Mini LED Spot Light

These LED spot lights are easy to make with only a few dollars of parts.

led_spot1Three high brightness green LEDs and a 180 Ohm (0.25W) resistor are wired in series.

This gives a current draw of approx 20mA @ 12V DC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot2The LEDs are an oval type (50° x 90°) and are arranged in a triangle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot3The plastic stake was from an old set of candy canes.

It pushed into the 20mm 90° conduit bend as a friction fit.

The conduit bend was just over $1 from Bunnings.

I spray painted it with some grey primer then matt black.

 

 

 

 

led_spot4A zip tie acts as a strain relief so the cable can’t be pulled through the stake slot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot6

The end was filled with clear silicone (neutral cure type) with the LEDs poking out a little.

This LED orientation will give a wider coverage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot5Single core shielded cable was used to connect to the LEDs.

I don’t normally use shielded cable for lights, but the current is low and it fitted through the stake slot.

The weatherproof 2 pin mini plug has not yet been fitted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot7This 3 LED green one gives off a lot of light !

I think 2 LEDs ( or even 1 LED ) would be bright enough for lighting individual props.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

apc573_frontI was getting some PCBs made and had a bit of room left on the panel.

So I whipped up a quick design with 3 LEDs, series resistor and power pads.

This will make it easier to connect and align the LEDs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

apc573_rearThe series resistor goes on the rear of the PCB.

Its value depends on the LED colour and supply voltage.

The power wires also solder in from the rear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot8I cut these slices of conduit to space the PCB from the bottom of the PVC bend.

They were hard to press into the bend, so I cut a slot in each to reduce the diameter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot9Here’s one of the conduit slices already installed into the bend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

led_spot10The LED PCB (already wired) pushes into the PVC bend.

Now I just need to fill the end with clear neutral cure silicone.

Best to test the whole assembly before the silicone goes in !

The PCB is a fairly firm fit, but a second ring could drop in over it

to stop it moving while the silicone is setting.