Gravia: Gravity-powered floor lamp
In their blog post, An Engineer in Wonderland, the anonymous 'Alice' commented on an ingenious piece of equipment that may provide inspiration for engineers everywhere.
About Lighting
This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Gadget Master in the Lighting category. They are listed from oldest to newest.
Light flashers/blinkers is the previous category.
Microcontrollers is the next category.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
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Complete with build instructions for the design engineer who likes the silly side of inventing things and enjoys building stuff in his and her spare time, these gadgets range from highly silly and impractical to extraordinarily inspirational for your own engineering design work.
Why not submit your own pride and joy for publication in Gadget Master? Send us your project details here.
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Why not submit your own pride and joy for publication in Gadget Master? Send us your project details here.
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Lighting Archives
March 19, 2008
June 12, 2008
LED Balloons
Describing itself as "the world's biggest show and tell", the website instructables.com features a number of interesting DIY projects. One that caught my eye was 'LED floaties'
'Nak' writes: "My friend from blastwave labs gave me a call a couple days ago and he told me grand plans for the LEDs and batteries I had stagnating in my closet. His female counterpart was leaving her job at party city, so it was the perfect time to obtain a bunch of balloons (not steal) and rent a tank of helium."
Check out the video below. The theme music? Almost inevitably, Nena's 99 Red Balloons. But don't let that put you off!
Another related posting, by 'Tetranitrate', reads:
'Nak' writes: "My friend from blastwave labs gave me a call a couple days ago and he told me grand plans for the LEDs and batteries I had stagnating in my closet. His female counterpart was leaving her job at party city, so it was the perfect time to obtain a bunch of balloons (not steal) and rent a tank of helium."
Check out the video below. The theme music? Almost inevitably, Nena's 99 Red Balloons. But don't let that put you off!
Another related posting, by 'Tetranitrate', reads:
July 16, 2008
LED Jellyfish Mood Lamp
Welcome to the "hypnotic, other-worldly appeal of the LED Jellyfish Mood Lamp".This press release has just caught my attention - a light-hearted one for Gadget master, I thought.
How much of a challenge would it be to recreate such a device?... (The real challenge would be in circulating the jellyfish in an interesting manner, I think, rather than the lighting effect)
The ambient lighting device is described as having a "whisper-quiet" operation and features an auto-off safety function that kicks in after four hours of use.
August 8, 2008
LED lighting and voltage boosting
Thanks to Made By Monkeys for highlighting this one - involving a dual-purpose torch / bicycle-light that was eating NiMH cells pretty fast...
Blogger 'Le Magicien' got to work, modding the device. He writes:
You can read the circuit schematics used in the modified waterproof solar torch, plus some detailed photos of the modification work.
Blogger 'Le Magicien' got to work, modding the device. He writes:
I like this torch a lot but... the incandescent bulb eats the NiMH cells pretty fast and the blinking leds... who needs them? So the idea was.. why do not replace the rear red leds with white ones? There's only one problem - white leds do not work with less than 3.2 volts - therefore some kind of voltage booster was needed.
You can read the circuit schematics used in the modified waterproof solar torch, plus some detailed photos of the modification work.
August 15, 2008
Peter's F1 gantry start-lights race into position
Peter Griffiths - the man who turned a lamp into a work of art - moves into pole position with the featured Gadget master for August.
Based around LED cluster modules and a microcontroller, the circuit drives F1-style gantry race start lights.
Who wouldn't want to be the race controller, with their finger on the starting switch?
Fully documented in terms of parts and the build process, Peter has provided loads of photos to help navigate construction. And for those of you who don't have access to PCB making facilities, there are photos of building the project on stripboard.
Based around LED cluster modules and a microcontroller, the circuit drives F1-style gantry race start lights.
Who wouldn't want to be the race controller, with their finger on the starting switch?
Fully documented in terms of parts and the build process, Peter has provided loads of photos to help navigate construction. And for those of you who don't have access to PCB making facilities, there are photos of building the project on stripboard.
Continue reading "Peter's F1 gantry start-lights race into position" »
March 12, 2009
An AVR Light Controller for LiPo/LiIon-Powered Halogen Bike Lights
Bike lights seem to be popular topics at the moment, and we are returning to the theme. Our Technology Editor, Steve Bush, has flagged this project, which is based on powering halogen lighting rather than LEDs.
Essentially, battery voltage levels are measured by a microcontroller that calculates the duty cycle to achieve a desired output power.
The designer describes the problem thus:
Essentially, battery voltage levels are measured by a microcontroller that calculates the duty cycle to achieve a desired output power.
The designer describes the problem thus:
Lithium-Polymer batteries provide enough power, but cannot be used directly with halogen lights. A two-cell LiPo battery (nominal 7.4V) provides about 8.5V when fully charged, and it is not allowed to be discharged below 5V. Halogen lights are commonly designed for 6V or 12V and their light power is controlled by the provided voltage level. While an 8.5V voltage level can overheat and destroy a 6V halogen light, the emitted light at 5V is very low. Therefore, a power controller is required that keeps the voltage supply constant for the halogen light.
Continue reading "An AVR Light Controller for LiPo/LiIon-Powered Halogen Bike Lights" »
March 30, 2009
Build your own laser harp
One for budding Jean-Michel Jarres. Do you want to build your own laser harp? Very impressive looking it certainly is. Check out the video below.
The inventor is one Stephen Hobley and he has shared his workings online.
He says the harp is driven by an Arduino (Boarduino variation) and connected to the impOSCar VSTi software synthesizer, with a TAOS sensor array sitting on the floor in it's own stand.
The array above the harp is just made up of front surface mirrors for "added p'zazz". And he declares he has he has finally got the bugs worked out with the sensor.
The inventor is one Stephen Hobley and he has shared his workings online.
He says the harp is driven by an Arduino (Boarduino variation) and connected to the impOSCar VSTi software synthesizer, with a TAOS sensor array sitting on the floor in it's own stand.
The array above the harp is just made up of front surface mirrors for "added p'zazz". And he declares he has he has finally got the bugs worked out with the sensor.
April 14, 2009
Bytelight mood lamp makes SIMMs shine
What to do with all the old memory SIMMs lying around? Check out this Weekend Project video by Kip Kay of Make Magazine, featuring the "Bytelight", a mood lamp that has an approximate capacity of 16MB (!).
The video takes you through all the necessary stages of construction (and makes it look so easy...).
"Make a high-tech mood light from a flourescent lamp and a bunch of old memory chips," that's the YouTube promise.
The video takes you through all the necessary stages of construction (and makes it look so easy...).
"Make a high-tech mood light from a flourescent lamp and a bunch of old memory chips," that's the YouTube promise.
June 4, 2009
LED Bulbdial Clock shadows the time
Wow! What a strange but clever idea: a "Bulbdial clock" - applying the principles of a sundial to (adjustable) electric light.
Back in March 2008, David Friedman published the idea on his blog Ironic Sans*.
He writes:
Back in March 2008, David Friedman published the idea on his blog Ironic Sans*.
He writes:
The Bulbdial Clock [pictured, below] has no hands - just one pole in the center of the clock, and three light sources of varying heights which revolve around the pole casting shadows. In the model illustrated above, the light sources are each attached to a ring which rotates around the pole. The innermost ring rotates once per minute, casting a "second hand" shadow. The middle ring rotates once per hour, and casts the "minute hand" shadow. And the outer ring rotates once every 12 hours, casting the "little hand" shadow.Well, the excellent evilmadscientist.com website picked up this bulb and ran with it, as it were, constructing a working, LED-based bulbdial clock that builds on the original concept.
June 8, 2009
MonkeyLectric Video Pro LED bike wheel display
We flagged this one before - SpikePOV - Bicycle LED persistence of vision - with SpokePOV, or "persistence of vision for your bike", being a way to have a bit of fun driving LED lights to improve your bike's visibility.
Well here's another great video of the system in action, featuring 256 RGB LEDs in a 4-spoke system that apparently mounts into standard bike wheels.
Check out www.monkeylectric.com for more info on what the site describes as the most advanced rotating wheel display system in the world.
The basics of the spec include:
Well here's another great video of the system in action, featuring 256 RGB LEDs in a 4-spoke system that apparently mounts into standard bike wheels.
Check out www.monkeylectric.com for more info on what the site describes as the most advanced rotating wheel display system in the world.
The basics of the spec include:
Continue reading "MonkeyLectric Video Pro LED bike wheel display" »
July 2, 2009
The beauty of KOZO pipe lights
Flow electricity down the pipe and out comes light. Simple.
I really like these pipe-light examples of crafted ingenuity - thanks to baekdal.com for this one.
It describes the KOZO desk lamps as follows.
I really like these pipe-light examples of crafted ingenuity - thanks to baekdal.com for this one.
It describes the KOZO desk lamps as follows.
"Galvanized steel pipes can be used for many things. They are usually used to direct the flow of water. But if you pour electricity through them you end up with these amazing desk lamps."
September 14, 2009
Tesla Coil night light
Check out this home made Tesla Coil night light. Mini fluorescent lamps need not go to waste, even if the system makes enough noise to keep you awake.
The YouTube poster, brazilero2008, writes:
September 28, 2009
The Nixie Concrete Clock
We like Nixie clocks here on Gadget Master - check the splendid piece of work Hans wrote up for us, Hans' Nixie clock takes a step back in time
Well, take a look at this stunning little timepiece, the Nixie Concrete Clock, featuring six Nixie tubes in a reinforced rough concrete body.
Well, take a look at this stunning little timepiece, the Nixie Concrete Clock, featuring six Nixie tubes in a reinforced rough concrete body.
November 20, 2009
Robo lamps light up your workspace
You've got to love these - cute looking "robolamps". Made by Croatian artist Robert Matysiak from common or garden plumbing supplies, along with what is apparently his trademark, the green lightbulb.
Thanks to PocketLint for flagging these (check out the range of different roboto styles), but there is more on Robert's Facebook page.
Thanks to PocketLint for flagging these (check out the range of different roboto styles), but there is more on Robert's Facebook page.
August 16, 2010
LED lighting and thermal design...
Time to highlight another video blog post from Dave Jones' excellent Electronics Engineering Video Blog.
August 19, 2010
Arduino accelerometer hikes bike safety with LED brake lights
As mentioned in LED Lightlane increases bicycle safety at night we like combinations of LEDs and bicycling on Gadget Master...
Here is another example, drawn to our attention by Electronics Weekly's Technology Editor, Steve Bush. It is the Arduino-based BEBL (Bar End Brake Light).
Continue reading "Arduino accelerometer hikes bike safety with LED brake lights" »
August 31, 2010
Remain in (LED) light
LED-related projects always prove popular on Gadget Master, so time for a roundup of posts on this topic.
It is actually our second roundup of LED posts, after this entry from September last year - In the LED Light, but here are some more recent ones:
It is actually our second roundup of LED posts, after this entry from September last year - In the LED Light, but here are some more recent ones:
October 13, 2010
LED Wizard calculates resistors and draws schematics
Here is an excellent resource, certainly worth bookmarking if you are creating your own LED lighting systems - the LED series/parallel array wizard.It describes itself:
The LED series/parallel array wizard is a calculator that will help you design large arrays of LEDs. The LED calculator was great for single LEDs--but when you have several, the wizard will help you arrange them in a series or combined series/parallel configuration. The wizard determines the current limiting resistor value for each portion of the array and calculates power consumed. All you need to know are the specs of your LEDs and how many you'd like to use.Check out the screen grab below for our example generation.
Continue reading "LED Wizard calculates resistors and draws schematics" »
February 29, 2012
Most read Gadget Master posts in February
So, February has come and (all-but) gone, but before we leap into March, let's look back and see what has been most interesting to Gadget Masters this month.Everybody loves a good tear-down, so it's good to see the third-generation Kindle getting the treatment; and the IOIO Android breakout board competition's popularity proves there's interest among Android enthusiasts ...
1 Tearing down the (3rd Gen) Kindle
2 The IOIO Android breakout board competition
3 Build your own LED cube
Continue reading "Most read Gadget Master posts in February" »
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