Introduction: Scanner and Photocopier Light

About: I was born in Cornwall Ontario Canada my family followed my father’s work construction, to Mississauga and Toronto, Ontario. My father worked on famous construction sites as the Cornwall Sea Way, the Commerce …

I make these display lights from old photocopiers and scanners I get from the garbage every chance I get. This one I use as a display light for one of my projects.

Step 1: Kodak Scanner


This Kodak scanner, printer, and fax is what I am going to use for this Instructable.

Step 2: Gathering the Components


Figure 1. Take apart the top of the scanner.

Figure 2. Remove the scanner component.

Figure 3. This is the scanner circuit. Some scanners have the scanner circuit and power circuit all in one.

Figure 4. This is the light power circuit in this Kodak scanner.

Step 3: The Parts You Want From the Scanner


Figure 1. Remove the light, power circuit, and scanner circuit. Be careful when removing the light, they are fragile and break easily.

Figure 2. Some scanners and photocopiers have the power circuit and the scanner circuit all in one. Separate the power circuit and find the positive and negative.

Step 4: Parts List

List of parts.
2 9v batteries
2 9v battery connectors
1 switch
1 clear plastic tube the same length as the light and a large enough inner diameter to fit the light.
The light, leads, and connector
The power circuit

Step 5: The Power Circuit


Figure1. Remove the power circuits power wires or find the positive and negative sides of the circuit.

Figure 2. To assemble the circuit connect the positive wire of one battery connector to the positive side of the circuit and the negative of the other battery connector to the negative side of the circuit. Connect the remaining two wires from the battery connectors to the switch and the power circuit is ready.

Step 6: Assembling the Light


Figure 1. These lights break easy it will be necessary to protect the light from breaking by covering it with a plastic tube to add support. Pull back the rubber end cap from the light.

Figure 2. Unsolder the lead wire from the light.

Figure 3. Insert the light into the plastic tube.

Figure 4. Re solder the wire to the light.

Figure 5. Push the rubber end cap back onto the light and it is ready to assemble for testing.

Step 7: Testing


Connect the light to the power circuit and the batteries to the battery connectors. Turn the light on and off a couple times to be sure it works right.

Step 8: Final Assembly


Now the light is ready to place in a container, this light is good for a trouble light, reading light, or an emergency light, all you need is a box for the power circuit and batteries, and mount the light.

If you want to make a fish attractant light for fishing you will need a watertight container that floats. It is illegal to use artificial lights to attract fish except to fish for smelt, or to fish for Lake Whitefish or Lake Herring with a dip net in Ontario Canada. Check the regulations where you live or plan to fish before using a light for fishing.