USB desk light for the experimenter Project

                                

Here is a fun and useful gadget that practically anyone can build very cheaply. To begin this project you'll need the following parts.

                   

Parts                                                         

2 pieces of wire

Small medicine container

Small plastic ball(optional)

Push on/push off switch

20 ohm resistor

Small screw with nut

USB cord

Second Hand stand

Piece of  Velcro

 Polypropylene tubing cut to 1 1/2 inch

3 high brightness white LEDs/modified wire nut

Tools needed

Soldering iron/solder

Dremel Tool

Drill

Let's get started

While Removing the top from your medicine container and separating them. Cut the small
ball in half and drill a hole in the second cap that will support the half sphere also
drill a hole in the half sphere which will support the 3 LEDs that are housed in a
modified wire nut connected in parallel. Finally, drill a hole in the center of the safety
cap which will expose the LEDs also solder a 20 ohm resistor to one of the leads of LEDs
to protect them. As a alternative option you can drill and place the LEDs beneath the safety
cap into the second cap instead of using the half sphere and LED wire nut housing.

                                

Next, drill a hole in the side and the bottom of your medicine container as shown as shown below. This will house the push button switch as well as the USB power cord.

.             

Using your soldering iron, solder the sides of the nut  to the hollow opening of your second hand joint.

Next, cut a section out of your 1 1/2 polypropylene pipe and drill a small hole in the center to
house the screw.
            

Screw this section into the second hand nut which was previously soldered, and

place a piece of  Velcro over the head of the screw.

                                                                                                                                                                                     

Feed the USB cord through the back and to the medicine container and tie a knot in the

cord. This will prevent accidental pulling of components from the inside.

Now, start making your connections. Solder 2 wires to the push button switch connect

one end from the switch to the one side of the USB cord and the other wire from the switch to the

to the 20 ohm resistor. Lastly, connect the remaining wire from the USB cord to the negative

terminal of the LED. (Note the USB cord will contain 4 wires the only wires that are

needed in this project is the reddish(+) and copper(-) colored wires. Be sure to

connect the LEDs properly! Seal your connections,  put everything together, plug in the USB cable into your computer's USB port and your ready to go.