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Guest
I needed a small light to light some steps from my deck to the ground
and in a few other places. I already had a 12V system outside.
For a cheap and dirty light I took a plastic test tube (ebay/amazon)
put a short section of LED strip light into it (9 leds, served with
wires) then heated the open end of the TT with a heat gun, and crimped
it with a sheet metal pliers to make a waterproof seal. (the wire
insulation melts into the test tube making a hermetic seal) Same
system with a dusk to dawn switch can be included with the addition of
a photo transistor, a 2N7000 TO-92 size transistor, and a 1-10 meg
ohm resistor.
Cheap dirty and pretty rugged too. For mounting, a cable tie with a
tab for a screw will work well.
Some of the smaller diameter plastic test tubes will mate to fittings
used in 1/2" CPVC plumbing applications. That might make a neat arm
for a lamp too; without the melt and crimp step.
and in a few other places. I already had a 12V system outside.
For a cheap and dirty light I took a plastic test tube (ebay/amazon)
put a short section of LED strip light into it (9 leds, served with
wires) then heated the open end of the TT with a heat gun, and crimped
it with a sheet metal pliers to make a waterproof seal. (the wire
insulation melts into the test tube making a hermetic seal) Same
system with a dusk to dawn switch can be included with the addition of
a photo transistor, a 2N7000 TO-92 size transistor, and a 1-10 meg
ohm resistor.
Cheap dirty and pretty rugged too. For mounting, a cable tie with a
tab for a screw will work well.
Some of the smaller diameter plastic test tubes will mate to fittings
used in 1/2" CPVC plumbing applications. That might make a neat arm
for a lamp too; without the melt and crimp step.