Adding a USB cable to power fairy lights from a USB power bank.
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@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
New LED video, check it out here kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sJOpdsRp37bFqZs.html
@mike77563 жыл бұрын
I was searching KZfaq for the same diy project, watched your video, read the comments, I have yet to try it myself, just want to praise you because you took time to reply most of the questions with detail answers. 👍🏼
@WhizzBangWhoopee5 жыл бұрын
I finally plucked up the courage to try this - and it works! Thank you Craig!
@WhizzBangWhoopee5 жыл бұрын
But I see what you mean about the LEDs burning brighter and giving them a shorter lifetime. Without that load resistor, we only got two weeks out of the lights :(
@frazermountford3 жыл бұрын
I have just converted my static set to USB following this video, i have meant to do it for ages but wasn't sure if you had to drop the voltage some how and how to calculate and what components but it was (disappointingly) too easy but a nice easy job to do.
@danchambersanimation6 жыл бұрын
Thanks Craig - I used your video to replace the batteries in some outdoor lights. Now they're much more convenient, longer lasting, and for some reason (more consistent current?) there isn't the "jittering" or "sawtooth" quality to the pulse or fade mode that there was while battery-powered. The only drawback is that I can't leave them outside - but then I suspect they weren't really good enough quality for that anyway!
@CherylGarrett6 жыл бұрын
Just finished my 1st one -worked perfectly! Thank you for this video.
@skrame017 ай бұрын
You have to be careful with the battery packs you use. Most shut off and do not output power when the output current is too low. I have a set of leds that pull only 50mA and of the 4 different battery packs I have (li-ion and lipo) only one will stay on and power the leds. Another note is you can use a diode in series with the battery to reduce the voltage from 5v to 4.3 or 4.7 is using a Schottky type and the controller will be happier.
@haisaid3 жыл бұрын
Great video and narration Craig. Been meaning to try something like this. Thanks for taking the time to film and share.
@crazytaco3212 жыл бұрын
Wow! you sir are a pioneer and we all thank you for teaching us. i used to think it was soooooo hard to do anything with a circuit board but you inspired me to start learning engineering!!!! i cant wait to watch your other videos!
@eeveecat21583 ай бұрын
Just one question. Once we connect them do we recoat with laquer/clear nail polish. I have the low voltage 2 strand solar lights.
@childscraig2 ай бұрын
You can if you like, however unless you can find an outdoor USB power source you are limited to using them indoors once converted. Hope this makes sense.
@onlytruthmatters777Ай бұрын
Just wondering....l have a fairy light string similar to this but has a USB connection so l use a power point instead of batteries. However the cable provided with the fairy light string is short and doesn't reach a power point without wasting the fairy lights on "floor lighting" and then is too short for the object l'm lighting up. Is there an extension cord that can be purchased to go further? Thank you in advance.
@ulicornprocreateartclub26176 жыл бұрын
Super video! I'm wondering if you can by pass and remove the battery pack entirely? I don't need the functionality. I just need to be able to turn the lights on when I plug in. Also...love your accent
@Renee4ever68 Жыл бұрын
How do you know which side of the board is positive and which is negative!
@CATibal2 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to combine fairy lights? Like, turn 2 strands into 1 long one with only 1 plug?
@KadenzJade64472 жыл бұрын
I'm also wondering
@TheMrRatzz5 жыл бұрын
Great vid. I'm trying to do this with some lights similar, one set worked and the other went pop! I think you might have pointed me in the right direction. Couple of questions. 1. Could you package a rechargeable battery inside the box space (with a charging module) 2. How much life so you get out of that small charger - I assume its an 18650? Anyway, love these kind of videos. Subscribed!
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Simon, You could add a cell but you would slso need to add the circuit to charge and protect the cell, but yes it is possible. Just bear in mind that charging then becomes less convenient as you can't just swap in a fresh power bank. The power banks are 18650 based, the type I use come from Poundland (£1 each in the UK), unmodified they give 4-7 hours per charge but I change the cell inside for a higher capacity cell, the runtime depends on how much you want to spend! The set beside my bed use a 10,000mAh power bank, used for about 1-2 hrs per night it is at least couple of weeks between charges. Hope this helps, Craig.
@donpeterson17024 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting this. Great video, helped a lot.
@ezeprojects54255 жыл бұрын
Pretty slick. Don't they run a tad hot? Going from 3(1.2) battery V to 5.2~ Guess you could stick in a resistor?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
They actually don't produce any more heat when using 5v, I can only guess that the controller chip is 5v tolerant, no way to tell for sure as there are no markings, as usual!
@coloraturaMusic3 жыл бұрын
Pleeeeease help ! I have 2 identical same brand LED fairy lights (3 wires) that I want to connect together to make it longer and being able to use only one plug for it. How can I do that ??? I would love if there is a tutorial on it. Please help, I really wanna get it ready for my Christmas decorations :)
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi there, I would love to be able to tell you that but without knowing the units I would be guessing whether it is even possible. Sorry!
@coloraturaMusic3 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig I figured it might be a bit complicated. Thanks for replying !
@UIV70963 жыл бұрын
Hello great video.. Thinking about buying these for my daughters room once you charge them up and plug them into a charger can you detach the USB port and then the lights or strained by themselves and I can put them in objects or do the lights have to stay plugged in to a USB port to work? Thank you so much
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi there, You need to leave them plugged into a 5v power source, this can be a USB power bank (that's what I use), that way they are portable and don't need to be plugged into the wall socket all the time. Hope this helps :-)
@horatiuslavescu2 жыл бұрын
How about the lifespan of the new setup? I mean, feeding 5 Volts to something that is designed to run at 3 Volts (3.2 V max, with fresh batteries) is quite harmful.
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi Horatiu, The set of lights in the video are on in my hallway right now, they have been running 24 hours a day for 4 years, so far they have no issues. Hope this helps!
@horatiuslavescu2 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig, thanks. Good to know.
@tanzihashedam8472 жыл бұрын
For me the bulbs are getting hot is it harmful?
@dustintrombly3 жыл бұрын
Do I need to find a USB cable with only two wires? Without cutting cables, how will I know if it's the right USB cable.
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Dustin, Any USB cable should be fine, inside you will find either 2 or 4 cores, 2 of these are power and 2 are data. The power cores are often red and black but to confirm this you would use a multimeter to check for 5v. If you don't have a multimeter you can use an LED and a 150(ish) ohm resistor, if you have the correct cores and the right way round the LED will light up. The data cores should be cut away in a way they cannot short circuit to prevent damage to your power source. Hope this helps, Craig.
@ewen8324 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig I found your channel while looking to upgrade some basic copper pin lights from ALDI. They don’t have a sequencer just basic on and off. Could a simple Arduino be used to create sequences as well as removing the need for Batteries ? I’m in Sydney Australia but I am originally from Port Glasgow, or as the Greenockians say “the dirty wee port’.
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi Ewen, you'll be glad to you're in OZ as it's freezing here now! You can add an arduino to control the lights but it's likely the set is just one string of LEDs in parallel, your options would be limited to flashing on and off or dimming them using pulse width modulation. You could add a second or third set to create some effects, you could wrap them together to create a chasing effect. If you are going to do this just remember to use transistors or opto isolators, the current required to drive each set of LEDs is more than the pin on an arduino can support. P.S. 'The Port' is an up and coming area now, it has a big-ish retail park near the waterfront, changed days for Inverclyde :-)
@ewen8324 жыл бұрын
Thanks Craig. It’s probably best if I return them and spend a little bit more on a better set. It sounds as if you know a bit about Arduino’s maybe you could do a few videos upgrading basic/cheap leds to home automated systems ? Your reply was much appreciated.
@fedorov71844 жыл бұрын
I have the same fairy lights with me. I want to put more lights in between to make the wire shorter. Can I move the light bulb from the back?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi there, I think it would be very difficult to 'move' the led chips on this type of string. You could cut and resolve the wires but you would need to remove the lacquered surface which would leave an insulated wire, this would need re-lacquered and might not look very pretty when it is finished. Good luck!
@samsami1155 Жыл бұрын
Hi. I bought smaller version which is 3v AA battery (1.5 metre longs) i am using them to a project can i link 4 packs (4 × 1.5m longs ) same model together by cutting them and link them? Is it possible to use same way you did to put used them with USB power bank
@willmoindrot3 жыл бұрын
Hi Criag, how many hours light time do you reakon you get from the powerbank shown in this video, for example in comparison to the original batteries? Thanks, WIll
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Will, The power bank shown in the video is from Poundland, they clain 2000mAh (that is what is printed on the cell to be fair) however the reality is that it will deliver around 1200mAh from the USB port, part of the difference is loss due to the 5v boost process. The LEDs pull c.170mA in full lit mode (mode 8 I think), this is the 50 LED string version (the 100 LED string pulls 330mA). In this mode the LEDs will run for approx 7 hours on one charge. I tend to use larger power banks rated 10,000mAh, using this as a power source should give over 50 hours of use per charge. The things to remember are that the power bank option is much better for the environment, it is more cost effective and the LEDs will run at full brightness until the charge runs out unlike batteries which cause dimming as they run out. Hope this helps C :-)
@willmoindrot3 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig thanks for this. I've now rigged mine up which is I think 20 led (they look very similar bulbs with copper wire, but no control circuit). In the battery container there appears to be a resistor, I ended up adding a 47ohm resistor in addition between the positive lead of usb cable to positive terminal in battery housing to tone down the lights slightly. Like you say, much better than AA batteries especially as I tended to use alkaline and forgot to turn them off at nighttime. Thanks again for video
@grahamrdyer63225 жыл бұрын
I think I would have put the contents of the powerbank inside the battery case, but good vid none the less.
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
I would have Graham but this makes it more difficult to charge once you put the lights into a vase or wrap them round a bed frame, plugging a fresh power bank in is easy to do in these cases. Your idea would work well if the lights are easy to move and plug in, might give this a go next time, thanks.
@grahamrdyer63225 жыл бұрын
Yes your right, I didn't think of that.
@BarryAllenTeamFlash3 жыл бұрын
my battery leaked acid onto the board and messed it up is there anyway to wire it directly I wonder maybe connect the wires to a battery some way just to get the lights to come on
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Bryan, Unfortunately you need the board to control the LEDs, if you use a battery and a resistor (to limit the current) only half of the LEDs would light, this is due to the way they are wired. Hope this helps.
@catalinacerva88436 жыл бұрын
Hello! I would like to know if its possible to use this technique to replace coin batteries (LR44 batteries) to usb?
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
I haven't converted that type but if the voltage driving the unit is 4-6 volts then it should work
@melaniefrias9893 Жыл бұрын
Why can’t I just connect the 2 wires from the fairy lights to the 2 wires from the usb cord?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi Melanie, This type of LED string uses s processor to pulse and control the current, if you connected it direct half the LEDS would burn out straight away and the other half would not attempt to light. This video is very old, since then there are lots of USB powered LED lights readily available, it's easier just to buy a set of these nowadays. Hope this helps, Craig.
@addictedtotreasuretrash1088 ай бұрын
Hej how did you recognise the + and - on the usb connector using the meter ? how do i know which is which ? Thanx
@childscraig8 ай бұрын
Hi, your meter should have red and black probes, when you put the red to the positive and black to negative it should read 5v, when you put it the other way round it should read -5v. Hope this makes sense!
@alsahib3768Ай бұрын
@@childscraignice Scots?
@veralugthart73072 жыл бұрын
Hello, I want them on a smart plug, so it wil on and off automatically. It already has a usb plug, BUT when I turn off the smartplug and turn it back on, the lights wouldn't go on, because you have to click the button ON the ubs plug. I have the same remote, but the button on the usb plug will "click off, when power cut off. Is it possible to remove the button on the usb plug so when the smart plug go on, the button don't need to click to turn on?
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi Vera, With this set the power on behaviour is to start program 1, this is not changeable (at least not easily). The only way you could achieve the effect you are looking for is to leave the control box powered up all the time but use a relay connected to a smart device to cut inline power to the chain of LEDs. To be honest by the time you do all this you would be better and probably cheaper just buying a new set which doesn't flash and plugging those in to a smart USB outlet like the Sonoff micro. Hope this helps!
@Byrod15 жыл бұрын
Well, I tried to replace batteries with wall transformer (here in US from 110 to 4.5 DC) it fried the chip ! connected directly to string of LED's and only half lighted up ! anyone know how to make all of them light by wall adapter ?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Byrod1, Was your charger definitely DC? If so it's likely to be outputting much more than 4.5v, unless it says 'regulated' the voltage (off load) will float quite high and is likely what killed your IC. You need a controller to light both sets of leds, the controller changes the polarity back and forth rapidly giving the effect that both sets are lit. I'm adraid you'll need to buy a new set and use a more suited power supply, there are sets on Ebay/Amazon etc which are already supplied with a mains adapter, safer to use these if you don't want to use USB power banks. Hope this helps. Craig.
@TheBeardedBabies3 жыл бұрын
Could I just solder the wires from the USB cable onto the battery springs?
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi there Not on this model, it needs the control PCB to run the sequence and limit the current, your lights would fail instantly. Hope this helps.
@emanjunrivera8950 Жыл бұрын
i was looking for this exact video i was wondering can i use a 4.5v power adapter instead of a powerbank?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi, Yes you can, as long as it is DC and can deliver around 500ma it should be fine. Hope this helps
@priyeshrana5 жыл бұрын
Plz share the link of these lights and the cool power bank you have...
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Priyesh, I don't have a link however if you search Amazon for Kohree fairy lights they come up first. The power bank is from a UK retailer called Poundland, you might be able to find the same item on Ebay if you are not in the UK, they are made in China so are likely to be available in lots of countries under different brand names. Thanks for the comments! C :-)
@shel1282 Жыл бұрын
I have 5v 2amp adapter can I connect it directly or have to use some resistors??
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi thelre, If you are using the exact method in this video with the LEDs shown there is no need for resistors. If you are using any other hardware or method this advice doesn't apply. Hope this helps!
@juliahstewart5 жыл бұрын
Hello, I was just wandering if you already have a video or maybe you could potentially make one, on how to convert your fairy lights so that they can use a single button cell battery as opposed to aa batteries?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Julia thanks for the suggestion, there are lots of button cell lights on the market already, in fact since making this video there are now lots more USB powered lights out there too! The drawbacks of having to step the voltage up from a button cell and the very limited capacity of these cells would outweigh the advantages I think, but if you think I'm missing something please tell me! If there's a reason you asked (i.e. you have a project in mind), let me know and I'll see if I can help. Craig :-)
@juliahstewart5 жыл бұрын
Craig Childs thank you for replying! I wanted to put a fairy light in a gin bottle, and wanted to have the power inside the cap, so the power source is invisible. My boyfriend also wanted to tech it up by making the switch Bluetooth controlled so you can turn the lights on and off from your phone ☺️☺️☺️
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
@@juliahstewartlighting the gin bottle with a cr2032 button cell is easy, these are available online already and are small, they only have a simple on/off switch for control. Bluetooth switching is another challenge, not only will this involve a larger module but will also drain the battery quickly. This is why the type in the video has an IR remote, the IR sensor doesn't use any power when not in use. Have you considered using a glass drill to put a hole in the bottom of an empty bottle and feeding the wire in there? Then you can hide the control module and a bigger battery under a shelf or similar? C.
@jinpena14704 жыл бұрын
Does it heat up when you let it on for a long time? Is it ok if you didn't use 1/4w 100 ohm resistor?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
H Jin, sorry I didn't reply before, the comments section has changed and I seem to be missing stuff. The unit doesn't heat up at all, it uses PWM for dimming so there is no heat converted by a resistor. Hope this helps, Craig.
@WhizzBangWhoopee5 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig, I am a complete novice when it comes to electronics. It was taught so badly at University that it almost put me off. I do however, like your videos and it has prompted me to experiment. I have a string of 10 multicoloured LED lights, but they are in a simple on-off arrangement, so there is no controller to make them flash. I'd like to convert them to USB (they are currently 3xAA powered). I know that the output of USB is 5V but I am hearing conflicting information as to whether it is OK to just solder the terminals of the USB and the lights together and forget about the "extra" 0.5V. My guess is its not OK to do this, but others say it is. Do you have an opinion on this? Best wishes, mate!
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Paul, The extra voltage is likely not a huge issue, what it will do is make the LEDs run brighter, more light = more heat, more heat = shorter lifespan of the LEDs. An easy way to resolve this is to add a resistor, you can calculate the size you need or you can just experiment if you have a kit with lots of different value resistors. The other thing you could do is add a buck converter to drop the voltage to 4.5v but this is a bit bigger and costs a bit more. Good luck with your experiment and remember that a burnt out LED isn't a failure, it's a result of learning something and therefore a success! C :-)
@WhizzBangWhoopee5 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig thanks my friend. Electronics scares the crap out of me which is a shame as I am fascinated by it. I said the same thing about computers and now I work in the industry (and that was taught very badly at University too!)
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
@@WhizzBangWhoopee buy cheap components on Ebay, Aliexpress, Gearbest or Amazon, get a cheap soldering iron, some wire and just experiment with it. Watch KZfaq vids and see where you get to. Electronics is a broad field, it can be simple fun or can be a complex career, if you don't take it too seriously you can have fun and get creative at the same time. A good start is to buy a cheap Arduino Uno kit and explore with that, again if you destroy it you won't have spent a lot but will have learned something. Good thing about Arduino is you can buy 'shields' and breadboards so you can experiment without soldering if that is too big a step at first.
@emblem92426 жыл бұрын
Hi there, I'm working on a project where I would like to attach a string of Led lights much like the colored lights you have.BUT I don't like that the battery pack is big. I happen to have a pair of plastic glasses with small flashing lights which happens to use tiny disk like batteries. can I exchange the battery pack? do I need to adjust how many batteries it will need ? will this affect how bright the lights are? if my description is confusing , I don't mind making a small video of my supplies and linking it here. or if anyone has seen tutorials on what I'm trying to do can you comment the link below. Thanks to any who will answer :)
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
Hi there, the battery box doesn't mstter, I have some I have taken the pcb out of the box and wrapped in kapton tape, then plugged a usb power bank to power them. You can use button cells, the combined voltage will need to be 4-5v, they will be just as bright but the run time will be greatly reduced. Hope this helps.
@emblem92426 жыл бұрын
Craig Childs yes, thank you!!!!
@Q33Ls3 жыл бұрын
I have a string of led lights that uses a two pin plug , can I convert that to USB ?
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Aqeel, It is unlikely you would be able to do this if the set are designed to run on 110 or 230v,. If it has a transformer inline the label will tell you the output voltage, if it has this it might be possible but more info is needed. Hope this helps, C.
@horvathgabor5485 Жыл бұрын
From where do you know which is the positive and the negative cable of the USB cable?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi there, Often when you open a USB cable the positive will be red and the negative black, but not always. The easiest way is to check with a multimeter. If you don't have one of these you can use an LED and a 220ohm resistor, the LED will only light when power is applied in the correct polarity. The resistor is there to limit the current, if you put 5v onto the LED without running it through the resistor first the LED will burn out straight away! Hope this helps.
@horvathgabor5485 Жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Thank you very much for the explanation!
@horvathgabor5485 Жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Still something: how can you define the needed resistor? Just because I have a pure led string withoout the electronics part and I would like to use it…
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
@@horvathgabor5485 Hi again, I talk about this in this video: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/abumhMVez76yhqM.html
@highhat52294 жыл бұрын
Anyone know how you would chain multiple of these lights together to run off the mains?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
That's not possible with this type of LED, there are many you can use, go to BigClive's KZfaq channel, he has loads of mains LED build videos.
@highhat52294 жыл бұрын
Craig Childs will do, thank you for your reply
@clarklouiscrisostomo94462 жыл бұрын
Hi! Can I connect directly the cables without resistors? I will use USB power bank. Is it going to work?
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi Clark, the board in this kit isn't using resistors, it's a micro controller, if you remove that the lights won't work. On any project involving LEDs some form of current limiting is required, if you connect an LED to a power supply (i.e. USB source) the LED will burn out after a second or so, resistors or a current limited supply (i.e. an LED driver) are essential for LEDs. Hope this helps
@clarklouiscrisostomo94462 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig thank you so much for your help!
@juliaferrier45204 жыл бұрын
Hi, I don't know if this was asked already, but can you clip the strand shorter and it will still work?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi Julia, Cutting the string of LEDs would likely cause an over-current failure of the LEDs left on the string, the current is limited by the controller or a resistor in the battery pack. If you do want to cut them short you would have to calculate the current consumption and add a resistor of the correct value to limit the current and protect the remaining LEDs. The alternative if to just wrap the wire around something to make it appear shorter. Can I ask what you are trying to do, there may be another option? Craig.
@juliaferrier45204 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Thank you for the information! I guess I had a different kind because I cut them and they still work so good to know! 👍👍
@yatri45102 жыл бұрын
What about 3 aaa battery light.... which component exactly i need to add
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
It's exactly the same, a 3 x aaa or aa pack works on 4.5v so you can follow this video as it is. Hope this helps
@BBXFX Жыл бұрын
Need Pro reply😁: Isn't it better to add a 10-ohm resistor to each line from the board to the lights to ensure a safer current when going from AA 4.5v to USB 5v 1A cable?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi, the IC on these boards is 5v tollerant, there are versions of the board with 3 x AA batteries as the power source. Of course this only applies to this particular product.
@MrEmPaLa6 жыл бұрын
Hi,,Good work thanks, Can i ask who we can contact 100 solar Lights to you usb?? Thank you.
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
Hi Ahmad, I'm not sure what you mean, are you looking for someone to convert these for you? If so I don't know who would do that.
@kushis4ever Жыл бұрын
To sum up from a layman's perspective, you've unsoldered the +ve and -ve battery wires and soldered the usb cable wires onto the board, right sir?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Yes, this is correct
@travislapoint47936 жыл бұрын
I'm have no experience to be honest but I'm trying to do the same thing with the insides of flashlights and mount them into the bottom my desk and at night I can have them light the floor So I don't get blinded every night got any tips
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
Hi Travis, Use flashlights which take 3 or 4 x AA or AAA batteries, the voltage from a power bank is 5v, you want to use flashlights which are as close to this as possible. If you need to use lower voltage flashlights then you will need to use a something to step the voltage down, either connect 2 flashlights in series to the same power bank or use a buck converter to get the right voltage. Hope this helps.
@travislapoint47936 жыл бұрын
Craig Childs each flash light takes 3 aaa
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
So a 3 x AAA unit runs at 4.5v at full charge, you should be OK at 5v but the lamps will run fairly bright. You could use a resistor inline to dim them a bit, just have a play with different values until you find one which suits you best. The disadvantage of resistors is that some of the power is lost as heat. If you want more control you can use a buck converter, these are really cheap on Ebay or Amazon, you can drop the voltage to a precise level without wasting power, it is a little more work and more expense but it will make your power bank charge last longer and you will learn a bit more in the process!
@samoyha13 жыл бұрын
I broke my usb cable and connected a new one to the copper wires but there's no light. Any ideas???😭😭
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Queen Beulah, If you connected the cable the correct way round, your power supply is working and the connections are good you might find that when the original cable broke it short circuited and caused some damage to the controller. All I can suggest is double check your connections and make sure your USB power source is working, unfortunately you may be looking at replacing your lights otherwise. Hope this helps, C :-)
@leighbee135 жыл бұрын
Lovely wonderful Craig! If I wanted to attach 4, 2m strings of these little copper lights to the same battery pack and switch, in parallel so 4 string light strands coming from the chip, would that work? It it just a matter of the battery will run out faster, or are there other things I need to take into consideration? I will happily PayPal you beer money for any advice!
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Leighbee13, I know from experience that you can put 2 strings on the same controller, not tried 4 yet. There are other considerations, mostly the current capability of the transistors used to switch the lights on and off, these dim the lights and create the flashing effects. If you overload these they will fail. You could try looking up the data sheets for these online, you would need to know how much current the lights were drawing, this can be done with a good multimeter if you have one or a USB tester will also give an approximate value. You could use 2 controllers to run 4 sets of lights to spread the load, just means you would have 2 boxes instead of 1. It depends on your level of experience really, you could replace the transistors with higher current value versions, this is not really a DIY hack though as it involves soldering surface mount parts. What I would do if it was me is try it, worst case is you will blow one board and be left with 3, you could then use 2 of these to run 2 pairs. You can also run more than 1 controller from one USB power source, you can connect the USB power lines in parallel to share the power to more than one board. One last thing to consider is the output capacity of your power bank, a lot of cheaper units will only output 1A, I haven't measured the output on these but you might push past 1A with 4 sets. If I get time tomorrow I will measure the loads on the lights I have. Hope this helps. P.S. thanks for the offer of payment but I only do this for the fun, appreciated anyway 😁
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Can you send me a pic of the lights you have? 2m seems a bit short, might be a different version?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Leighbee13, I measured the current consumed by one of my sets, this is a 6M set with 60 LEDs, they use 220mA at full brightness. If your sets are only 2M they must be different and have a different control board, I have ordered some 2M sets and will have a look when they arrive.
@leighbee135 жыл бұрын
Craig Childs what a wonderfully comprehensive response! Thank you so much. The sets I’m planning on getting don’t have any flashing functions, can I assume that won’t have a controller board and therefore no transistors to overload? The ones I’m looking at online are 20 bulbs on 2m of wire and just switch on and off. I have a simple set of 40 at home so I cracked it open and on inspection it’s just a switch and 24 ohm resistor inside though due to a lot of hot glue I can’t see in what order! So if it is similar to that can I just connect multiple lights to the switch? Or do I need to mess with the resistor value? I have a pack of different resistors but not sure how I’d calculate that out. I can’t have 2 switches and 2 battery packs is the problem. It’s for a performance costume, its supposed to be a reveal halfway through a dance, so I need a slim profile battery and a single switch to switch it all on. Thank you so much again for your help!
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
@@leighbee13 It sounds like you have the simple sets using CR2032 batteries? If that is the case I have some of these coming in a day or two, can you wait until later in the week and I can work out the best way to approach this for you? If you are using them in a costume you need to ensure that the resistors won't get hot, I will check this out. Obviously the batteries will last only a quarter of the normal runtime but if you only need them on for a short time this should be fine, you can use fresh batteries each time you use them.
@rory91744 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig. I have 3 led candles. Each takes 3 AAA batteries. Could I daisy chain all 3 candles to one USB plug or do I need a USB plug for each candle?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi Rory, I'm really sorry for not replying, my notifications have stopped for some reason. Are you still looking for help with this? Craig.
@rory91744 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig No problem Craig, I sometimes don't get notifications too. Yes I still have a query but I made a mistake. Instead of 3 AAA batteries in each candle, it's actually 2 AA batteries. So I don't think its possible to hook up 2 AA batteries to USB cause that's just 3 volts, right? Whereas USB is 5 volt. If the candles had had 3 AAA like I originally thought, then I think I couldve got away with a USB connection cause the voltage is 4.5. Any ideas?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
@@rory9174 Happy new year! Having only 2 AA doesn't necessarily mean that you can't convert it to USB, it just means you need to work out whether the item can tolerate a higher voltage or if you need to reduce the voltage. If you look at the video you have commented on I start with a unit which takes 2 x C cell batteries, therefore the starting voltage is 3v. Some devices with these little control modules have a wide tolerance for input voltage, this one happily runs on 3v-5v, there are no markings on the chips but I have bought the same kit from the same supplier and some have 2 x C cells and others have 3 x AA cells, I think the chip has been designed with integrated voltage regulation. Can you tell me a bit more about the candles you have? If possible post a link to where you bought them, otherwise describe how many LEDs are on each one, what functions it has etc. C :)
@rory91744 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Happy new year Craig. I can't copy the link from Aliexpress but here's a video kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mLepaMWgzMeup4k.html
@rory91744 жыл бұрын
Just to let you know Craig I connected one of the candles to a 5volt 1A phone charger. It worked perfectly. So then I daisy chained the other 2 candles and theyre all working beautifully. I must say though, they look a little brighter compared to the batteries. I'm not sure if this will shorten the life of the LEDs.
@macrouser6539 Жыл бұрын
I recently bought a remote control solar Christmas light diy module, and i accidentally Connected the battery in LED + - can this ruin my module? Because after a connected all its not working anymore, its similar to that board you are holding
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi, yes it is likely that feeding the source power into the output has damaged the module, all the current regulation components are on the input side, it's quite likely to have killed a solid state component or two 😞
@Goblintails4 жыл бұрын
Would you be able to hook up a flicker light to something like this?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi Goblin tails, sorry I missed your comment, not sure why that happened. If you mean a 'candle' type light which flickers lots of yellow LEDs then yes you can, I have done this with a couple from Ebay. The candle lamps I bought have a transformer inside to take mains voltage down to 5v, in that case you are replacing that transformer with the 5v power bank via a USB lead. Just be careful and make sure you don't play around with live mains voltage, the end product should have no way to connect to the mains to ensure safety! Hope this helps and sorry again for the missed comment. Craig 🙂
@Goblintails4 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig No worries man! that actually helped a lot, i have a few projects that need a flame like light and have been searching everywhere
@kyleadriancruz50023 жыл бұрын
Hi! Can I convert a two AA battery powered LED Mask to USB?
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Kyle, It depends on the circuit inside the mask, the short answer is yes it should be possible but you may need to add some extra hardware to prevent damage. If it is just LEDs there are two easy'ish' ways to do this, 1) add a buck converter to drop the 5v of the USB to 3v, 2) change the resistors on the LEDs to manage the current flow at each LED. Of course this is all easier said than done, it will depend on the design of the mask which is the best option. Hope this helps, C.
@kyleadriancruz50023 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Thankyou so much! This is very helpful. Please upload more videos and godbless!
@kelisurfs2475 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig, I have a battery powered puck lighting system that I want to convert to a wired system. there are 8 lights that take 3 AAA batteries each. I want to wire all 8 lights together. what I want to know is what kind of a converter or power supply will i need? I have a power supply that says on the label, input: 100-240v-50/60Hz 50mA. Output: 5.0v - 180mA. will that power my lights? if not what do I need? Thanks for the help!
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Keli, It depends on tbe wattage of the lamps, you need to know this before you can use your power supply, if you overload it you will likely fry it! There are a number of ways to work this out, the easiest is with a multimeter, do you have one of these? If so you can measure the current in milliamps for one then multiply it by 6 for your full set. If the total load is less than or equal to the capacity of your power supply you are good to go. Hope this helps, let me know how you get on :-)
@kennmossman87015 жыл бұрын
depends on how much current each fairly light takes....total the current for each and add 25% safety factor
@nifemiodukale18464 жыл бұрын
My question is,if on to springs on my fair light battery trays comes off,how do I make them work again?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi Nifemi, do you mean the battery connection springs? If so a quick fix is to use a little ball of cooking foil (aluminium foil), put that in at the end of the battery to make contact with the plate. Hope this helps, Craig.
@MehdiManavi5 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig, Is it possible to convert them to be able to plug them into the wall socket directly?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Hi Mehdi, The easiest and safest way to do this is buy a cheap USB adapter, plug the USB plug into this, you then have the option to unplug them and use a power bank if you like. There are other ways to use mains power but I won't go into these as there is really no point, none of the other options are as cheap, safe or easy as using a plug in USB adapter. Hope this helps, Craig :-)
@MehdiManavi5 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig it does. You're so great!
@janbetan12n4 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Hi.. Is it safe to plug it in directly to a wall socket using USB adapter? I watched another video where he connected a resistor first. Is that a requirement? I saw your video but you did not add any resistor but still worked fine. I am planning to plug it in directly to the wall socket using a USB adapter. I am really new to this whole thing and I don't even have soldering iron and other stuff yet but...tinkering is my thing.. LOL
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
@@janbetan12n Hi janbetan12n, This particular model is fine to plug into any USB port, including wall adapters. The reason is the circuit on the board limits the current to the LEDs using PWM (pulse width modulation). This method switches the LEDs on and off rapidly to limit the current, this gives the impression that they are being dimmed but they are just never on long enough to reach full brightness. I have another video where I show you how to convert a 30 string of LEDs using a resistor, that method uses the resistor to limit the current and stops the LEDs burning out quickly. It all just depends on the type of LED kit you have available. Hope this helps, Craig.
@janbetan12n4 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig Oh... I have the non blinking type... No PWM as you call it... It is just a simple off and on. So that means the resistor only helps to prolong the LED life (regulates the brightness/volt/wattage) because it prevents overheating?
@juwairiyahansari38815 жыл бұрын
Can we use only a 9v battery with its jack n solder it directly to the ends of fairly lights?
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
Not for this set, you would have to either find a set which runs on c.9v or reduce the voltage, either using a regulator or a buck converter. The USB option is easier for this particular set of LEDs.
@CH-en4er Жыл бұрын
thanks for video
@user-cm3ly5yl6j Жыл бұрын
Can you tell me where I can get this garland?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi there, This is a very old video, you can now buy USB plug in versions for the same price as the battery type. I purchased these from Amazon in the UK, Deal: [2 Pack] Fairy String Lights, 120LED 12M/40Ft 8 Modes USB Plug in Powered Lights Waterproof Outdoor/Indoor Copper String Lights with Remote Timer for Bedroom, Party, Wedding, Christmas (Warm White) amzn.eu/d/ggFX2Xu Hope this helps.
@niva-orruvio13126 жыл бұрын
thank you , love the idea , how long does it last ,meaning lit up, and can you turn it off with a remote? if so does it have a timer?
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
Hi Niva, how long it lasts depends on the power bank you use, I have some cheap ones which last barely 3 hours and some good ones which last for days, probably 20-30 hours run per charge. The version of lights in the video does have a remote, you can dim the lights, select modes and turn on/off. There was a video big clive posted this morning you may want to watch, he converted a candle effect mains light to USB power, I have ordered a couple to do myself. All the best :-)
@childscraig6 жыл бұрын
Oh, and yes it has a 4 hour timer, 4 on 20 off!
@ameeras3454 Жыл бұрын
Hello, excuse me, can you show us if you know how to do the reverse, like converting the USP power to batteries please 🥺?
@childscraig Жыл бұрын
Hi there, You can buy a 3xAA battery box with USB out for very little money, here in the UK you can buy them from £1. Hope this helps. C.
@yatri45102 жыл бұрын
one more qstn when I did it worked bt didn't respond change over.... nt blinking jst straightly lightened up
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
You might have a slightly different model to those shown
@sabitrisahu8823 жыл бұрын
How to make this string lights switch
@bridgettevalentina58135 жыл бұрын
Is it possible to connect two of those together ? So it becomes longer and what not.
@childscraig5 жыл бұрын
It is but your battery will last half the time!
@bridgettevalentina58135 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig yea but I connected it to a USB wire
@outaspaceman2 жыл бұрын
That’s the first D cell case I’ve seen…🤔
@isaiah44782 жыл бұрын
Those actually looks like c cells D cells are much larger
@DanceTillYouDrop212 жыл бұрын
I have a special project I need help with involving connecting strings of fairy lights together at a meeting point to a rechargeable power source … would u be willing to help?
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi, for some reason this comment didn't show in my notifications, sorry for not replying sooner
@bani33874 жыл бұрын
This video help a lot💕💕💕
@brucewhitney75713 жыл бұрын
instead of a power bank, if i connect it to a USB power adaptor will it work? thanks, BW
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Bruce, Yes this will work fine, Craig.
@Bricamy3 жыл бұрын
It didn't work for me with a power adapter 5v - 1.5a, at first the lights worked fine but after some time the lights went off.
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Do they still work if you use a power bank?
@mld84 жыл бұрын
Hi Craig. I have this photos.app.goo.gl/yuYPBT3LKVf7wYcK7 which I believe is 4.5 V. Can I add a usb cable to this setup or do I need to buy a resistor? Thank you!!
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Hi mld, That looks to be the same as one of the units I have, fairly sure it will tolerate 5v without having to add a resistor. C.
@oooppiikkk4 жыл бұрын
so its ok to go from 3v to 5v?
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
In this case it is, the chip used in this kit is also used in 5v kits, it just has a high input tollerance, this might not be the same for other kits.
@oooppiikkk4 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig i see thank you
@idirty504la22 жыл бұрын
Did what you said . The lights are extremely hottttttt
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi there, It is likely you have a different type of light set, one without the IC control. This method will only work with the type shown in the video. You can use a 5v source for 3v lights which don't use the controller but you would have to use resistors to limit the current and prevent the LEDs from burning out, one of my other videos covers this. Hope this helps.
@tupai623 жыл бұрын
hi, what the battery voltage?
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi, The original battery voltage is 3v, the USB 'battery' voltage is 5v. This unit is very tollerant to both voltages, the samd board is used in a 4.5v version with no changes. Hope this helps, Craig.
@tupai623 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig hi,what the base resistor calculation formula for c9013 and BD139 transistor?
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
@@tupai62 Well you need more information to do the calculation but the formula is Ohms law, R=V/I
@idirty504la22 жыл бұрын
Too hot too quick .
@haticemosaics42343 жыл бұрын
I would like to install also a movement sensor? Can you help me?
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Hi there, sorry I didn't see your comment sooner. It would not be easy to add a motion sensor to this particular set of lights, because it has a processor it switches on in flashing mode by default. It would be much easier to add a sensor to static lights but if you are going to do that you would probably be better just buying a set with a sensor already, they are not expensive these days. Hope this helps :)
@doipy_87862 жыл бұрын
why not just use rechargeable batteries?
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
The energy density of lithium cells is much higher, it's more convenient as you get longer between charges, it also means you can plug them in to a wall adapter to leave on all the time. Hope this helps
@doipy_87862 жыл бұрын
@@childscraig thanks so much this makes a lot of sense. can't believe you're still answering questions on a soon to be 4 year old video
@childscraig2 жыл бұрын
Me too!
@ayna66024 жыл бұрын
Hindi ko gets😭😭😭
@childscraig4 жыл бұрын
Pasensya na pakinggan yan 🙁
@stanTrX Жыл бұрын
5 Volts replacement for 3 Volts battery powered device 🤔 no thank you.
@poisonbeccaivy71135 жыл бұрын
Horrible on the sound quality!!
@taurus663 жыл бұрын
Just do it get to the point don’t take forever to explain
@childscraig3 жыл бұрын
Hi Fred, Most people appreciate the explanation, I guess you don't. C.