Paul’s Blog: Not All About Rabbits

This is a circuit and instructions to make a circuit which lights a light globe from batteries, with a switch. Its a do-it-yourself torch. If you just want a torch then you will save time and money buying a preconstructed one, but building your own is a good way to start learning about electric circuits. This circuit can also be expanded to accomodate multiple lights and switches etc. What actually happens between the switch in the wall and the light in your ceiling? Build this and find out!

This light circuit can be using for decorative projects or to learn about electronic circuits. It is important to use batteries and low voltage lights for safety.

Rechargable batteries can be used with a charger to save the cost of buying new batteries, otherwise nonrechargables will work fine.

Some things you will need for this project:

• 2 Batteries (and charger if using rechargable batteries)
• Battery holder for 2 batteries
• Switch
• Light globe and matching holder.
• 3 wires with alligator (gripping) clips.

I have given part numbers from Altronics, an electronics shop that you can order online from, simply because they have all the parts needed and allow you to see a picture of the parts you need, if you look up the part numbers. You can then order the parts of buy the equivelents from your local electronics shop.

Suggested part numbers from Altronics:

• Battery holder: S5025A
• Rechargable battery: S4745A (set of two)
• Switch: S1042
• Light Globe: S4042 Holder: S4055
  
• Wires: P0415 (set of 10)
  

The light globe can be whatever size you want, the voltage should be 3 volts to match the battery voltage.
There are light globes that use a heating element inside, which globes from being heated by the electricity. Inside the glass there is no air, which stops the heating element from burning as it glows white hot.
Other typs of light globes do not get hot because the produce light in a way that doesn’t make heat. These ones are called L.E.Ds.

Construction method:

1. Put the batteries in the holder (make your you put the flat end of each battery on the spring)
2. put the light globe into its holder.
3. Connect a wire using the clips from one terminal of the battery holder to one terminal of the light globe
4. Connect a wire from the other battery terminal to one terminal of the switch
5. Connect a battery from the other terminal of the switch to the other terminal of the light globe.

Now you should have a working light circuit. If not, check these things…

Switch Terminals. If your switch has more than two connections, follow this guide:…

To make this circuit permanent, you can replace the clip wires with insulated copper wire. You will need to be able to solder.