LED USB candle by Unordung

Last crawled date: 3 years ago

https://youtu.be/d8oGNrZc4sUhttps://youtu.be/tYhKVuVkttQ
DISCLAIMER
I used a flashing RGB lED for this project, however you can use any 5mm LED you choose. You can have it a solid color, slow changing or even a flickering candle LED.
If it's a 5mm LED it will fit. Just keep in mind that this setup will allow 27mA of current through the LED series. This is the high end to ensure maximum brightness please ensure your LED can comfortably handle this current. Failing that you can put a larger resistor a 200 ohm will produce 25mA, a 250 ohm 20mA and a 300ohm 16mA.
(For the more tech savvy thees calculations deliberately ignore the forward voltage of the LED as a way to ensure a safety buffer so don't bother trying to correct my math =)
INSTRUCTIONS
This was a simple project to replace the battery powered RGB LED candle in a night light I built for my son.
I originally designed the nightlight to work with an RGB LED candle from Ebay link below.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-10-20-30-PCS-LED-WEDDING-TEA-LIGHT-TEALIGHT-CANDLE-FLICKERING-FLAMELESS/201168843821?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39923%26meid%3D53157d5a5e5e44468c973e67e06549d3%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D172158427096
To make this you will need a few things.
I used 1 - 3 5mm RGB Fast flashing LEDs link belowhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/5-8mm-LED-0-25-0-5W-Straw-Hat-Red-Blu-Grn-Whi-Fast-Slow-6Color-Waterclear-Emitt/252568823084?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D39923%26meid%3D53157d5a5e5e44468c973e67e06549d3%26pid%3D100033%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D172158427096
a 180 ohm resistor link belowhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100pcs-1-4W-Watt-0-25W-Metal-Film-Resistor-180ohm-1-precision-/172158427096?hash=item2815711fd8:g:X6oAAOSwZ8ZXBERL
and just an old USB cable.
To make it all you need to do is cut off the unused end of the USB cable.
Strip back the insulating and shielding to expose the following wires.
Red = 5V+
Black = 0v or GND
White = Data +
Green = Data -
You don't need the white or green for this so cut them back and insulate them with tape.
Simply connect the red 5v+ wire to the anode of the LED (longer lead)
Solder the 180 ohm resistor to the cathode of the LED and the black wire from the USB to the other end of the resistor.
Remember to check it's operation in an old phone charger or a battery bank before plugging it into your expensive laptop or PC!!!!!