I need help with making a tiny RED L.E.D. light

[Mojo_Turbo]

I am working on this Buzz Lightyear Halloween costume and by no means I am "electrical" or savvy...

But I need some sort of RED L.E.D. light to go into one of those plastic cup gauntlets on my son's arm.

It needs to be self contained and probably powered by a tiny watch battery. Basically I want to buy something predone (or super close to predone) that I can just gut, cut a hole in the cup gauntlet and tape the "guts" to the underside of the cup.

It does not have to turn off and on, and it's probably better if it doesn't.

I'm worried that a "lazer pointer" is too intense for a costume - especially to be projecting and randomly swinging during the night.

Thank you in advance for your creative solutions.

 

[Jannix Quinn]

I don't know anything about electronics, and someone may give you more direct help. If not, I've seen this guy do a tutorial on LEDs on youtube and it's really very good.

YouTube - thenewboston's Channel

There's a series of them, so just flick through until you find what you need.

Good luck.

 

[Knightjar]

Look at bike lights. There are some very small ones that fit onto the bike with elastic. Alternatively, a dollar store flash light with either red celophane from a chocolate wrapper or clear red paint over the lens.

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Thanks....

 

[Pilot]

For just a few simple costume uses like this, you could easily get away with a single CR2032 battery and a Radio Shack LED with no extra electronics. I would normally recommend wiring up a proper circuit with a resistor, but honestly, all you have to do is tape the LED leads firmly to the battery and stick the thing where you need it. It should last for hundreds of hours (the LED, not the battery :lol) even without a resistor in-line. You'd basically be making one of these "throwies."

 

[Mr.Engineer]

I second that too.

Unless you can find a Buzz Lightyear toy and use its electronics. Not only would you have lights, you have the sound too......

 

[TazMan2000]

There are LEDs that run directly off a 9 volt source and are super bright.

TazMan2000

 

[themanwoaname]

go to the dollar tree, they have some lightsabers with foam blades, and three red lights that turn on when you hit the button. just take that apart, remove all the electronics and see how to do that. the hilt is about 5" long by 3/4" wide, and probably runs on a single battery.

 

[Superkrates]

wafer thin single led light

Accent Lights - Ultra-thin: Extreme Glow - Wholesale glow sticks, body lights, glow necklaces, glow bracelets and glow products

 

[Kennyd]

Pull the batteries and leds out of a couple of those tiny cheap keyring LED lights, and tape the LED to the battery.

It'll only take 10 minutes and a pack of 10 can be bought for under $5

http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12160

 

[Robiwon]

PM sent.

 

[rollerboi]

Yeah just get one of those superbright keychains. He'll have fun activating it, or you can close the switch and leave it on. Awesome costume, incidentally. Every kid deserves a parent like you.

 

[exoray]

If you just want it static I would go with the "throwie" idea, a coin cell and red LED and you are good to go, the coin cell has enough internal resistance that it won't blow the LED no resistor is really needed...

If you want on/off ability on the cheap then I suggest an LED keychain...

This one is overpriced, you can probably find it for $1 at the local dollar store or in the cheap impact displays at a local discount or auto parts store... Heck I'm sure Walmart carries them as well...

Amazon.com: LRI PRK Photon II LED Keychain Micro-Light, Red Beam: Home Improvement

If it's not a red LED, you can hit it with a red sharpie...

If you really want to impress, get a mini maglite and get the clear/red/blue accessory lens kit... Lots of light, and actually useful flashlight after the fact...

 

[Robiwon]

PM replied to.

 

[Mojo_Turbo]

Well my LED light from Robiwon came as a part of the "pay it forward program" and just in time too!

To keep the good karma going, I mailed my extra vest fabric to another costumer. If you want to keep updated on the lazer.. stay tuned to this thread:

http://www.therpf.com/f24/buzz-lightyear-2-year-old-costume-build-progress-pics-92223/

 

[Robiwon]

Glad it arrived safe and sound.

 

[tim]

^ Nice!

Another option for others out there would be to get one of those CMOS backup batteries, as they have a lithium coin cell with leads and connector already attached. If you're lucky (and your polarity is right), you could just plug the LED into the connector and be good to go.