Neon Glow Ripstick Using LEDs!

by the_burrito_master

8.1K1235

Intro: Neon Glow Ripstick Using LEDs!

Have you ever wanted to have a neon glow in the night will riding your ripstik?

This instructable will show you how to install any number or color of LEDs to your ripstik.


Video

Video 2

STEP 1: Components and Tools

For this mod you will need a few tools and some electrical supplies.

Tools:
Philips Screw driver
Allen wrench for the bolts on the bottom of the ripstick.
Drill and
5mm Drill bit or 3/16ths inch drill bit.

Electrical components:
17 LEDs
Simple wire colored wire is good to keep organized.
A simple on off switch or toggle switch. (ripped one out of a nerf gun attachment)
17 (70 -100 ohm) resistors.

Electrical tools
Soldering iron
solder
Hot glue gun and glue sticks.
wire strippers or scissors.
pliers


STEP 2: Opening

Take every screw out of the bottom of your ripstik.

1. take it all apart

2.opened

3.opened.

STEP 3: Drilling

Drill holes where the image notes point out.

If I say "drill through the side." that means to drill through the wall with the note over it.

STEP 4: Power Supply


Since I am using Blue LEDs you need a 4.5 volt power supply. True Green and white would also use 4.5V i.e. 3 triple aaa

If you use Green red yellow orange you'll need only 3 volts. i.e. 2 triple aaa

LED wizard shows voltage of LEDs if you go with the 3 volt power supply you'll need to make your own schematic for your wiring and possibly use resistors.



STEP 5: Wire Work.

You'll need to take it apart to do this, If it isn't already.


after you follow the image not.s you gotta put the torsion bar back together. Be careful not to get the wires caught in the screws.

STEP 6: Cutting the Wire Coating Off.


1.follow the notes.

2. Once you finish stripping all the wire it's time to connect the wires t the power supply and switch.

STEP 7: Installing Leds!

1.you need to "frost" the lLEDs before adding them by rubbing the led on sandpaper until it turns white allover, this will be the part of the step that takes the majority of the time.

It would be a good idea to frost them all (17) before you start soldering.

2________________________________________________________________________
I put together a gif on how to solder in the LEDs into each hole.

you'll need one 100 ohm resistor to one 68 ohm resistor  for each led meaning you can use 100 ohms to 68 ohms no lower anything inbetween is fine. I wouldn't go over 150 or it might be too dim.

I don't know how many ohms you'd need with red LEDs. Use an led calculator. big help with things like this.

After you complete the soldering Hot glue every open wire so no short circuits happen,

Follow the same process for each led you may have to lay it out a little differently due to lack of space ,anyway repeat 17 times.

STEP 8: Put It Back Together.

put all the screws back on and ride away!

35 Comments

Electroinnovation 13 years ago

Do ya like it? This is my modified "wave"(bleh). it has two power sources and a switch to change the power sources (left). the main power source is on the right and it uses 20 leds. its so amazing!! thanks for the idea! priceless!

MakerBoysACE 8 years ago

Is there a way you could use color-changing leds?

LED forrest 8 years ago

i did it with strip lighting and i built a Bluetooth misc system and its multicolerd

Frank Lampard 13 12 years ago

I HAVE A PROBLEM!!!

where i put the led's on the side of the ripstick i can not put that piece back on any ideas on how you did i t

-please respond

the_burrito_master 12 years ago

hmmm you could try sanding down the black part, I didn't put my wiring there I anticipated that and i also didn't want my LEDs rubbing on pavement. I might suggest moving your LEDs or you can try some agressive sanding/cutting to that plastic piece.

the_burrito_master 12 years ago

I bought my LED's off ebay and the resistors came with them. if you use 3 double A's you will only need 100 ohm resistors. a nine volt you will need 400-500 check a LED calculator for all your information needs.

myth-bstr225 13 years ago

much better build than that featured copying noob

Dr Pepper1 13 years ago

thats fricken awesome dude!

vader406 13 years ago

Now...how could we implement this on a ripstik air? ;)

the_burrito_master 13 years ago

good question.... well if you don't mind the work, and idk if this is even possible but what if you could form a plexi glass bottom for the the nose and tail? Maybe just make small plates to cover up each section that you'd put a led in. the wires can just go through much like they do in my instructable.

vader406 13 years ago

Where would be a good spot to place a switch?

the_burrito_master 13 years ago

In the tail where close to the batteries are you following my instructions I lay it all out fairly simply.

salomon1996 13 years ago

did you paint your board? and VERRY good instructable! :D
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