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Quick, Temporary, and Cheap LED Diffuser

by Coffeebot on September 4, 2008

Table of Contents

Quick, Temporary, and Cheap LED Diffuser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: Quick, Temporary, and Cheap LED Diffuser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Straws to the rescue! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Obviously... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Temporary-and-Cheap-LED-Diffuser/
 Author:Coffeebot author's website
Just a dude who likes making things :)

Intro: Quick, Temporary, and Cheap LED Diffuser

Not ready to sand/embed your LEDs, but they're too bright to look at? This Instructable is for you!

I'm fiddling around with my Arduino and TLC5940, and I'm getting a headache from staring at them. But, I don't want to sand them down, or otherwise permanently
diffuse them, and putting them behind a sheet of paper or typical diffuser won't let me clearly see the specific patterns I'm trying to achieve.

Image Notes
1. Add some tape to keep 'em straight!

Step 1: Straws to the rescue!

Amazingly, straws fit atop generic 5mm LEDs perfectly .

What you need:

Straws (Normal, cheap ones. Bendy-style optional)
Scissors
LEDs you want to diffuse.

Image Notes
1. Straws
2. Scissors
3. LEDs

http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Temporary-and-Cheap-LED-Diffuser/
Step 2: Obviously...
After cutting, stick your straws onto the LEDs. They should rest nicely on top.

If you're anal-retentive like me, tape them together, so they stand up together.

My inspiration came from Mitch Altman's Trippy RGB Waves He used a straw as a diffuser, and I thought it was a brilliant idea. As such, I'm passing it on to you :)

I also have a copy of this back at Coffeebot Labs

Image Notes
1. Add some tape to keep 'em straight!

Related Instructables

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How to Diffuse Make your own easy led project LED Mod Your sb400 (Photos)
LED diffusion by Gameboy Color
an LED by colored LEDs by by Mr.Cire by ldpcmember
macobt guyfrom7up motadacruz by 1up

Comments
13 comments Add Comment

The Expert Noob says: Apr 12, 2010. 8:03 PM REPLY

straws from subway, if ya have one around, are completely white and make excellent diffusers!

Coffeebot says: Apr 12, 2010. 8:19 PM REPLY

Ooh..you're right. Good tip, Noob!

drbill says: Feb 10, 2009. 10:58 AM REPLY

Oh, now thats a neet idea

Zippy_Pyromaniac says: Jan 21, 2009. 8:11 AM REPLY

cool! maybe Ill make a straw lamp!

Coffeebot says: Jan 21, 2009. 10:21 AM REPLY

Haha...that's a cool idea. Post some pics, if you do!

http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Temporary-and-Cheap-LED-Diffuser/
 depotdevoid says: Sep 17, 2008. 12:04 PM REPLY
Neat idea, I like it!

Coffeebot says: Sep 17, 2008. 5:13 PM REPLY

Thanks!

=SMART= says: Sep 5, 2008. 1:50 PM REPLY

how do you use that board the LED's are plugged into ??

Coffeebot says: Sep 5, 2008. 2:24 PM REPLY

It's typical breadboard. You just plug your components into it. No need to solder. Though, it's only good for prototyping; anything beyond that and it's
useless and cumbersome.

=SMART= says: Sep 5, 2008. 2:35 PM REPLY

Any particular order the holes have to be used in ??

Coffeebot says: Sep 5, 2008. 3:45 PM REPLY

Basically, each column of holes are connected, so anything you plug into them will be, too -- like soldering a wire to the lead of your LED. The
gap in the middle separates the columns into two independent sections. The row at the top is entirely connected, as is the one on the bottom.
These provide a way to give easy access to your power supply and ground.

joejoerowley says: Sep 5, 2008. 2:39 PM REPLY

Yeah. Here is a link to a video about breadboards. Not the greatest but it gives you a good idea about it.

=SMART= says: Sep 5, 2008. 4:51 PM REPLY

Cool Thanks

http://www.instructables.com/id/Quick-Temporary-and-Cheap-LED-Diffuser/