I am a complete novice with a project I’d like to make which is basically outlining the 30 edges (5" per edge) of an icosahedron with tiny LEDs. I thought it could be done two ways. The simplest would use very small LEDs spaced close together in a single 160" strip (allowing an extra 10" to get around all the corners). The second would be separate 6" segments joined at each bend with ‘jumpers’ . I would like to have the LEDs 1" or less apart with white color and just off/on capability for the whole string. I saw a recent video with Adam Savage (Mythbusters) where he used “jumpers” to do this. So my question is : Is there such a product available that would accomplish this? thanks. :
Electrically, this is pretty simple. You can wire the LEDs in parallel and then just select a power supply with enough current capability. Small LEDs don’t draw too much current so this probably won’t be a problem. White LEDs are almost always 3-4 volts so nothing exotic there. You’ll probably want a way to dim them since even small LEDs are pretty bright these days, especially white ones since they’re almost always used for illumination compared with status LEDs which are often color.
I think attaching the LEDs might be more interesting challenge. Ideally, I think you’d want to mount the LEDs from the inside so as to keep the leads and wiring & components hidden. Will this be battery powered? What’s the model made of? Is it hollow and can you get to the inside?
A few sets of something like this might save a bit of soldering time:
https://www.mpja.com/50-Micro-LED-Strin … /31985+OP/
The 4" spacing isn’t great but you could double them up a time or two to get to 1 inch.
Their dimmer board might work, too, but the input voltage is a little high for a smaller battery.
I’m going to try to attach a photo of a paper-string model. I only attached 6 strings of the 30 it takes to actually form the icosahedron. The icosahedron vertices are the corners of 3 mutually perpendicular ‘golden rectangles’. So in the photo, the papers are the 3 rectangles and the red strings would be the lights. There is a way to string all 30 corners so that there are no switch backs in one continuous string. That would be preferable to having to cut the small segments of lights and jump around the corners. There is no ‘inside’. all the strings would have to be attached at the corners. Originally my plan was just to drill holes at the corners of the rectangles and thread a solid wire around the required path, but the lights would make the icosahedron much more visible than just steel wires. Doubling the wire back on itself is not acceptable.
It appears I’m doing something wrong to get the photo uploaded.
I found this URL which demonstrates the figure.
I see what you mean. I was visualizing a solid bodied model, -perhaps something you were 3D printing.
It will be really hard to maintain that minimalist look with LEDs and wires all over the place.
However, do you think electroluminecent wire might work?
https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/ge … l-wire/all
deglen:
It appears I’m doing something wrong to get the photo uploaded.
I think staff has reported that there’s a problem with photo uploads to the board at the moment.
thanks, but I have concerns that this will work in my application. The wire diameter 2.3 mm - could this make a crisp turn at the corners ?The big problem, I think, is the length required 150" is theoretical minimum and more likely it’ll be closer to 160" continuous. I see that 2 strips of 3 m (118")each can be hooked up but the extra wire for the juncture is going to be impossible to hide using the connectors shown. Can the wire just be cut and soldered & taped, or is that impractical?
of course, I know nothing about these things (that’s why I’m writing in to this forum), but i didn’t think it would such a difficult item to find long lengths of continuous LEDs , 1 inch apart.
I’m sorry to have taken your time up trying to find a solution for me. thanks
deglen:
The wire diameter 2.3 mm - could this make a crisp turn at the corners ? … Can the wire just be cut and soldered & taped, or is that impractical?
EL wire doesn’t like sharp bends. However, it can be cut, stripped back and soldered. You’re right, the length of wire you’d need is probably going to be a problem. EL wire also needs a relatively high AC voltage driver.
thanks for your help. I appreciate it.