Introduction: Flaming LEDs Behind the Shoji Screen
Last year I converted an unused bathroom into a sauna room. The bathroom also housed our house's water heater and to hide that I bought a shoji screen on Amazon. I thought it would look nice to have flickering candles behind the screen but did not want to actually have lit candles there. So instead I drew up plans for a four LED Candle set. The build uses special LED's that mimic candle light. I got these too from Amazon and they cost only ten cents per unit. The whole thing is run on two AA batteries.
Step 1: Tools and Materials
Tools
- Japanese saw
- Random Orbital Sander with 110 grit paper
- Soldering iron
- Pliers/wire stripper
- Drill press with 3/4 inch Forstner bit
Materials
- Flaming LED's From Amazon.com Flaming LED's on Amazon
- Solder
- Wire
- Knife switch (or any other switch)
- 2 AA battery holder with batteries
- Screws for switch and for battery holder
- Duct tape for the top of the dowels to hold the LED wires in place
- 3/4 inch dowels cut to various heights
Step 2: Making the Wooden Candle Sticks
- Cut the board to 5 1/2 X 24 inches
- Sand the sides and edges smooth
- Use a drill press to make (4) 3/4-inch holes with a Forstner Bit
- Cut the dowel to different sizes
- Put glue on the dowel end and seat it in the holes and let dry
Step 3: Positioning the LED's and Wiring It Up
- Using a saw make two cuts in the top of the dowel in a V-shape for guides for the LED leads
- Seat the LED's in the grooves, noting their polarity and tape them to the top of the dowel. Bend the head of the LED up
- Screw in the battery holder and the switch
- Insert the batteries. Note that the nominal voltage of the LED is 2V and I am using 3V but I have found this is well within the device's tolerance. You can use a resister if you want to lower the voltage.
- Run the black lead (negative) to the switch.
- Run the other switch lead to the negative poles of the LED's. Daisy chain solder all four negative leads (in a parallel circuit)
- Daisy chain the positive leads together and then attach it to the positive lead of the battery holder. Use electrical tape or shrink tubing to insulate the joint.
Step 4: Position the Flaming LEDs Behind the Shoji Screen and Enjoy
The LED's turn on using the knife switch. They provide a really cool ambiance and look like real candles.
Step 5: Video of the Finished Project
Here are some videos of the completed project on the bench and in place behind the Shoji Screen
I hope that you enjoyed this build and would welcome your comments and questions.