led lightbulb

7/30/2019 led lightbulb

1/18

http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/

Home Sign Up! Explore Community Submit

All Art Craft Food Games Green Home Kids Life Music Offbeat Outdoors Pets Ride Science Sports Tech

{THE LED LIGHTBULB}by aandre on April 13, 2009

Table of Contents

intro: {THE LED LIGHTBULB} ...................................................................................................

step 1: [SUPPLIES] ...........................................................................................................

step 2: [CALCULATIONS] ......................................................................................................

step 3: [PREPARING THE INSULATION] ...........................................................................................

step 4: [PREPARING THE BASE] ................................................................................................

step 5: [SOLDERING] .........................................................................................................

step 6: [ASSEMBLY] ..........................................................................................................

step 7: [USE] ................................................................................................................ 1

Related Instructables ........................................................................................................... 1

Advertisements ............................................................................................................... 1

Comments ................................................................................................................... 1
http://www.instructables.com/member/aandre/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=titlehttp://www.instructables.com/tech?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/sports?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/science?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/ride?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/pets?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/outdoors?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/offbeat?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/music?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/life?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/kids?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/home?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/green?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/games?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/food?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/craft?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/art?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=categorieshttp://www.instructables.com/about/submit.jsp?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=titlehttp://www.instructables.com/community?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=titlehttp://www.instructables.com/tag/type:id/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=titlehttp://www.instructables.com/account/gopronow?sourcea=inside_pdfhttp://www.instructables.com/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=title


2/18


intro: {THE LED LIGHTBULB}With energy at shortage, we strive to conserve. Although we attempt to buy the greenest electronics and turn them off as much as we can, we still find ourselves withthose energy wasting incandescent bulbs or those mercury infested CFLs. The immediate solution that comes to mind to switch to LED light bulbs, which is then strickdown by the fact that LED spots are still at an extremely high price, making it cost a fortune to convert over all of your existing fixtures to this technology. But this isinstructables, so we can make our own! What we will end up with is one of the most energy eff icient light bulbs you have ever had in your midst, made at a r idiculousllow cost. This will save you $100s of dollars throughout the lifetime of the bulb; so feel free to write me a check for the calculated amount!

step 1:[SUPPLIES]With LEDs at such high costs, you must know a tremendous supplier. I ordered most of my supplies from two main sources, LED Shoppe and All Electronics. I havefound these suppliers to be the cheapest and most reliable. I ordered a large quantity of supplies, since I am going to make several bulbs of various sizes, which madethe supplies cheaper. Below are the list of things I needed for this project:

LEDs - I used 5mm LEDs. You can change the type of LEDs as long as you augment the calculations accordingly.Bridge Rectifier - Converts AC to DC.Perfboard - The size of perfboard you buy will depend on the size of l ight bulb you wish to create.Soldering Iron and Accessories - The cheapest of soldering irons will do.Base Plug - This product has a normal bulb's base at one end and a normal household outlet on the other. Your local hardware store will most definitely have some.Cable Ties - The question here is not if you have them, but, rather, how many hundred of them do you have.Cardboard - This is the main support piece for all the component of the bulb.Wax Paper - I used a silicon cookie sheet ( that rolled up blue thing) instead. You can use practically anything that has a high temperature tolerance and doesn't conduelectricity, but I have found these to be the best materials for the job.Drill and Small Bit - I used a 1/8" drill bit.X-ACTO Knife and Whole Puncher - These items will be used to prep the insulation.20AWG Wire and PVC Pipe - These are required to connect the bulb's base to the rest of the assembly.Multimeter - I always keep my multimeter handy in order to check conductivity and make sure there are no shorts.
http://www.allelectronics.com/index.php?page=item&id=WRB-20&extra=a%3A2%3A{i%3A0%3Bs%3A40%3A%2203823345592a403b2f4a37a59384e7ab28f02be1%22%3Bi%3A1%3Bs%3A0%3A%22%22%3B}http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/455200/Perf-Boards/Solderable-Perf-Board/1.htmlhttp://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/FWB-15/1-1/2-AMP-400-PIV-FULL-WAVE-BRIDGE-RECTIFIER/-/1.htmlhttp://ledshoppe.com/led5mm.htmhttp://www.allelectronics.com/http://www.ledshoppe.com/


3/18


Image Notes1. These are used as insulation. Wax paper (left) will work fine, but I decided touse a silicone cookie sheet (right), since I had it uselessly laying around.2. 20AWG WIRE - In theory, 22AWG will work fine, but my desire to not burn myhouse down is too great.3. Rectifiers - 1.5A 400PIV4. BASE PLUG - One end is a light bulb base and the other end is a NEMAsocket.

5. CABLE TIES6. PERFBOARD7. SOLDERING POSSE8. MULTIMETER9. DRILL - small but mighty

Image Notes1. They're here!!!!!

Image Notes1. Oh, how I love macro shots!

Image Notes1. I expected 1000 LEDs to take up more space. hmm...Who'd have known?2. I only tested about a 100 of them. After I saw that they all worked and that itwas taking a long time, I made a lazy assumption that they all worked. =]


4/18


step 2:[CALCULATIONS]Now, like any project with electricity, certain calculations are necessary. Although the equations might look a bit threatening, I can assure you that it's quite simple. Befstarting your calculations, make sure you have your LEDs' detailed specifications from your supplier.

FV (Forward Voltage) - This is the voltage used by each separate LED. It is expressed as a range, so a minimum and maximum value is present.AC MAX/MIN - AC Mains are not always at a constant voltage and are not always the same across a whole house. There is actually a range present. In the US, therange is 110-125VAC. In other nations, the range is 220-250VAC.

EQUATIONS[AC MAX] X 1.4 = AA / [FV MAX] = [# LEDs]

CHECK[AC MIN] X 1.4 = BB / [# LEDs] = CC represents the forward voltage and must be within the range.

Your final result represents the number of LEDs you can put in each series. Think of this as a basic unit. The total amount of LEDs on the light bulb must be a multiplethis number. In each "unit," the LEDs connect positive to negative in order to distribute the voltage. All the series may then be connected together, positive to positive anegative to negative. Below is a sample of my calculations.

EQUATIONS125 X 1.4 = 175175 / 3.8 = 46

CHECK110 X 1.4 = 154154 / 46 = 3.3478C is in range. (exhale)

Image Notes1. 46 LEDs in each series2. continuation3. don't worry about this: it 's just the rectifier insides expanded4. polarity doesn't matter for a source that is going to be rectified5. Now it's DC current, so it has a positive and a negative instead of a live and neutral.6. OmniGraffle Proffessional is so easy!!


5/18


step 3:[PREPARING THE INSULATION]The insulation is made out of two layers. The silicon/wax paper layer sits right on top of the circuit board and comes in direct contact with the circuitry. The second layemade of cardboard and sits atop the fi rst layer. Besides being a layer of insulation, this layer is the physical center of the bulb and holds together all the components. Iextracted the cardboard I used out of a binder, since I found it to be nice and dense. After you have your cardboard, plop the pieces of perfboard atop it and trace theiroutline/holes. I found that drilling the holes with your drill on reverse doesn't allow the cardboard to burr. When it came to cutting, I used a normal kitchen knife. (Icheated) Finally, I drilled a small whole a bit off-center and two holes, about an inch apart, on either side for mounting. The second piece of insulation is made of silicoor wax paper. Both work fine, but you must use at least two layers if you use wax paper and must have the glossy side facing the circuitry. Trace out the perfboard asbefore, but cut with normal scissors. As for the wholes, I used a special small hole punch. If you do not have one, then you can simply snip a small hole with scissors. addition to the wholes at each corner, make one a bit off-center, corresponding to the one on the other layer of insulation, for the electrical wires to pass through.

Image Notes1. TRACE2. #2 goodness

Image Notes1. fully traced and holes drilled

Image Notes1. Be very carful, so the cardboard doesn't crumble.2. Finally found a use for that old built in cutting board.

Image Notes1. traced and ready to go


6/18


Image Notes1. Yay, all done!

step 4:[PREPARING THE BASE]What makes this a normal bulb is its base; it can fit into any existing fixture. You do have slight freedom with the base, however, since all fixtures are not created equaThe purpose of the PVC channel is to house the excess wire and give a bit of extra length if the fixture requires it. The one shown is made to be quite long for a specif

fixture. The procedure for making the base is as follows:

1. Drill Holes - Make two small diagonal holes on each side of the base plug, in between the prongs. Make sure the hole starts at the outer edge and ends slightlyinward, in order to ensure that these mounting holes do not interfere with the functionality.2. Strip and Tin - Strip the wires and twist the strands together. Apply solder to the ends. (what we call "tinning")3. Insert - Insert the wires into the holes and secure them with bits of plastic. If you want, you can also solder them in place with a very fine tip, which I do not posses.4. Check - Set your multimeter to the diode check mode. Touch each multimeter probe to each wire end; nothing should happen. If your multimeter beeps, then there short somewhere, so you should check your work. Now, keep one of the probes on a wire end and touch the other to a contact on the base. There should be conductiindicated on one and not the other. Repeat this for the other wire.5. PVC - Cut your desired length of PVC pipe and drill holes in it. Attach the base plug to one end with cable ties. We will later mount the circuit board to the other.

Image Notes

1. Drilled diagonally from side to top surface.

Image Notes

1. you can also check with the resistance mode


7/18


Image Notes1. I later force-fitted little pieces of plastic in order to keep these leads firmly inplace.

Image Notes1. NORMAL BASE2. UNFINISHED BASE3. FLEXIBLE BASE

step 5:[SOLDERING]I split up soldering into the following steps:

1. Plan - Place the LEDs in their approximate location. You will find yourself switching the locations of the LEDs in order for them to fit on the perfboard, so this step iscrucial. Make sure you follow your calculations and use your results to determine how to place the LEDs. Keep in mind that they will be connected positive to negativeeach series, and all the series will be connected together positive to positive and negative to negative. For example, I would connect 46 LEDs together, positive tonegative, and then connect all the positives and negatives at each end together. At the conclusion of the planning step, I took a picture to remember where I had placeeverything.2. Place - Insert one row of LEDs at a time, making sure you are paying attention to polarity. Remember that the longer lead of an LED is always the positive one.3. Bend - Bend each lead to the approximate soldering joint and cut off the excess.4. Solder - Take this one joint at a time and make sure each is done well, since you are working with high voltages. Heat up the joint and apply solder between the iroand lead. Then, move the solder to cover the rest of the joint, using the initial solder to conduct the heat. If you need further help soldering, there are tons of online vidthat will assist you.5. Snip - Clip the excess leads, making sure to be gentle with the soldering joints.

Image Notes1. POSITIVE is longer2. NEGATIVE is shorter


8/18


Image Notes1. all planned out

Image Notes1. bent and cut

Image Notes1. soldered joint


9/18


Image Notes1. snipping

step 6:[ASSEMBLY]Now that all the separate components are prepared, we can move on to assembling the whole bulb. Run the electrical wire through the center wholes of the two layersinsulation. Solder the wires to rectifier leads (labeled "~") and snip off the excess. Make sure that everything is soldered correctly before you close it up. Mount the PV

pipe to the cardboard with cable ties. Then, slowly pushing the wires into the pipe, sandwich all the layers together and secure them with cable ties at each corner. Aftchecking that nothing is exposed, plug in the bulb to check if it works. Be extremely careful with this testing, as with the rest of this project. I am not responsible for anyinjuries, either physical or emotional. =]

Image Notes1. thread the wires and cable t ie before you continue

Image Notes1. solder the AC leads


10/18


Image Notes1. sandwich it all together

Image Notes1. tighten opposite corners first, like you're supposed to!

Image Notes1. leave a little extra when you snip, so that the cable tie has space to loosen upwithout popping off

Image Notes1. tuck and tighten


11/18


Image Notes1. LARGE = beast2. MEDIUM = my favorite size3. SMALL = aww

step 7:[USE]Let the energy saving begin! When you are done, you can screw it into any light fixture and begin saving immediately. I put some in various places of my house and plon making even more in the next few weeks. Though I went at this project with the light bulb method, you could make just the top portion and wire them together (don'forget the fuse there). That is what I am going to do and mount it above my desk. Also, these would be absolutely perfect for recessed lighting fixtures. In case you wewondering, I have summarized the cost for you below:

Small (46 LEDs):Perfboard: $1.00LEDs: $0.05 X 46 = $2.30Wire: $0.18 X 1/3ft. = $0.06Rectifier: $0.50Base Plug: $1.00Total: $4.86

Medium (92 LEDs):Perfboard: $1.50LEDs: $0.05 X 92 = $4.60Wire: $0.18 X 1/3ft. = $0.06Rectifier: $0.50

Base Plug: $1.00Total: $7.66

Large (184 LEDs):Perfboard: $2.00LEDs: $0.05 X 184 = $9.20Wire: $0.18 X 1/3ft. = $0.06Rectifier: $0.50Base Plug: $1.00Total: $12.76As for everything else, I had it all laying around.

I certainly enjoyed this project and hope you do too!

Don't forget to VOTE at the top of the page! That mere one click will be truly appreciated. Thanks!


12/18


Image Notes1. small: this is great for decorative table lamps; I love how it illuminates the wall

Image Notes1. medium size bulb: it's so bright that it lights up this whole room at night

Image Notes1. large: this is bright enough to light up the whole hallway


13/18


Related Instructables

Convert a 300Watt TorchiereLamp into aDual 20 Watt

CFL by bben46

High-efficiencyLED reading

lamp by

thetech101

AC PoweredWhite LEDCircularMagnifier Work

Lamp by

arcticpenguin

conserveenergy and save

money by

tealpsyclone

Bulb Lamp by

Nachimir 12V LED accent

floor lamp. by

Torrach

Quick and easyhomestead usesfor Plastic

Bottles (PET) by

velacreations

Room by roomsteps to reduceglobal warmingand yourelectricity bill.

by stranoster

Advertisements

Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 123 commen

barligea says: Jul 15, 2009. 9:17 AM REPhow cool is that ...let there be light...the efficient way... great post!

Kryptonite says: May 26, 2009. 11:25 PM REP

Wow great instructable! Just wondering though (please forgive me, I'm not as well learned in the field of household electronics as I probably should be) but how does this

save energy? I don't know, but isn't the same amount of energy put into it?

I'm not trying to be negative, and I hope with some explanation I won't be "kept in the dark" for any longer...

*cough* bad pun *cough*

Asbestos says: Jun 22, 2009. 10:48 AM REPThis saves energy because LEDs use fewer watts to produce the same amount of light as a regular (incandescent) bulb. (Watts is the amount of energused over time, so each minute that this is on it uses fewer total joules than each minute that an incandescent is on.) This is because LEDs produce ligmuch more efficiently than incandescent bulbs.

So this draws less energy than a regular bulb from your wall socket. Even though the socket always has the same number of volts, it will only give theamount of energy being drawn by the appliance. So, for instance, your TV draws a lot more energy from the wall (and from the power company) thanyour smoke detector.

So this gives the same amount of light as a regular bulb, but draws less energy from the power company to do so.

Kryptonite says: Jul 12, 2009. 3:26 AM REPAhhh, thank you for filling that large blank space behind my eyes. I believed that the same amount of electricity was put into the appliance no mattehow much it needed, but the appliance would not take as much in depending on how much it needed.Thank you for your very descriptive response.

budman0312 says: Jun 27, 2009. 11:37 PM REPdon't smoke detectors usually run on batteries? i understand what you mean though

Speedmite says: May 20, 2009. 10:27 PM REPNice idea and instructable. Im not good at calculations though.....

I was just wondering if this is legal or not.

I personally like the incandescent bulbs. florescent bulbs are fine, except the mercury. Im not to big on the white leds because the look cold like somone diunlike the freindly yellowish light of incandesent. And yellow leds, are well, yellow.

But nice Idea. I like the effort for cleaner ways that many people lack.

aandre says: May 21, 2009. 5:03 PM REPumm legal....in what way?
http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/aandre/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/aandre/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/budman0312/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/budman0312/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Asbestos/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Asbestos/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/barligea/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/barligea/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments&comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments&comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments&comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/stranoster/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Room-by-room-steps-to-reduce-global-warming-and-yo/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/velacreations/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Quick_and_easy_homestead_uses_for_Plastic_Bottles_/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Quick_and_easy_homestead_uses_for_Plastic_Bottles_/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Quick_and_easy_homestead_uses_for_Plastic_Bottles_/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Quick_and_easy_homestead_uses_for_Plastic_Bottles_/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Quick_and_easy_homestead_uses_for_Plastic_Bottles_/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/Torrach/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/12V_LED_accent_floor_lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/12V_LED_accent_floor_lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/12V_LED_accent_floor_lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/Nachimir/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Bulb-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Bulb-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/tealpsyclone/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/conserve_energy_and_save_money/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/conserve_energy_and_save_money/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/conserve_energy_and_save_money/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/conserve_energy_and_save_money/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/arcticpenguin/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/AC-Powered-White-LED-Circular-Magnifier-Work-Lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/thetech101/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/High-efficiency-LED-reading-lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/High-efficiency-LED-reading-lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/High-efficiency-LED-reading-lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/High-efficiency-LED-reading-lamp/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/member/bben46/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=relatedhttp://www.instructables.com/id/Convert_a_300_Watt_Torchiere_Lamp_into_a_20_Watt_C/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=related


14/18


Speedmite says: May 23, 2009. 6:43 AM REPWell, I would think that you cant just plug in any science creation, hoping that it works and doesn't cause something crazy to happen. I mean, this is120v your dealing with. If you soldered something wrong you could burn a house down or cause an explosion.

Im sorry if you take this in a negative way, but I'm more cautious than many people.

And no, I dont have any affiliation with the law. Just my best guess that it might not be legal.

Kryptonite says: May 26, 2009. 11:18 PM REPI personally don't see what's wrong with it, there should most likely be precautions that one must abide when doing this, as with anything, but wtoday's modern technology almost everything has a power trip of some sort, so if it shorted out or screwed up some how it would probably turnoff.

Just wondering, where do you live? I'd like to do a little research if I can about the laws and regulations about this.

Speedmite says: May 31, 2009. 12:46 PM REPI completely forgot about fuses and such. It justs leaves me with the "what if?" question in my head.

Kryptonite says: May 31, 2009. 4:48 PM REPFair enough, better to be overly cautious then not cautious enough. That's why I cut my f inger nail in half, burst my ear drums, burnt myfingers and left a circular hole in my finger, all within 2 seconds.

Never, ever be stupid with party poppers...

Speedmite says: May 31, 2009. 6:30 PM REPHow did you manage that?

My freind stuck his hand on a hot stove for 5 seconds to prove he was a man. I wasnt there, but i doubt it was f ive seconds and he dgo to er. and he has scars. But it proves nothing and I recommend you dont do that. It only proved idiocy.

Kryptonite says: Jun 11, 2009. 5:32 PM REPI can't find the instructable at the moment, but it shows how to use the small amount of explosive in a party popper, inserting it ina pen barrel in one end and a some thing in the other (as ammunition) and pulling the string to fire. I cut my finger nail in halfcutting an eraser in half for amo, burnt my finger from the explosion, burst my ear drums from the bang and the circular scar fromthe back of the pen shooting backwards.

I'm just glad my parents didn't hear it, otherwise I may have sustained other injuries...

Speedmite says: Jun 12, 2009. 8:34 AM REP=) Speaking of gunpowder that reminds me of when I was trying to get the powder out of those plastic rings for cap guns withpair of scissors. I made a cap go off when i stabbed it, and those things shoot fire. Singed some hair on my hand. Scared thecrap out of me....

Kryptonite says: Jun 13, 2009. 10:04 PM REPXDDD

jaketheman987 says: Jun 13, 2009. 11:42 PM REPseeing how you guys are talking about stupid things you have done with fire im going to tell my story:So i saw an instructable on how to make flamming fireballs out of cloth and grill starter fluid or whatever its called. somade them just fine outside and wanted to make more. But i had to use the restroom as in like number 2 if you knowwhat that meens. and if you knew me you would know that i do anything in the bathroom just like i would do anythinganywhere, so i made some in the bathrrom. i was stupid enough to try it out to so i put the fluid on the cotton balls anwithout me relising a lot had gotten on the floor, im guessing it was the fumes. so when i look one of the balls it hadstarted to burn my hand so i dropped it. then BOOM!!! my pants, shoes, my little sisters jeans had all caught on fire. Iwas still sitting on the toilet saying "WTF!" and then i just stood up and took my pants off, threw them outside and beathem to put the fire out and had completely forgot about everything else in the bathroom. so i went back to wipe and saw my sisters pants burning up in f lames so i took those trying not to burn myself and dowsed them in the house rigoutside our front door and then hid them so my parants wouldnt fine them. and my shoes, they just went out bythemselves.

So thats my story, lol my parants still dont know.

Kryptonite says: Jun 22, 2009. 1:04 AM REPStill can't stop myself from laughing and I read it over a minute ago, seriously, how can you get so unlucky!?!?!?!

I made those fireballs but I used metho and you couldn't hold it but you could throw it at people if you didn't grab for more than about half a second.

One thing I can say for you, may your parents never, ever, ever, ever, ever find out what happened.
http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jaketheman987/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jaketheman987/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


15/18


Speedmite says: Jun 14, 2009. 6:13 PM REPFunky wording, I call it lighter fluid but there a heaps of words for it, and that is absolutely HILARIOUS!!!!

nerobro says: May 24, 2009. 8:22 PM REPI don't know how to put this. You're wrong. It's not illiegal. It's just not UL listed.

The design is good. This isn't far from how the factories do it. If "you" don't understand the concepts involved, that doesn't make it wrong. If youdon't know how to test a circuit to know how it's safe, then don't do it.

If you'd like to know how.... this is definitely a place to ask.

Speedmite says: May 31, 2009. 12:48 PM REPYes, I just found out that it is completely legal. Saw some at walmart and they have a patent pending, but this is the same general idea, notexactly the same.

Kryptonite says: Jun 11, 2009. 5:33 PM REPGood to hear, thanks for telling!

222fbj says: Jul 10, 2009. 9:24 PM REPGood Post.FYI - prefab LED-PCboards are available (at extra cost of ~$4)see http://c-leds.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=78

meissler says: Jul 9, 2009. 9:08 PM REPCould you just use any 12V power chord ( like a charger for a computer or something) and hook the +/- ends up to the right areas? Of course use resistorstoo. Would that work or no, not really?

gearhead1951 says: Jun 14, 2009. 2:35 AM REPwhats wrong with "harvesting" led's from deceased autos in th' scrapyard ang using a diode bridge rectifier f rom a old automotive alternater ?

recycling and savin' money at both ends of th' job !!!

rocketman221 says: Jun 11, 2009. 6:30 PM REPI would recommend putting a 0.5 amp fuse in the line.

NachoMahma says: May 18, 2009. 2:34 AM REP. Excellent iBle!

. I am concerned about the use of waxed paper and cardboard. Sounds like a fire hazard to me.

. There's a good chance that a problem in the device that will generate a lot of heat will not trip the house wiring fuse/circuit breaker. For home use, a fusewould be a good idea.

cosmosdad says: Jun 4, 2009. 9:58 AM REPCardboard is very common in electrical appliances as a divider (look inside a light f ixture the next time you change a bulb and wax paper is mostcommonly used in baking where an oven gets over 350 -500 degrees and the wax paper is fine. Besides LED generate almost no heat which is why thlast so long. I don't see a problem if the builder has a solid understanding of the subject.
http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/cosmosdad/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/cosmosdad/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/rocketman221/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/rocketman221/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/gearhead1951/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/gearhead1951/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/meissler/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/meissler/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FTG/LFBZ/FWYHV31T/FTGLFBZFWYHV31T.MEDIUM.jpghttp://c-leds.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=26&products_id=78http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/222fbj/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/222fbj/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/nerobro/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/nerobro/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Speedmite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


16/18


NachoMahma says: Jun 4, 2009. 11:01 AM REP. It's not the LEDs I'm worried about, it's the rectifier.. "Electrical" cardboard is impregnated with flame-retardants.. Too lazy to look up the facts on waxed paper, but I do know that once it starts burning, it burns VERY well.. A lot of ppl that may try this may not have a solid understanding... It's still a very good iBle, just needed a few warnings for newbs.

Kryptonite says: May 26, 2009. 11:28 PM REPI personally agree with you one hundred percent.

Just a question, that's not really related, but what caused one to put a full stop in front of each sentence?

Why didn't I think of that?

NachoMahma says: May 26, 2009. 11:41 PM REP. Preserves paragraph indent - most BBSs strip "extra" spaces.

Kryptonite says: May 31, 2009. 4:43 PM REPCool, andsmart.

gandlof5 says: May 27, 2009. 12:50 PM REPI wonder if adding a few various color LEDs would help balance the color, red orange, yellow, and green. Ever notice that on stage productions they neveruse a white light; but mix different colored lights to get a "white" light? Might not be room on the small. And you have to recalculate the strings as every col

has a different voltage drop.

jessieshop says: May 11, 2009. 6:33 PM REPthanks for the money saving idea, where can i buy those LEDS?

aandre says: May 11, 2009. 9:43 PM REPI bought my LEDs from www.ledshoppe.com and they cost 5 cents a piece, as opposed to the average 65 cents.

jessieshop says: May 14, 2009. 9:30 PM REPthanks from filipino guy here. just get addicted doing this stuff, better than going out. thanks again

Kryptonite says: May 26, 2009. 11:36 PM REP*cough* nerd *cough*

... Me too. High Five!

nert says: May 18, 2009. 5:23 PM REPNice instructable.I like oboist1 suggestion to use leds on both sides of the perf board. maybe add a 2nd rectifier and light leds with the opposite side of the square wave.

MrMike says: May 18, 2009. 2:56 PM REPWhy bother with a "bridge rectifier" ? But please do include a current limiting resistor or other over current protection device.

The LED's are DIODES. Yes only half of them will be on at any point in time if the strings are wired anode to cathode, but your eyes will not see the blinkin

Since the diodes (LED's) are specified in DC terms i.e. forward voltage drop of 1.8 to 3.8 VDC (IR to UV) it's easier to think in V=IR terms. However the"source" is AC (60 Hz), try to think in terms of reactance and frequency

Try a simple circuit of 2 LED (wired cathode to anode) in series with a .47uF 200V (for 110VAC input) capacitor is series with a 1K resistor (to limit thecurrent into the capacitor if it's switched on near a peak AC cycle). Works great as a power-on indicator.

Buy a "cheap" set of LED Christmas lights and take apart the "blob" in the power line to see what's in there....also a cheap (60 of them for $1) source ofLEDs, but with unplated (steel) wires.
http://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/MrMike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/MrMike/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/nert/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/nert/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jessieshop/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jessieshop/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/aandre/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/aandre/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jessieshop/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jessieshop/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/gandlof5/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/gandlof5/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/NachoMahma/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments


17/18


Weissensteinburg says: May 17, 2009. 7:12 PM REPI have two more questions.

How do you determine which bridge rectifier to use?

If I understand it correctly, if you have two strands of 46 LEDs in parallel, the positive lead of the first LED in each set connects to one of the rectifier leads,and the negative leads, and the negative leads of the last LED in each set connects to one of the rectifier leads?

thanks =]

aandre says: May 17, 2009. 8:50 PM REPThat's right. As for bridge rectifiers, I used a 1.5 AMP, 400PIV rectifier. All you have to make sure is that you use less current than the rectifier allows a

that your peak inverse voltage (PIV) is more than the actual voltage you wil l use.

Weissensteinburg says: May 18, 2009. 12:04 PM REPThanks. And just to be absolutely positive, before i get the stuff, Instead of a base plug, I can just use prongs for direct connection to an outlet, righ

DasBus says: May 17, 2009. 3:15 PM REPWOW! Great Instructable! I just may attempt this project. And it's great that so many of the comments posted are helpful too!

steveastrouk says: May 14, 2009. 7:47 AM REPI am not sure LED lighting, with off the shelf LEDs IS any more energy efficient than CFL yet is it ?

Steve

Spokehedz says: May 14, 2009. 8:26 AM REPIt is, by a factor of like 10.

A 13w CFL will output similar amounts of light as a 60W light bulb.

These LED lights will consume maybe 1w of electricity, and output 100w of light if properly constructed. Not to mention that the LED's will outlast the Cby years, and they don't get warm and fail in recessed fixtures like CFL's do.

And the Mercury is bad too. :P

steveastrouk says: May 15, 2009. 7:00 AM REPThe semiconductor industry would not be happy for me to tell you, but the process of making LEDs is not exactly an environmentally friendly proceseither..... Mercury is not BTW a cumulativepoison, despite its reputation - mammalian biology at least has a pretty effective mechanism foreliminating it. Hg HAS a finite half-life in the body of around a month or so I believe. The dose you get from a broken CFL is unlikely to be an issue

unless you make a habit of sniffing a dead tube every day or so.

Steve

Kiteman says: May 16, 2009. 6:56 AM REPIt iscumulative in the food chain, though, particularly in shellfish.

jmengel says: May 14, 2009. 8:53 AM REPAhh, no. These LEDs can put out 1.5 lumens each tops. If you use 184 of them as suggested for the "large" array, that comes out to be about 300lumens. As the author has noted, the power consumed by these 184 LEDs is >10W. That turns out to be less than 30 lumens per Watt, which isabout twice as good as a 100W incandescent bulb. For comparison, a CFL is in the 60-80 lumens per watt range. The best available LEDs are in th100 lumens per watt range, with the best warm white LEDs in the 80 lumens per watt range. These eff iciencies come through underdriving highquality ($$$), high power LEDs, for example running at


18/18

jmengel says: May 27, 2009. 7:10 AM REPExperience, data sheets, and the miraculous series of tubes known as teh Internets.

Kryptonite says: May 27, 2009. 3:42 PM REP:D

view all 123 comments
http://id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?comments=all&sort=OLDEST#commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/Kryptonite/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/id/THE-LED-LIGHTBULB/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments#DISCUSShttp://www.instructables.com/member/jmengel/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=commentshttp://www.instructables.com/member/jmengel/?utm_source=pdf&utm_campaign=comments

led lightbulb

Documents