In light of the recent power outage in the northeast U.S. as well as hurricane Isabel that rolled through the eastern U.S....my boys and I decided to make some emergency lights. Webley445 got us stirred up with sources, simple circuits...so we are currently procrastinating...er, sitting on most of the supplies that we need to build "many" of these little lights.
I ordered super bright whites, as well as some reds, blues, greens, blue-greens, amber, and a few that cycle through red/green/blue LEDs as well as the appropriate resistors & battery snaps.
Our only hold up is the "final design". Granted we may just end up making little simple lights with shrink wrap around the leads. I'm thinking I may want some of the little LED standoffs to "stiffen" as well as keep the leads from shorting out. I like the copper wire idea...I think our leads are only 6" long, easy to coil up and store in a film cannister/survival kit/tin...
Simple entry level fun for the boys and I...as well as a practical torch to be used for hunting/camping/emergencies that should have an extended runtime!!