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Thread: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

  1. #1
    ATX Mental Case
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    Default DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    USB CHRISTMAS LIGHT MOD!!



    I sampled this mod from here.

    Here is his instructions:

    1. Get a USB connector cable (preferably from cablesforless.com so you dont get ripped off http://www.cablesforless.com/index.a...D&ProdID=1146).

    2. Get some batterry operated Christmas lights. These can be purchased at Ace Hardware, Walmart or even your local dollar store.
    Get the ones that use a 5 volt powersupply. (2 batterry or 3 battery ones work nicely.)

    3. Cut the batterry pack off of the Christmas lights.

    4. Strip the USB connector cable and the red and black wires inside.

    5. Solder the red (+) and black (-) USB wires to the positive and negative wires of the Christmas lights respectively. You may want to verify with a multimeter before you solder to insure you have the correct wires.

    7. You now have a really cool set of USB christmas lights! Geektacular!
    So I was at Walgreens and saw a battery powered light kit and decided to give it a go.

    Here is a hardware list:
    Battery power xmas lights: $5.99
    Elmers gel instant glue: already had
    Some type of USB cable: already had
    ---------------
    total cost for me = ~$6.00

    Glue


    Christmas Lights


    USB cable ( I used some weird USB to network jobby:confused: )


    Christmas Lights un-boxed


    Battery compartment opened


    Wires stripped on the USB cable


    Testing...........IT WORKS! I trusted the above instructions and used the red as + and the black as -. then I just read the inside of the battery compartment to see -/+ I just looked how the batteries were setup in there.


    Testing w/lights off


    Closer shot


    Closer closer shot

  2. #2
    ATX Mental Case
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    So next I decided to keep the original container but only use a portion of it to make it less bulky. So I cut the front off the top and bottom and cut the back plate off as well.





    Here I test fit the pieces together and drilled a hole in one end for the usb cord.





    Next was to cut off the white and green wire since they are not needed.


    I put some shink tubing over the end of the USB to protect any exposed from cutting the wires above


    Now I am starting to strip the wires for connecting


    got the wires connected and used the shrink tubing to protect the wires and keep them together ( after twisting them together) since they are such a small guage.


    I added a zip tie to the USB cable so if its yanked on it wont rip apart from the light module.


    glueing the top on


    another shot of the top glued on


    And finally glued the back on


    And now your all done. Sit back, relax and enjoy your new USB powered Christmas Light Awesomeness!:thumb:













    Happy Holidays!

  3. #3
    tinfoil-underwear
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    Hahahah....!!!

    I LIKE IT!!!!

    I'm going to swing by Walgreens later today to see if they have them....
    Thanks !!! I like!

  4. #4
    Anodized
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    ha nice holiday look

  5. #5
    Sunshine Flavored Lollipops Zephik's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    That is a very innovative idea! I would of never thought of connecting Christmas lights to a USB. Looks like anyone with a basic knowledge of wiring would be able to do this?

    I don't suppose you know how much juice they suck do you? I wouldn't mind lighting my entire office from a spare USB port on my computer! lol

    -SnowFire
    People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People’s heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.

  6. #6
    Practice random acts of generosity Omega's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    Quote Originally Posted by SnowFire View Post
    That is a very innovative idea! I would of never thought of connecting Christmas lights to a USB. Looks like anyone with a basic knowledge of wiring would be able to do this?

    I don't suppose you know how much juice they suck do you? I wouldn't mind lighting my entire office from a spare USB port on my computer! lol

    -SnowFire
    Well, it depends on the amperage pull of the LEDs. I wouldn't suggest, however, putting more than one set per USB Cable. But you can still make more and just get a powered hub...



    i5-3570k @ 4.40GHz // R9 380X @ 1020MHz // 2x Samsung 850 EVO SSDs // 2x 2TB HDDs
    Fractal Design Define R2 XL "Monolith"


  7. #7
    Fresh Paint
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    WOW where did u get that light thing. HAPPY HOLIDAYS back to u too

  8. #8
    ATX Mental Case
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    Thanks guys. It is a very easy mod and you dont need to know any wiring knowledge...just be able to distinguish colors! red to green and black to blue!

    If you do happen to find the exact same ones. You will see where I cut the battery box. I cut right through the grooves were the metal plates went to hold in the batteries. Its like a built in cutting guide

    cbelmo159,
    Not sure what you mean, I got the battery operated kit at walgreens. They also have a kit at walmart that is the standard bulbs, but it only has 10 on a string where as the ones I got have 20 mini LED's.

    Good luck and if you build it post some pics here!

    Kyle

  9. #9
    Practice random acts of generosity Omega's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    I might do that for the hell of it =D



    i5-3570k @ 4.40GHz // R9 380X @ 1020MHz // 2x Samsung 850 EVO SSDs // 2x 2TB HDDs
    Fractal Design Define R2 XL "Monolith"


  10. #10
    How Big's Your Mouth?! gaz_the_chav's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY: USB Christmas Lights

    Hmm do you think that you could make some sort of program on your computer to make them flash to your music or whatever. Or even a program to make your own flashing patterns?

    -gaz

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