How to Design an LED Light Circuit

LEDs are very simple electrical components that greatly help in electrical projects.

Designing an LED light circuit is an excellent beginners electronics project and an easy way to decorate for the holidays. LEDs are light emitting diodes that take only a small amount of power to give off light. Make an LED light circuit by twisting the wires from the LED to the electrical posts on a battery bay or even to the battery itself (though it is easier to replace the battery if you use the bay).

Things You'll Need

• LEDs
• Battery bay
• Battery
• Electrical tape
• Clothes hangar
• Wire cutter

Instructions

1. Place the battery bay down on your workspace so that the opening faces up. The size and type of battery bay depends on how long you want the light to last. Because LEDs use so little power, a simple AA bay will last for weeks. If you are going to use this LED circuit as a decoration, use a small battery bay to minimize weight and bulk.

2. Determine how many lights you want in the circuit. A rough rule of thumb is that you need one AA battery for every five LEDs. Using more than that means the batteries get run down faster. Place that number of LEDs in line on your workspace. Twist the metal wires coming from the LEDs together so that the LEDs form a strand, with the wires at the end and beginning of the strand left untwisted.

3. Wrap the twisted wire pairs in electrical tape. Use three layers of tape, ensuring that no bare metal is visible. This ensures that the LED wires won't short out on each other or on any errant pieces of metal they might touch. Twist the bare metal wires at the ends of the LED strand to each of the electrical posts on the battery bay. Wrap the electrical posts in electrical tape as well, using three layers to ensures proper coverage. Put batteries in the battery bay to check that the LEDs light; if not, re-twist the connections to ensure a good connection. Take the battery out whenever you want to shut off the LED light circuit.

4. Cut a length of wire off a wire hanger with a wire cutter. The length should be as long as your LED strand because it will serve as a structural backing. Place the hanger wire along the LED strand and bend the hanger wire to match the curvature of the LED strand. Tape the wire to the LED strand with the electrical tape. This now allows you to hang the LED light circuit without having to worry about the weight breaking the connections.

References

• Unclean: LED Wiring
• White LEDs: LED wiring Guide
• Sick Mods: LED Wiring