There are many flashlights on the market - which you can shake, twist, twist or turn on with a click. But if none of these appeal to you, or if you don't want to pay a lot of money for such a simple tool, here's how to build a flashlight yourself with items you can find around the house.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Quick and Easy Method
Step 1. Gather what you need
Clear up an area to work on and invite the children to watch you manipulate electricity with your hands. You will need:
- A finished toilet paper roll (or light card rolled into a small tube)
- 2 Batteries D
- Tape (some electrical tape will do)
- 12.5 cm of cable (if you are using amplifier cable, use a copper one)
- 2.2 volt bulb (You can use different bulbs, but they may not work as well. A Christmas lights bulb will do.)
Step 2. Tape the electrical wire to the negative (-) terminal of one of the batteries
Make sure it's tight and doesn't move or your light will be flickering.
You could use tinfoil instead of wire, but it is less reliable and more difficult to use
Step 3. Use tape to close the card tightly so that it is completely covered
You don't want light to come out, decreasing the intensity of the flashlight, which would not work well in that case.
If you didn't have a reason to use black electrical tape, now you have one
Step 4. Insert the battery, connected side first, into the toilet roll
Even if the connected side is facing the taped bottom of the roll, the other end of the thread should come out of the open one.
If the cable doesn't come out far enough to get past the battery, you'll need to shorten the tube
Step 5. Insert the following battery, negative side first
Its negative side will meet with the positive one, which is already inside. This connection allows the flow of current, and the operation of the device.
Step 6. Tape the bulb to the top of the battery
Make sure there is a direct connection between the two surfaces (you will basically need to make sure it is firm). Also make sure you can see the bottom half of the bulb.
Step 7. Turn on your flashlight
Touch the silver part of the bulb with the wire. If it doesn't turn on after a few tries, check the tips below to fix any problems. If it works, you will have created a working flashlight with on and off functionality.
Method 2 of 2: Alternative Method
Step 1. Get the materials
It's time to get the MacGyver in you out and get started. You will need:
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2 batteries D
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2 pieces of 12.5cm of 22 insulated copper wire (with 2.5cm of insulation removed on both ends)
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Cardboard tube of 10 cm
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3 volt PR6 bulb, or number 222.
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2 brass fasteners
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Cardboard strips 2, 5 x 7, 5 cm
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Clip
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Tape
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Plastic cup
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Step 2. Attach a brass terminal to the ends of each wire
Wrap it to secure it. Pinch the tabs on the same side of the roll, but with the cables coming out from different sides. Pointed ends should come out of the tube. You will need them as part of the ignition switch.
Step 3. Tape the two batteries together D
Make sure the positive side of one is below the negative side of the other. Your batteries should be stacked and not side by side horizontally. Make sure they fit snugly together and slide them into the tube.
Step 4. Attach the wire to the negative side of the battery
The downside is the flat side. Adhesive tape is sufficient for this purpose.
Step 5. Cut a hole in the small cardboard strip
Put the wire on the positive side through that hole and wrap it around the bulb. Put the socket of the light bulb in the hole so that it is held up by the cardboard.
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Put some tape around the base of the bulb and cardboard to secure it to the cable. It should start flashing at this point.
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Step 6. Cut a hole in the bottom of a paper cup large enough to hold the bulb
Put the light bulb in the hole and secure the glass to the cardboard base with more tape.
Step 7. Insert a paper clip between the two brass tabs
When he touches both of them, he will conduct electricity and the flashlight will light up. If you move the paper clip, the flashlight will turn off. Voila!
Step 8. You are done
Advice
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If the light does not come on, check the following:
- Is the light bulb burned out?
- Is the bulb 2, 2 volts?
- Is everything connected?
- Are the batteries still charged?
- Are the batteries in the correct position?
- Do you want to make your flashlight more beautiful? Draw something on a piece of paper and tape it around the roll. A ghost face for example. Or you can cover the bottom of the roll with tape and draw on that.
Warnings
- Be careful, the cables will get moderately hot.
- Do this only with adult supervision.
