Nicko
15th October 2010, 01:14 AM
So, the other night, i'm out fishing off a pontoon (approx 2m water @ high tide)
I had a couple of loaves of bread to get the fish in the eating mood.
Got bored, had a couple of those tiny glow sticks (3mm x 50mm long) which i'd previously rigged to line for night fishing. Tossed them into the water just out from the pontoon and the amount of light they put out was enough to see the baitfish in the water... When I left, I retreived them and pondered getting some uber big glowsticks, to go back and do the same but with much more lighting next time to see
a) what was in the water below
b) see how nuts and how many I could source
c) why the hell not, for shits & giggles value.
After doing some research, I discovered that the fishing industry (commercial) goes through MORE glowsticks than all the pill popping ravefags combined.
The glowsticks are relatively cheap, but I was starting to dislike the whole "use once and discard' idea...
A week or so later, and I have gotten to thinking, that its been a while since i've got in touch with my inner "mad scientist", so I did some googling for underwater LED's and stuff. I concluded that I could come up with something waterproof and home made, that I could recharge and have some fun with. And here is where I start sharing my adventure with you all.
tJicKKodHZo
What REALLY got my brain ticking, was this video. Obviously a more professional / expensive idea, and since I don't own a 72' cruiser (haha) This video make me think a bit more about the viability of such a project.
SO, BACK TO REALITY...
I've got 4 x brand new 11.1 Volt (1800mah) Lithium Polymer batteries from RC helicopters laying around Cost me like $120.
Just ordered a pack of 50 x 140,000 mcd white LEDs off ebay from China for $14 delivered. (if my maths are correct, thats 7 million candle power worth)
I'm going to need some resistors, wire, a pair of sealable waterproof ABS cases
After doing the maths, I will wire two pairs of liPo batteries to make two seperate "underwater torches" in series.
So each one should have 22.2 volts @ 1800mah. Neat!
Plugged the specs for the Led's into an online calculator (I hate maths) and came up with the best way to wire up the two seperate "banks" of underwater spotties...
http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/1/54970.jpg
Pretty stoked, 60mA current, from a 22.2v @ 1800maH power source should be good for quite a while underwater.
Also, this will give me 2 x spotties @ approx 2.5 million candle power... not too shabby!
So in about two weeks, once the LED's are in my hot little hands, I will grab my 6 x 33 ohm resistors & switch from Jaycar, grab the soldering iron and go nutso... I will post pics, build updates etc in this thread, for those of you who are diehard tech heads...
And then i'll get down to the water, burley it up, chuck the spotties on and put the video up on youtube...
Hell, it might even help me catch some fish...
:)
I had a couple of loaves of bread to get the fish in the eating mood.
Got bored, had a couple of those tiny glow sticks (3mm x 50mm long) which i'd previously rigged to line for night fishing. Tossed them into the water just out from the pontoon and the amount of light they put out was enough to see the baitfish in the water... When I left, I retreived them and pondered getting some uber big glowsticks, to go back and do the same but with much more lighting next time to see
a) what was in the water below
b) see how nuts and how many I could source
c) why the hell not, for shits & giggles value.
After doing some research, I discovered that the fishing industry (commercial) goes through MORE glowsticks than all the pill popping ravefags combined.
The glowsticks are relatively cheap, but I was starting to dislike the whole "use once and discard' idea...
A week or so later, and I have gotten to thinking, that its been a while since i've got in touch with my inner "mad scientist", so I did some googling for underwater LED's and stuff. I concluded that I could come up with something waterproof and home made, that I could recharge and have some fun with. And here is where I start sharing my adventure with you all.
tJicKKodHZo
What REALLY got my brain ticking, was this video. Obviously a more professional / expensive idea, and since I don't own a 72' cruiser (haha) This video make me think a bit more about the viability of such a project.
SO, BACK TO REALITY...
I've got 4 x brand new 11.1 Volt (1800mah) Lithium Polymer batteries from RC helicopters laying around Cost me like $120.
Just ordered a pack of 50 x 140,000 mcd white LEDs off ebay from China for $14 delivered. (if my maths are correct, thats 7 million candle power worth)
I'm going to need some resistors, wire, a pair of sealable waterproof ABS cases
After doing the maths, I will wire two pairs of liPo batteries to make two seperate "underwater torches" in series.
So each one should have 22.2 volts @ 1800mah. Neat!
Plugged the specs for the Led's into an online calculator (I hate maths) and came up with the best way to wire up the two seperate "banks" of underwater spotties...
http://www.ae86drivingclub.com.au/dcimages/1/54970.jpg
Pretty stoked, 60mA current, from a 22.2v @ 1800maH power source should be good for quite a while underwater.
Also, this will give me 2 x spotties @ approx 2.5 million candle power... not too shabby!
So in about two weeks, once the LED's are in my hot little hands, I will grab my 6 x 33 ohm resistors & switch from Jaycar, grab the soldering iron and go nutso... I will post pics, build updates etc in this thread, for those of you who are diehard tech heads...
And then i'll get down to the water, burley it up, chuck the spotties on and put the video up on youtube...
Hell, it might even help me catch some fish...
:)