Need help with creating a LED base

Submitted by TheNewRow t3_11t0miy in DIY

Hi alll!

I have this piece of nice quartz i mined myself, which glows when i shine a light from underneath it, so i'd like to print a base for underneath is with a somewhat strong LED in it.

But, i have no experience with electronics so i figured i could ask for some help before lighting my desk on fire.

So what exactly do i need to create an LED base? I'd like to power it with batteries, but what LED can i use in terms of wattage, and what battery do i need? How do i calculate how long different batteries would power it?

Thanks!

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Diligent_Nature t1_jcgjua5 wrote

I would use a 5 or 12V battery pack with 5 or 12V LED tape or a single 5/12V LED bulb. You probably won't need more than 5W which is 1A at 5V or 0.42A at 12V. A 10 Ah 5V pack can provide 1A for 10 hours.

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arandomvirus t1_jcgnsok wrote

The mineral is gypsum, the crystal form is “selenite”. Made of calcium sulfate.

Quartz is much harder, the mineral silica, the crystal form is quartz. Made of silicon dioxide

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magaoitin t1_jcgp170 wrote

So how much information do you want on DIY-ing LED lights????? Do some searches on youtube, or check out some of the Electrical subreddits for more info, but here is a little (too much) info and some links.

Whatever you decide, please post pictures of your final product, that rock is beautiful.

There are a few different ways to go. I have used a number of products from Superbright LEDs website and they have quality parts and pieces. You can also take apart a headlamp like yours and just extend the wires to the diode (if you are comfortable with soldering), then mount all of that in a wood base.For a DIY base you are probably going to need to build a base that will hide the battery pack and LED diodes, and that crystal can sit on like your headlamp.

For parts and pieces there are thousands of options unfortunately.

There are kits like this wine-bottle fairy light system for $3 that are inexpensive and you wont feel bad if you damage the light or wires so they don't work anymore doing trial and error DIY-ing (vs taking a $50-$80 headlamp and modifying it for your first project). I have not used this specific product, but you can cut the doides off you don't want to use and solder the ends or tape it off, or just bury the unused diodes in the base. They shouldn't generate enough heat to cause a fire if they were stuffed in a wood base.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/wine-bottle-led-fairy-lights-cork-shaped-battery-operated-led-lights-w-silver-wire-6-5ft

For a plug and play, no wiring or soldering exp needed option, I have used this single diode LED and it is awesome. Complete kit from Amazon for $18

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QBZ3DHX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

It's possible you can get a battery pack from the link below and hook to this light and controller and have a remote for it (that might be cool). The battery pack generates 12V with 8 AA batteries, and this light and controller work off from a 12v system.

​

You can also buy the parts and pieces it will probably take 3-4 pieces to put together

  1. Like an 8 cell AA battery packs, or a 4 cell D pack that is already wired with a plug in connection for $2-$4. These generate 12V. So look for a 12V LED light. Do not bother with 24V systems if you use these

https://www.superbrightleds.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=battery%20powered

  1. Then you need the LED. There are tons to choose from. First look for LED's that work with the battery pack so you are limited to 12V systems. and LED that is between 9V-14V will workTo get the output that your headlamp has you need to choose the color (tempurature) and lumen output. Your headlamp is probably a 300 lumen Diode and it looks like it is in the Cool range of 5500-6500k range for color/temperature. 4000k is more like natural light and 2500-3000k is a warm brownish light (probably not what you want to highlight that rock, but maybe it is. 5500 can be a harsh color for a desk light.)

https://www.superbrightleds.com/more-led-lights-and-fixtures/component-leds/led-wired-bolts

this is another very bright LED that would workhttps://www.superbrightleds.com/more-led-lights-and-fixtures/component-leds/led-wired-bolts/bolt-beam-10mm-led-light-10b-x

  1. Last you need to connect the light to the battery pack and have an on off switch.This is a fun remote on off switch from amazon that is plug and play to the battery packhttps://www.amazon.com/Control-Wireless-Controller-Brightness-Flashing/dp/B0BTXCY5Q4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=9OP6DQQZGRLO&keywords=12v+LED+switch&qid=1678990689&s=hi&sprefix=12v+led+switch%2Ctools%2C148&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyT0YxSDRPVktOWjNZJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTgzOTA2Mk02UFZTQTVaNURJMiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzAxMzY2MzkyS1FFWEc5M0kyVyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

  2. Last you need to wire an end on the LED to plug in. there are barrel connectors that you don't even need to know how to solder, just a screwdriver.https://www.superbrightleds.com/cps-f2st-female-standard-barrel-connector-to-screw-terminal-adapter-cps-x2st

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MoreFlyThanYou t1_jchb502 wrote

Dude they're cheap AF on Amazon and mone is bright enough, any brighter it's be a distraction while gaming

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allangee t1_jciclhd wrote

Replying to magaoitin (#2,246,453)

All the above. The only thing I would add is to STRONGLY consider RGB's. That will let you change the colors. If you run it off an Arduino, you can even program custom colors, patterns, and cycles.

Check out r/fastled. I've used fastled to customize my Christmas lights.

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magaoitin t1_jclvsse wrote

Replying to allangee (#2,249,598)

Great idea, that rock with a full color set of RGB's would be amazing. I really need to learn more about setting up and programing an Arduino. That really unlocks truly unlimited DIY possibilities. Put a microphone on the board and program it to pulse colors to music.

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TheNewRow OP t1_jcq7qyg wrote

Replying to magaoitin (#2,246,453)

So i've got most of the parts thanks to you awesome guide! However, i can't find the exact same LED where i'm from. i did find a few that i like but they come in different voltages, there's a 3-6v and a 12-24v version. Which one do i choose then and why? Can it be dangerous if i pick the wrong one? And, i often see resistors being put in between the LED and batteries, is this for safety?

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magaoitin t1_jcrvw6y wrote

Replying to TheNewRow (#2,264,654)

The issue is that if you are using a 12V supply and you get a 24V LED it can only use half of it's rated lumens (if it even turns on, some LED's will not activate without a power supply that is within 3-4 volts). Bascially it will be dim as heck if it turns on at all.
Rule of thumb is you should always match your LED's Voltage to the Battery or transformer size. Everything should be the same Voltage (or have the same voltage range if you are using a transformer) There are nuances of course, but it gets a little detailed.
Hooking up a 3-6V LED will probalby burn out immediately when it is turned on or soon after. It is getting too much voltage for the diode to handle.

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