Patch Cable Fiber optic star ceiling (false ceiling)

One night I showed my significant other a fiber optic star ceiling; it was here on instructables.  The one I speak of is from a kit.  I do not have money for the kit, so I figured I would improvise

Materials:

Fiber optic patch cable from ebay -  200+feet w/shipping $25.00
Wire cutter/strippers                        -  RadioShack $12.00
Diamond stone                                -  Friend
Razor blades/scissor                     -  personal collection
Volt meter                                          - Frys Electronics $5.00
1000mcd White LED                      -  20 count Ebay $0.99 for the lot
150K resisters                                 - Free w/purchase of LED
Board (polystyrein)                          -  Home Depot $6.00
#8 - 3" screws                                  -  Home Depot 9 count $4.00
Beard Board                                     -  Frys Electronics $6.00
patients
Time                                                   - 15 to 20 hours

Step 1 Gather materials

Search in these places:

Ebay
Electronics Store
Personal doomsday box

Comments

[james_1024]

Really nice instructable. I know you used board from a DIY store but incase anyone wants to try this with random polystyrene or old tiles: Polystyrene ceiling tiles can be a big fire risk. The ones available from DIY stores now are treated with a fire retardant so they don't burn. Old tiles and random flat packaging may not and will burn and drip hot plastic and toxic smoke during a house fire (Get some packaging, take it outside and set fire to it if you want to see how well this stuff burns)

[HarveyH44]

150k resistors are much too large. The usually forward voltage of a white LED, is around 3.4 volts. With a 5 volt supply, you would need an 82 ohm resistor for each LED to run a 20 mA, which is about as high as you want to go. 150k = 150,000 ohms...

[VelocitaPaola]

LED's can take more than 5V; they're tolerant of a lot of a wide range of voltages. The current is a different matter though. The resistors you used are definitely large enough to protect them from too much current, but the LED's are probably dimmer than they need to be. Try replacing the 150k ohm resistors with 220 ohm or 330 ohm resistors.