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1.7

Minor Versionm

by Joshua

Introduction

Make an LED light up with the power of the wind! Using a small motor with a fan blade as a generator is easy. We'll connect an LED using Maker Tape and get it to light up.

Video Overview

  1. You'll need all of the parts from the Wind Wand kit. The wooden body, the motor, the fan, and an LED.
    • You'll need all of the parts from the Wind Wand kit.

    • The wooden body, the motor, the fan, and an LED.

    • You'll also need four small pieces of Maker Tape. We'll use Maker Tape because it's conductive and will create a good electrical connection for our circuit.

  2. We'll start by adding the motor. Press the motor in from the back of the Wind Wand body. It should go about half through an doesn't need to go further. It just needs to stay in place.
    • We'll start by adding the motor.

    • Press the motor in from the back of the Wind Wand body.

    • It should go about half through an doesn't need to go further. It just needs to stay in place.

    • It should be a good pressure fit, but if it's too tight you can lightly sand or cut away part of the notches on the inside of the hole.

    • If the motor fit is a bit loose you can try to add a piece of tape around the body of the motor.

  3. Add the fan blade. It should easily press fit onto the shaft of the motor. Add the fan blade. It should easily press fit onto the shaft of the motor. Add the fan blade. It should easily press fit onto the shaft of the motor.
    • Add the fan blade. It should easily press fit onto the shaft of the motor.

  4. Take the LED and splay the legs outward in opposite directions. Make note of the Positive (longer) leg and Negative (shorter) leg. You'll want the Positive leg on the left side, to match the "L+" on the Wind Wand body. Once the LED legs are straight out in opposite directions carefully bend them down to approximately 45 degrees as shown.
    • Take the LED and splay the legs outward in opposite directions.

    • Make note of the Positive (longer) leg and Negative (shorter) leg. You'll want the Positive leg on the left side, to match the "L+" on the Wind Wand body.

    • Once the LED legs are straight out in opposite directions carefully bend them down to approximately 45 degrees as shown.

  5. Add the LED onto the front of the Wind Wand body with the legs matching the lines. Remember! The longer leg is Positive and needs to be on the left side.
    • Add the LED onto the front of the Wind Wand body with the legs matching the lines.

    • Remember! The longer leg is Positive and needs to be on the left side.

  6. You'll need two short pieces of Maker Tape. Each about 12mm long (or about half an inch). Use the two pieces of Maker Tape to hold the LED legs down to the surface of the Wind Wand. Give the tape a good press to ensure a solid electrical connection.
    • You'll need two short pieces of Maker Tape. Each about 12mm long (or about half an inch).

    • Use the two pieces of Maker Tape to hold the LED legs down to the surface of the Wind Wand.

    • Give the tape a good press to ensure a solid electrical connection.

  7. We'll now connect the motor wires to the LED legs. Cut two more pieces of Maker Tape, the same length as the previous pieces. Thread the black and red wires through the holes in the Wind Wand body.
    • We'll now connect the motor wires to the LED legs.

    • Cut two more pieces of Maker Tape, the same length as the previous pieces.

    • Thread the black and red wires through the holes in the Wind Wand body.

    • Connect the black wire from the motor (M-) to the Positive leg of the LED (L+) and the red wire from the motor (M-) to the Negative leg of the LED (L-).

    • Wait! Isn't that backwards!? Usually black is Negative and red is Positive, so it appears we're connecting things backwards, but we are not...

    • Since we are using the Motor to generate electricity instead of powering the motor with electricity we need to reverse the polarity.

    • Make sure the wires are securely held down with Maker Tape to ensure a good connection.

  8. Your Wind Wand is now complete, and ready for testing! Your Wind Wand is now complete, and ready for testing!
    • Your Wind Wand is now complete, and ready for testing!

  9. One more thing! We added a hole in the center of the Wind Wand so you can easily stand it up with a pencil. One more thing! We added a hole in the center of the Wind Wand so you can easily stand it up with a pencil. One more thing! We added a hole in the center of the Wind Wand so you can easily stand it up with a pencil.
    • One more thing! We added a hole in the center of the Wind Wand so you can easily stand it up with a pencil.

    • Try to light up the LED!

    • We first tried by blowing on the fan blade with a huge breath... and it worked!

    • We then used a can of compressed air and that worked even better!

  10. If you find it a bit difficult to light up the LED by blowing on it (or just want to lower the number of people blowing their breathe in a closed area) consider using compressed air instead.
    • If you find it a bit difficult to light up the LED by blowing on it (or just want to lower the number of people blowing their breathe in a closed area) consider using compressed air instead.

    • Compressed air comes in cans, and is typically used as a "duster" to clean out dust from computers and other equipment.

    • A warning with the cans is that they should be used in an upright position, not pointed downward, so hold your Wind Wand upright, do not lay it on a table...

    • And note that the cans are meant for short bursts, not sustained use, and can get very cold when you spray too much. So we do have another suggestion...

    • This Rechargeable Air Duster is a reusable solution with a long-lasting battery and no freeze-ups.

Finish Line

Pete Prodoehl

Member since: 03/04/2020

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298 Guides authored

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