LED Throwies

By Graffiti Research Lab
Time Required: A few minutes

Print this Project

Make and toss a bunch of these inexpensive little lights to add color to any ferromagnetic surface in your neighborhood.

December 18, 2012, 10:45 pm PDT

Parts

Parts

Epoxy, conductive, (optional) (1) Weather-resistant alternative to tape. Available from Newark InOne (http://newark.com).
Disc magnet, ½' to 1' diameter, NdFeB, Ni-Cu-Ni plated (1) 25 count for about $15 from Amazing Magnets (http://amazingmagnets.com).
Batteries, CR2032 3V lithium (1) 25 cents each from CheapBatteries.com.
Tape, strapping, 1' (1) One roll will make many throwies.
LED, 10mm diffused, any color(s) (1) 20 cents each from HB Electronic Components (http://hebeiltd.com.cn).

Tools

Steps

Step #1: Test the LED.

NextPrev

Pinch the LED’s leads to the battery terminals, with the longer lead (the anode) touching the positive terminal (+) of the battery, and the shorter lead (the cathode) touching negative (-).
Confirm that the LED lights up.
Tape the LED leads to the battery by cutting off a 7" piece of strapping tape and wrapping it once around both sides of the battery. Keep the tape very tight as you wrap. The LED should not flicker.
Place the magnet on the positive terminal of the battery, and continue to wrap the tape tightly until it’s all done. The magnet should hold firmly to the battery.
The battery’s positive contact surface extends around the sides of the battery. Don’t let the LED’s cathode touch the positive terminal, or you’ll short the circuit.
That’s it — you’re ready to throw (or make a few dozen more). Throw it up high and in quantity to impress your friends and city officials.

Conclusion

This project originally appeared in MAKE Volume 6, page 116.

Graffiti Research Lab

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