Egg Carton Light

Having never played with LED's before, I've been wanting to find something to make using them.  After reading about the Egg Bot Challenge, this crazy idea popped into my head.

I know everyone has moments when they just wish they had a light where there isn't one.  So for all those folks out there that just haven't gotten around to changing out the burnt out fridge light bulb, I present the Egg Carton Light.

Step 1: Materials

One egg
Egg carton
Single LED flashlight
Long needle
Solder
Soldering Iron
Tape

Step 2: Hollow the Egg

Use the long needle to make a small hole on the small end of the egg.  Works best if you twist the needle whilst puncturing the egg.

Make a larger hole on the fat end of the egg (make it big enough to fit the LED inside.  Poke the needle inside and kinda swing it around in there to break the yoke and mix things up a bit. 

Blow through the small hole to push the egg out of the larger hole.  Once the egg is out you can run a little water into the large hole to clean out the egg.  (At this point you are free to make a 1 egg omelet or otherwise)

Step 3: Light Source

Dismantle the flashlight.  You'll need the battery pack, the LED, and the spring/metal in the bottom of the flashlight.

Step 4: Assembly

Cut out a space in the egg carton to fit the battery pack.

Connect the red wire coming off of the LED (the one I accidentally pulled off) to the positive post of the battery pack

Connect the other wire to the spring and piece of metal that came out of the bottom of the flashlight.

Test fit this contraption in the egg carton, so the LED rests on the bottom  of one hole.  I setup the spring end on top of one of the "hills" in the carton.  The metal arm has been trimmed and bent to fit, and touches the negative post of the battery pack. 

When the carton is closed it causes the spring to depress sliding the metal arm down and off of the negative battery post, thus opening the circuit and turning off the light.

Step 5: Finished Product

Here's the finished product. 

I added the top half of a plastic egg to cover the battery. 

Comments

[abudziak]

Do the egg shells get nasty after a long time? I want to try this but not if they get smelly or old and gross.

[jooknon]

Well, as with any egg shell project, if you clean the egg shell out well enough it shouldn't smell.
We've have had some painted egg shells from the Czech republic for about 20 yrs and they don't smell. But who knows what kind of radioactive chemicals they were cleaned with :)

[laie]

I need this. My mother's fridge light burns out all the time. This could be a backup light. I think this is perfect. And it has to be cheaper than a new fridge.

[Kiwi ingenuity]

Who doesn't need a light in your egg carton? Brilliant !

[ikatzoff]

THis is awesome!!! This guy is a genius!!!

[surfwaves]

Awesome! Great idea