How to Make a Flashing LED

LED bulbs require less electricity to work, and create a pure, strong light. They're also fun to work with, not only to light your home, but also to use in projects. One simple project is creating a flashing LED. You do not need much in this project, but the possibilities of the ways you can use the flashing LED is endless.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Flashing LED bulb
• 9-volt battery
• Circuit board
• Soldering pencil
• Pliers (needle nosed ones work well)
• Solder
• Clip switch (9 volt)

Test Your Flashing LED Bulb

1. Hook a 9-volt battery to a flashing LED bulb as the first step of making a flashing LED.

2. Attach the positive lead of the LED, which is the longer lead, to the positive post on the 9-volt battery, and the negative lead to the negative post on the 9-volt battery.

3. Insert the leads of the battery into the plug into a circuit board with needle nosed pliers. The LED bulb should flash.

Soldering

4. Cut a nearly 4-inch length of red 20-gauge wire.

5. Use a wire stripper to strip ½ inch from each end of the wire as you make a flashing LED.

6. Heat your soldering iron and hold it against the end of the red wire and the switch. You should hold it there for 10 seconds as you make a flashing LED.

7. Add solder to the end of the wire and the switch wire.

8. Allow the solder to cool before testing the connection as you make a flashing LED.

Assembly

9. Attach the positive lead from the battery to the positive lead to the switch, and the positive lead from the switch to the flashing LED.

10. Connect the negative lead from the battery to the negative lead on the battery, and the negative lead of the LED. Throw the switch and watch the LED bulb blink.

11. Add other flashing LED bulbs to the circuit by connecting the negative lead of the LED to the positive lead of another LED, the positive lead of the LED to the negative lead of another LED and so on. End the circuit by attaching the negative lead of the LED to the negative lead on the battery. Congratulations, you have created a flashing LED, or as many flashing LEDs as you would like.

12. Use the flashing LED in greeting cards, statues and more.