LED Sorter/holder

This instructable will show you how to make an led holder that is categorized into slots by color, size, and if it's diffused or not. This is very useful for the LEDs that are clear, but light up a different color like orange. You can flip a switch on the back of the box to see what color the LEDs are sorted into and where they're at.

To make this instructable you will need the following supples:

A shoebox, or just some sort of cardboard, thin is prefferable.

LEDs because thats what this is holding.

Soldering iron.

Solder.

A little bit of wire, probably a little under a foot.

A switch, I got mine from RadioShack for $3.00, its name is the SPST Submini Toggle Switch.

Duct tape, if you want it to look nicer without all the gray ducktape you will want to use hot glue for all the steps that require ductape except the labeling step, there you absolutely need a tape of some sort. I would be using hot glue but I don't have any.

2 paper clips, 1 acts as a handle and the other is split apart and works as a lock for the drawer.

Wire cutters and strippers.

Button cell batteries, 2 per color of LED, in my case 6 batteries. If you salvaged as many LEDs as you have colors of LEDs from like cereal box toys you have enough batteries.

Aluminum foil, will be part of the battery holder.

Paper to label on.

A pencil or pen to mark measurements and labeling.

A ruler to measure.

If your using a 3 colors of LEDs then the first measurements you should make should be about 7 1/2" by about 10 inches. Then cut it out.
Next we'll wanna make folds that will make a housing for the wires and electrical stuff. Measure 1 1/4" three times, look at picture 3 to see which way to draw the lines. Make a line all the way across and crease on each line all in the same direction. After folded it should look like the 4th picture.

First you need to cut as many holes in the second from the top flap as many as you have colors. Cut them just big enough that you have to force the LED through.

Put the LEDs through then fold the wires back. Make sure they're all facing the same way. You need to do that or else the circuit won't work.

Then cut a hole in the flap under the one with the LEDs big enough to fit the round part of the switch through. Then just put the round part through. Tape the back side to the cardboard and make sure to leave the metal parts exposed.

Check to make sure all the LEDs are facing the same way, like positive to negative. Then solder them all together, but remember to run it through the switch in the middle. Leave a wire sticking out of each of the ends, you'll eventually end up hooking those up to the batteries.

First you will need to stack all your batteries and tape them into a bundle. To make sure they're tight and don't lose connection, I used two magnets, 1 on each end of the stack. They held them tight while I taped them, but don't keep them on too long or else they drain the battery.

Make the battery holder. Just make the template in pic 2 and follow the measurements. Then cut it out. Then put aluminum foil on one of the flaps. Next fold it in and put the other flap over it and tape it closed. Repeat with the other side.

Just stick your wires left from the LEDs in the battery holder at the same time as the battery bundle. Make sure you have the posotive side of the battery going to the positive side of the LEDs. Then tape over it to make sure the wires stay in.

First fold the top flap over until it forms a square then tape it down to the base like in picture one. Then cover both the holes on the sides with with cardboard and duct tape them in place.

Next cut out side walls the length of the open area of the cardboard and the height of the of the wire housing. Then just cut a piece of cardboard as wide and long as the open cardboard area. Then just put it on top of the sides you just put up.

So now we'll need to make a box with no top. First make a base as large as the cover you recently put on. Maybe make it a couple mm smaller to make sure it fits. Next just put up all the side walls. make them a little under the height of the box. Test to make sure it fits in periodicly so that you dont have to start all over on this step.

Now we need to put the dividers in that separate the LEDs. This part will all depend on how many sizes and colors you have. But in my case I have 4 sections per color: large regular, large diffused, small regular, small diffused. So I will have to make + for my dividers. First I put a piece all the way across the box. Then depending on how many different LEDs you have divide it into the different color sections. I have 3 different colors so I need to put in 2 dividers. Then we have to divide it into diffused and regular. Just divide the new sections just made in two.

For this step you will be needing that sheet of paper and a pencil or pen. Just cut a strip of paper to cover each hole and label it for what LEDs your going to keep in there. For my first one its going to be labeled "large regular" since it will be my larger size and non diffused. Then just tape it on at the top so it acts as a hinge.

First you want to add the handle. Just bend the paper clip in the shape you want and add a little bend at each end to hold it in place after you put it in the front of the drawer. Then tape the little tabs on the inside.

Next we will have to make little rungs on the front of the drawer and the sides of the box. Look at the picture for an example. Then just cut in half a paperclip and run each half through the rungs to keep the drawer from coming out. Then you can also carry it from the handle.

This is one of the easiest steps of all, just load your LEDs and your completely done. I hope you liked my instructable.