Need to find a multicolor LED setup thats powered by 1 or 2 AA's

[aphex]

As my Viking Hat modification continues, I'm trying to find a good multicolor LED board that rotates through the different colors, but is only powered by either a single or two AA or AAA batteries.

I figured my best bet would to find a cheap LED toy and just remove the board/battery setup, but its been difficult to find exactly what I need.

I can solder just fine, so if there is a kit that will work that's an option as well.

Any ideas?

 

[Capt Caveman]

http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/...ticssauceproducts.html

 

[Black88GTA]

3 batteries, but seems like it might be a possibility...

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/...ticssauceproducts.html

Anyway to get that to run off batteries?

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
3 batteries, but seems like it might be a possibility...

Hmmm, that may work. Problem is I would need two of them, and well, 6 batteries on my head my weigh things down a bit

 

[Leros]

http://thingm.com/products/blinkm.html

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Leros
http://thingm.com/products/blinkm.html

Ooooo, nice find!

 

[biggestmuff]

Modifying some LED throwies may be an inexpensive solution.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LED_Throwie

http://www.instructables.com/id/LED-Throwies

 

[aphex]

BTW, thanks everybody!

Just came across this - http://picprojects.org.uk/projects/rgb/index.htm

 

[aphex]

Hmmm, its cheap - http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.6488

 

[Black88GTA]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Black88GTA
3 batteries, but seems like it might be a possibility...

Hmmm, that may work. Problem is I would need two of them, and well, 6 batteries on my head my weigh things down a bit

Well, my skills at applying Ohm's law are rusty...but if i remember right...assuming the batteries are wired to the device in series, all you'd really need is 4.5v and enough available current to run the lights. Battery life would depend on the total mAh rating of the cells. So, you could use 3x 1.5v button cells taped together if you wanted, since the output voltage would be the same. Although they probably wouldn't last more than 20 minutes, since the capacity of the cells is so much lower than the 3 AAs.

I think if you double up the LEDs, it'll still work with 3x 1.5v batteries, since there's still the 4.5v through the circuit...it'll just drain said batteries 2x as fast.

Anyone with more knowledge on batteries + circuits want to chime in? I think I have that right, but I haven't looked at this stuff in years

Or...maybe you could find a couple of those gimmick pens that light up with changing colors when you turn them on / off? Might be a simpler mechanism, although the visual effect probably wouldn't be as dramatic on a larger scale.

 

[aphex]

Or maybe even gut this one - https://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1223

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: aphex

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman
http://www.coolstuffcheap.com/...ticssauceproducts.html

Anyway to get that to run off batteries?

Except for the lightbulbs, they all run off of batteries. I used to work for the company and actually have a number of the light wands and key chains lying around at home.