Hello! I have here another relatively simple project. This is a LED flashlight. There are a lot of this do-it-yourself project already posted in the internet. The advantage of the LED flashlight is that an LED consumes much less power than a normal resistance bulb, thus your battery can last longer. However, an LED requires about 3.6V to 4.0V of power source. So without any modification, you would need three 1.5V batteries just to power your LED torch. Based on what I read from other websites, the circuitry needed to be able to use just one 1.5V battery is relatively simple and quite similar to what I used for my clock booster circuit project. So I thought to try make one for myself. Again I would try to use as simple materials as I can. Scrap materials would be best.
The basic materials are of course the LED and spare batteries(see picture below). I intend to be able to use discarded batteries again from wall clocks and remote controls(AA and AAA sizes).
The basic materials are of course the LED and spare batteries(see picture below). I intend to be able to use discarded batteries again from wall clocks and remote controls(AA and AAA sizes).
I will also need a container and also additional electronics components to boost the 1.5V from a single used battery to the required 3.6V to 4V. Below is a picture of the components and the container I will use. A discarded plastic vitamin bottle will serve as my flashlight body.
Now all I need to do is solder the components together and test. For those who would like to make their own similar project, a lot of information is available on the net, including the basic circuit involved and the theory behind it. Just try googling "do-it-yourself LED flashlight". Below is a picture of the soldered components together prior to insertion inside the plastic bottle.
I just made two sets of battery holder/connectors from tin cans so I can use either AA or AAA batteries. The LED goes on the lid of the bottle. As for switch, the connection to the negative is completed when a floating wire with a flat tin end touches a wire ring on the neck of the bottle. Below is a picture of the finished project with the light turned on. I used a blue LED because it is what is handy at the time I made the project.
Below is a short flash video of the flashlight in action. This may be a good school project for kids in high school or even grade school.:)