Nyssa

I needed a cool flashing LED effect (don’t we all?). J made a generic LED sequencing board and I made it groovy. By using a few materials (hot glue, a jar, a bowl, cardboard, more hot glue…) that I had laying about, I was able to create a groovy glue based ambient lighting jar. To see any image in greater detail, please click on it.

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Step 01: This board has an “AT Tiny 84″ chip that has been programmed to sequence eight LEDs. The LEDs are connected via cables on either side of the chip. The three jumpers control the speed of the sequence, whether the LEDs will chase or “bounce”, and how many LEDs will be lit up at the same time (2 or 3).

Step 02: The underside of the board looks like this. (Yes, this isn’t technically a step.)

Step 03: Add batteries. This project runs on 3 AA batteries.

Step 04: The component board is ready to go. The LEDs are on two flexible cables.

Step 05: Using an old VCR tape case, I drizzled hot glue on it. Once cooled, I peeled up the glue. This process was much faster when I used metal to drizzle upon, rather than plastic.

Step 06: Here is the giant pile of dried hot glue that I created to fill the jar.

Step 07: I started adding glue into the jar.

Step 08: Using a drill and a jar lid, I made a place to hold the LEDs.

Step 09: I used a hole saw to put a hole in the bottom of the plastic bowl. The hole is slightly smaller than the lid. I just need a hole for the LEDs to poke through, not the entire lid. In order to keep the bowl from cracking, I heated some water in it. I threw out the water right before using the hole saw.

Step 10: In order to attach the lid to the bowl, I used more hot glue. Then, I made a piece of cardboard with LED sized holes to use as an LED stabilizer.

Step 11: I brought all my parts together; battery pack, jar full of dried hot glue, my LED sequencing board, piece of cardboard and jar lid glued to plastic bowl.

Step 12: Here is the inside of the bowl. I poked the LEDs through the holes in the jar lid and through the cardboard on the other side.

Step 13: This is what the “mounted” LEDs look like from the top side.

Step 14: I carefully screwed the jar full of glue onto the lid and tucked away my battery pack and components.

Step 15: Turn on the LEDs & turn off the lights! Here is a blurry picture of the LED effect. The glue glows and shimmers as the LEDs go through the sequence