Introduction: Glowing LED Box
If you can cut a little plexi-glass, wire some LED's, and flip a switch, you can do this instructable!
-FIRST OFF-
This is my first instructable, so go easy. And be sure to check out my other Instructalbes!
-DISCLAIMER-
I am in no way responsible for any injuries or damage caused to you, anyone or anything during the making of this instructable.
What you'll need:
- A piece of plexi-glass, or glass if your more advanced. This will be cut into 6 squares, then assembled into a cube. The size of your plexi-glass squares will depend on the amount of LED's used. I used 4 LED's, so my final product was 2 1/8 inch squares.
- Glass frosting spray (pick it up at a craft store)
- LED's of any color. Again, the amount doesn't matter, but the size of your squares and battery will have to compensate.
- For mine, I used 4 LED's, so a 9V battery worked perfectly. If you use more or less LED's, you will have to choose the correct battery.
- Hot glue and hot glue gun
- Solder
- Sliding on/off switch
- (Optional) Colored Gorilla� brand tape
Tools you'll need
- Hot glue gun
- Soldering iron
- Cardboard cutting knife
- Ruler
-FIRST OFF-
This is my first instructable, so go easy. And be sure to check out my other Instructalbes!
-DISCLAIMER-
I am in no way responsible for any injuries or damage caused to you, anyone or anything during the making of this instructable.
What you'll need:
- A piece of plexi-glass, or glass if your more advanced. This will be cut into 6 squares, then assembled into a cube. The size of your plexi-glass squares will depend on the amount of LED's used. I used 4 LED's, so my final product was 2 1/8 inch squares.
- Glass frosting spray (pick it up at a craft store)
- LED's of any color. Again, the amount doesn't matter, but the size of your squares and battery will have to compensate.
- For mine, I used 4 LED's, so a 9V battery worked perfectly. If you use more or less LED's, you will have to choose the correct battery.
- Hot glue and hot glue gun
- Solder
- Sliding on/off switch
- (Optional) Colored Gorilla� brand tape
Tools you'll need
- Hot glue gun
- Soldering iron
- Cardboard cutting knife
- Ruler
Step 1: Cutting, Frosting and Assembling the Plexi-Glass
Now that all out part are assembled, now is the time to work with your plexi-glass.
How it's done:
REMEMBER: I am making 2 1/8 inch squares.
Plexi-glass is an awkward thing to cut. Using a saw just leaves shavings all over, and a Dremel just won't cut straight. So, the solution...
Using your ruler, mark 2 1/8 inches all the way down the piece of plexi-glass. Do this on both sides. Then, take your cardboard knife and score all the way down the line your just made. Again this is on both sides. Hint: Use your ruler to guide your knife, to ensure a nice, straight edge. Then, put your glass on a table, putting the line you drew directly over the edge of the table. Line your ruler up with the edge of the table, and the sharpie line. Press down hard on the ruler to keep it all in place. Then, in one quick motion (like opening a book) snap down firmly. This should create a nice straight line. Repeat this step until you have all six of your squares.
Now, lay out some newspaper, and spray your squares. Wait about an hour, then spray the other side.
Now, assemble the cube, leaving one of the sides off. We'll use that square in a minute.
How it's done:
REMEMBER: I am making 2 1/8 inch squares.
Plexi-glass is an awkward thing to cut. Using a saw just leaves shavings all over, and a Dremel just won't cut straight. So, the solution...
Using your ruler, mark 2 1/8 inches all the way down the piece of plexi-glass. Do this on both sides. Then, take your cardboard knife and score all the way down the line your just made. Again this is on both sides. Hint: Use your ruler to guide your knife, to ensure a nice, straight edge. Then, put your glass on a table, putting the line you drew directly over the edge of the table. Line your ruler up with the edge of the table, and the sharpie line. Press down hard on the ruler to keep it all in place. Then, in one quick motion (like opening a book) snap down firmly. This should create a nice straight line. Repeat this step until you have all six of your squares.
Now, lay out some newspaper, and spray your squares. Wait about an hour, then spray the other side.
Now, assemble the cube, leaving one of the sides off. We'll use that square in a minute.
Step 2: The Electronics
This step is not too complicated, if you can solder!
Snap the battery's terminal connector on. Then take the square you excluded from the assembly and glue the battery to it. Then take the positive wire (usually red) and solder it up to the positive connection on the switch. If there is no indication of witch is positive, it doesn't matter, just choose one. Now solder your other red wire to the other connection on the switch.
Lets set that aside for a minute and focus on the LED's. Remember that cork you've got? That's what the LED's are going to stand up in. Using the cardboard knife, cut about one third of the cork off. Then, use a small nail to poke 8 little holes in a circle.
Identify the positive and negative prongs on you LED's. The long one is usually the positive, and the short one negative. On the first positive prong, attach your red wire from the switch, to the prong. Make a loop in the positive LED prongs, and run the short prongs of the next LED through it and solder it. Repeat this until it comes back around, but don't make a complete circle. On the last negative prong, attach the black wire, then attach that wire to the battery terminal.
now, test it out to see if they all light up, and the switch works. If it works, great. Go ahead and stick your LED's into the cork, then glue that to the square the battery's on. If you cant get it to work, don't give up, keep trying at it.
Snap the battery's terminal connector on. Then take the square you excluded from the assembly and glue the battery to it. Then take the positive wire (usually red) and solder it up to the positive connection on the switch. If there is no indication of witch is positive, it doesn't matter, just choose one. Now solder your other red wire to the other connection on the switch.
Lets set that aside for a minute and focus on the LED's. Remember that cork you've got? That's what the LED's are going to stand up in. Using the cardboard knife, cut about one third of the cork off. Then, use a small nail to poke 8 little holes in a circle.
Identify the positive and negative prongs on you LED's. The long one is usually the positive, and the short one negative. On the first positive prong, attach your red wire from the switch, to the prong. Make a loop in the positive LED prongs, and run the short prongs of the next LED through it and solder it. Repeat this until it comes back around, but don't make a complete circle. On the last negative prong, attach the black wire, then attach that wire to the battery terminal.
now, test it out to see if they all light up, and the switch works. If it works, great. Go ahead and stick your LED's into the cork, then glue that to the square the battery's on. If you cant get it to work, don't give up, keep trying at it.
Step 3: Your Done!
Now, behold! The glory of your newest instructable creation! Try this with different colors, and set them around you house!
I added the electrical tape around the edges to dress it up a little and it looks fantastic! Also, this woks just as well with less LED's, but 4 was a good number because it works perfectly with the 9V battery!
Rate comment and subscribe, and remember; lift up on the cube to access the switch
I added the electrical tape around the edges to dress it up a little and it looks fantastic! Also, this woks just as well with less LED's, but 4 was a good number because it works perfectly with the 9V battery!
Rate comment and subscribe, and remember; lift up on the cube to access the switch