So, we have the frame, with its electronics, all ready. We just need to finish the shade. This piece of tubing is sold as a tumble dryer vent pipe. It’s really cheap, and just the right size. The only problem is that the ends are not cut with art in mind, they’re just chopped roughly,…… Continue reading Uplighter 5: Done!
The original purpose of this lamp was as a dawn simulator. So, at alarm time the light would very slowly fade in, like a sunrise. However, as the remote control has four buttons, I got a bit carried away assigning functions! Here’s the plan: Button “A” Press for full brightness (two white LEDs and the…… Continue reading Uplighter 4: Software
LEDs There are four 10 Watt LEDs – red, yellow and 2 x white. They are screwed to the top of the heatsink, so they point upwards. I added a tiny amount of thermal paste between the LEDs and the heatsink so that the heat is conducted across any gaps between the two. [Originally I…… Continue reading Uplighter 3: Electronics
Choosing a heatsink The lamps will each consume 10 Watts (about 1 Amp at 10 Volts). These LEDs use about 30% of the electrical energy to produce light, with the remaining 70% converted into heat. So the four lamps will create 40 x 0.7 Watts, or 28 Watts, of heat. Generally, heatsinks are rated as degrees…… Continue reading Uplighter 2: Heatsink / frame
After creating bespoke lighting for three artworks, I have lots of experience of using 10 Watt LEDs and Arduinos, so I decided to create something for myself, something that I can use long after I’ve moved on to new types of project. I decided to create a bedroom lamp. I had two things in mind…… Continue reading Uplighter 1: Design
