How To: Convert Fairy Lights to USB Power-DIY

[@MotownGal]

Thank you! I was about to throw out the whole box until I found this. The batteries kept slipping. Now, I don't need them!

[@LeftMouseButton961]

Thank you so much for this video, very succinct and informative! It's also a great way to re/upcycle old USB cables, god knows I have a whole bag of those! Do you know what might happen if I did this to a light that only uses 2 AA? would it go poof? or just shine brighter?

[@ZymurgySchrodinger]

That’s fantastic from one type of battery to another type of battery. I want to go from a battery to plug in?

[@Dranok1]

If you can't figure out that she's using a battery power bank to power USB rather than mess around finding a plug-in mains-USB adapter (like a phone charger) merely for the convenience of demonstrating the result, then you will have "reduced hazard perception" and shouldn't be playing with a soldering iron, so this video is not for you.

[@pattiNBerkeley]

I'm no professional, but I believe that portable power bank is interchangeable with a wall-plugged-in USB charger, like what I have every USB rechargeable device plugged into all over the place, like my cellphone, a Bluetooth speaker, etc. Ps, I've "played" with a soldering iron and live to tell...although I've never juggled with some... Now THAT would be silly.

[@yva1118yva]

one battery neon bat light converted, for a year-round bat-loving house. awesome. thank you! (:

[@jfe1195]

I love bats too! 🦇🦇🦇🦇🦇

[@pattiNBerkeley]

Just be careful around bats...they can carry rabbies. They sure are cute, though.

[@BrokenFaceRecords]

im about to convert mine later ,,,i hope my wall chargers work as well as your battery pack lol

[@shywalker404]

I know zero about electricity, ohms watt or Volts. If I have a string light that used to AA batteries and has no smart board inside , do I have to use something else soldered between the lights and the USB ? it will be fine plugging it in with a wallcharger from old phone or a powerbank ? This is a nice little project but I dont know the math behind :-(

[@EndlessDIY]

It should be fine. USB chargers are 3-5v, I believe. If you look on your batteries, they'll have the wattage on them (1.5V for AA, I think). You can check the output on the wall charger and add together the battery voltage & if they're close, you should be good. If you want to learn the methods to be extra safe hit the search engine with 'ohm's law' & that'll get you started.

[@Mystery-Graphics]

How will i connect the string lights directly to the usb cable... Without the controller or a circuit board...?

[@EndlessDIY]

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been getting notifications for some reason. You would connect the 2 wires from the lights to a power and ground wire in the usb cable. You'd nip the non usb end off and there should be 5 or so wires in there. 3 are data and 2 are + & -. Colors vary, though.

[@hajerm]

Love this!! Thanks for making it ❤ wondering if I need to do something special if my fairy lights only use 2 batteries? Will they just pull the juice they need? Or might I cause a fire if left unattended?

[@EndlessDIY]

I can't speak to the fire risk (I haven't had an issues with mine but you never know). Your lights are probably using 2 1.5v AA batteries. A typical USB plug puts out 3-5v (I believe) so it's in the realm but if it's a little strong, they may burn out. It kind of depends on the quality and how tolerant of voltage swings the lights are.

[@pattiNBerkeley]

​@EndlessDIY I might be WAY off base here, so please set me straight. Doesn't the little circuit board convert the input juice into the appropriate output juice? In which case, if your charger/adapter is in the ballpark you would either be spot-on or even under-powered? Thanks for humoring me! Because you already have the on/off switch, so what else does the board do?

[@EndlessDIY]

@@pattiNBerkeley You could be right. I didn't see any resistors on the board, so I believe its function is the on/off/flash circuit, but I can't say for certain. I've used these little guys every evening for over 2 years so whatever its function is, it works! lol!

[@jfe1195]

Im trying to repair 1.25 Dollar tree light. They fell on floor and wire became disengaged from cheap controller. I don't like to throw stuff out. If I super glue wire to little switch will it work, or does it break the contact?

[@EndlessDIY]

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been receiving notifications for some reason. You'd need to use solder otherwise it won't be conductive.

[@haticemosaics4234]

In the end, will the voltage 5V or 3x1,5V?

[@EndlessDIY]

Sorry for the late reply, I haven't been receiving notifications for some reason. I'm not sure I understand your question but 3 batteries @ 1.5v each would equal 4.5v, so a 5v charger should be just fine.

[@emailyarabrandao]

In this case 4.5v to a 5v usb won't burn them? Is yours still workin​ without issues? @@EndlessDIY

[@EndlessDIY]

@@emailyarabrandao So far, so good! I use them for several hours every evening in my little display on my bar. Over two years & going strong! 🙂

[@Sadamiraq]

@@emailyarabrandao not a problem,there is a very slight difference in voltage,you see,generic usb output is always 5v and an AA battery is name 1.5v which in this case there are three of them in series which would make them give a 4.5 voltage,but in reality a fully charged AA alcaline battery sits at 1.65v so a fully new pack of them starts at around 4.85v which is pretty close to the natural 5v of the usb output,there will be a little more current flowning which will make the leds slighty brigher and probably shorten their life a little,but overall not a big problem

[@LilySophia-h2t]

AMAZING!!!👍❤️❤️

[@suze6of6]

Thanks👍

[@train4905]

Awsome😊

[@mikefa5891]

Great hack idea!

[@EndlessDIY]

Thanks! I use the lights every night on the bar cart I built. They're perfect, soft, ambient lighting. :)

[@Shivam72008]

Is it safe

[@EndlessDIY]

So far, so good but I can't guarantee anything.

[@vintagelady1]

for you, easy. For me---whaaaat?

[@EndlessDIY]

It's a perfect starter project! ☺️