If you want to be energy efficient and go green, then switching to LED lights is the first step! If you are worried about the extra investment, then don’t.
Because you can make them at home. What if you don’t know how? Well, what am I here for?
To help of course.
Follow the steps below to see how you can make an LED lightbulb for cheap at home!
What You Will Need
- Halogen bulb with no glass cover
- As many LEDs as you want but no more than 22
- Online LED array calculator,
- Compound Glue and Super Glue
- Solder wire and gun
- A small piece of aluminum sheet (0.2mm)
- Paper perforator
- A 2-hole punch
- A few resistors depending on what you need
How to Make an LED Light bulb at Home
Follow these 10 easy steps to make your own LED light bulbs at home!
Step 1: Before you go on about the process, you have to empty the bulb first. You will see some cement covering the pins on the bulb. Take a screwdriver and start twisting against the cement. Since the cement is very soft, it will start to come off. Remove as much of the cement as you can before proceeding to the next step.
Step 2: Take a hammer and gently tap against the now exposed pins after placing the bulb on a face down. Hitting the pins firmly enough should allow for the bulb to fall out of the reflector.
Step 3: It’s time to make a holding disc. This is what’s going to support the LEDs. You can either create a template for yourself or get a downloadable one from the internet.
Also, you can design 5mm holes on a disk with the help of any graphic designing software. The size of the disk will depend on how many holes you will need, which depends on how many LEDs you are planning on using.
Print and cut your template and by using a light adhesive, stick it onto your disk. You can use a perforator to cut out the holes and around the disk. Your aluminum disk will double as a reflector and LED holder at the same time.
Step 4: Now, you have to figure out how to connect the LEDs. You can use an array calculator, like the one mentioned above, for this.
Step 5: Making sure to place the aluminum disc by the outer rims, insert your LEDs with the legs facing up, making sure to put one cathode beside an anode to make soldering easier. Add a drop of superglue carefully to the margin, making sure that it doesn’t touch the legs.
Step 6: To secure all the LEDs in place, add a ring of compound glue around each LED. This will prevent the LEDs from falling off and ensure that they stay securely in place when you’re working with the legs. Leave this to solidify and harden in place for at least 24 hours.
Step 7: It’s time to make the connections. Cut the legs of the LEDs with nail clippers while noting that you’ll have to bend one anode to the cathode next to it. To make things easier for yourself, cut the legs at a different length to distinguish the positive and negative ends after soldering.
Step 8: You should have 6 negative legs shorter than the 6 positive ones. Connect all the positive ends by soldering the longer legs together. Try to be really quick when soldering as too much heat may damage the LED.
Take your resistors and solder their legs to create a single. You can use copper wire to solder the remaining legs since it is thicker. Do keep in mind that this whole circuit should have a low profile so that it fits in the bulb and that the negative end needs to be shorter.
Due to all the soldering done, you now have a pretty solid setup. However, if you are still unsure, you can fill in the gaps with some hot glue gun but know that this is not necessary at all.
Step 9: If you have managed to keep a relatively low profile, the LED disc should fit in the bulb like a glove. Press the disc in, and while holding it secure the edges with compound glue. Keep holding it in place for a minimum of 10 minutes to allow it to dry completely.
If you wish, you can mark the negative and positive ends, along with the voltage you used with a marker.
Conclusion
See, how easy the process was. Well, if you aren’t familiar with these types of things, then it may seem a bit difficult for you. However, it should certainly be possible.
Nevertheless, if you need any help regarding the process, give a shout in the comments section.
I started this blog to provide an advanced guide and information to the people to choose the best product. Writing over every part of the tools. I try to cover every type of tool to review and information.