Fixing fibre-optic LED umbrella
2018-Aug-20, Monday 09:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
chebeA long, long time ago, in a terrifying place known as "the real world" I acquired a fibre-optic LED umbrella. It was wonderful quality and lasted me a long time. Until one day the lights would not turn on, no matter how new the AA batteries I offered it were. Then it sat, half forgotten, in a dark cupboard, for a long time.
The place I bought it from no longer sold them, so earlier this year I decided to fix it. First step; take it apart and have a look see.
The handle has an outer case that simply screws off so you can change the batteries. With some persuasion the battery case (and circuit board) can be released from the upper handle, and the upper handle from the umbrella stem(?).
The circuit board sits on top of the battery case with a very satisfying button (used to turn on/change pattern/off the LEDs).
Underneath is more interesting parts of the circuit and wires.
I played around with a few things and decided that the capacitor had probably died. On the other end of the umbrella stalk(?) the wires from the batteries/circuit emerge from the metal tube to attach to the LEDs and fibre-optics between layers of umbrella fabric. I didn't want to disturb this functioning part, so I cut the wires and pulled the old circuit board loose. (This turned out to be a not-great idea.) Then I started prototyping up a replacement circuit from parts I had lying around.
The LilyTiny (or LilyTwinkle, same board, different default software) turned out to fit nicely in the space previously taken up by the circuit board. I would have to give up the satisfying joystick-like button, but I could live with that. Also needed was a power source; please see the narrower 110mAh LiPo battery and LilyPad JST battery connector, and a slide switch to turn it all on and off. I didn't even have to reprogramme the LilyTiny. The LED fibre-optics only had two strands, so I just picked two of the pins on the LilyTiny whose patterns I felt worked well together.
So this is why cutting the wires without a concrete plan was bad; I had to add back some length. And threading the wires (complete with bulky joins) seriously took me more time than all the rest put together. Don't be like me.
Solder your new circuit together, tucking the switch into a sufficient space on the battery case.
The JST plug board is actually attached inside the battery case, but there isn't enough room for the battery itself, so like the switch, tuck it into a sufficient space. Also remember that the LilyTiny doesn't have a battery changer built in, so you'll need access to replace the battery.
The LilyTiny even has room to spare! Make sure you've soldered the wires from the LEDs to the pins you want.
Make sure the components are all well tucked in. A protective layer of tape, fabric, something, is a good idea, to keep things from getting caught, and damaged, in the threads of the handle. Then put the handle back on, and hopefully everything fits.
That's it. Now go play with your own private starfield.
The place I bought it from no longer sold them, so earlier this year I decided to fix it. First step; take it apart and have a look see.
The handle has an outer case that simply screws off so you can change the batteries. With some persuasion the battery case (and circuit board) can be released from the upper handle, and the upper handle from the umbrella stem(?).
Open handle, take out battery case
Photo by chebe
The circuit board sits on top of the battery case with a very satisfying button (used to turn on/change pattern/off the LEDs).
Small circuit board under button
Photo by chebe
Underneath is more interesting parts of the circuit and wires.
Mystery wires under circuit board
Photo by chebe
I played around with a few things and decided that the capacitor had probably died. On the other end of the umbrella stalk(?) the wires from the batteries/circuit emerge from the metal tube to attach to the LEDs and fibre-optics between layers of umbrella fabric. I didn't want to disturb this functioning part, so I cut the wires and pulled the old circuit board loose. (This turned out to be a not-great idea.) Then I started prototyping up a replacement circuit from parts I had lying around.
Prototype replacements
Photo by chebe
The LilyTiny (or LilyTwinkle, same board, different default software) turned out to fit nicely in the space previously taken up by the circuit board. I would have to give up the satisfying joystick-like button, but I could live with that. Also needed was a power source; please see the narrower 110mAh LiPo battery and LilyPad JST battery connector, and a slide switch to turn it all on and off. I didn't even have to reprogramme the LilyTiny. The LED fibre-optics only had two strands, so I just picked two of the pins on the LilyTiny whose patterns I felt worked well together.
Replacement bits; JST plug (plus tiny LiPo, not pictured), slide switch, LilyTiny or LilyTwinkle
Photo by chebe
So this is why cutting the wires without a concrete plan was bad; I had to add back some length. And threading the wires (complete with bulky joins) seriously took me more time than all the rest put together. Don't be like me.
Re-thread wires if you need
Photo by chebe
Solder your new circuit together, tucking the switch into a sufficient space on the battery case.
Attach switch to one side
Photo by chebe
The JST plug board is actually attached inside the battery case, but there isn't enough room for the battery itself, so like the switch, tuck it into a sufficient space. Also remember that the LilyTiny doesn't have a battery changer built in, so you'll need access to replace the battery.
Attach tiny LiPo battery to another side
Photo by chebe
The LilyTiny even has room to spare! Make sure you've soldered the wires from the LEDs to the pins you want.
LilyTiny/Twinkle fits comfortably in old circuit space
Photo by chebe
Make sure the components are all well tucked in. A protective layer of tape, fabric, something, is a good idea, to keep things from getting caught, and damaged, in the threads of the handle. Then put the handle back on, and hopefully everything fits.
Close it all up
Photo by chebe
That's it. Now go play with your own private starfield.
It works!
Photo by chebe
