My LED Throwies

This is my version of the LED Throwies project. I'll be using different LEDs and magnets. I just thought it would be nice to post it so everyone could see how it differs from the real, original Throwies. All credit, etc. goes to Graffiti Research Lab, a division of the Eyebeam R&D OpenLab.

Step 1: Materials

Here is what I ordered for my first Throwie set:

100 CR2032 3V Lithium Batteries
100 "Super-Brite" LEDs (50 Red, 50 Yellow)
50 Magnets (1/2" Dia x 1/8" Thick NdFeB Disc Magnet)
Packing tape Roll

Here is what I have concluded about my first set of ten throwies:

-The magnets seem to loose a little of their strength when they are attached to the battery.
-The "Super-Brite" LEDs ARE way bright but,
-My LEDs were not diffused, so they don't "glow", they just "point-shine".
-Packing tape is hard to strip down into battery-width strips.

Step 2: Complete Throwies

You can see how my LEDs look rather large compared to others. I ordered "Super-Brite" to see how they differed. They are a lot brighter (probalby reduces glow time) but they are not diffused! Big mistake. Now all of the light is projected just through the front of the LED, while I want it to come out of all of the plastic around the LED.


Since I only ordered 50 Magnets (the most expensive part) I decided to figure out another way to get these to stick/stay up somewhere. On my college campus, we have TONS of big willow-like trees that have no leaves right now. I decided if i out some kind of loop on a Throwie that it might catch on part of a branch or something. Below you can see I just wrapped some 550 military cord around the LED. I could never get it to catch anything. I will try fishing line this week and see if it is any better.


Here is what I learned over all from my first Throwing:

-Check a building first to make sure it's not a Engineering test lab inside. :|
-Our campus street lamps are non-magnetic.
-More people than you think noticed the Throwies on the stop light pole.
-Obviously a production line is easier. One person tape, one put LED on battery, then a magnet taper.
-Blinking LEDs will be WAY more noticable and could cause some real stress if Thrown in the right place.
-Only some lights from a auditorium stage are magnetic.
-A stratigicly placed red LED looks like a "hidden" camera.
-Red is cooler than Yellow in every aspect.
-My LED Throwies happen to be very durable. (miss-threw probably 15 times on the streetlight straight up and didn't always catch it. It fell on the asphault. The LED wires may bend, but with a good taper, it will generally stay complete through a lot of abuse.
-Stanbys want to throw them. :)