Punk LED Collar

Studded leather choker with LEDs

by Becky Stern

published July 24, 2013, last edited July 24, 2013

posted in LEDs/ LED Pixels Wearables

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Beginner

Project guide

Overview

Make your own studded choker with an LED twist! Use these instructions with our kit of parts that comes with all the materials you'll need for a punk style LED collar, or use materials you may already have! Ten juicy diffused red LEDs adorn a high-quality black leather collar that fits necks 12-15 inches (30 to 38 centimeters). Attach the included battery holder and potentiometer, used to adjust the brightness of the LEDs. The simple circuit is powered by a single CR2032 battery. Build one yourself and be the star of your next party or parade!

Project assistance and modeling by Risa Rose!

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Tools & Supplies

The Punk LED Collar Kit contains (buy the kit or gather your own supplies):

Leather collar size S/M - (collar measures measures 18" x 1" x 0.1"/457mm x 25mm x 2.74mm)
10 x 10mm diffused red LEDs
Sewable coin cell CR2032 battery holder
Strip of faux suede fabric to line collar
1K trimpot small potentiometer
Small piece of wire
2 x CR2032 coin cell batteries

You'll need some very common electronics tools to make this project:

Soldering iron and solder
Wire cutters and wire stripper (or a tool that does both)
Pliers
3rd hand tool or Panavise or some other way to keep your work steady
A basic multimeter is handy as well
Fine tip curved tweezers make assembly a breeze

And just a few craft supplies:

Craft knife or utility blade with cutting-safe mat or surface
E6000 or similar craft glue
Ruler
Marker or pencil

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Circuit Diagram

Ten LEDs are wired in parallel with a coincell battery and potentiometer. Wire all the (shorter) negative leads to the center lead of the potentiometer, then wire all the (longer) positive LED leads to the positive side of the battery holder. Wire the negative side of the battery holder to the leftmost lead of the potentiometer. The rightmost pin of the potentiometer is not used.

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Install LEDs

Put the collar on and decide where you want the LEDs to be in relation to the buckle (your placement may vary depending on your neck size). Start by measuring and marking the locations for the 10 LEDs along the collar (make marks on the inside surface). Use a ruler and space them just a little less than one inch apart. Use a sharp utility or craft knife on a cutting-safe surface and slice small vertical slits for the LED legs to pierce through.

Make one extra slit at the end of the row, where the potentiometer will go.

Start inserting LEDs through the slits you made in the collar, making sure that they are oriented the same way (all long leads facing one way, all short leads facing the other).

Buckle the collar, adjusting it to the same size as it will be on your neck. Ahh, the LED leads look like some sort of torture device! Fold the negative (shorter) legs of your LEDs all down in the same direction, towards the end of the row where the battery will go. Allow the leads to curve, following the contour of the collar.

Insert the potentiometer into the final slit, and bend the leads at the inside of the collar to hold it in place-- the center lead should be bent one way, while the outer two leads should be bent the other way. This leaves more room for soldering with less chance of shorting anything out.

The last negative lead should line up with the center lead of the potentiometer.

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Solder Components

Solder all the negative leads to each other, and solder the last negative LED lead to the center lead of the potentiometer. Clip the excess wire.

Repeat the process of folding down the leads, this time with the positive leads of the LEDs. They should follow the curve of the collar as if you had it on, and should all be soldered together.

Solder the last positive LED lead to a piece of wire, then solder the wire to the positive terminal of the battery holder.

The battery holder will rest on the outside of the collar next to the potentiometer. Solder a piece of wire to one of the outer potentiometer leads, then connect the other end of it to the negative side of the battery holder (marked with a little - sign).

Refer to the circuit diagram in this guide if you get confused!

Use a little double stick tape or E6000 glue to affix the battery holder in place after soldering.

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Test & Finish

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Check your connections using the circuit diagram as a reference, then insert the battery and turn the knob to test the circuit. It will need to be turned all the way on one direction to light up. If your LEDs don't turn on, your battery holder may be connected backwards!

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Once you've verified everything's working properly, apply an even layer of E6000 or similar craft glue (not all fabric glues will bond to leather) to the inside surface of the collar where the faux suede will protect and insulate the circuit from your neck.

Do not attempt to lay your collar flat when not in use! The LED leads are soldered in a circle, and unnecessarily bending the collar could break your connections. Treat with care and store the collar buckled!

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Affix the kit's included strip of faux suede fabric to the inside of the collar and allow to dry for 24 hours before wearing.

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Wear it!

Buckle up and show off your new electro-punk fashion! To clean it, simply remove the battery and wipe with a damp cloth, allowing to dry before re-inserting the battery. Since the battery is exposed, we don't recommend wearing your collar out in the rain unless you take further action to make it water-resistant. The faux suede is made from polyester and so shouldn't hold too much moisture if you're sweating, but take the collar off if you are really sweaty to avoid quickly draining the battery. =]

Treat your new creation with care! Store it in the round, buckled, and take caution not to bend or flatten it, as these actions could break your LED connections!

At this time we recommend making this project with RED LEDs only! Blue LEDs have too high of a forward voltage for a single coincell to power them all brightly, but try other colors at your own risk.