LED Ice Chest
Have you ever been out at night, like a drive in movie or party and can't find the drink you want in your ice chest? This is an ice chest that has an LED light in the lid. When you open the chest it's light turns on and when you close it it turns off.
Step 1: Materials and Tools
The first thing you need to do is get all of the
tools and parts for this project.
Parts:
Duct Tape
Cooler
Solder
Circuit Board/PC Board
2 (3.5V) high output LEDs
9V Battery and Holder
Switch that turns off when pressed
Tools:
Soldering Iron
Pliers
Dremel
Scissors
tools and parts for this project.
Parts:
Duct Tape
Cooler
Solder
Circuit Board/PC Board
2 (3.5V) high output LEDs
9V Battery and Holder
Switch that turns off when pressed
Tools:
Soldering Iron
Pliers
Dremel
Scissors
Step 1: Putting Together the Circuit Board
Solder in the 2 LED's in series using rosin core solder.
Solder the positive lead from the battery to another wire and solder that wire to one of the
leads off the switch. Then take another wire and solder that to the other lead of the switch.
Then solder that wire to the LED. Take the negative lead off the battery and solder it to the other
lead on the LED that is available.
Make sure your wires are long enough the switch can reach the part of the lid where you are putting it. So it looks like this.
Solder the positive lead from the battery to another wire and solder that wire to one of the
leads off the switch. Then take another wire and solder that to the other lead of the switch.
Then solder that wire to the LED. Take the negative lead off the battery and solder it to the other
lead on the LED that is available.
Make sure your wires are long enough the switch can reach the part of the lid where you are putting it. So it looks like this.
Step 2: Cutting the Lid
Using a dremmel, cut a piece big enough for your circuit board to fit in out of
the hollow part of the lid from the inside. Go all the way around so you can replace it
when you are done. You also need to cut a small hole big enough for your switch
somewhere on the edge of the inner part of the lid. That way when the lid is closed it will come in contact with the lower part of the chest and push the switch. We chose the top because it was easier with the lid we had. Should look like this.
the hollow part of the lid from the inside. Go all the way around so you can replace it
when you are done. You also need to cut a small hole big enough for your switch
somewhere on the edge of the inner part of the lid. That way when the lid is closed it will come in contact with the lower part of the chest and push the switch. We chose the top because it was easier with the lid we had. Should look like this.
Step 3: Putting It All Together
Then using duct tape (The Worlds Greatest Invention Ever) tape the circuit board on the piece of the lid that you cut out in the last step so that the LEDs point through the hole in the front.
Then stick the switch on so it gets pressed when you close the lid.
As the final step tape the lid back together and TA-DA you're done!
Then stick the switch on so it gets pressed when you close the lid.
As the final step tape the lid back together and TA-DA you're done!