Terrain Tips - Easy LED Lighting

[@jbrondos]

This is just what I needed to get over the hump of making the connection [sic] between LEDs and resistors and making practical applications. Well done. Thank you very much.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Really happy to hear that! Lighting can really add a lot to a project and LEDs are pretty easy to use. I feel empty inside when I don't find a way to work LEDs into a project! All the best!

[@jbrondos]

@@RandomMakingEncounters As a newbie, I'm not yet certain whether to power the LED strips with a cell battery, AA/AAA batteries or a power adapter / supply. I imagine the cell batteries (e.g. CR2032) don't last very long . . . but wires hanging from a project seem to detract. Do you have any recommendations?

[@dcraven4806]

@@jbrondos It depends on what you're powering. LEDs have pretty modest power needs. You'll see a lot of fairy lights running off or a couple of coin cells. They're not intended for constant use but last a remarkably long time. The downside to coin cells is they're not rechargeable. If you're looking for a wireless solution, rechargeable AA batteries are a great option. One tip on batteries... if you connect them in series (positive to negative to positive to negative) you increase the voltage while maintaining the basic capacity of the battery. For example, four 2,000 mAh batteries wired in series will produce a power source of 4.8 volts (NiMH rechargeable batteries are 1.2 volts) with a 2,000 mAh capacity. If you connect the batteries in parallel, you end up with a power source that is 1.2 volts but 8,000 mAh capacity. These are very rough numbers because batteries are all over the place when it comes to their voltage and storage capacity. If you're looking for something that will last, the trick is to keep the voltage as low as needed to power the lights (you don't want to waste energy with big resistors) and use either high mAh batteries or a couple of battery packs wired in parallel. An example of this would be two of those plastic AA battery holders that hold four. Each holder would output ~4.8 volts which gets you a bit over the ~3 volts needed for LEDs. You might be surprised how long just this would last with a few LEDs. If you needed more run time, add additional holders but wire them in parallel (lots of videos explain the difference between series and parallel). Each holder you add basically doubles your run time. Of course, you need to find room for the batteries but several holders can be stashed away in different locations. If I want to create something that is on all of the time, I usually use a plug in power supply. Depending on what I'm doing, 5 volt - 9 volt wall transformers do the trick. You can find them under $10 which is potentially less than batteries or USB power solutions. That was a long answer! I hope it helps. I'm planning on doing more videos on this with one specifically focusing on how to power projects. It starts to get really messy when you need multiple voltages in the same project. All the best with your making!! Cheers!

[@jbrondos]

@@dcraven4806Superb detail. Much appreciated. 👍

[@xphoenixrising]

All the tutorials for lighting! I plan to transfer this not only into book nooks but dollhouses. Thank you!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Natasha... more to come! LEDs really bring things to life. I have maybe two or three more quick videos in the works to just talk how to wire and incorporate lighting. There's something really enjoyable and amazing about building small worlds. Have fun!

[@dragonshair]

G'day. If you haven't already done a tutorial on using fiberoptics for things like the treasure chest you mentioned, please do so. I would be very interested in how it would work as twinkling stars. Only just getting into this kind of stuff and this is the second tutorial of yours I have seen. I am enjoying it very much and you are keeping it clear and simple for those of us with absolutely no background in this area.

[@goontubeassos7076]

I second that I watch it 30 times

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I actually have a project on the bench with fiber optics and twinkling. I’m building a diorama with a pile of treasure that will sparkle. The plan is in my head and all of the parts are on the bench. I just need to have the plan work! Stay tuned and happy new year!

[@andyedgar3902]

Excellent explanation, having watched your "Getting Started ..." one first and now this one I actually, finally, get it. The top down view with hand drawn illustrations culminating in actual working models all clearly presented and described is fantastic. Thank You :)

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I’m really happy to hear that. Building LED circuits has always been a little confusing to me because of the way LEDs drop voltage. All the best!

[@andyedgar3902]

@@RandomMakingEncounters I think the single most important and practical tip I learned from your instructions is "map" it all out using the breadboard. Not only will it allow me to understand what goes where and in what order, but it'll give me a pretty good idea of how multiple LED's will actually interact and their respective brightness when running increasingly complex combinations for diorama's (my main focus). Cheers :)

[@chrisgallagher85]

Awesome video - and thanks!!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You're very welcome. All the best with your projects! Cheers!

[@juancarames2379]

this is exactly the kind of video i was looking for. Thank you for making this.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You are very welcome! I'm glad it's helpful.

[@FineDiceyDesigns]

Me too

[@lidia1407]

Hahaha, yes I'm interested in the gems flickering thing with fiber optics. Sorry English is not my language. Hello from Spain 🙋🏼‍♀️

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Hello form Colorado! I have some fiber optics I've been wanting to work into something. I was thinking it would be fun to do a pirate skeleton sitting on a pile of treasure like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland.

[@nikonaruto84]

Perfect for me very interresting. Thank you, i hope they'll have others

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

You're welcome!! Thanks!

[@veilight4444]

Such a great video, thank you!

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I'm glad you found it useful! Everything is better with LEDs!

[@lidia1407]

Hi! The only think I don't like about railroad light sets is that they are 12V, at least all I could find. And I find another problem it's the wired leds are for 12V power supply and I'd like to work with 3V o 4.5V batteries for portability even safer for my kids, my daughter is always touching my things. Thanks for your video ♥️

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I would work in the 4.5 to 6 volt range. Three or four AA batteries are pretty safe. I tend to avoid 12 volt as well since it's not really needed for LEDs. I use a lot of Arduinos so 5 volts is a pretty standard power supply for me. Three volts is right at the threshold of what LEDs need to work so it may not give you a lot of wiggle room for depending on the type of LEDs you use.

[@abbyrockhill6326]

I do not have a 3d printer. Does anyone make these and sell the battery compartments?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Yes. Battery holders come in all shapes and sizes and can be found online pretty easily. To keep it compact, I would look for holders that have a built in switch. That keeps you from having to wire one in. Some LEDs will work on a couple of AA batteries but you're really better off with a holder that holds 3 to 4 and then put resistors in on your LEDs to prevent them from burning out. You'll get pretty amazing run time on a few AAs and a handful of LEDs. Cheers!

[@MichaelKloepfer68]

I steal power bricks from old electronics and chargers of all sorts

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Same here! I have a tub of those suckers. Thanks for mentioning this. It's a great way to give them a second life and save money. Cheers!

[@PetrikNZ]

How's the treasure trove project going? Also the link to your LED calculator no longer functions. Finally, where's part 3?

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

Thanks for the heads up on that link! I've updated to another one I use all of the time. LOL! I've been sidetracked on a bunch of other things but I did chase down a skeleton model for some pirates bones and did a test print so it's still rattling around in the back of my brain. Thanks also for the reminder on Part 3. I've gotta go back and regroup to remember what that mystical final piece was going to be. There's so much that can be done with lighting. I appreciate you keeping me honest and on track! Cheers!

[@numbereightyseven]

Jeepers, stop blabbing and get to your points. Urgh.

[@RandomMakingEncounters]

I know! Right?! Thanks for the feedback. It's something I've been keeping top of mind on new videos. Cheers!