Home made DIY LED baby light

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Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

As I said we're dealing with a device that won't accept to function with less than it's trashold voltage. But - let's say you have a 7.2v lithium battery(the dvx type), So you must regulate the voltage down to circa 3v(the operating voltage of bright white leds) so that you allow the deteriorating battery voltage to go down to 3 v without over supplying your leds (7.2v can damage your leds). Obviously you'll need to connect your leds in parallel. This will also result in a longer battery duration because you're just using 3Volts x ??A not 7.2V x ??A.(Power=Voltage(Volts)xCurrent(Amps). -Sorry if I'm insulting you by giving you this very basic formula.

Re: Lithium batteries- Yeah I know -These type of batteries are Godsend-Lightweight, no Memory Effect and Long lasting. They're still a bit expensive but worth every penny.

BTW. Have you ever came across li-on batteries for the dvx with charge indicator incorporated. I happen to be a freelance Cameraman and work with lots of different companies. The most popular batteries for shoulder type camcorders are obviously the IDX endura, they're extremely good and last a good 3hours of use on a Sony DvCam DSR-390. They have an led charge indicator. I wish I cam find some dvx batteries with some sort of indicator on each battery
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

I have the Lite Panels. I had to get something fast and didn't have time to deal with making a set up. This DIY idea is great! I love the Lite Panels, but I wish I wouldn't have had to spend the money. It is a fantastic set up, though and I recommend it highly.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

how do you guys get pics on your postings. i can never get my to stick.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

This has been idea I have had for a long time; its great to see this being made! Brett, Have you compiled any plans for people, or should we just sift through the posts for everything. I would love to make one of these right now. Or, to save time, do you know of anyone/ or any company selling a device similar to the one you made?

Brian
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

I pulled a ready made LED panel out of a different fixture (http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/gdl002-200/)

Then I put a lexan face on the front a textured plastic panel on the back instead of using a plastic project box. Its keeps things cool, small as possible and I think it has a slicker look to it.

The battery docking plates are from (http://www.lenmar.com/accessories_list.asp?product=camcorder&type=ac cessories&category=2)

And the hardware is all available from homedepot.

I'm going to add two more things to the light. A special LED dimmer described above and a single input for pluging the light into the wall for power making it a great light for a interview kit. A three light kit that will work on battery or house power and fit into a tiny bag.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you want to connect an ac power supply to the led light just plug in the power supply to the camera. Well as i was writing this I decided to pull out the charger. Its 7.8v output, I don't know if it will change anything.

Brett I found the right battery adapter plate from lenmar "pp120", but where did you order it from. When I try to locate the vender no one has it in stock.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

Yes you can use the charger to run off AC but it has a strange work around. You have to throw one battery on the other docking port to complete the circuit and bring it up to 14.4V (the operating voltage). So far this has made the light run for a much longer time but because its taking and giving to the battery at the same time Im not sure if it will run forever. Thats why I wanted to just use a different 14v AC/DC adapter for power.

As far as Lenmar is concerned I went back to the site and it doesnt look like you can order straight from them off their web site anymore. Your going to have to contact them and set something up.

P.S.A few months ago LEDtronics was finishing up a more compact LED panel then the one Im using. It had the same amount of LED's though so if they are now available it would be ideal. Sorry I dont have a part number and I doubt its going to be something they are going to sell on their site. Your going to have to call them and make a special order. Good luck on your build.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

I guess I could make just a few if people arent interested in going thru all of the trouble of finding, cutting, drilling and wiring the parts. I dont know. In doors they are about twice as bright as the Lite Panels. How does half the cost of the Lite Panels sound?
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

What would be the cost if you made me one and also in one of the pics i saw the light on a tripod do all the lights do that.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

There are alot of different LED lights on this thread. I could easily add a adapter to the bottom of my light for you so you can throw it on a light stand. If you want the same thing from Lite Panel it will cost you $1,050 (light, adapters, their battery and charger). Once again they use daylight balanced LEDs so your going to have to gell it if you want to use it in doors.

On the other hand the one I could make for you would have tungsten balanced LED. In other words your going to get alot more light out of mine. Im not set up to sell them in large quantities but I could do a few for those seriously thinking about buying a Lite Panel but at more than half the cost: $500. Thats still a lot for a on camera light but then again theres nothing out there that can do what these do for the money. Not to mention the cost of the parts at such small quantities is also very expensive so unfortunately thats the cheapest it makes sense for me to make them for. If its out of your price range you can always make your own. I provided direct links to where to find the parts earlier in the thread. If I can get 3 or more requests for them I'll make them for you guys. Email me and let me know.

BErskine@mail.com
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

The ones you "may" make; will they have a dimmer on them as you were thinking about doing before? Oh, and I think the litepanels are on sale right now ::)
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

I'll have to make the dimmer first before I can answer that. It may not work.

Send me a link to the lite panels on sale
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

I know all the pictures look cool but pound for pound incandescents are more reliable, easier to adjust and far more efficient in video than these LED lights. I would say if you wanted a professional light look at any of the MR16/MR12 lights made. Sure you need more power, but you also get a light that throws more than 10 foot candles at two feet, at a color temperature you can use, and in a spread that make it look like light and not a blue flashlight. and in reality, LEDs end up taking quite a bit of power once you add them all up. I know lots about these lights as I have been working with LEDs trying to do just such a thing since 2000 and have relinquished them for now because they are too expensive, and as far as a quality video light don't make anything more than good flashlights. Wait for the organic LEDs to come out in a few years.

Here as my first experiment for a camera light from a few years ago that still sits on my desk:

http://www.bluesky-web.com/breadboard.jpg
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

Walter-
I totally agree with you when it comes to all of thoughs issues with most LEDs but have you had the chance to look at the specs on the light array Im using? You can find the link above. Basically is solves alot of the problems you mentioned. Heres a few:

1)Tungsten not Daylight balanced
2)Wider angle of light and even color unlike most LEDs
3)Uses 14watts but puts out about 4 times the light
4)Uses on camera batteries freeing you up from the heavy ones that have to conect to your belt.
5)Create soft light without the need for diffusion and in turn are much more effiecent and does it in a package much smaller than a traditional light with a mini chimera.

Anyways Walter check it out and tell me what you think. I value your input on these things and I'll definately be interested in hearing what you think.

Also can you send me a link to the organic LEDS you were talking about?


ifxartka-
Right but dont forget they dont include the charger either. Thats even more money. It adds up.
 
Re: Home made DIY LED baby light

[quote author=Brett_Erskine link=board=Links;num=1071261354;start=165#178 date=12/16/04 at 20:34:06]Check it out. Ready made.
http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/gdl002-200/[/quote]

Guys, you are kidding yourself. They don't even measure the photometrics of this lamp in normal terms but use candelas because it's so ridiculous that they don't use regular terms for measurement. For $170 you get a light that makes less than ten foot candles of light at 5 feet if you are more than 20 degrees off center. For that money I could buy a real light and a battery and have a much easier time while not making everyone squint because you are putting the equivalent of a flashlight in their face. If some of you would stop concentrating on the hammer and learn how to be a carpenter, you'd really be better at the craft, not just the kid on the block with a cool toy that no one wants and one that makes you worse at what you do.
 
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