COMPACT LED LIGHT

Intro: COMPACT LED LIGHT

INTRO
This is a Compact LED Light on the lines of a COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHT. (CFL). It runs on 220 Volts AC or can also be made to run on 110 volt AC, if the value of the CONDENSER is changed to .47uF / 250Volts, AND the RESISTOR is changed to 1K / 1Watt.

STEP 1: STEP-1

Items you will need.

30 Extra bright White LED's of 5mm size.
3 Strips of Sun-mica Lamination Board.
One Condenser- value of 0.22uF / 400 Volts.
One Resistor- value of 1K - 1/2 Watt.

Making of the base BOARD.
Three strips of Sun-mica Lamination Board, is cut to size as to make a Triangle to fit the inside of the PVC base of the light. The base is taken from the bottom portion of a fused CFL light, as shown in STEP-3.
The length of the three strips of Sun-mica Lamination Board is to be determined by you, but 4.5 inches will do.
Drill small holes for the legs of the LED to penetrate through the board.
Each 3 sections of the board is laid together and taped with cello tape at the back to reinforce it and hold it together.

STEP 2: STEP-2

In this step you solder the LED's as shown in the circuit diagram.

EXTRA care should be taken to maintain the POLARITY of the LED's.

For this reason see the placement of the LED's as shown in the diagram

with the long and short legs of the LED's.

Long leg = + (plus) . Short Leg = -.(minus)

STEP 3: STEP-3

In step-3 you can see from where the base of the light is taken

and how the Capacitor and Resistor are fixed to it.

The base of he light is made of the lower portion of a fused CFL tube light.

The two leads goes to the bottom of the base.

STEP 4: STEP-4

In Step-4 you can see the reverse side of the Board, and how the LED's are soldered.

Each legs of the 4-LED's are soldered in the middle and so on......................

STEP 5: STEP-5

In this step the light board is folded into a triangle and fixed by clear cello tape to hold it in place.

The Capacitor and Resistor are put inside the bottom housing taking care that they should not

short circuit. Place a small plastic piece between them.

Cut a plastic bottle from the top so that the diameter fits the bottom housing and tape it to the base.

STEP 6: STEP-6

In this step your COMPACT LED LIGHT is assembled and is ready for use,

Fix it in an electric bulb holder and switch it on and ENJOY the soft light.

STEP 7: STEP-7

CONCLUSION

For those who wish to get an even brighter light, then they can MODIFY it by

Using 3 Capacitor and 3 Resistor as shown in this Circuit Diagram of STEP-7.

Comments

[FitriantoH]

I've read your detail,but I still don't understand.
I've read if peak of AC voltage for 220V is:
220V * (2)^0.5 about 311V.
Voltage for 15 LED = 15 * 3.3V about 50V.
Commonly current for LED is 20mA,so: (311 - 50) / 0.02 about 13K ohm.
13K ohm = 1 / (2 * pi * freq * C); where pi = 3.14, freq = 50Hz, so: 1 / C = 13000 * 314, so value of C is about 0.24uF.
Or maybe function of the resistor 1K so voltage on the capacitor is lower than (311 - 50)V or 261V?
Thanks...

[samanthakate]

Your compact led light is really cool!Thanks for the design but if you would please, give me a technical explanation how it works. I made this and am curious how it works! Thank you in advance sir!

[Dipankar]

What you should be interested in is the current through your
LED's, and that can be calculated this way:

For each cycle (+ or -), you have 15 of them. So that means
together they 'need' 15 * 3.3v or about 50v.

Now the 220 vac puts out 220 * 1.4 or 308v

So, the "leftover" volts the cap need to handle is
308-50, or 258volts peak.

Now the REAL maths: the resistance of the .22uF cap:

1 / (2 * pi * freq * C) which works out to 14.5K-ohms for
50c/s. (that's why we need AC)

Now current, i = V/R, so for we have 258/14500 = 18mA, which
is also what is allowed to go through the LED's in your circuit. Now remember
that this is only for half the time, so it's REALLY safe for the LED.

But fortunately, we have another set of LED's lighting in the
OTHER half of the time, plus our eyes have a thing called persistence of vision
which remembers the brightest light for about 1/20 of a second, and so your
light 'appears' to be almost as bright as a LED that is constantly lit at 17mA,
which is about 75% of maximum brightness.

[Dipankar]

Americans use 110 volts and the English use 220 volts that is why 220 volts is an European thing.

[Ahtasham Ahmad Mohtashim]

The light is a bit flashy type of,what can i do to fix it.can i use a bit bigger capacitor like 0.23uF? Or anything else

[Dipankar]

It is a common 5mm LED which works on 3.5 volts.

[trekman]

Where do you get the Sun-mica Lamination Board? What store sells it? Thanks, Great Instructable!

[Dipankar]

In INDIA you get it from any Ply-Board store. It is a common item in a Ply-Board store. It is used to be pasted on ply-board Table top.

[trekman]

Thanks for the quick reply. Can you give an American equivalent? We would call Ply-Board, Ply-Wood and I think you might be talking about a plastic laminate that is glued on top. Dose that sound right? I am having a hard time finding a .22uf Cap @ 400 Volt. Would .22uf @ 250 Volt work? Thanks, Tom

[Dipankar]

(I think you might be talking about a plastic laminate that is glued on top. Dose that sound right?)
You are RIGHT
Would .22uf @ 250 Volt work? NO NO NO NO NOT SAFE
For 220 volts 400
For 110 volt 250.

[fohio]

Hello,

It is hard to find nonpolarized capacitor .22uF @ 400 for 220, can I use .22uF @630 volts for 220 ?

Thanks.

[Dipankar]

Yes you can use a .22uf @ 360volts

[fohio]

excuse me, sir. You might read my post incorrectly ...I asked 630 volts , can I use it? Many thanks in advanced

[Dipankar]

Try it, it should work.
If the voltage is more no problem but it should be .22uf.

[fohio]

Thanks for your quick replies...I would try and post the result soon, again, thanks

[fohio]

Thanks for your quick replies...I would try it and post the result soon, again thanks.

[fohio]

please...answer ....anyone ...help...thanks in advance

[fizaro]

ello dipankar I want to make a Combination in your thread, I want to know the details sequence. therefore, could you send the circuit and specification of components in use?

[Dipankar]

I am unable to follow your question. Please write in detail.

[Dipankar]

I am unable to follow your question. Please write in detail.