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USB powered LED christmas tree

Step 8Base tree

Base tree
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Take the wooden block (or circular shape) and drill a hole in the center of it with a bit that is a tad bit larger than the diameter of the wire/coat hanger you used. Now, cut the block in half with a chop saw.

now, using a dremel and the cutting tool, cut off the top part of one of the peanut butter jar covers.

Heat up your hot glue and glue one of the wood pieces to the peanut butter top piece so that the hole lines up in the exact center of the cap (there's a little nipple so it's easy to do). Next glue the other piece onto the still-intact peanut butter jar lid. Then take the same drill bit you used for the wood and drill into the intact peanut butter cap through the hole you made in the wood.
Now, in the mostly intact lid, using a file (or dremel), make a 1/4 in by 1/4 cut into the side of the lid, this is for the USB cable.
Next, pull the three wires (one from the green/blue LEDs, one from the red LEDs, and one from the white LEDs) through the hole, and then put the tree trunk through the hole as well. It should fit pretty snugly.

Now, solder the wire from the green/blue LEDs to one of the 178 ohm resistors( one 390 and one 330) , the wire from the red LEDs to the 195 (two 390's) ohm resistor, and the wire from the white LED to the other 178 ohm resistor ( one 390 and one 330). Cover all the open connections (except the open end of the black wire) with electrical tape, you don't want a short, and hot glue the USB cable into place giving it about an inch inside the lid.


Now, you can try and solder the extended black wire to the tree trunk, but I suggest just stripping it pretty long and contact fitting the wire between the trunk and the bottom wooden piece. (the trunk goes in the hole, but first take the stripped wire and put it across the hole)
Next, hot glue the tree trunk into the bottom wooden piece, and test the usb cable/tree. Everything should light up and you should be very happy.

Now, close up the two lids and hot glue them together, MAKE SURE that the tree is perpendicular to the top lid, we're not making the leaning tower of treeza.

NOTE: The one thing I regret is not making the base heavy enough, you can weigh it down with some bolts, washers, what ever. Just make sure you insulate it so that you do not short out any of the circuitry.
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Author:T3h_Muffinator(olopede)
I'm a just a not-so-average human with a passion for making. I see a world of hackers, makers, and producers as the sun rises in the near future. I'm starting olopede, an educational electronics k...
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