro]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned this (at least i don't think they did... read all the comments..) You could try using Hot Glue to attach the magnets to the battery, and you could hot glue the top lead for the LED as well... just a thought...

[paulezra]

i see lots of comments about the battery polluting.. don't you guys try to get your throwies back after use to save on costs? pull them apart put a new battery in, throw the old ones away at some kinda battery recycling place. rather than paying for all the parts your only paying for the battery again.

[paulezra]

try using a nail file to file down the top of the LED's, this seems to diffuse them a bit.

[codongolev]

my brother wants to make a throwie to shoot out of our potato cannon at night. OMG IDEA!!! use trigonometry to determine an actual estimate of the height of the throwie!

[paulfrederic]

(removed by author or community request)

[peanutthegreat]

a single battery+16000 l. of water=polution??? whatever this guys smoking i want 20 of them

[Epeoples]

I don't get it? don't we clean our water BEFORE we drink it?

[imnotnoob]

Wow... thats about 400,000+ cartons of fresh milk...

[ytomk]

what type of battery? that could be from a car battery or something

[grahamslawson]

Lighten up dude.