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Candles can create a cozy warm mood, but they can be dangerous, especially when you have children and pets that could knock them over. Using battery operated LED candles can create the same ambiance without the danger and mess.
Creating a battery operated candle from LED lights can be done several ways, depending on your level of comfort with basic wiring. However, even a novice can create a flickering LED candle in less than a half-hour by following basic steps. And the best part is that it will cost you a fraction of the store-bought versions.
You'll need a 9-volt battery connector, a 9-volt battery, a 100/220 resister, wire cutters, electrical tape, small LED bulbs and a "candle" of your choice. -
Match up the color coding of the resister wires and the wires from the battery connector. Peel back enough plastic coating that you can twist the wires from the connector to the resister around each other. Take a small piece of electrical tape and wrap it around the exposed wires. If you are handy with a soldering iron, you can solder the wires for a more reliable hold. Connect the wires of the LED bulb to the remaining wire in the same fashion. To neaten up the wiring, wrap another piece of electrical tape around the loose pieces to make a bundle that will fit in your candle.
Make an easy on/off switch by simply bending over a few of the connectors on the battery connector so that you can slide the connection in and out. - This is the fun part, and you can get as creative as you want to achieve the look you're after. The "candle" can be made from virtually any type of container. The simplest is to place your LED packet in a colored glass for instant results. Place your LED candle in a clear glass vase filled with marbles for a sophisticated look, or you can use an old candle that has burned straight down and left plenty of wax on the sides. These LED candles are so inexpensive and easy to make, you can experiment with containers and make them for every room of your home.
