Help with an elecric problem please?

Question

My daughter is doing A level art and has just almost finished her latest art creation however is now stuck.
She has made a box but want to put a small light inside and a switch on outside so that when people look in to box they can flick the switch and light comes on so they can get a difffrent view.
How does she make a small but safe light system?
What materials do we need to buy?
Thank you so much for any help that can be given.

PS: Box is made of MDF and is the size of two shoe boxes together and materials inside will be leaves/stones/paper/

Answer 1

Depends on how much you want to spend. You could buy a low voltage lighting system which comes with a light and a transformer but you will need to wire it your self. Probably simplest answer is to buy a cheap lampstand that has an on / off switch incorporated in the flex. Remove the bulb holder by unscrewing the nut which is inside the base, drill a suitable size hole in the bas/ side of your mdf box and mount it through the hole. Use a low energy bulb (typically 7 w will give you an equivalent of 40 to 60 w ordinary bulb) rather than a standard bulb as this will prevent it overheating and scorching everything. Then glue the switch onto the box and you're done.

Answer 2

I like allen555's suggestion to construct a simple battery operated circuit. Rather than using a lamp, however, you could use a white LED. The batteries will last a lot longer and the LED will produce less heat than a light bulb.

You'll need:
A Switch
9 volt Battery snap
9 volt Battery
Wire
LED
Resistor

All of these can be purchased at your local Radio Shack or electronics store.

The link in "sources" gives detailed directions to build a simple flashlight using these components. You'll only need to modify them to mount the switch on the opposite end of the "flashlight" from the LED. Then, either mount the "flashlight" inside the box with the switch protruding through the box or mount the flashlight outside the box with just the LED shining in.

Have fun!

Answer 3

Battery power is the safest, but it depends on how bright she needs the lamp to be. I would advise trying dolls house equipment, or I am sure she would fint the equipment she needs at a hobbies shop or a n electronics enthusieast place (try Maplins).
If she needs bright lighting she will have to use mains power through an isolating transformer. B&Q sell halogen based desk lamps that use 12 volts via an isolating transformer that would probably do the trick, although she needs to be aware that this is a HOT form of lighting, and poses heat dissipation problems (fire risk). She would also need to have the completed system "PAT" tested (the college should be able to help with this, as they need to have all their equipment tested evry year).I dont yet know how this yahoo system works, but I would be happy to help further, if needed.

Answer 4

Take a 4W night light bulb out of a lighted statue and use it. Most of them are in a socket with a clip that holds it into the back or bottom of lighted statues. It will plug right into any outlet. You can pick them up at department stores in the hardware sections. Otherwise, use a small flashlight? Hope this helps.

Answer 5

Modify a flashlight, and use that. You can get a little switch from Radio shack, to turn it on and off. You can tape two batteries together with some wires to power the light.

Answer 6

I'll try to answer your question mam...well if it is a small box would recommend to use a led cause it is cheaper, colorful and can attract the person viewing the box.....and it also consume lesser voltage...and there a lot of circuits out there...u could find one and install it to the box.....

Answer 7

you can buy a small light unit "basicly a holder for small batteries with 2 wires comming out attached to small bulb and holder" a craft shop should sell or a good diy store (they come in tact so all you need to do is fit the batteries)

Answer 8

Create a simple dc circuit with a torch lamp and a battery.

Answer 9

I would suggest that perhaps some of your Xmas lights would look nice and give a bit of colour.

Answer 10

try LEDs with simple circuitry will do. if you are not sure how to construct it, get the hobby kit instead. it is available in any electronic shops.