TeaLED: Led, Switch, Box and Batteries (not Glue Nor Solder)

A Tiny Led lamp to use wherever you like, don't need electronics knowledge to make it, just cut an acetate sheet with the template included here... add 2 CR2032 batteries and 1 Led (white, flashing red, ultraviolet, RGB slow or fast, 10mm or 5mm).

I have always liked LED's and since their existance, I have been using them in a lot of projects, looking for a small box where to put it, using cheap materials to create a nice looking finished project. After a lot of designs with trial and error, now I designed a template to cut a PVC sheet (acetate/mylar) and made a box for the batteries, the switch and the led, without even using glue or solder.

So here is my first Instructable to teach you how to do it, and use it in a lot of ideas (I will give you some of them). I know that it looks like a kind of led throwie but it isn't (we don't have to throw things, it's better to recycle them), because its designed to put it in an exact place to illuminate whatever you want. You can change the batteries and either add to the base a piece of magnet or some velcro or double side tape, so that you can put the box on any place. The box also has a switch tab so that you can turn it on/off, Hope you like my project.

Step 1: Tools and Materials

Tools:
Steel Ruler, Cutting Mat, Sharp Cutter, Unsharpped Cutter, Scotch Tape,Template,
Scissors, Nose Pliers

Materials:
Led (5mm or 10mm), 2 Coin Batteries (CR2032), Acetate sheet (Mylar or PVC), Velcro,
Magnet Sheet, Double Side Tape.

You can use white LEDs, RGB slow or fast LEDs, Flashing LEDs, etc.

Here is a tip, if you need a diffused LED: Melt the wax of a candle and dip the led
in the melted wax 2 or 3 times, if you need to make it clear again just apply some heat to the led
and wipe the wax with a towel paper.

Don't use a resistor because for me the brighter the led the better it looks. Due to the
internal resistance of the batteries, the LED will not burn., You need to use 2 batteries to have 6 volts for the White and the RGB LEDs and also to have the LED on for a longer period of time. If you prefer to use one battery, just change the dimensions of the template.

Step 2: Cut and Fold

Cut the template paper and tape it to the cutting mat on the opposite corners, then cut a piece of the Acetate sheet and attached with tape on the other opposite corners.

- Mark the folding lines with the unsharpened knife and the ruler.
- Mark the 2 holes for the led's legs. and cut the line for the switch.
- Cut the template with the sharped knife and the ruler.
- Don't forget to cut the piece of plastic for the tab switch.

Start folding the template, but don't fold it completly, because we need to insert the led, the 2 batteries and the plastic tab that functions like the switch.

Step 3: Insert Led and Switch Tab

- Insert the tab Switch in the cut, in the middle of the box, then start to insert the Led.

- First put the short leg in the middle hole and bend the long leg and insert it in the flap hole.

- Then use the nose plier to bend the short leg in a circular shape as in the picture.

- After that, bend the long leg of the led as you bend the flap of the box.

Step 4: Insert the Coin Batteries and Close the Box

Now you are ready to fold the box and insert the batteries.

Be sure that the flaps are between the led's leg and the upper part of the box, and the plastic (that acts like a switch) is between the leg and the batteries.

Close the box, and check if something's wrong, compare your box with the images.

Be sure that the batteries are at the same position as the photo (+-)(+-).

Step 5: Turn It on and Off

Now pull the flap switch, and be sure the led is on.

To turn it off, push again the flap switch inside the box.

In case the led doesn't illuminate, check if your folds are correct, also that the position of the batteries are as the images below. Be sure the led's legs make contact with the batteries, check if the legs are correctly folded and in the right place.

Step 6: Add Velcro, Magnet or Double Side Tape

Now is ready to use, you can add to the bottom of the box some velcro, to attach it to a drawer, or inside your car. Also you can add a magnet to use it in your refrigerator, or add double side tape to stick it to a flower base or inside a candle.

Step 7: Photos for Some Uses of the TeaLed

Here are some ideas for the many different uses of my TeaLed Box:

a) A 10mm white led, with velcro at the bottom, attached to a drawer of the kitchen,

b) A 5mm blinking red led, with magnet at the bottom, holding a note in the fridge.

c) A 10mm white led, make a hole at the bottom of the candle, insert the Tealed.

Use your imagination, you can use the Tealed in many projects:
You can put it in paper bags, in wine cups, in flower vases, in Ice sculptures, etc.
Some ideas are already posted here in "instructables" look for them.

I hope you like my project, please add some comments and rate it, thanks for reading.