Glowies, Blinkies, UVies & Other Illuminations

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 4:35 am

Generally speaking, Harbor Freight lives up to its nickname...("The Chinese Embassy")...but yesterday I got a blinky toy from them that makes me smile every time I look at it. (Unfortunately there's no listing of it on their site.) A teeny, weensy, tiny little keychain dynamo flashlight. It actually works, is quite bright (two sub-mini white LEDs), costs $2.49 and is so small that it rattles around in an "Altoids Smalls" tin. AND it's actually held together with itty bitty (jeweler's screwdriver!) Phillips screws, so today (during NPR's "Science Friday") I will dissect my prize and report on its contents. I sense potential for a hamster-wheel generator, which would also be an excuse to get a "Robo Dwarf" hamster....

...no, I DON'T know why they're called "Robo Dwarf" hamsters.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:25 am

We picked up solar LED strings and nets at Target last week. Also some battery operated LED microlights and decorative lights which are great to "wear".

Post by **Sham** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:44 am

AntiM wrote:We picked up solar LED strings and nets at Target last week. Also some battery operated LED microlights and decorative lights which are great to "wear".

Is this some sort of commerce thing? Do you own stock in Target or something?

Where the hell is MDMF when you need him?
I always keep an eye on those lights and buy lots of them right after the holidays. They are usually 50-75% off. This year, Walmart has crap for cool LED lights. Target is the place to find them.
Sorry about the comment AntiM, I just had to do it!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:55 am

Shambala wrote:
AntiM wrote:We picked up solar LED strings and nets at Target last week. Also some battery operated LED microlights and decorative lights which are great to "wear".
Is this some sort of commerce thing? Do you own stock in Target or something? Where the hell is MDMF when you need him?
I always keep an eye on those lights and buy lots of them right after the holidays. They are usually 50-75% off. This year, Walmart has crap for cool LED lights. Target is the place to find them.
Sorry about the comment AntiM, I just had to do it!

HEY! ... says in the guidelines that referrals are okay?

They won't put in the section where you can't yank the chain of mods though, dagnabbit.

Our local big boxes sell out of solar early in the season, by clearance time they are long gone.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:08 am

Yep, Target DOES have some nifty LED lights....I like the 6' strings of battery-op lights, available in white, pink, blue and purple! The solars are nice too, but I had problems with the charger or panel on a string and I hacked it to run on a standard 4.5 volt (three AA) battery pack- It runs for days and days on one set of batteries! My current favorite Decorative Light Toy!

UPDATE FROM THE CHINESE EMBASSY (AKA "Harbor Freight")
- I just returned from a mission to town with some killer loot from a church sale (freakin' MIRROR BALL!!!!) and Vital Supplies from HF, including CHEAP rare earth magnets (ten for two bucks) and a couple more micro-crankylites....The screws are REALLY tiny, almost tinier than my smallest jeweler's screwdriver, and strip VERY easliy...But inside the case is a miniature wonderland of complexity! A tiny circuit board carries resistors for the two LEDs, a little rechargeable cell and a few other bits...there's an itsy little gearbox (four gears, each about the diameter of a large pencil! A motor the size of a single peanut! I was impressed.
Practical? No...Not very stylish on the keychain, and there are many smaller lights that last for YEARS running on a single cell...But that little crank is so silly that it elevates my mood in a way that a more "grown up" light could never accomplish.
...Okay, NOW I'm gonna go play with my mirror ball. I never realized how complicated the tiling of the mirror-squares was on the "real" mirror balls- There are several different sizes of tiles, very tightly arranged.... I got the ball, a BIG one that would cost hundreds of dollars new, AND the motor for a mere fifteen clams! Just needs a few bits of mirror hot-glued back on...Booby Bar 2010 gets the disco treatment, methinks!

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:28 pm

I just got some new blinkie items from american science and surplus. (a fave of mine)

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/sub ... tegory/161
desktop disco! very cool. teeny amp and marginal speakers, but the sound activated lights work well. Clear plastic with a shiny diffusion material inside. Some good potential here. They are powered by a 6V wall wart, but a battery source would work as well I think. If I split the audio from my mp3 player and take part to my regular amp and speakers, lights will be a nice show to augment better audio sound from regular stereo. Also I think these might make a neat mobile sound show on a bike or hat. Maybe rig up a microphone to have ambient sound activate the lights. cheap enough to canabilize even. I'll post some pics when I get around to taking them.

I also got some inexpensive bike wheel lights at $1.50 each from same site... some need new batteries, but this price is nice enough, I got some for gifts.

Post by **Sham** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:07 am

I have found some very cool, battery powered string lights in only two big box stores this year. Home Depot has both multi-color and white 20-bulb string lights that run on AA batteries. These are the larger LED bulb. Target, as mentioned above, has many different colors of the tiny LED bulbs available. The smaller LEDs are perfect for incoporating into clothes and the larger ones are great for lighting bikes.

Walmart only has strings that use "C" batteries that would be too heavy for dragging around the playa in your pocket. (Walmart sucks anyway, so I'm glad that it won't work out well)

Sail Man · Post by **Sail Man** » Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:51 am

Jeez, if only I hadnt spent all my money on WBD Weapons of Bambi Destruction I coulda bought some new blinkies. Oh well, have to wait for next payday

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:41 am

There is supposed to be some useful lighting control info on here.

http://www.planetchristmas.com/

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Sat Jan 23, 2010 11:28 pm

omg... i followed a link to a LED source on pg 2.

i so wanna rig up the led 'WALK/DON'T WALK' sign and put it in one of the intersections!

found here!

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/sub ... tegory/147

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 1:33 am

Sounds like a neat sign.

Here's a very interesting source for lenses and reflectors.
http://led-spot.com/index.shtml

Elektrolumens has some very useful links for rechargeable batteries and chargers, besides the usual stunning lights.
(up to 3000 lumens with only four LEDs now)
http://www.elektrolumens.com/

Cree seems to have some serious products now.
http://www.cree.com/products/ledlamps.asp

My thinking is that LEDs are powerful enough now that most flashlights and headlamps need a wide pattern, rather than a spot.
I'm going to try to modify some existing ones I have.

I may have mentioned them, but Home Depot has two wide angle headlamps.
One has an hourglass lens that swivels for a vertical or horizontal pattern.
Very wide, but thin.
Interesting but not too satisfactory.
Better than many spots though.
Probably very good for biking or a longer range beam.

Their other one has a lens to widen the pattern, but it isn't as effective as the other one.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:44 am

epic_elite wrote:omg... i followed a link to a LED source on pg 2.

i so wanna rig up the led 'WALK/DON'T WALK' sign and put it in one of the intersections!

found here!

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/sub ... tegory/147

gmta, epic. Let me know how you figure to control it. Looks like it needs a few more pieces to work.

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:47 am

Elorrum wrote:
epic_elite wrote:omg... i followed a link to a LED source on pg 2.

i so wanna rig up the led 'WALK/DON'T WALK' sign and put it in one of the intersections!

found here!

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/sub ... tegory/147
gmta, epic. Let me know how you figure to control it. Looks like it needs a few more pieces to work.

its kind of hard to determin what type of circuitry is included (if any), as the source is an overstock wholesaler, basically.

i wonder if the circuitry for the countdown timer is included in the housing of the sign. i speculate that would be the only hangup with getting it to work.

for the 'walk' part of the sign, seems like it would just be a matter of hooking it up to a sequencer and slowing it down to about 15-30 seconds, on/off.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 11:51 am

It says it isn't, but it still sounds like a deal.

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:16 pm

gyre wrote:It says it isn't, but it still sounds like a deal.

"Please note that the Countdown function requires an IC timer (not included) and some electronics knowledge."

booo!

it almost sounds like it has the hand that could be mounted separately. i wonder if you can just 86 the whole countdown situation and alternate between the stop hand and the walk signal.

i bought some of those LEDEON strips though. i figure ill wire them to a switch and battery and fit them inside a plastic tube to simulate their origional design for being stuffed inside a glass tube, then tape them to the spokes of my bike.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:43 pm

The individual lights are usually addressable.
It may take some effort to connect them and you have to get the power right.

You could use a simple timer to alternate the stop/go part.
Someone on here will know how to set up a basic countdown timer.
Make sure you match voltage, and frequency if it's an issue.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:46 pm

There is a schematic for the original device out there somewhere if you can find it.
That may not be easy.

Elorrum · Post by **Elorrum** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:33 pm

Draws approx 7W at 120VAC, and has a rubber gasket around the acrylic front panel, a set of (5) DIP switches on the numerical PCB for testing and diagnostics, and separate 3-foot leads for the walking man/hand and the numerical countdown panels (that could be mounted separately).
separate leads and mount separately... looks like you can omit the whole countdown portions and just have walking man and halting hand. AC power but only 7 watts, that's nice. It would be fun just to have one on the street of your camp to pause the moving art.

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:23 pm

I just ordered these. Last year I used solar light at the corners of the tents. I'm hoping these will work - maybe not as well but they are definitely less expensive.

http://www.harrietcarter.com/outlet_law ... n-markers/

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:35 pm

geospyder wrote:I just ordered these. Last year I used solar light at the corners of the tents. I'm hoping these will work - maybe not as well but they are definitely less expensive.

http://www.harrietcarter.com/outlet_law ... n-markers/

. Set of 26, each 15" L.

26, for that price? that's a heck of a good deal. i just may get some of these for our walkway to the road.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Mon Jan 25, 2010 1:05 pm

On an older recommendation in here from Mr Jellyfish, I just made a fairly large el wire order from World Aglow for a sci fi set we're building.

http://www.worldaglow.com/

Very nice people and they knocked 20% off the order and gave us wholesale pricing because I happened to ask if it was available.

I also name dropped a little and mentioned Mr Jellyfish recommended them.

Arcanum · Post by **Arcanum** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 4:05 pm

What's the battery life expectancy for a string of 20 LED lights-- I see they take 3 AA batteries, but how long will they stay on? I saw that non-LEDs will stay on eight hours with two C batteries-- is that true too??

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Thu Jan 28, 2010 7:51 pm

Arcanum wrote:What's the battery life expectancy for a string of 20 LED lights-- I see they take 3 AA batteries, but how long will they stay on? I saw that non-LEDs will stay on eight hours with two C batteries-- is that true too??

The color shifting led 20 light strands with 3 AA batteries we ordered from deal extreme http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6488 ran for 9 nights on Costco brand batteries on the Playa (sewn to our Camelbacks), sat on our bus for several weeks and used again for 3 nights at a regional event and I checked it a few minutes ago, and it turned on when I hit the switch. and started cycling.

I've had 4 AA battery pack strands used every night on the playa turn on a year later when I was going through all my gear.

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:29 am

CapSmashy wrote:
Arcanum wrote:What's the battery life expectancy for a string of 20 LED lights-- I see they take 3 AA batteries, but how long will they stay on? I saw that non-LEDs will stay on eight hours with two C batteries-- is that true too??
The color shifting led 20 light strands with 3 AA batteries we ordered from deal extreme http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6488 ran for 9 nights on Costco brand batteries on the Playa (sewn to our Camelbacks), sat on our bus for several weeks and used again for 3 nights at a regional event and I checked it a few minutes ago, and it turned on when I hit the switch. and started cycling.

I've had 4 AA battery pack strands used every night on the playa turn on a year later when I was going through all my gear.

they make those LED light strands with solar panels now too dont they?

not sure how bulky the panel would be, but you may be able to disect the housing and just attach the panel to something.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:46 pm

The solar panels are around the size of a largish deck of cards. I've worn the net LEDs, and tucked the panel into a pocket.

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:00 pm

AntiM wrote:The solar panels are around the size of a largish deck of cards. I've worn the net LEDs, and tucked the panel into a pocket.

large-ish?

are you talking about those cards for the blind... or a blind clown... that are the size of a grown man's head?

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Jan 30, 2010 11:29 am

epic_elite wrote:
AntiM wrote:The solar panels are around the size of a largish deck of cards. I've worn the net LEDs, and tucked the panel into a pocket.
large-ish?

are you talking about those cards for the blind... or a blind clown... that are the size of a grown man's head?

Reach into my pocket and find out.

epic_elite · Post by **epic_elite** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:07 pm

AntiM wrote:
epic_elite wrote:
AntiM wrote:The solar panels are around the size of a largish deck of cards. I've worn the net LEDs, and tucked the panel into a pocket.
large-ish?

are you talking about those cards for the blind... or a blind clown... that are the size of a grown man's head?
Reach into my pocket and find out.

for the worlds smallest deck of cards?

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Sun Jan 31, 2010 4:12 pm

I was just going to check out some items from worldaglow.com but the site is no longer active. The message says "worldaglow.com expired on 01/24/2010 and is pending renewal or deletion." Looks like they have a new (old) site but if so not all of the internal links are working - yet. If you do a right click on the bad link, copy the properties link and replace worldaglow with coolightwest they seem to work.

http://www.coolightwest.com/

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Feb 06, 2010 7:30 am

AntiM wrote:The solar panels are around the size of a largish deck of cards. I've worn the net LEDs, and tucked the panel into a pocket.

I took one of the solar strings and exchanged the (nonfunctional, never diagnosed) solar pack for a 3AA battery pack.....It will not die! I keep dragging it out for parties and it just keeps going...

Glowies, Blinkies, UVies & Other Illuminations

Someone forgot to renew their site?