Please forgive my grimmer and spelling, English is my first language.

For a long time I have quested to use LEDs with AC Main voltage, without the sparking and burning. This is my first instructable to show my quest for easy LED lighting without any expansive converters or transformers.

I've been looking at LEDs for over 16 years and I can't see very well, I'm in love with them how they sparkle, add solar panels and rechargeable battery's and OH BABY, HIT ME. (yes I need help)

(if you start a fire and burn something down you have been warned, This is for information only even though you might see pictures of a finished product I assure you they are all tricks of light and shadow)

No joke be careful if you try this at home, I'm on heavy meds and can't be trusted.

Step 1: Long Dark Nights

Here in the Woods of Oregon it's always dark in the winter, the sun goes down at 4:20, And the ghosts wail in the free of the night, my only protection is the light I can forge with my own frail hands.

For this reason I've chosen to share my triumphs

Step 2: Tools, Parts and Hookups.

Tools you will need are wire cutters, and solder and a soldering iron.

Parts!.

For using LEDs on AC main voltage you will need lots of them, You can do it anyway you would like to but this is how I did it.

First I needed to check my line voltage and you will too. it was 123 volts AC RMS.

Next I needed to 123x1.4 to get max voltage = 172 AC volts. this is the max AC line voltage and I needed 3.3 volts per LED MAX to not burn them out. Your LEDs maybe rated differently I would check if I was you.

Most of the time I don't use PCB boards because they are ugly and will block some of the light.

So 172/52=3.3 volts per LED. (YAY Math works today)

Next you need diodes to make the voltage from AC to DC at the LEDs because the reverse AC voltage would burn them ZAP. (However if you was to put 2 of the LED cubes back 2 back? and connect one line in the middel?) Well don't pay no never mind to that.

I went with 52 LEDs to be safe.

52 White LEDs or color of your choosing.
4 Diodes 1 amp 200 volt. Or you can get a full bridge in one package(up to you) Using 4 is the same if you hook them up right.

Solder the LEDs in series with + on one end and - on the other end. I went with a block pattern and I made a jig to hold them when Soldering them.

See the past Picture for how I put the Diodes on top of the LEDS.

Step 3: Finished?

Here in Oregon we drink a lot of coffee to keep us awake so no ghosts can bother us. This is only the first of many I'll make to light my place.

I did the math from my electric bill and this one unit will cost .18 cents to run 24/7 for a month, it's pulling 3.33 watts.

I also wired up my porch lights the same way. I used 6 units, see last 2 pictures, at night its about 2 times as bright as the brightest moon light and that's bright.

Now go forth and brighten the dark world, if you need help just let me know. I've got nothing else to do.