*Contest* - Custom Sonic Screwdriver

[CB2001]

There will definitely be a 2.0 of mine as well. I'm working with a theme and I hope people see it!

Really? I can't wait to see what your theme is. I came up with sort of a background behind mine, as well as a bit of trivia about the construction. I can't wait for the pictures to be posted so I could go ahead and start talking about "The Midway." (that's what I call mine)

 

[Pharos]

Shylah - I like the Victorian feel to your banner very much - very steampunky too.

Protokev - your second banner is striking indeed, very professional.

This may turn into a banner contest!

Risu - you can get bright green flashlights from Peak led solutions in 5mm led, though they may find you a green cree if you're willing to pay - Also from Lummi in the UK - I have a green cree Raw Al from Lummi which is extremely bright and has two settings - the owner/inventor at Lummi would also sell you the light engine alone (led and circuit board, everything bar the casing and reflector) - which you could wire into a Sonic I'm sure, just take care to heatsink it. I managed to make my Sonic in several light output colours.

Yay! I'm on the list.........can not wait at all!

 

[aoifrost]

I've been carrying my sonic around in my coat pocket and shining the LED at door handles before opening them (when no one is looking) for the past few days.... :lol

 

[Jannix Quinn]

I bet mine's the most unusual.

 

[Risu]

Risu - you can get bright green flashlights from Peak led solutions in 5mm led, though they may find you a green cree if you're willing to pay - Also from Lummi in the UK - I have a green cree Raw Al from Lummi which is extremely bright and has two settings - the owner/inventor at Lummi would also sell you the light engine alone (led and circuit board, everything bar the casing and reflector) - which you could wire into a Sonic I'm sure, just take care to heatsink it. I managed to make my Sonic in several light output colours.

There were a lot of words in there I didn't understand. Green cree? Raw Al? I'd like to get the brightest LED I can get that doesn't require a circuit board and can just be wired to the batteries/button same as the CO toy. Size can be up to 7 mm in diameter, MAYBE 8 with some mods to the emitter.

 

[aoifrost]

There were a lot of words in there I didn't understand. Green cree? Raw Al? I'd like to get the brightest LED I can get that doesn't require a circuit board and can just be wired to the batteries/button same as the CO toy. Size can be up to 7 mm in diameter, MAYBE 8 with some mods to the emitter.

You can try this:

http://www.luxeonstar.com/Green-Luxeon-Rebel-LED-160-lm-p/lxml-pm01-0090.htm

I have not personally used the Luxeon Rebels, but I have quite a bit of experience with Luxeon Stars for LED Sabers. They are extremely bright. You will need a heat sink if you plan on running these, though.

 

[Risu]

Would something like this be stocked at a Fry's? I'd really like to check it out in person before burning money on finding the right LED.

 

[aoifrost]

Would something like this be stocked at a Fry's? I'd really like to check it out in person before burning money on finding the right LED.

I don't know of any local vendors for high quality LEDs. If I'm looking for something specific I usually order online... and if I'm looking for generic LEDs, I get them off Ebay because it's way cheaper than any local store (radioshack charges 2 dollars for one or two LEDs while I can get 100 for 8-10 bucks off ebay).

 

[Risu]

I don't need tons of em, they'd just take up space, so I don't mind the slightly higher cost.

 

[Pharos]

Risu, sorry to prattle on with stuff you don't know - my bad!

The brighter you have an LED, the hotter it becomes - and heat will eventually kill the LED - IE hotter leads to short lifespan. Think replicant.

So you need to have a heatsink for most high output LEDs like Luxeons, SSCs,Crees, etc. But the 3, 5 and 10mm LED's work for the most part without heatsinking. Also they are cheaper. I'm sure you can pick up some green 5mm ones at your local electronic store. I'm in England so I don't know which ones are best over there -here I would go to Maplin or get them on the 'net.

I think the green ones are very bright, as are the turquoise and the red. I use them un resistored with a 3v source and they're great. Couple of button cells like CR2016 are very good and long lasting. Try not to reverse the polarity of the neutron flow, though. :angel

 

[Risu]

Well, the current LED is a white 1500 mcd 5 mm, and I used to have a 4500 mcd blue 5 mm LED in my CO toy. I'd like to find something at least as bright as that blue LED, if not brighter. Radioshack doesn't have a very good selection and I haven't been into a Frye's in 8 years. I'm hoping they'll have something good.

 

[Pharos]

Just checking the online catalogue - You should be able to get 5mm green LEDs at 22000mcd at 100 mA.

We are very off topic here!!!

I wonder if the contest should have a sub category for brightest Sonic? Or Loudest?

 

[Shylaah]

Shylah - I like the Victorian feel to your banner very much - very steampunky too.

Protokev - your second banner is striking indeed, very professional.

This may turn into a banner contest!
>>clip<<

Thanks Pharos. Yeah, another contest!

Added a 'description' and will make it clickable when the where to see and vote
have been posted, and will post the code if anyone wants to use it.

As with everyone else, very much looking forward to seeing all the entries.

Shylaah

 

[jason1976]

Well, the current LED is a white 1500 mcd 5 mm, and I used to have a 4500 mcd blue 5 mm LED in my CO toy. I'd like to find something at least as bright as that blue LED, if not brighter. Radioshack doesn't have a very good selection and I haven't been into a Frye's in 8 years. I'm hoping they'll have something good.

The fancy ones are very cool, and all, but I just get mine at the dollar store. Their are usually any number of items with colored, and/or White LEDs there, some are very bright, You can see what you are getting, and you get the bonus, of them not only being cheep, but aften coming with other useful stuff, like batteries, wires, etc. etc. Just a though. (I just really hate buying that kind of thing online. I like to know what I'm getting, hold it in my hand, and pay cash for it.)

I'm reallly starting to get nervous. I've been wanting to do a sonic like the one I made for quite a wile now, and I saw this as the extra incentive to do it. I thought it was pretty slick looking. (though I will deffenently be doing a version 2.0 with many more bells and whistles on the inside, and an extraone for my girlfreind. ) But from reading through the thread, I don't think I stand much of a chance. Mine is very basic, compared to even the most basic of info that some folks have leaked out about thiers. Oh, well, if I when nothing else from this contest, I at least get my sonic, and I've been wanting to do that for a long time.

 

[Dave Porter]

And that is the best way to look at it.

Winning is fun, but just having one that is uniquely yours is pretty cool too.

 

[Pharos]

Especially if it gets a vote or two....

 

[Asp9mm]

Don't worry about light and sound, bells and whistles etc. The original 3/4/5 Docs sonic did nothing at all except move a bit. It all boils down to looks, as you can imagine what a design would perform like with sound and maybe light. So everyone who has a static non lighting, non sound sonic shouldn't worry.

 

[Pharos]

I bet mine's the most unusual.

Somehow that statement with your avatar scares me - what did you use, body parts??
:eek

 

[CB2001]

Don't worry about light and sound, bells and whistles etc. The original 3/4/5 Docs sonic did nothing at all except move a bit.

Actually, that's a bit of the approach I've taken with mine.

 

[The Next Doctor]

OK Guys, I have the photos organized. I am getting ready to upload them to my photo site. I am hoping to have the voting thread ready in about an hour or so.

35 Contestants and 105MB of Photos.....I am going need a Sonic to get this done.