Poundland Halloween light - USB hack
Added 2021-09-01 23:54:44 +0000 UTCThis video is partly a look at a set of Poundlands Halloween lights, but it's also an ambient hack to run them from a USB power supply.
Comments
Oh god, forgetting the heat shrink... I've done it SO many times!
Circuitmike
2021-09-04 19:33:45 +0000 UTCSorry if this felt like a commercial or spam. I'm in no way affiliated with them, but when I read it back to myself this morning I realized it kinda felt that way.
Todd Sharp
2021-09-02 11:32:06 +0000 UTCMy thoughts as well, although the 3 cell battery packs I have of this typ all had 18 ohm resistors in them.
Mike Hughes
2021-09-02 09:57:26 +0000 UTCPerhaps the lesser technical person could simply bridge out the middle cell in the battery pack and just use 2 AA cells, for longer LED life?
Dr Andy Hill
2021-09-02 07:51:51 +0000 UTCForgetting the heat shrink and plug shells on "You are not the first to do that" - Oh so very true. I reckon 50% of those rubber Duraplug mains plus have the cable entry hole sliced because people forgot to put the shell top on the cable before connoting to the pins.
Mr B Shepherd
2021-09-02 06:14:36 +0000 UTCYou could possibly use a low current boost circuit to drive the higher voltage strings, but the low voltage ones are much easier to run from a battery source.
Big Clive
2021-09-02 04:15:22 +0000 UTCWhat I'd love is to learn how to power a 110V LED string from a USB battery pack, and control the on/off from an Arduino/ESP (without just toggling an obvious relay from the mains). Would that even be possible?
Raphaël
2021-09-02 04:11:39 +0000 UTCTo spread the heat dissipation across two resistors. More important with the lower values that give higher current.
Big Clive
2021-09-02 04:11:03 +0000 UTCI didn't even think of that!
Big Clive
2021-09-02 04:10:16 +0000 UTCMash the blue back light button on the AMEcal ST-9905 next time Clive!!! ;)
Mustafa's Fleas
2021-09-02 04:09:37 +0000 UTCClive just one question, why use a current limiting resistor on both leads instead of just one since it's a simple current loop? Is it just a matter of what works out nicely in terms of standard resistor values and power ratings?
GK
2021-09-02 01:39:07 +0000 UTCI'm planning a similar project for Xmas lights this year, but I'm considering wiring it through a Sonoff RE5V1C so I can control it via Google Home and run them on a schedule. They're really cool little units! https://itead.cc/product/sonoff-re5v1c/
Todd Sharp
2021-09-02 01:32:33 +0000 UTC
