|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
calling all electricians... - 8/29/2008 11:10:17 PM
|
|
|
techne
Posts: 579
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
anyone have any idea how i might build a small (5" x 3" x 1") lightbox?
specifically, i'm wondering about lighting - bulbs, drivers, transformers, etc. the light may be battery operated or extension-corded. as long as the lightbox has an even glow i don't care.
someone has suggested that i look into the LED lights (since such a small lightbox must generate as little heat as possible due to safety concerns) used in train models so i will be exploring that option this weekend when i get to "the big city".
any suggestions would be most appreciated...
_____________________________
And when people cease to believe that there is good and evil
Only beauty will call to them and save them
So that they still know how to say: this is true and that is false.
One more day by Czeslaw Milosz
|
|
|
|
|
RE: calling all electricians... - 8/30/2008 4:49:16 PM
|
|
|
MWD
Posts: 163
Joined: 8/23/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline
|
Whatever you do, don't run 120 to the box. Run low voltage to it, and make sure you fuse the supply at the box at just above what the light source requires for current. You are probably going to wind up running a slew of parallelled white LEDs glued into a board drilled to accept them. The manufacturers' data sheets should have all the info you need for what resistors to use as current limiters. Then use something frosted on top for diffusion. Better to use lots of smaller LEDs than a few larger ones, to avoid hot spots. Digikey should have everything you need for LEDs, resistors, wall transformer, chassis socket for the transformer's plug, and fuses/holder -- and they usually have links to data sheets in the parts descriptions.
Simpler solution would be to connect a string of "grain of wheat" incandescents in series and power with 120. But I definitely do not recommend this unless you really know what you're doing (in which case you wouldn't be here asking about it). ;-)
_____________________________
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn't exist."
|
|
|
|
|
RE: calling all electricians... - 9/1/2008 4:04:38 PM
|
|
|
netstroller
Posts: 158
Joined: 4/14/2005
From: dust and ashes
Status: offline
|
If you're looking for illumination from inside the box, Yankee Candles might have something. I was at their main store the other day and saw a mini Christmas house lighting kit. It's an LED powered by batteries, selling for I think about $15. It basically has an LED on the end of a small shaft that is inserted into a toy building so the light would shine out the little windows. It was powered by AAs or AAAs, not sure which now.
Probably hard to find now, but maybe you could adapt one of those new Christmas light strings that use LEDs--maybe cut it down to just a few LEDs.
_____________________________
...let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, ...
(Heb 12:1-2)
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
