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Homemade USB LED Light

A USB cable carries an electrical charge as well as a computer signal when it is plugged into a USB port on a desktop computer or laptop. You can make your own USB "flashlight" by adding a light-emitting diode or LED to an end of a USB cable. A few supplies from a hobby shop or electronics supply store will be needed, as well as a few tools commonly found around the house -- no special electronic skills required. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

  • USB cable, 6 feet long
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Utility blade
  • White LED
  • Heat shrink tubing, 1/8th-inch diameter
  • Hot air gun
  • Electrician's tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut off one end of a USB cable with the scissors. Cut a 2-inch slit in the outer insulation from the cut end of the USB cable with the blade of the utility knife.

    • 2

      Pull the wires out from within the outer insulation. Cut off all of the wires with the wire cutters except for the red and black wires.

    • 3

      Place the USB cable on a work surface with the cut end facing you. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off the ends of the red and black wires with the wire strippers.

    • 4

      Cut two 1-inch lengths of heat shrink tubing with the scissors. Place a heat shrink tube over each of the two wires.

    • 5

      Place the longer of the two conductive pins on the bottom of the white LED into the open end of the heat shrink tube that is covering the red wire. Repeat this with the other pin on the white LED and the other heat shrink tube.

    • 6

      Turn the heat gun on and aim it at the heat shrink tubes. Apply the stream from the heat gun until each of the tubes shrink. Remove the heat gun. Wrap a strip of electrician's tape around each of the heat shrink tubes to insulate the wires and pins from each other.

    • 7

      Wrap electrician's tape around the cut end of the USB cable to secure the LED to the USB cable.

Tips & Warnings

  • A soldering iron can be used to secure the wires to the pins on the LED -- electrical tape will then be necessary in order to insulate the wires from each other.

  • Don't stare directly into an LED light.

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