GKL
Forum Supporter
Yep, I really did say a 12volt coffee can
WHY ? well even though I can use it for other things, I thought of the idea as a solution to not having to try to position my lawn tractor close enough to our car to be able to use the plug-in 12v air compressor to add air to the tractor tires (and pull wagon tires) when needed.
I already tried plugging in the air compressor to the 12v coffee can and it does work !
I could also plug in other 12volt accessories to it if needed.
It runs off of 8 "D" size batteries
I had to buy a battery holder for 8 "D" batteries and also a 12volt socket normally used in vehicles or boats.
The coffee can came free with the coffee I drink
So you can see exactly what I used, here are links to the battery holder and 12v socket and below that are the pictures of the project itself.
Battery Holder 12VDC Power D-Cell Batteries 8 X 1.5V w/ 6" Wires 5.25X2.5X3" K41
$8.97 + shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/401500860729
Waterproof DC 12V Car Boat Motorcycle Cigarette Lighter Socket Outlet Power Plug
$5.69 (free shipping)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353040832852
Note: the packing "sponges" I used on either side of the battery holder were not really necessary as the holder fits in there almost like it was made to fit, but it just makes it slightly more snug.
Also: I used alligator clips to connect to the socket just in case I ever wanted to use the 12volt battery pack to power something that did not have a car type plug.
A small "project" I did was to save me from buying a pricey gooseneck magnifier. I was ready to buy one and thought "I already have a large hand-held" magnifier" and I have a long gooseneck on a clamp where the other end that had a phone clamp was broken, so I took off the rest of the broken phone clamp, then using a spare piece of PVC pipe I had sitting around that was slightly too narrow for the magnifier handle to fit and used a hacksaw to cut slots at right angles to each other, which allowed it just enough "give" for the magnifier handle to very snugly fit, but still removable for hand-held use. I used zip-ties to fasten the PVC to the end of the gooseneck.
A project I am still working on are 2 lamps made with real, brand new, yellow LED traffic lights.
I bought these a good while back and no longer see the web page available where I got them from so they might have sold out.
The seller said these LED traffic lights were originally bought for a town far north (they sold yellow, red, and green, but I figured yellow gave off the most light as a lamp) but after initially trying some they realized a big problem, the LED lights did not give off the heat like the old style lights did and when it snowed the traffic lights had snow accumulate in front of them blocking the lights. So now they had a surplus of new lights they couldn't use and that is why they were available for sale. I can't remember offhand what I paid but remember thinking it was a very reasonable price.
They use regular household current, I have 2 lamp cords with inline switches I salvaged from old lamps. I have the bottoms of 2 dollar store buckets that I cut about 2/3 off and they fit the lamps good to make an enclosure for connecting the wires. I am still formulating ideas on how I want to mount the lamps, I might make a PVC stand that allows me to rotate the light up and down, and thinking on other possible ideas.
Hey, the nice amount of light they give off for just being 7watts is great, not to mention the "neat" factor of how they look
…...so as you can see I am a "gadgets" and a DIY guy, it's neat some of the things you can make on your own using some creativity
WHY ? well even though I can use it for other things, I thought of the idea as a solution to not having to try to position my lawn tractor close enough to our car to be able to use the plug-in 12v air compressor to add air to the tractor tires (and pull wagon tires) when needed.
I already tried plugging in the air compressor to the 12v coffee can and it does work !
I could also plug in other 12volt accessories to it if needed.
It runs off of 8 "D" size batteries
I had to buy a battery holder for 8 "D" batteries and also a 12volt socket normally used in vehicles or boats.
The coffee can came free with the coffee I drink
So you can see exactly what I used, here are links to the battery holder and 12v socket and below that are the pictures of the project itself.
Battery Holder 12VDC Power D-Cell Batteries 8 X 1.5V w/ 6" Wires 5.25X2.5X3" K41
$8.97 + shipping
https://www.ebay.com/itm/401500860729
Waterproof DC 12V Car Boat Motorcycle Cigarette Lighter Socket Outlet Power Plug
$5.69 (free shipping)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353040832852
Note: the packing "sponges" I used on either side of the battery holder were not really necessary as the holder fits in there almost like it was made to fit, but it just makes it slightly more snug.
Also: I used alligator clips to connect to the socket just in case I ever wanted to use the 12volt battery pack to power something that did not have a car type plug.
A small "project" I did was to save me from buying a pricey gooseneck magnifier. I was ready to buy one and thought "I already have a large hand-held" magnifier" and I have a long gooseneck on a clamp where the other end that had a phone clamp was broken, so I took off the rest of the broken phone clamp, then using a spare piece of PVC pipe I had sitting around that was slightly too narrow for the magnifier handle to fit and used a hacksaw to cut slots at right angles to each other, which allowed it just enough "give" for the magnifier handle to very snugly fit, but still removable for hand-held use. I used zip-ties to fasten the PVC to the end of the gooseneck.
A project I am still working on are 2 lamps made with real, brand new, yellow LED traffic lights.
I bought these a good while back and no longer see the web page available where I got them from so they might have sold out.
The seller said these LED traffic lights were originally bought for a town far north (they sold yellow, red, and green, but I figured yellow gave off the most light as a lamp) but after initially trying some they realized a big problem, the LED lights did not give off the heat like the old style lights did and when it snowed the traffic lights had snow accumulate in front of them blocking the lights. So now they had a surplus of new lights they couldn't use and that is why they were available for sale. I can't remember offhand what I paid but remember thinking it was a very reasonable price.
They use regular household current, I have 2 lamp cords with inline switches I salvaged from old lamps. I have the bottoms of 2 dollar store buckets that I cut about 2/3 off and they fit the lamps good to make an enclosure for connecting the wires. I am still formulating ideas on how I want to mount the lamps, I might make a PVC stand that allows me to rotate the light up and down, and thinking on other possible ideas.
Hey, the nice amount of light they give off for just being 7watts is great, not to mention the "neat" factor of how they look
…...so as you can see I am a "gadgets" and a DIY guy, it's neat some of the things you can make on your own using some creativity
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