Introduction: NeckLight V2 : Glow-In-The-Dark Necklaces With Shapes, Colors and LIGHTS

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About: Innovation engineer. Electronic and DIY enthusiast, with personal interests in retro tech, board games and old cars.
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Hi everyone,

After the first Instructables: NeckLight I posted which was a great success for me, I choose to make the V2 of it.

The idea behind this V2 is to correct some mistake of the V1 and to have more visual option.

In this Instructables I will explain how I made my 6 necklaces and how you can make new ones.

What is NeckLight ? The idea being NeckLight is to use the PCB manufacturing process to make it into something aesthetic and innovative. As the title says, NeckLight is a glow-in-the-dark necklace operating with a simple battery + led circuit.

The design of the six necklaces is inspired by gemstone cutouts :

  • DIAMOND : White PCB & 8 White LED
  • RUBY : Red PCB & 10 Red LED
  • AMBER : Yellow PCB & 8 Yellow LED
  • ONYX : Black PCB & 6 Yellow-Green LED
  • SAPPHIRE : Blue PCB & 8 Blue LED
  • EMERALD : Green PCB & 8 Green LED

How does NeckLight work ? Just insert a flat cell CR2032 and the necklace start to glow.

Why 6 designs ? Because my goal was to use all the colors made available by JLCPCB.

Supplies

To make one NeckLight you will need :

Required tools :

  • A soldering iron
  • Tweezers
  • Soldering tin

Optional tools :

  • A multimeter
  • A 3rd hand
  • An old toothbrush and some Isopropylic Alcohol to clean the PCB

Step 1: Optional : Make a New Design

The first step if you want to make a new kind of necklace is to design it.

I use the software Fusion360 to create the .DXF who is import in EasyEDA.

Here are few tips (All the informations are on the two pictures );

  • The hole to insert the rope is a 5mm half circle
  • A great size for a 1206 LED is 3.5x2mm
  • Be sure that the battery holder fits (picture 2)
  • Add a filet of 0.3mm on all angles

What are the constraints ?

  • The GND must be in the middle of the necklace
  • All the LED GND must be facing the middle
  • The battery holder determine the minimum width of the pendant (23.5mm)

Step 2: Order Parts / Solder

As I say before, I ordered the 6 different pcb on JLCPCB with the caracteristic below :

  • PCB Thickness : 1.6mm
  • Surface Finish : HASL(with lead)
  • Copper Weight : 1 oz
  • Remove Order Number : Specify a location

To solder one pendant is pretty straightforward, just follow the 3 steps below :

  • Solder the battery holder
  • Solder the resistor
  • Solder the LED (check the direction carefully)

The resistor value change between each necklace, to know more details go to the further steps.

Step 3: Make the Necklace

Make the necklace is pretty simple just follow this tutorial, a length of 1 meter of string seems good.

Step 4: Emerald : Green PCB & Green LED

Characteristics :

  • 8 green LED
  • Resistor of 390 Ohm
  • Current consumption 1.89mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/1.89 = 106 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 28mm height x 24mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Emerald_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Emerald_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 5: Ruby : Red PCB & Red LED

Characteristics :

  • 10 red LED
  • Resistor of 200 Ohm
  • Current consumption 6.06mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/6.06 = 33 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 43mm height x 24mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Ruby_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Ruby_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 6: Sapphire : Blue PCB & Blue LED

Characteristics :

  • 8 blue LED
  • Resistor of 200 Ohm
  • Current consumption 1.58mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/1.58 = 127 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 45mm height x 25mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Sapphire_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Sapphire_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 7: Onyx : Black PCB & Yellow-Green LED

Characteristics :

  • 8 yellow-green LED
  • Resistor of 100 Ohm
  • Current consumption 8.64mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/8.64 = 23 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 32mm height x 24mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Onyx_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Onyx_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 8: Diamond : White PCB & White LED

Characteristics :

  • 8 white LED
  • Resistor of 270 Ohm
  • Current consumption 1,59mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/1.89 = 126 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 31mm height x 39mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Diamond_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Diamond_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 9: Amber : Yellow PCB & Yellow LED

Characteristics :

  • 8 yellow LED
  • Resistor of 100 Ohm
  • Current consumption 8.96mAh
  • Autonomy of 200/8.96 = 22 hours with one CR2032 cell
  • Size : 30mm height x 26mm width

Files :

  • NeckLight_V2_Amber_GERBER.rar -> Import it on JLCPCB or other to order PCB

  • NeckLight_V2_Amber_PCB.rar -> Import it on EasyEDA or other to modify the PCB

Attachments

Step 10: Shines Brightly

Now the last steps before going to a party is to take your NeckLight insert a battery and start enjoying ^^.

In my case this necklace will make a great Christmas gifts for my family.

If you want to support me or if you want to have a necklace without making it, I sell the 6 designs on my ETSY page.

If you make other design, please comment with a picture of your unique design I would love to see it.

Have a great day !