Thread: HOWTO: safe LED lighting for haunted houses

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Originally Posted by thrilltainment

ThAnswr,

While I do recommend a primer on basic electronics, what you're missing is how to take a concept into application.

1. imagine you have that LED, resistor, 9 volt battery circuit --- first thing we're going to do is change the battery to a permanent power source. So you can go to radio shack or look around the house for a 9V AC adapter. It's also called a "wall wart", you plug it into the outlet and it takes your 110V AC power and transformers it to a steady 9V DC output.

2. now that you have a single LED powered by an AC adapter, let's try getting 2 LEDs on the same power supply. Simply take a new LED/resistor pair and solder it onto the the same wires that the first LED/resistor pair is connected to. You now have parallel circuits and you can keep adding more lights in the same fashion up.

3. imagine if each of those LED/resistor pairs were enclosed in some tubing, you now have a pinspot.

I hope that helps,
Quan

Bingo! That's it. While I will admit I am no electrical engineer, I have a basic, if somewhat rudimentary, concept of electricity. What I was missing was a "how to" with a parts list.

Sometimes the biggest impediment to prop making is not knowing what is out there. I come across many people who want to create, for example, a standing grim reaper. However, they have no idea about pvc pipe, fittings, etc. On more than one occasion, I've lifted the robe and they're amazed how simple it all is. And a new prop maker is created.

I've made many simple led/resistor/battery thingies mostly for flickering candles. What I couldn't quite understand was how to take it to the next step and create a pin spot.

I did find this how-to and it was very helpful.

http://www.ehow.com/how_4836713_desi...d-circuit.html

Thanks all for your help.

One more question: Where on Ebay do you find the soldered resistor led's? Hobbies, electrical, etc?

Again, thanks all.

here's a link: http://www.besthongkong.com/12vdc-pr...led-pick-color

there may be cheaper ones on the web somewhere, just look for prewired leds

cheers!

Thank you.

just a quick update, I'll be teaching a class on LED lighting for your show at West Coast Haunters Convention Saturday, June 2, 2012 in Portland, OR. If anyone would like to ask me questions 1 on 1 during the convention, I'd be happy to help.

- Quan

Originally Posted by thrilltainment

just a quick update, I'll be teaching a class on LED lighting for your show at West Coast Haunters Convention Saturday, June 2, 2012 in Portland, OR. If anyone would like to ask me questions 1 on 1 during the convention, I'd be happy to help.

- Quan

Hey Quan, I am sure that you would get a lot of exposure if you taped your class and posted it online. I know that I would watch it! Thanks.