Introduction: Fast, Quick, Cheap, Good Looking LED Room Lighting (for Anyone)
Welcome all :-) This is my first instructable so comments are welcome :-)
What i hope to show you is how to make quick LED lighting that is on a TINY buget.
What you need :
Cable
LEDs
Resistors (510Ohms for 12V)
Stapels
Soldering iron
Cutters and other basics
Hammer and a nail!
(NOTES FOR n00bs)
LEDs need about 30 milli amps (0.03 Amps) or they burn out
To work out your resiance use:
V=IR
Voltage (V) = 12
Amperage (I) = 0.03 (30*10-3)
Resitance (R) = ?
SO :
V/I=R
12/0.03=400Ohms
or more...
i used 510 so my LEDs arent running at the brightest they could be
Step 1: Costs
Costs:
Cable : 8.51GBP high grade white cable per 50m ($13.99)
LEDs: 6.18GBP (Cheaper by the 1000) (the LEDs i used are 13,000 and 6,000 mcd with a angel of 25 degrees)
Resistors x100: for 0.99GBP
Staples: Well cheap...
Which works out at:
0.89 per metre!
Spacing of 1 LED per 10cm is enough (get the spacing right or it looks strange)
which isnt bad for really nice lightening that on average the leds will last 11+ Years!
I used a power adapter i had lying about but anything that is 12V and lying about will do fine :-)
Just as a general rule you need 30mA per LED. (this isnt strictly true, but it will keep you within tolerences)
so if you had 20 leds you need (30*10-3)*20=600mA or 0.6 A
Step 2: Cable Up the Room
Quick and easy you need to run 2 cables and make sure you dont cross them over at any point or itll get messy
Seen in the picture is what your cableing should look like all the way around the room (or where ever you want the LEDs)
Step 3: Make the LEDs
Now what i love about this system is that you can switch, move and change colours so easily!
How to ready the LEDs...
Bend one corner of the resitor and the + (positive) leg of the LED and hook them together.
Then put on the solder.
Then cut the extra off.
And who said soldering was hard!
Then bend the legs like shown in the picture so that both the legs point downward and make them the same length. about 4mm not long
ok now do that as many times as you want... Its easy...
Step 4:
Put it all together!
Ok so LEDs only work one way around so make sure all the LEDs + (positive) legs (the end with the resistor) goes in the same cable.
Take the nail and puncture the cable cover so that you can stick the legs of the LED into the cable
Now do the same every 10cm...
Step 5: POWER ON!
TURN IT ON!
Enjoy and thanks for reading.
Future upgrades:
Use of capacitors for a glowing as the power is turned on (gradual lighting on)
and a motion sensor so as i come in the door the lights come on.
Thanks to all for reading :-)
if you want any parts (shown in the instructable i can sell them to you)
also any donations (as i an a poor student) are very much appriated!
