off topic

15 years ago

I know this is off topic. . . . . . but

I changed the sculpture "captured". It seemed to be lacking something. Anyway I removed the base and replaced it with a redwood post cap. The post cap was routed out to accept 2 AA batteries, the circuit board from a garden pathway solar light (maybe it qualifies as garden junk after all) and an off/on switch. Oh yeah I changed the garden light LED from white to green, very difficult to photograph. It is much nicer as a night light. I call this completed piece KRYPTONITE!

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Comments (6)

susiewantsroses
15 years ago
You never fail to just "BLOW US AWAY" with your creations. So delighted by your post's.

Susie
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
15 years ago
LEDs operate at about 3.6V DC. two AA batteries get you 3 volts when they are new. this means you are not getting max brightness.
If you use three batteries in seris with a resistor to drop the Voltage to 3.6 Volts, you will get a brighter light.

Changing from white to green is a good idea. Human eye is more sensitive to green.

AA batteries are not cheap and they do not last that long. Try using lithium (NI-MH) rechargeable batteries. They are 1.2 Volts each. Three (1.2V x 3)will be good to light up the LEDs without the need for a resistor.

dcarch
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tehuti
Original Author
15 years ago
dcarch, Thanks for the information IÂll fool around a bit more with LEDs in the future as I have an outdoor LED Christmas tree Janie is discarding after this season. The circuit I used for this sculpture was from a set of discarded (broken) rechargeable solar pathway lights. The original assembly used a solar cell to recharge a single AA rechargeable lithium battery. I tested the solar cell and found it operates at 1.5 volt in direct sunlight and 0 volts when covered (IÂll find a use for those later). Anyway I removed the solar cell and replaced it with a SPST switch and took a 2 AA battery holder from my scrap box and replace the single battery holder. The series arrangement doubled the voltage to 3 volts +/ and doubled the visible light output; so I tried a 9 volt battery Â the result was both immediate and disasterous as it fried one component on the board. Not wanting to resurrect my dusty, old ohmÂs law theory I simply went with what worked. Although I still find the basic theory still applies I put my old electronics background behind me years ago Â right after the vacuum tube disappeared and when I had to hard wire changes to alter a computerÂs program. I still play with binary math and still use flow charts to solve logic problems. Sometimes I miss the TRS 80, the Commodore 64, even the VIC -20, and all the basic programming. All that aside, thanks for your input you might have rekindled an interest I left smoldering for a many of years.

Robert
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
15 years ago
"dcarch, Thanks for the information I'll fool around a bit more with LEDs in the future as I have an outdoor LED Christmas tree Janie is discarding after this season. "

* Out door Christmas LED lights has in-line resistors which may not be the correct OHMs. It's worth playing with.

"The circuit I used for this sculpture was from a set of discarded (broken) rechargeable solar pathway lights. The original assembly used a solar cell to recharge a single AA rechargeable lithium battery."

*1.5V cannot normally fire up an LED. So there may be driver electronics to raise the voltage.

"so I tried a 9 volt battery the result was both immediate and disasterous as it fried one component on the board. "

*Never do that. Anything much more than around 3.6V will instantly fry an LED. Also be careful with polarity. Reverse polarity can also burn up an LED. If you look inside an LED with a magnifying glass, the side connected to the component inside that looks like a dish is the negative. With a new LED, the longer leg is the positive.

" Although I still find the basic theory still applies I put my old electronics background behind me years ago right after the vacuum tube disappeared and when I had to hard wire changes to alter a computer's program. "

* For your information, that's not too long ago.

"All that aside, thanks for your input you might have rekindled an interest I left smoldering for a many of years. "

*Not smoldering, soldering :-)

dcarch
luna_llena_feliz
15 years ago
Ok, all the electronic stuff is like la-la-la-la to my eyes. lol But I do like the addition of light to your scuplture, Robert! I bet it looks very cool in the dark. Keep those awesome projects coming!
Purplemoon
15 years ago
Another really neat "invention" Robert. You just overflow with ideas and creativity! WOW.

hugs, Karen

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susiewantsroses

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

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susiewantsroses

dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m

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