An LED spotlight will provide a powerful light source with low power consumption. At the same time, you can take into account your own needs - make a shock-resistant case or a portable structure. You can use the old one as a basis. lighting fixture, aluminum profile or plastic frame. You can make your own LED spotlight from spare parts from old computers, and LED lamps are sold in electrical stores.
Design features of the spotlight
You can take an old halogen or LED spotlight and upgrade it with a better light source and reflector. If this is not available, you can buy a cheap street lamp; you will only need to replace some elements.
If the task is to make a lantern to suit your own needs and preferences, you will have to think through the entire design yourself. This is an option for experienced craftsmen who have assembled more than one electrical appliance with their own hands. In this case, you need to select a light source and a current source. It is better to provide cooling so that the device does not overheat.
Spotlights that are constantly used outdoors must be protected from moisture. The glass and all joints of the case must be well sealed. It is recommended to hang a canopy over the lantern to protect from precipitation.
Required materials and parts
The necessary parts for assembling an LED spotlight can be taken from an old computer or laptop. If there is no suitable housing, you can assemble it yourself from a metal profile.
Housing material
Cheap flashlights are made with a plastic body. Their advantage is light weight and low cost. But plastic is inferior to metal in durability; it cannot be used all year round. If you plan to hang the spotlight above the entrance to a garage or house, it is better to make a metal case. Depending on the operating conditions, you can provide a carrying handle and shock protection.
The main thing in the case is the openings at the top and bottom for ventilation. LEDs get hot when they work for a long time; they need to be cooled effectively. Air enters through the upper holes, blows through all the parts and takes away heat from them. Fans blow out exhaust air through the lower openings. This floodlight design is not suitable for outdoor use.
Sources of light
The main advantage of LED lamps is their long service life. They last 50,000 hours, 10 times longer than halogen lamps. With proper placement of reflectors, the brightness of the LEDs in the spotlight will be much higher than that of other lamps.
If you need a bright light source, it is better to take several small LEDs of 1 or 3 W each. For a medium-sized device you will need 20 pieces. The street lamp must have a minimum power of 30 watts.
Power supply
You can make your own LED spotlight for 12 or 220 Volts. You can find a power source at a computer parts store. For example, for a spotlight with 20 1 W LEDs, a 19 V power supply from a laptop is suitable. It is better to immediately buy current sources in a moisture-resistant case, then you will not need to come up with your own protection.
Build process
To make an LED spotlight, you need to prepare:
- soldering iron;
- hot glue;
- sealant;
- power wires;
- reflector.
To enhance the light, use a ready-made reflector or mirror tape.
Assembling the spotlight
Individual LEDs need to be assembled in a circuit directly on the radiator. A cooler from a computer, laptop or server will do. The diodes are attached with hot glue and connected by tracks or wires. After this, connect the power source, check the operation of the light bulbs and fan. It is important to make sure that the radiator maintains a constant temperature; you can use an infrared gun to do this.
The spotlight body can be assembled from an old flashlight, bracket and aluminum pipe. You need to make a hole in the bottom of the lantern for fans. An aluminum pipe will work as a base, and an old bracket can be used as a carrying handle.
Connect to the network
After completing all the work, you need to connect the spotlight to the network and check it. It is better to do this outside in complete darkness in front of a wall. From a great distance, you need to evaluate the spot of light that the lamp gives. In the future, the device can be improved by adding a portable battery and a USB connector for charging. A convenient handle with a hook will allow you to take the lantern on hikes and fishing.
It was decided not to close the construction season this year, and since it gets dark early in the fall and especially in winter, a powerful light source is needed. Especially now that we are working on the facade, we need the light to illuminate the entire side of the facade. For this purpose there was made a powerful simple LED spotlight with your own hands.
We order the components and assemble a simple 50W floodlight with our own hands.
This simple LED spotlight took 5 minutes to make.
The peculiarity of this powerful matrix is that it does not require an LED driver. 220 volts is connected directly to it. At the same time, the price is very low, consider it a gift.
And so we choose more powerfully 50 Watt. Warm White - warm white (closer to incandescent in tone) or Cold White - cold white.
Let me tell you that 50 W is decent for LEDs.
The reverse side of the module is an aluminum substrate.
I took it without a lens. But next time homemade spotlight I will definitely order it with a lens. The fact is that the price will hardly change. The difference is about 20 rubles. A reflector is included with the lens.
Plus, contacts 220 need to be somehow isolated and covered, otherwise the lens will cover them.
This photo shows the matrix along with the lens and reflector.
This LED module definitely requires a heatsink. I just took a scrap of aluminum sheet (I had it in my bins). I drilled four 3mm holes in it for fastening the LED module and two more holes for fastening the wire with a tie (self-tightening strap).
On the reverse side of the LED module I applied a thin layer of thermal paste (residues from replacing the processor in the laptop).
Actually, everything is very primitive and can be seen in the photographs. Of course, it doesn’t look very civilized; you can’t hang one like that on a façade, but it’s just right for a construction site.
Don't forget that the 220V contacts are open! We will definitely isolate!
I filled it with varnish and stuck a film on top.
This is a type of mounting the LED matrix on the reverse side.
And here is a homemade spotlight in action. I don’t know if it shines at 50W, but it shines quite brightly. I tried to work at night, pointing the spotlight at the facade, everything was visible normally. The light spot covered the entire two-story façade.
Option for phytolamp.
By the way, these LED matrices are available with a special light spectrum for plants (seedlings). Moreover, one module contains the entire spectrum of light required by plants.
New generation lighting devices are radically different from older models. They are economical, demonstrate high power and require virtually no maintenance.
The steady demand for high-quality light sources has caused the appearance on the market of a large number of products from Southeast Asian countries that are neither reliable nor durable.
A DIY LED spotlight will allow you to get a fairly high-quality product. Let's look at how to make a cheap and fully functional spotlight from improvised materials.
The design of the LED floodlight is simple. The main elements of the device are:
- Driver.
- Light-emitting diode.
A driver is a block or power source that receives standard 220 V and converts it into the power needed to operate the LED flashlight. A feature of drivers that distinguishes it from adapters is the emphasis not on voltage or power, but on stable current (for adapters, the main parameter is voltage).
Attention! When purchasing a driver, you need to pay attention to the main indicator. If the value is indicated in volts (for example, 24 VDC), then this is an adapter.
LED in in this case is not a separate element, but an assembly of several units with the same characteristics. They are manufactured using a special technology that allows one to obtain identical crystals. A set of crystals connected in series and parallel makes up an LED matrix or LED-cheap. Distinctive feature matrix is a large release of heat, which destroys the crystals and requires cooling or removal using radiators.
In addition to the main components, the spotlight consists of the following elements:
- Frame.
- Reflector.
- Lens.
The purpose of the body is clear without explanation. The focusing lens creates a compact and directed light flux, more concentrated and dense. The role of the reflector is somewhat different than in conventional spotlights. The original LED optics produce a beam of light with an opening angle of 120°. Therefore, the function of the reflector is not so much to reflect multidirectional rays as to compress the flow.
Required materials and parts
You can make a homemade LED spotlight from parts that you have on hand or purchased at a specialized store. It is necessary to think through the design so that all elements match each other as much as possible. It is not necessary to purchase the necessary materials; you can use an old lamp, take LEDs from a broken street lamp, etc. Let's look at what elements are needed to assemble a powerful LED spotlight.
Lamps
The easiest option is to purchase a ready-made LED lamp with a standard base and connect it to the network. But such a homemade product can hardly be called a spotlight. The best option- matrix based on SMD 5050 LEDs, inexpensive and high-quality, providing a bright, powerful beam of light. They are mounted on a thin fiberglass laminate mounted on a thick aluminum plate, which serves as a heat sink. You can use ready-made radiators with big amount plates, the efficiency of which is much higher, but their dimensions do not always allow them to be placed in the limited space of the spotlight housing.
Read also Choosing an infrared (IR) LED floodlight for video surveillance
Housing material
The body can be any metal or plastic box of appropriate shape and size. The best option is to use a ready-made housing from a halogen spotlight. It is sealed, designed for outdoor use, and is the right size. For people with the skills and capabilities, it will not be difficult to make the case themselves from sheet aluminum. This option will allow you to place a high-quality radiator and ensure the installation of the most effective reflector with an optimal opening angle. You should also consider the installation of switches and the method of attaching the housing - make a socket for the bracket or a mounting strip attached to the outside.
Power supply
Purchasing a ready-made driver will help you make a spotlight with your own hands much faster, but for people who are trained and have certain skills, it is not difficult to make a power source yourself. The main task is to ensure stable current and voltage.
Important! If you have doubts about your abilities, it is better to refuse to make a driver yourself and purchase a ready-made one. Errors in calculation or assembly can lead to fire.
Circuit and printed circuit board of a simple LED spotlight
Exists a large number of power supply circuits of varying degrees of complexity. The easiest (and most reliable) way is to use the classic version of the circuit with a quenching capacitor:
This option is a transformerless type of power source, allowing you to get a very compact device assembled from inexpensive and accessible parts that does not require complex setup. The input non-polar capacitor with a capacity of 1 μF is paralleled with a 1 mOhm resistor, which can be replaced with any other sample with a capacity from 240 to 1 mOhm and a power of 0.25 W. They connect on one shoulder diode bridge, which is assembled on 4 1N4007 diodes. The rectified voltage is further smoothed by a 10 µF 400 V polar capacitor. The LEDs are divided into 2 groups connected in parallel. Each group has 50 units connected in series. Each branch carries a current of 19 mA, which corresponds to the nominal value.
The printed circuit board does not require high precision and can be produced on a laser printer.
To effectively remove thermal energy, the reverse side is left untinned. The location of the mounting holes is selected to ensure the tightest possible contact with the heat sink plate or radiator.
Spotlight assembly procedure
Let's look at how to assemble an LED spotlight with your own hands.
- Assembly begins by soldering the LEDs onto the circuit board. To do this, use a low-power soldering iron or station. After completing the work, it is necessary to check each LED individually and the entire matrix for functionality.
- Then the driver is assembled. Usually they use a mounted method (without a mounting plate), since there are few parts. Their location must be carefully considered so that they fit freely in the compartment. Make sure to leave enough space for the power cord.
- To avoid short circuits, the leads of the parts should be insulated with cambric or heat-shrinkable tubing. The assembled power supply is checked for functionality, first separately using a multimeter, then with a load (a test connection of the LEDs is performed). Detected deficiencies are eliminated.
- After a successful test switch-on, the final assembly of the spotlight begins. The matrix with LEDs is tightly attached to the radiator. If you don’t have a ready-made one, you can use an aluminum corner bent from a thick (about 5 mm) plate. One shelf of the corner is screwed to the body of the spotlight, the matrix is attached to the second. It is necessary to apply thermal paste between it and the plate for better removal of thermal energy.
- Then install the reflector. If you don’t have a ready-made one, you can get by with installing aluminum foil, a structure made of mirror plastic or other materials with high reflective abilities. The best option is the use of rigid sheet materials that make it possible to produce a durable structure with a given configuration.
- The assembly is completed by installing protective glass or focusing lens. Glass is most often used, since the lens is much more difficult to find and its price is quite high. If you plan to use the spotlight for street lighting, all joints around the perimeter should be sealed from water with sealant.
Since ancient times, humanity has sought to master light and use it for its own benefit, because, unlike some animals, not possessing special night vision, man became vulnerable at night. Progress has the peculiarity of accelerating in a geometric sequence; this statement absolutely applies to the development of lighting technology. For a long time, before the invention of electricity, the only source of light was live fire, then incandescent lamps appeared, and a new era began. Gradually, new types of lamps appeared - fluorescent, halogen, until finally the most modern and technologically advanced light source appeared - LEDs. At first they were imperfect and not nearly as reliable as they are now, and they were very expensive. The situation has changed - LED modules have become affordable, reliable and of high quality. Possessing magnificent technical characteristics and performance properties, they have firmly established themselves in the lighting equipment market. In this article we will talk about a very affordable and simple source of bright, uniform light based on LEDs - an LED floodlight. Characteristics of LED spotlights, how to assemble an LED spotlight with your own hands, how to connect an LED spotlight - we will touch on all this in the process of getting to know this device.
An LED spotlight is a lighting device, the design of which consists of a voltage converter, a powerful LED, a radiator to remove excess heat and a reflector to enhance and direct the light flux. It can emit, like standard white or warm light, or be colored, with the ability to change RGB colors. The scope of application of this device is practically unlimited. LED floodlights are used for home and industrial purposes, illumination of country houses and cottages, illumination of entrances and parking lots.
Advantages of diodes over halogen, fluorescent, energy-saving and incandescent lamps
Flashlights based on LED modules have a number of technical and operational advantages over outdated lamp analogues:
- The main advantage is the low power consumption and high efficiency of devices based on LED modules. Consuming 8-12 times less electricity, LED lamps provide the same brightness of luminous flux. This is a significant cost saving, and when it comes to industrial scale, when lighting in industrial production is carried out, for example, by a hundred 500-watt flashlights that pump out energy around the clock, a 10-fold reduction in consumption will lead to colossal cost savings.
- Quality of light emission. Unlike outdated lamp-based analogues, LED lamps provide the most uniform illumination over the entire area and distance, free from twitching and flickering. This is, firstly, the most comfortable environment for the eyes, which does not pose a threat to vision or visual discomfort. Secondly, ideal and undistorted color rendering, which in many industrial production can be among the main priorities in connection with production activities.
- Durability and reliability. LED modules do not depend in operational terms on the number of switches on and off. If you are using an LED floodlight with a motion sensor, this point is very relevant. Due to the constant response to movement, the spotlight will constantly turn on and off. LED lamps are designed for 100 thousand or more hours of operation, which is many times more than any lamps. Together with the simplicity and reliability of the design, modern materials that are resistant to mechanical stress, a set of these technical characteristics makes LED lights an ideal choice for illuminating any objects, cottages, industrial production, houses, streets and squares.
- Safety and environmental friendliness. LED modules are assembled from modern environmentally friendly materials. They do not require any special disposal methods. When LED flashlight has failed, you can replace the LED module, and simply throw the old one, which has expired, into the trash. Absolutely without any fear for your health. The safety of LED lighting equipment is the highest. It works at low currents, which means that if you decide to make the connection yourself and make some mistake and possibly get an electric shock, it will not be as dangerous as with conventional lamps. As for operational technical characteristics, LED modules do not heat up above 90 degrees during operation, which makes them as fireproof as possible.
- Reliability, simplicity and flexibility of use. LED modules can operate without damage even during severe power surges. The connection is very simple, almost anyone can handle it. The design of the spotlight is also simple and reliable. In order to replace the module when it has exhausted its service life, it will be enough to unscrew a few bolts and disassemble the spotlight body. Next, guided by numerous diagrams and the help of the Internet, disconnect the old module and connect the new one. Then reassemble the housing, place the spotlight back, screwing the housing to the mount on the surface where the flashlight was installed. If you need lighting not only in the standard daytime version, just purchase a color RGB spotlight; it can change color in a very wide range of shades.
There is only one drawback
The only negative is the fairly high cost, which is more than completely outweighed by the combination of advantages. How long will it last LED lamp and the quality of the emitted light will ultimately lead to significant savings in money, nerves, and time.
What characteristics are important to know when choosing
To choose the option that suits you, it is advisable to contact a specialist, describing to him the conditions of use, the required illumination range, the required illumination intensity and other parameters that concern you (brightness and warmth of the light flux, the presence of a motion sensor, solar panels for battery life etc.).
How to make your own LED floodlight
If you confidently hold a tool in your hands, you have an unnecessary or broken spotlight, and you don’t want to buy a “pig in a poke” by paying a small but significant amount for a cheap Chinese lantern, but don’t agree to spend a lot of money on an expensive one - assemble an LED spotlight with your own hands. You can even completely solder all the necessary boards; fortunately, there are more than enough diagrams and instructions on the Internet. But if you are not ready to resort to a soldering iron, then the next option is just for you.
Required Components
So, what do we need to make powerful LED spotlights:
directly the diode itself, cooling radiators, fans (the smallest computer fans will do) and the power board for them (can be taken from charger, preferably from a high-quality adapter, because we don’t want the fans to fail), an electronic voltage converter to supply power to our diode and adjust the brightness. We will also need, as previously mentioned, an unnecessary old spotlight - as a donor housing, where the entire assembled structure will be installed.
Stage 1 – Start of assembly
We begin the assembly procedure by attaching all the elements to the cooling radiator, which is needed to remove heat from the very powerful LED. The first step is to secure the diode module with bolts using the holes in it. Press the diode firmly onto an even layer of thermal paste.
Then attach fans that will be used for additional active cooling, which will reduce the operating temperature by another 10-20 degrees and extend the already long life of the LED.
Stage 2 – Preliminary performance check and temperature measurement
After connecting all the remaining parts, connect the diode with wires to the current source (converter). Apply current to the diode through a voltage converter to check its functionality. Check the operation of the fans and measure the voltage on the power board for the batteries and the fans themselves, it should be the same. To ensure that the cooling system is operating properly, it is advisable to accurately measure the temperature using an accurate thermometer, such as an infrared temperature gun. The temperature should not be higher than 50-60 degrees.
Stage 3 – Putting the insides into the body
After checking all components for operability, you need to place the entire structure directly into the prepared housing. Don't forget to leave a decent opening at the bottom of the structure for the fans to blow out heated air, as well as at the top for air intake.
Install the board that controls the operation of the fans (I remind you, a high-quality one, possibly borrowed from the charging adapter) and connect the wires from the fans.
Step 4 – Final Functionality Check
All that remains is to check the functionality of all elements one last time, cut out a reflector to fit the case from shiny metal (or covered with thick foil) and assemble all the elements of the case together. Having firmly tightened all the bolts connecting the housing elements together, you can begin to use the spotlight on the diode module, which you were able to make yourself. Naturally, you need to have some experience in working with electronics, circuits and boards, as well as desire - after all, for many it will be easier to buy a ready-made device. But a spotlight assembled with your own hands, in addition to causing pride in yourself, will have unique technical characteristics. If you use a powerful 100 watt module, it will replace your 600-800 watt halogen flashlight, which would be much larger, overheat and be very dangerous. The illumination range of such a spotlight, depending on the selected reflector angle, will vary from very large to enormous.
Summary of the article
So, let's summarize the above. In order to choose a floodlight, you need to decide in what conditions it will be used - for industrial (warehouse lighting, production) and domestic purposes (yard lighting, cottage lighting), you can select different floodlights in accordance with their technical characteristics, including power and color temperature . Based on them, select a design for the required illumination range, if necessary, select models with a motion sensor, solar battery or other options. If you want to make an LED spotlight yourself, select and purchase all the necessary components on the radio market and, armed with the tools, assemble exactly what you need. The main thing in both approaches is to purchase quality components or equipment from a seller with a proven reputation. This is the key to positive impressions from future use of the equipment.
Video instruction:
With the development of technology, lighting devices are advancing in leaps and bounds. The development of old technologies and the emergence of new ones force us to constantly adapt and modernize our lighting equipment. Now the time has come to put aside the outdated halogen spotlights, which have already become ineffective in comparison with newer LED devices.
Design features
Spotlights based on LEDs have much greater energy savings, can operate for more than ninety thousand hours, and require absolutely no maintenance. They are able to function in any weather conditions, and the quality of the emitted light has become much better.
LED spotlight device
The design of such devices is incredibly simple, which makes it easy to make an LED spotlight with your own hands at home.
The simplicity of the design allows you to avoid any serious damage, and those that may occur can be easily and quickly repaired.
The LED spotlight consists of a housing, a bracket for fixing, an LED matrix and a driver that regulates the operation and supply of electricity. The matrix consists of static diodes, which are fixed to the board and protected by special polymers from external influences.
Required parts for assembly
If you decide to make a spotlight with your own hands, then you probably have a question about what parts you need to prepare in order to make yourself a high-quality device for use.
We have prepared for you a small list of necessary parts that you need to collect in your garage or buy those that are missing:
- Of course, we need ourselves LED matrix With installed driver. You can buy it at a specialized electronics store or take it off an old flashlight. If you use LEDs from a flashlight, then make sure that their power will be enough for you.
- You can select the required housing from any materials. You can make it from plywood or metal, or take one from an old halogen flashlight. If this is not possible, you can buy a housing for the flashlight, it is very cheap. You should select it based on your preferences and how it will be used. If for decoration, then you should make a beautiful and harmonious design of the body. For simple household use, it is enough to use any nondescript floodlight housing.
- Connecting wires.
- Material for creating a reflector. Thick food foil is perfect for such purposes. It can be bought at any supermarket.
- Sealant and glue.
- If you want to make a powerful spotlight, 100 watts or more, then you also need to add a radiator with a cooler for cooling.
Assembling a homemade spotlight
To make yourself a high-quality LED spotlight, you need to approach the assembly process as seriously as possible. By collecting all the necessary parts in advance, you have only done a small part of the work.
Let's take a closer look at the steps to assemble a 220-volt LED floodlight.
- If you are using an old case, you must remove all foreign parts from it. You should end up with a completely empty case without extra cartridges, internal fasteners, etc. If you are installing a radiator and cooler, then you need to make holes in the side walls to create ventilation.
- The next step will be to assemble 220 volt LEDs into a single structure, and secure the entire mechanism to a single base. Connect wires of the required length to the contacts so that you can easily bring them to the outside of the case.
- We install the resulting structure in the body and secure it with glue. Thus, you can make a high-quality fastening without damaging the case and significantly saving time.
- We take the wires out into the corresponding hole and secure them in the hole using silicone sealant. The sealant is necessary to make a sealed structure, to prevent moisture from entering and the possibility of damaging the mechanism.
If you want to make a powerful 220-volt LED spotlight, then you also need to add a radiator. We install it together with the entire LED board. You can also secure it with glue or wrap it with wire.
Connecting the lamp to the network
To connect our spotlight to a 220 volt network, you need to make preliminary preparation. Think in advance about the place where the spotlight will be installed and place the electricity transmission wires there.
Don’t skimp and make them with a reserve; perhaps you want to move or adjust the installation height of the device a little over time.
You will need a power supply that will stabilize the voltage and supply not 220 volts, but 12 or 24, depending on the LEDs you use.
When connecting the power supply wires and the contacts coming out of the device, do not reverse the polarity. LEDs will not work when incorrect connection. In the worst case, they may fail altogether, and all the work will be done in vain. Carefully insulate the connection point and preferably cover the entire wire with a special corrugation or plastic cover. It is best when it is possible to hide the connection point in the device body.
If you are installing a spotlight on the street, take care about the quality of its fastening. It is necessary to secure the device as efficiently and firmly as possible so that the mounting location can withstand gusts of wind, changing weather conditions, accumulated snow, and others.