I'm engaged! OR- How and Why I built my girlfriend an LED-engagement ring....... - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 07:34:33 am
content: So I met my girlfriend quite a while back, when she responded to an internet post looking for the geekiest female companion I could find. The idea being to find a friend who could share my geeky/nerdy hobbies and interests, and as females are generally more fun to look at, that would be nice too. Anything more I considered bonus. The title of the ad was litterally "It is pitch dark. You are likely to be eaten by a Grue."What's a Grue you ask?"The grue is a sinister, lurking presence in the dark places of the earth. Its favorite diet is adventurers, but its insatiable appetite is tempered by its fear of light. No grue has ever been seen by the light of day, and few have survived its fearsome jaws to tell the tale."Anyway, after a few weeks of emailing back and forth, she took me with her to her D&D group one Saturday (yep!) and, well, we've been dating ever since. After much discussion "in theory" about marriage, I was pondering how my broke self would come up with the cold hard change for a ring. "Self," I says, "why not make her one!" Soooo, after flipping through my various books on beginner's electronics, and lots of internet research, I settled on modifying an example circut from Forrest Mims, demonstrating a flip flop with two LEDs. My idea was to put a red and green led in series on one side of the circuit, alternating with the flickering yellow LED I ripped out of one of those flameless tealights. As my dear Mary is a fan of the Steampunk aesthetic, I wanted to incorporate the various components involved as part of the decorations. Anyway, after breadboarding the circuit successfully, I became painfully aware of the fact that my skills are far too limited to make it all fit into a reasonably sized ring-type object. So, in comes the Zork references.I settled on a (poorly) hacked together design that is nothing more than a red LED, a 470ohm resistor, and a normally-on micro push button soldered onto a chip of perfboard that I tied to the battery compartment of above mentioned LED tealight. By breaking apart the case, I was able to use just the part that holds the battery, and some tape, to make the battery holder. since the circuit is always on, (unless holding the button down) the ground wire can be removed/reinserted from the side of the case to save battery juice. To form the actual ring, I snipped apart what I think used to be a cheap computer mic for the stiff/flex wire it had, and taped it to the case with green electrical tape. (The only stuff I had.)Needless to say, it is the ugliest thing you ever saw. But it serves it's purpose:When turned on, it always provides light so that my beloved is never in danger of being eaten by a Grue.She cried when I gave it to her. (I still say it's cause it is so ugly, but she swears differently!)So, I apologize for the novelette, and for the lack of pictures (you REALLY don't wanna see it anyhow!) But suffice it to say you would not want to try wearing it through an airport!Just thought I would share, as it is one of my first projects. Next I wish to incorporate that led flip-flop into a (nice looking) necklace!Thanks for reading,RonEDIT: Here is a link to the youtube. Sorry, still no plain images yet. Day job keepin me busy.

author: ahes
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 10:19:47 am
content: I'm shocked that she still with you after that ring lol

author: stl
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 12:30:43 pm
content: If you don't post some photos it didn't happen!!

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 02:51:36 pm
content: Quote from: ahes on January 24, 2012, 10:19:47 amMe too! But the personal significance, and the reference to our person in-jokes about being eaten by a grue make bit wworthwhile. Plus she has always been very supportive of my vintage computer and electronics obssesions.And I will get pictures of the ring since apparently at least oe person wants to see it.The funniest part being the way she kept looking at her finger with it on. But not jokingly. It had us both in hysterics.

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 03:32:51 pm
content: He... brings back memories. They fact that you made it yourself does it, no doubt there.[ ....I once gave a girlfriend a handcrafted candle holder. Turned it from brass on my lathe, with 6 (spent..) .357 nickle-plated Magnum casings sticking out from the base..It was in memory of a trip to a shooting range, with a colleague who was into sports-shooting, after all of us wanted to get rid of a ton of accumulated frustration gathered at our day jobs. Recommended, a cartoon of a particularly obnoxious piece of managementinstead of a plain vanilla bulls eye. Oh, btw, in .nl you need a license to own a gun.... ]Rest assured she liked it. A LOT..

author: wkb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 03:46:20 pm
content: Quote from: wkb on January 24, 2012, 03:32:51 pmHmm.. took some creative use ofgrepbut I found the pictures... (they do show I am just an EE with a lathe)

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 04:04:18 pm
content: Cool!

author: ahes
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 04:28:37 pm
content: The problem is that you can make something good in the technical part but ugly in shape.you remind me guys with the american show "friends" when chandler and monica decided to gave each other hand made presents and he kept failing to make one.that scene really cracks me up.

author: baljemmett
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 04:56:30 pm
content: Congratulations, Ron! (And that's some nice work, wkb, too)

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 24, 2012, 05:30:48 pm
content: Thank you! I'm excited about it!

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2012, 09:39:22 pm
content: Wooohooo! Video link of the ring is now in the first post, if anyone cares.

author: Noize
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2012, 10:37:20 pm
content: Quote from: ronwoch on February 10, 2012, 09:39:22 pmyour link is brokenhere it is

author: ronwoch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 10, 2012, 11:52:15 pm
content: Thank you! I'm a computer geek but can't figure out how to embed a bloody youtube video? Gah! Anyway, thanks for the assist!