Make your own solar-powered bike helmet!
Riding your bike around at night can be a dangerous thing, especially without the proper bicycle lighting to make sure you don't get flattened by an oncoming car. It can be even more dangerous to do so during rainy or snowy weather conditions. Thanks to Designbuzz's DIY guide, you can get your hands on one of these helmets that are sure to keep you noticed, all while protecting your precious head from the weather.
Unlike other helmets equipped with LED lighting, this DIY [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]project[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] utilizes a solar panel and rechargeable batteries to make sure your helmet remains fully charged throughout the night. Several bike rides in the daytime will keep the helmet charged for the night, but there is also support for regular AAA batteries in emergency situations.
If you happen to have a bicycle helmet laying around and are feeling adventurous, check out the guide below. For more information on the project along with a FAQ and tips, head on over to the full article over at Designbuzz.
Riding your bike around at night can be a dangerous thing, especially without the proper bicycle lighting to make sure you don't get flattened by an oncoming car. It can be even more dangerous to do so during rainy or snowy weather conditions. Thanks to Designbuzz's DIY guide, you can get your hands on one of these helmets that are sure to keep you noticed, all while protecting your precious head from the weather.Unlike other helmets equipped with LED lighting, this DIY [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]project[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] utilizes a solar panel and rechargeable batteries to make sure your helmet remains fully charged throughout the night. Several bike rides in the daytime will keep the helmet charged for the night, but there is also support for regular AAA batteries in emergency situations.
If you happen to have a bicycle helmet laying around and are feeling adventurous, check out the guide below. For more information on the project along with a FAQ and tips, head on over to the full article over at Designbuzz.
Time required: 4-5 hours working time. 24 hours for glue drying and another 24 hours for spray paint drying.
Resources required
1. Multimeter
2. File
3. Soldering gun
4. Insulation tape
5. Solder and Flux
6. Circuit board
7. Helmet
8. Silicon Solar Charging [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]unit[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]
9. LED bulbs ( Two 10mm Rainbow LED, Two 10mm Red LED, Two 10mm yellow LED,
10. Wire cutter and stripper
11. Waterproof LED mount
12. O ring LED Mount lens
13. Battery holders for 3 AAA batteries
14. 3AAA rechargeable Batteries
15. Switch
16. Two 9 volt battery connectors
17. Soft casing from any old mp3 shutter
18. Black shoe goo
19. Super glue
20. Black wrap
21. Tubings
22. Black spray paint
Estimated Cost:
Since, most of the tools and the helmet you may be already with you, so the cost is not high on that side. However, to purchase all other things you may need up to 50 dollars. If you do not have tools, you can borrow them from friends or buy them from local hardware [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]shop[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR].
Instructions
STEP 1: LED Mounting
If you have a breadboard, then test your LED bulbs all together to check whether it is working with 3 AAA batteries or it will need 4 of the same. After that put shoe goo in the mounts. Place the mount, the vent of helmet in such a way that it does not block the aeration. Solder the wire on LEDs and put the wires inside via the air vent. Fix the mount on the helmet and glue the LEDs on to the mount. You can decide the arrangement of LEDs according to your need.
STEP 2: Installing the solar panel
For installing the panel, you need to reinforce the leads of the solar panel on the Black shoe goo and connect the leads with wire via soldering.
STEP 3: Fixing the black Velcro.
Put the fuzzy side of the Velcro outside with the inner side towards the helmet. Take six pieces of Velcro and align it perpendicular to wire leaving the panel. Mount few more Velcro on panel Velcro to give strength and alignment. Fix the solar panel on the sticky side of Velcro and place the whole arrangement on the top of the helmet. Press it fix on the helmet. You can also use glue to give strength to the attachment. The glue will also prevent water damage and leakage.
STEP 4: Working the electrical connection
Fix the soft case on the Velcro and fix it on the helmet. Connect the wire on to the battery holder and put shrink tubing on them. Once you have soldered the wires, you need to connect the LEDs to the battery holder. After, that panel needs to be connected to battery holder. Solder the wires to connect panel with the battery holder. Put the shrink tubing on the wire joints. Then cover the entire [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]wiring[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] with tape. Once the assembly is ready, you need to connect the switch to the main power supply. Cover the assembly with shoe goo. Mount the switch on the black shoe goo or you can use the super glue to connect the switch on to the side of your helmet. Put on tubing on the wire.
STEP 5: Finalizing the helmet
Spray paint on the entire assembly with black paint or the matching paint to your helmet color. Therefore, that wire clutter, scratches or goo merges with helmet. Once the painting is done then let it dry for 24 hours. Put the batteries and let it stay one sunlight for 5 to 6 hours. Your solar powered helmet is ready.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/DIY-Bicycle-Helmet-Solar-Power,news-13132.html
Resources required
1. Multimeter
2. File
3. Soldering gun
4. Insulation tape
5. Solder and Flux
6. Circuit board
7. Helmet
8. Silicon Solar Charging [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]unit[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR]
9. LED bulbs ( Two 10mm Rainbow LED, Two 10mm Red LED, Two 10mm yellow LED,
10. Wire cutter and stripper
11. Waterproof LED mount
12. O ring LED Mount lens
13. Battery holders for 3 AAA batteries
14. 3AAA rechargeable Batteries
15. Switch
16. Two 9 volt battery connectors
17. Soft casing from any old mp3 shutter
18. Black shoe goo
19. Super glue
20. Black wrap
21. Tubings
22. Black spray paint
Estimated Cost:
Since, most of the tools and the helmet you may be already with you, so the cost is not high on that side. However, to purchase all other things you may need up to 50 dollars. If you do not have tools, you can borrow them from friends or buy them from local hardware [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]shop[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR].
Instructions
STEP 1: LED Mounting
If you have a breadboard, then test your LED bulbs all together to check whether it is working with 3 AAA batteries or it will need 4 of the same. After that put shoe goo in the mounts. Place the mount, the vent of helmet in such a way that it does not block the aeration. Solder the wire on LEDs and put the wires inside via the air vent. Fix the mount on the helmet and glue the LEDs on to the mount. You can decide the arrangement of LEDs according to your need.
STEP 2: Installing the solar panel
For installing the panel, you need to reinforce the leads of the solar panel on the Black shoe goo and connect the leads with wire via soldering.
STEP 3: Fixing the black Velcro.
Put the fuzzy side of the Velcro outside with the inner side towards the helmet. Take six pieces of Velcro and align it perpendicular to wire leaving the panel. Mount few more Velcro on panel Velcro to give strength and alignment. Fix the solar panel on the sticky side of Velcro and place the whole arrangement on the top of the helmet. Press it fix on the helmet. You can also use glue to give strength to the attachment. The glue will also prevent water damage and leakage.
STEP 4: Working the electrical connection
Fix the soft case on the Velcro and fix it on the helmet. Connect the wire on to the battery holder and put shrink tubing on them. Once you have soldered the wires, you need to connect the LEDs to the battery holder. After, that panel needs to be connected to battery holder. Solder the wires to connect panel with the battery holder. Put the shrink tubing on the wire joints. Then cover the entire [COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important][COLOR=blue !important][FONT=inherit !important]wiring[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] with tape. Once the assembly is ready, you need to connect the switch to the main power supply. Cover the assembly with shoe goo. Mount the switch on the black shoe goo or you can use the super glue to connect the switch on to the side of your helmet. Put on tubing on the wire.
STEP 5: Finalizing the helmet
Spray paint on the entire assembly with black paint or the matching paint to your helmet color. Therefore, that wire clutter, scratches or goo merges with helmet. Once the painting is done then let it dry for 24 hours. Put the batteries and let it stay one sunlight for 5 to 6 hours. Your solar powered helmet is ready.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/DIY-Bicycle-Helmet-Solar-Power,news-13132.html
