This project was my next step in my exploration of the world of LEDs. Here, I will show how to wire LEDs in parallel in order to make a simple bike light. Wiring LEDs in parallel is useful in that you can run multiple LEDs off of a single, low-voltage source.
Step 1: Materials and such.
I've always been looking for a reason to use an Altoids tin as a project box, and this project seemed to be it.
- Altoids tin
- 2 AAA battery holder from Radioshack.
- three way toggle switch that I scavenged. I used a three-way switch becuase I plan on eventually adding a circuit that will make the light have a blinking mode. If you don't care to add this extra complexity to the light, just buy a simple SPST on-off switch.
- three white, 3V LEDs given to me by a friend.
In my previous Instructable, I explained how LEDs need to have resistors wired in series with them to keep them from blowing out. In this case, I didn't need resistors, because the supply voltage was exactly 3V and the requirement was 3V. If you are using LEDs with a lower voltage requirement, you will need to add in a resistor to keep them from burning up.