Making a light for lightsaber, but having problems!

limpport · Post by **limpport** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:15 am

So I'm trying to make a light for the lightsaber handle I made, but I'm having difficulties with it. I'm using an LED from Radioshack. It is a 10mm red that is 5000mcd intensity, rated for 2.4V, and 20mA (it's part #276-086). I want to get it hooked up to a switch to turn it on an off, no momentary switches. I'm trying to get it all to fit into a tube 5/16" wide. I could also fit 3-4 AA batteries maximum. Does anyone have any ideas on how to make this work?

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:57 am

So is the light going inside the hilt, and then you have a transparent/translucent blade that will be illuminated by the LED?

daguuy · Post by **daguuy** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:36 am

use as many batteries as you can fit (i power 3.3v LEDs with 8.4v and a resistor and they work fine) and just wire it in series with a resistor and switch

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:42 am

Lightsabers are cool and all, but you should make a keyblade, like the ones at www.keyblades.com . I think the Oblivion looks pretty sweet

CTFan

Metroid fan · Post by **Metroid fan** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:26 pm

Gosh guys it's spelt lightsabre DUH

accually I don't know thats just how I spell it but anyways just use a DC DC converter from TI and a resistor it should work...

Post by **Gamelver** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:33 pm

let's say you use 3 AAs in series.

that'd be a 4.5V source, so if the LED uses 20mA...you'll need....a 105 ohm resistor in series with the led.

if you use 4AAs, and wire two of the four in parallel, and the other two in parallel, and then both packs in series, you'll need a 30 ohm resistor.

If possible, do the 4AA one because it's easier to get 30 ohms (3 ten ohm resistors in series) than to get a 105 ohm resistor. Alternatively, you could also use a 33ohm resistor for the 3V (4AAs) setup.

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:36 pm

Metroid fan wrote:Gosh guys it's spelt lightsabre DUH accually I don't know thats just how I spell it but anyways just use a DC DC converter from TI and a resistor it should work...

Well, in Star Wars i'm pretty sure it has always been spelt lightsabER. But the correct spelling is sabRE.

Metroid fan · Post by **Metroid fan** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:09 pm

Well i'm kinda right kinda wrong all well...

limpport · Post by **limpport** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:47 pm

Gamelver wrote:let's say you use 3 AAs in series.

that'd be a 4.5V source, so if the LED uses 20mA...you'll need....a 105 ohm resistor in series with the led.

if you use 4AAs, and wire two of the four in parallel, and the other two in parallel, and then both packs in series, you'll need a 30 ohm resistor.

If possible, do the 4AA one because it's easier to get 30 ohms (3 ten ohm resistors in series) than to get a 105 ohm resistor. Alternatively, you could also use a 33ohm resistor for the 3V (4AAs) setup.

Is this what you ment?:

Would the switch go between the battery and resistor or betweent the resistor and LED?

Post by **Gamelver** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:49 pm

between the battery and the resitor

.

otherwise, it'd be shorting the resistor, and you'd fry your leds.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:53 pm

Lightsabers are cool and all, but you should make a keyblade, like the ones at www.keyblades.com . I think the Oblivion looks pretty sweet

CTFan

This Keyblade is made out of solid wood (plywood) -

Sounds MUCH better than a lightsaber. a 30" chunk of plywood.

Metroid fan · Post by **Metroid fan** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 1:57 pm

If it was made out of well shaped plastic then that would be cool but I like the lightsabre personally.

limpport · Post by **limpport** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:15 pm

Gamelver wrote:between the battery and the resitor

otherwise, it'd be shorting the resistor, and you'd fry your leds.

But is that how I would hook up the batteries, parallel to each other like that?