Thread: My Try--The Haunted Mansion Flameless Candle

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I thought I would tinker a bit and see if I could re-create the candle with the moving flame, like the ones featured in this thread posted by The Halloween Lady:

Haunted Mansion flameless candle comes to QVC

Check out the VIDEO below and then I'll explain how I made it:



The explanation on QVC was that it used opposing magnets to make the flame move randomly.
I found the smallest, slowest motor I had (a 3 RPM timing motor) and experimented with many different variations of magnet quantities and orientations. I used the small disc shaped magnets that come 8 to a pack for around 2 or 3 dollars.
I finally found this set-up that worked well:





Here's a pic of the flame mechanism (from the rear of the candle:



After trying many various materials to make the flame, I remembered some experimenting I did when we were working on the "Ghost-steps" prop a while back. Took a small piece of plexiglass and cut it into the shape of a flame. Then sanded it with sandpaper to rough it up. This helps it to diffuse more light. Drilled a tiny hole beneath the flame and used a short piece of wire thru the hole to mount it to the "candle" and act as a pivot point. The pivot wire was hot glued in place from the underside of the candle. Used an empty Clorox wipes container for my "candle".



I used a single LED to illuminate it, which is mounted on the bottom end of the flame piece, inside a black tube and pointing straight up. The LED is a flicker-flame LED I already had from Electronic Goldmine that flickers on its own, just like the tealights. That's what makes my flame seem to flicker like a real candle.

http://www.goldmine-elec-products.co...?number=G17848

It's powered by a CR2032 coin battery. I soldered in a switch for it too.
Next is a short section of bailing wire hanging from the bottom end of the black tube (that holds the LED).
Lastly, two of the disc magnets (stacked on top of each other) were glued to the lower end of the bailing wire.
So basically, as the motor turns its four magnets, the rotating magnetic fields interact with the magnets hanging from the flame and cause it to swivel and sway in a random motion.

Here's a VIDEO of the inside movement:



I guess the total cost of the prop was about $10. This was really just a prototype to see if I could re-create the flame movement and I'm sure a more realistic candle could be fashioned with the proper materials. Also I would rather have used a smaller motor (preferably DC powered) than the AC one I did use. And smaller magnets would probably work, but I already had these on hand.

I will say the candle on QVC might have better movement than my copy, but I think my flame looks a lot more realistic than theirs!

Let me know what you think!

Wow! I think it looks great.

Gee Dave, (said in a little girl sheepishly shy voice) you are so smart.... I'm in love with you....

Geez ... Very clever!

I think you hit the nail on the head there Dave!

Hey, I bet you could use this for Christmas too!

EXCELLENT work my friend!

Way to go Dave!! Excellent idea!

Kudos!! I knew some one here would figure it out! I only wish I could too.

wow, pure genius! I was hoping someone would take on the challenge! Brilliant work Dave!

Since Im so interested in this project I was wondering if you think changing the plexiglass "flame" to something thinner and perhaps a bit flexible on the tip so when it moves around it has a natural motion blur?

Im brainstorming on what kind of material would have those properties. perhaps plastic tab thingys like this? Would it interfere with the bulb at all?

Im still uncertain how you did the undermount in the candle. You mentioned the pivot point is hotglued but Im confused on where and to what its glued to exactly. Do you have a closer pic of this?
Also, is the candle itself closed in or are you having to cut away most of one side to do the innerds?

Confused on what you attached to light up the LED with the battery. I would love to know how to build that.

Last question! whew! The motor with the 4 magnets at the bottom, where might I find a motor like yours? You mentioned trying it with DC power, thats battery operated right? I would like to attempt this with whatevers cheapest, since I dont have these things I have to buy from scratch. Any recommendations?

I know thats alot more info, but dang it Dave! You made this within our reach! I want to make tons of these for all over the place!

Great job! I just wish you would have backed a little further away so I could see how awesome it is from a distance! I bet it is even more freakin' cool!

Again, Dave in the grave takes the impossible and MAKES it completely possible!

My mind is full of stuff like this, but it is still in my mind!

Kudo's to the MAN!

HE did good on this one!