Copper Pipe Triangle Lights

Materials

• 3X White LEDS (http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10035)
• 12" 1/4" Copper Tube (http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xil/R-100354211/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)
• 24" 2 Lead wire (cat5 works)
• A bit of super glue
• Some heatshrink
• A base (wood) to put them in
• 150 Ohm Resistor
• 12V power supply

Tools

• Drill
• 3/16" Drill bit
• 1/4" Drill bit
• Lighter or heat gun for the shrink
• Soldering Iron
• Pipe cutter for the 1/4" copper pipe
• Wire cutters / strippers
• Rotary Tool
• Multimeter is handy (optional)
• Some sandpaper for de-burring (optional)

Assembly

1. Cut copper tubes into 3", 3.5", and 4" segments.
2. De-burr the tubes to smooth the ends
3. Use the 3/16" drill bit to ream out the interiors of the tubes to make it easier to insert the LED (pipe cutters kinda crimp the ends)
4. Use the rotary tool to grind the led into a more cylindrical shape and to defuse the lens
5. Solder on wire leads to the LED, noting polarity
6. Heat shrink the leads on the LED to prevent shorting on the copper tube
7. Insert and mash the LED into the copper pipe
8. Test the thing using a multimeter to make sure there are no shorts. A quick 3V light test would be good now
9. Superglue the LED for extra hold
10. Use the 1/4" Bit to drill holes into wherever you are mounting them. I like the following pattern:

          * S
       /  | \
     /    |1"  \
   /      |       \
* ------------------ *
M         2"         L

Wiring

1. Wire the LEDs in series with the 150 Ohm Resistor