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LED Throwies

intro
step 1
step 2
step 3
step 4
step 5
step 6
step 7
 

step 1Materials List

LED throwies consist of only a few inexpensive parts and can be made for ~$1.00 per Throwie. You can reference the parts list below or download the attached spreadsheet for more info on parts, part's numbers, vendors and application notes.

Part: 10mm Diffused LED
Vendor: HB Electronic Components
Average cost: $0.20 avg per LED
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities. Comes in red, blue, amber, white in both diffused and clear. Diffused works better than water clear for the Throwie application. HB has even created a Throwies packs page with deals on 10mm LEDs and lithium batteries!

Part: CR2032 3V Lithium Batteries
Vendor: CheapBatteries.com
Cost: $0.25 per battery
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities. With the 2032 Lithium batter, depending on the weather and the LED color, your Throwie should last around 1 -2 weeks.

Part: 1-inch wide Strapping Tape
Vendor: Your local hardware store
Cost: $2.00 for one roll
Notes: One roll will make many throwies

Part: 1/2" Dia x 1/8" Thick NdFeB Disc Magnet, Ni-Cu-Ni plated
Amazing MagnetsVendor:
Cost: $13.00 per 25 magnets
Notes: Cost reductions for larger quantities

Part: Conductive Epoxy
Vendor: Newark In One
Cost: $32.00
Notes: The epoxy is optional.

Materials List
LEWThrowie006.jpgLEWThrowie015.jpg
LedThrowiesPartsList.pdf55 KB
70 comments
1-50 of 70
Nov 22, 2008. 2:52 PMsaxophonessays:
where do you get LED lights

Nov 25, 2008. 4:14 PMTFrostysays:
www.goldmine-elec.com or allelectronics.com they are relatively cheap
Nov 25, 2008. 6:09 PMsaxophonessays:
thanks, i see all of these instructables that include LEDs, and i don't know where to get them
Sep 17, 2008. 12:51 PMcodongolevsays:
if you've got an old magnetix set (the magnetic sticks with ball bearings, a sort of kiddie building toy) you can hit it with a hammer, and the magnets pop right out. they're not necessarily super- strong, but they're stronger than your regular magnets.
Sep 13, 2008. 9:48 PMzoned-outsays:
The Ni-Cu-Ni plated magnets are pretty spendy for just a few. Do the magnets HAVE to be Ni-Cu-Ni plated??? or can they be nickle plated?
I found Rare-Earth Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) magnets that are nickle plated and come in large packs for 9.00$ here
http://www.rare-earth-magnets.com/SearchResult-CategoryID-28.html
Are these yay or nay for the use in LED throwies?
Sep 14, 2008. 5:51 PMzoned-outsays:
also, how long do the throwie LEDs last? couple of days or...?
and how do they stand up to weather conditions like rain, snow, wind, etc.? thank you for any help.
Sep 14, 2008. 5:10 AM-Aj-says:
rare earth are indeed a yay for throwies. theyre probably the best you could use and its what im using. you can also get away with using smaller sized ones if they are stronger.
arent Ni-Cu-Ni plated rare earth anyway? pretty sure it wont matter if the coating isnt as fancy. your whole setup is an led strapped to a couple of watch batteries relying on their internal resistance so as to not burn it out.... I dont think the coating on your magnet will matter in the scheme of things.

basically, cheap and nasty. get the cheapest you can find and just spam the buggers.
Jul 26, 2008. 6:26 AMsvenningsays:
If you live in europe http://www.supermagnete.de/eng/index.php is also a good place to buy strong magnets
Aug 21, 2008. 12:19 PMknarxsays:
or for neodymium magnets: magnetportal.de
Jun 23, 2008. 1:36 PMchibiturtleboisays:
Found a really awesome place to buy magnets: dealextreme.com Some of their magnets go for 6 cents per when you buy in bulk (100 or more). They do ship the magnets internationally I believe so it may take a bit.
Jun 23, 2008. 1:40 PMchibiturtleboisays:
http://www.buy-leds-online.com/Throwie.html still win with great prices for leds and batteries though
Jul 16, 2008. 3:57 PMthrowieguysays:
at buy-leds-online you will be lucky to get your product at all, and if you do it will take months.
Apr 13, 2006. 9:59 PMcartufersays:
i've been finding stuff a lot cheaper than this, packs of 100 leds for $2, lithiums for $.20, $5 per 100 neodymium magnets, cost estimated at 36 cents each
Jun 23, 2008. 1:46 PMchibiturtleboisays:
offense but i deem this comment useless without further information!!
Apr 11, 2007. 3:27 AMpurty707says:
where bro????
Apr 17, 2006. 8:53 PMyessays:
where have you found this stuff for cheaper? thanks
Mar 22, 2007. 5:26 PMSullen70says:
I got magnets at 14 cents each (100 minimum order) at https://www.magnet4sale.com/xcart4/product.php?productid=16260&cat=295&page=3
Apr 19, 2006. 5:18 PMcartufersays:
http://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=ZD1 for magnets
http://www.batteriesandbutter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=CR2032G-1 for batteries
http://mpja.com/listitems.asp?dept=116&main=122&type=1 bulk packs for leds
still need to save up $60 for batteries
Sep 10, 2006. 7:01 AMKurayaminosays:
the magnets you link to are 533 cubic millimeters, the magnets these guys are using are about 5054 cubic millimeters, so there's actually almost ten times the amount of magnet there. use the cheap ones and tell us how well they stick, though .

also, I assume they use 10mm diffused LEDs since they are brighter and can be seen from a wider angle.
Aug 5, 2006. 2:48 PMatomiclemonsays:
the LED's at the site you gave are different than the ones it says to use. Have you tried making them with your LED's? Does it work as good?
Jun 20, 2008. 7:47 PMREAsays:
the magnets are alot cheaper herehere
Jun 20, 2008. 7:38 PMREAsays:
would regular super glue work instead of epoxy?
Jul 14, 2007. 3:24 PMbirdlansays:
This is probably a really dumb question, but with the magnets, isn't there a danger that someone with a pacemaker or something walks by and it malfunctions?
Jul 16, 2007. 11:53 AMkadris3says:
the magnet would have to be right on the pacemaker. since most are ten feet away or more they pose no danger.
Jun 17, 2008. 8:22 PMforgesmithsays:
But we already have problems w/ young kids swallowing small rare earth magnets, sometimes dying, the magnets want to get together and will go thru intestinal walls etc. Small creatures might swallow them, as birds would for their gizzards. Do you really want to risk that sort of hazard by just throwing these away without recovering the magnets?

Although it would be interesting to use a live mouse as a refrigerator magnet, but then... Nah, don't do it.
Jun 18, 2008. 8:45 AMkadris3says:
i think most people believe the device will be retrieved and reused. by replacing the battery, one gets a very reduced cost in the throwie.

children who put everything in their mouths are in the 7 months to 2.5 year age bracket. it is unlikely they will be around to pick up the throwies after they have been thrown. most parents keep very close tabs on their toddlers. your caution, however, is certainly warrented.
Jul 28, 2007. 9:52 AMbirdlansays:
I see, thanks :)
Mar 27, 2008. 11:26 PMseamonkeyboysays:
on the plus side , paramedics just have to follow the light to find their heart-attack patient..
Jun 19, 2008. 11:47 PMbillo13says:
srry i gotta say it to LOL
Jun 20, 2008. 7:28 AMkadris3says:
with the economy tanking and gas over $4 a gallon, everyone needs all the luck they can get. thank u.
May 28, 2008. 5:29 PMKevlarstersays:
Very Funny...I loved it...made me laugh out lound (refuse to write lol) I'll be looking for your comments from now on...maybe you missed your calling...
Apr 17, 2008. 7:02 AMcsmilersays:
LOL
Mar 28, 2008. 11:53 AMphoenix124says:
LOL
Aug 27, 2007. 11:28 AMimpulsesays:
I live in the UK. Does anyone know a good non-internet vender for the 10mm diffused LED's???
Also, does the magnet need to be that exact size, as i have seen many 1/4"x1/8".
Mar 27, 2008. 11:23 PMseamonkeyboysays:
the rare-earth magnets are way stronger but you can make do with the fridge magnet type ones too.
Mar 6, 2008. 5:24 PMfd93says:
radio shack
Apr 17, 2008. 1:26 PMHerrozerrosays:
I'm looking at radio shack and it seems like the LED's are $2+ a LED. Is that the price?

in the link on the first page about the Throwie kits there is kit for 500 (LED's and Batteries) for $169 (.33 each)
Mar 26, 2008. 1:05 PMladiesman247says:
well mr. smarty pants in the uk they dont have radio shack