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Mini LED Flashlight!

2:41pm Wed Dec 07, 2005

A lot of people have asked me to add some more items to the storefront, and now that I've had just a tiny bit of free time I've been able to develop the thing I wanted to do before the USB charger thing.

That's right folks, something else in an Altoids tin. The tin de'jour is an Altoids Smalls tin, and the function de'jour is being a sweet little flashlight.

I use this thing all the time. I keep it on the table next to my bed so I can look for my remote at night without having to go turn on the lights, and I use it to be able to see the connections behind my tv and plug things in behind my computer desk. I have it using a pushbutton momentary switch too, so you could use it to signal distant cargo ships in Morse code without all that tedious flip switching. It's also great for freaking out your dog.

It's lit by a single LED that's unbelievably bright. My initial design called for 3 LEDs (the kind you can get from Radio Shack) in a series (at a painful $3 per LED), but from my parts supplier I found this industrial-grade LED that can get the same amount of lumines from just the one. LEDs are great for flashlights because they don't burn out for something like 1000 years, and they require a very small voltage current so you won't have to replace the batteries for a loooong time.

For people daunted by all the figity work involved in the USB kits, this LED flashlight project should be just the ticket. I just put one of these together in 5 minutes.

Something like this would be a great stocking stuffer. Get the kit in the mail and throw it together with some batteries and a tin of Altoids Smalls, put a bow on it, and put the mints in a plastic baggie. "I made it myself!" you'll tell your loved one as they become that much closer to you and perhaps more willing to co-sign on your high interest signature loans.

So check the item out in the store. The kit costs a mere $8.50, which might seem a bit high until you start pricing LEDs. Yikes. Just remember that you won't ever need to buy a replacement bulb, and LEDs are to batteries as the Toyota Prius is to Gasoline (efficient). Also remember that I could be charging you $50 if I wanted to. That's $41.50 in savings!

Currently I'm accepting pre-orders on the flashlight. I still have a bunch of orders to fulfill so I can't start shipping out the lights until the 12th. Pre-order now to get in before the rush.

Edit: A few people mentioned that they don't know how big an Altoids Smalls tin is, so here's a size comparison.

Update: Just for proof of concept, I put together one of these flashlights using a 9v battery inside of an Altoids Chewing Gum tin. All you need to do is to get a 9v snap connector and use the same kit.

Page 1 of Comments

leadingzero

Hey dude - For all the people that already have all the parts sitting around at home, why don't you post the instructions so I can go ahead and get started?
5:05pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
mikie

very small voltage current? voltage and current are not one thing you know
5:06pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
shifty

Although uncommon, "voltage current" is just another way of saying "Watts" or "power."

[url]pspkick.com[/url]
5:14pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
billyjenkins

If you have all the parts on hand but can't figure out how to wire this up without instructions, you probably shouldn't be working on any projects. You might get hurt.
5:20pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
Russ

Thaks for the info you poindexters
5:26pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
MrPlow

>why don't you post the instructions
Because he's selling them.
5:44pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
avidd

ah, i'm going to give you a pass from posting instructions on this one :)
I had an idea to make an LED light using the dutycycle trick- the eye senses light intensity, not actual light quantity. What that means is that you can pulse an LED so that it's on 50% of the time but give it 150% the voltage during the pulse (or some ratio like that). The eye will see it as equally bright while using less power, as long as you pulse it fast enough (but not so fast that it doesn't reach peak luminescence). LED's are usually rated for peak power about double their suggested voltage, so it only has a small effect on the bulb's longevity. This trick was sometimes used in things like LED alarm clocks to make them appear brighter.
5:52pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
shifty

No problem, Russ. We'll see who's making money in five years and who's sucking dicks in the parking lot of the bus station for pocket change.

[url]http://pspkick.com[/url]
6:08pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
ogg

Search google. Lots of free circuits on LED lights.
6:32pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
Don

More to the point, if you can't handle googling "led flashlight design" you definately aren't up to the assembly. Sheesh, give Aaron a break. If you don't like the content of his webpage, go create your own.
6:36pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
Tobb

Who are you people?
7:47pm Wed Dec 07, 2005
avidd

everyone: leadingzero was joking.
tobb: we are people who spend too much time on the internet.
12:16am Thu Dec 08, 2005
Ryan

Gimme the instructions ot ill h4ck ur compater!!
6:49am Thu Dec 08, 2005
Tom

For the altoids tin. Could you just post the exact dimensions rather than the photo of it ontop of a cd etc =P Much appreciated to know the WxHxD because I cant get altoids in Australia and I would like to try the kit.
6:52am Thu Dec 08, 2005
Mikey Cat

Nice work on these projects. I would also be really interested to see you use an old existing flashlight shell like the mini maglite and convert it to LED stylee. I see the LED versions of those in the store for 25.00 +
But hey, just an idea. Bravo.
9:03am Thu Dec 08, 2005
Aaron

Tom: If you can't get Altoids tins, it isn't important what size container you use. The insides take up about 2 square inches, so you could anything bigger than, say, a 9v battery.
12:12pm Thu Dec 08, 2005
andrea

sounds like a nice chistmas present or stocking stuffer:)
12:52pm Thu Dec 08, 2005
Zus

Great for the toolbox or purse or car console...how about a keychain model/
1:10pm Thu Dec 08, 2005
Robert

Dude, when did the comments board get so popular?
1:11pm Thu Dec 08, 2005
justDIY

it is good to see capitalism is still alive - 25 cents worth of componets sold as an $8.50 kit - excellent!
2:47pm Thu Dec 08, 2005

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