How to Make an LED Hula Hoop
The Hula Hoop has its origins in Ancient Greece, where fitness enthusiasts twisted old grapevines into hoops they could use to firm up their stomachs before competitions. Today, the Hula Hoop is a remnant of a toy craze that is seeing a renaissance thanks to its combination of fun and fitness. You can increase the fun by constructing your own LED Hula Hoop.
Things You'll Need
- 21 LED (light-emitting diode) lights in assorted colors
- 1 coil of white tube (Poly tubing used for irrigation is best)
- 1 coil of speaker wire (approximately 12 feet long)
- 1 Sharpee marker
- Clear cellophane tape
- Ruler
- 1 set of wire strippers
- Plastic connector
- Battery with leads
- Electronic switch
- 11 feet of 16-gauge galvanized steel wire
- Hair dryer
- Multi-tool
- Power drill with drill and screwdriver bits
- Electric file
- Coarse sandpaper
- Metal file
- Soldering gun
- Wire solder
- Electrical tape
- Bubble wrap
Instructions
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Lighting System
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1
Mark the speaker wire with the sharpie at 6-inch intervals. Make 21 markings--make sure the markings are on both sides of the wire. You will have extra wire at the end. This will help you pull the wire through the tubing later.
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2
Separate your speaker wire lengthwise down the middle approximately 4 inches by pulling apart the two sections. Label one wire as positive and the other as negative. Continue separating the speaker wire until you have two complete strands.
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3
Strip the wire in sections at each point along the coil that you marked in step one. This is where the LEDs will attach. Use cellophane tape to tie the two wires back together, and strip the ends of each wire.
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4
Wrap the leg wire connectors of the LED lights around the stripped sections of wire. The longer LED connector wire will wrap around the positive speaker wire, and the shorter one around the negative wire. As you attach each LED, use the battery to test the circuit to ensure that each light works.
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5
Solder each LED wire in place and insulate the positive connection from the negative connection by wrapping it with electrical tape. Wrap the entire length of wire with bubble wrap and secure with cellophane tape to ensure that your hoop does not rattle.
Making the Hoop
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6
Mark the tube to show how far the connector will reach inside it. Then mark the area that the switch will be placed beyond that. Cut a hole for the switch into the tubing using the knife from your multi-tool.
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7
File down the side of the connector that is closest to the battery to make it easier to slide into and out of the tube for ease of changing.
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8
Pull your LED wire through the tubing using the galvanized wire as a guide. Pull the extra slack from the longer end through the switch hole. Cut it and attach it to the switch. Push the switch in place and attach with electrical tape.
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9
Run the wire from the switch end through the connector with the unfiled side pointed toward the battery end. Then press the unfiled side into the side of the Hula Hoop with the switch in it. Attach the battery to the loose wires, then press it into the battery end.
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10
Push the tube onto the connector. Use electrical tape to close the hoop securely
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1
Tips & Warnings
Should you have trouble making the connector fit into the tubing, you can heat the tubing with a hair dryer to make it more pliant before shoving the connector in place. Some Hula Hoop enthusiasts make part kits. Purchasing these will give you the parts for your homemade hoop for less than the cost of buying the components separately.
For safety purposes, you can use the drill to open the hole for your switch instead of using a knife.
