I was at MicroCenter buying a few items, mostly USB 3.0 cables. I strolled down the aisle with the tools and this popped into my view. At first I didn’t know what to think. A flexible flashlight? What’s that? But that’s what it is and does.
Here’s a link to a photo. And another photo link.
As shown in the picture, you can bend it into a sleeve to give 360 degrees illumination, or you can bend it so that the 16 LEDs focus into a point in front of the LEDs. It’s a great concept to be able to point the LEDs anywhere you want, but I don’t even plan on buying one for the $40 US they want, or even half that much, especially if it was made outside of the USA.
I think I could make my own by poking 16 5mm holes into a thick sheet of aluminum from a disposable baking tray. Then mount 16 LEDs into the holes using silicone sealant on the back. It might be easier to wire them up before putting on the silicone sealant. But I’m wondering how the LEDs are connected up. It looks like there are four AA cells in the battery box. I assume they are all on series for 6 volts. If each string of four LEDs are connected in series, the voltage would have to be about 13 volts across all four to get enough light. So the circuitry may include a voltage boost circuit such as a Joule Thief.
Or the LEDs could all be connected in parallel. In that case, all that is needed is a current limiting resistor. At 20 mA or .02 amp per LED, that’s .32 amp current. Three AA cells could provide that. The fourth cell would be needed if the cells were rechargeable.
