Introduction: Easy LED Tie

By For more, See my Site Here!
About: Just a College student from Eastern Kentucky with an engineering and technology interest. Occasionally i document projects and post them here.

Bored of all ties looking the same? Worried you wont stand out during an interview? I'm not saying having a glowing tie will help but its easy fun and cheap to make! It attracts attention during any event and is bright enough to be seen in most light. For about $12 you can get the materials to make 25 different ties if you wanted to.

Be warned, this device no longer functions, to prevent this add
130-180 ohm resistors to each pair of leds. I am making a new guide soon, for a RGB tie, Keep an eye out.

Step 1: Materials

To make a "Glow Tie" here is your shopping list, I recommend eBay:

  • 9+ LED's (I used 5mm rgb, I only used blue but I have plans to upgrade it)
  • 2 position switch (on and off)
  • 9v battery clip
  • 9v battery (A cheap one lasted me over 5 hours)
  • Hookup wire (I used 22 gauge so it would be sturdy)
  • Soldering iron or station
  • Solder
  • Wire cuters

Resistors can also be used but I found them unnecessary for this project.

Step 2: Preperations

It helps to have your tie in hand for this part, measure/approximate the distance from the top to bottom of your tie. Cut 3 pieces of wire to this length, or a little less; these will be used as a ground and 2 power rails. Bend the anode and cathode of the LED's straight and place them on your 3 wire rails in the desired pattern. Mark the wires where the leads make contact and strip them at the marks.

Step 3: Soldering and Assembly

Place the wiring and solder the 9 LED's on the Stripped wires, keep in mind the center wire is negative. Solder the LED's and test them before moving on.

Solder a Switch to the middle negative rail.

Creatively combine the 2 other rails, I made mine like a tie shape.

Finally, solder the 9v battery clip to the middle pin of your switch and your rail joint.

Step 4: Testing and Finalizing

Hook up a 9v battery and make sure your switch and all the LED's are working. Cut off any extra wire/leads to avoid shorts. After everything is operational I recommend taking a hot glue gun and coating every connection to add some durability.

Step 5: Installation

Installation is very tie specific, some may have a inner layer you simply slide the circuit up in, some (like in my case) you can fashion a pouch for the circuit and battery with a bit of scrap material. You may even be able to attack it to a necklace and hang it behind your tie, experiment and enjoy your LED tie!.