12V Mini, Wearable, Mobile Power Source:

Finding a power source small enough to hide, yet powerful enough to feed your LEDs is not easy.

This tutorial will show you how to build your own 12V power source for your DIY projects.

No shock, No solder, No glue!

Under my relaxed tests, this 12V battery source has powered a 9 LED strip for 50 hours straight.

Step 1: Items and Tools You'll Need:

Items:

4 pack of CR2032 3V batteries

Ethernet cable

Shrink wrap tubing

Nickel sew-on snaps

Tools:

Wire splicers

Scissors

Tweezers

Heat gun or blow dryer

Step 2: Secure the Batteries:

Cut 4, 1/4" pieces of shrink wrap tubing.

Cut 1, 1.25" piece of shrink wrap tubing.

Stack the batteries and push them through one 1/4" inch tubing sleeve.

Now, push the new battery stack into the 1.25" inch tubing sleeve.

Stretching the larger tubing prior to inserting the batteries helps.

Step 3: Creating the Power Leads:

Splice the ethernet cable to reveal 4 pairs of twisted wires.

Cut two 6" strands of wire (or the length you prefer).

Now, splice 2" at one end of these wires to reveal the bare copper wires. Thread the bare copper wire through the holes of the Nickel plated sew-on snaps.

Pull and thread the wire securely.

Step 4: Attaching the Power Leads:

Carefully separate the shrink wrap tubing from the side of the battery stack (I used plastic tipped tweezers)

Slide the un-spliced end of one 6" cable through the space you just made.

Slide the second wire from the opposite end of the space you made.

Now you have the sew-on snaps ready to slide under the 1/4" shrink wrap sleeve.

Be sure to place the flat side of the sew-on snap against the batteries.

Now heat the shrink wrap tubing to "lock in" the power leads and batteries (about 10-22 seconds).

Important:

While heating/shrinking the shrink wrap tubing, Hold the battery ensemble from a wire, while blowing the heat away from your fingers.

Step 5: Finalizing Your New, Wearable 12V Battery:

Slide the last three 1/4" shrink wrap tubing sleeves over your new battery pack.

Now heat the shrink wrap tubing to "lock in" the battery (about 10-22 seconds).

Important: While heating/shrinking the shrink wrap tubing, Hold the battery ensemble from a wire, while blowing the heat away from your fingers.

Comments

[miraheng]

i cant see how the 4 1/4" shrink went thru

[merkabalite]

Hi Mira, What steps do you need help with?

[3366carlos]

good job.

[merkabalite]

Thanks 3366carlos.

[thuzil]

You can often get those cr2032 batteries at the dollar store for $1 a pack of 3 or 4.

[seamster]

Very nice and simple. Well done.

[merkabalite]

Thanks seamster. After multiple "high-tech" R&D attempts, simpler was best.