Where can I find this little LED thing? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Ichisuke
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 09:09:33 am
content: I lost one of this. It was inside an old glass flower thing. The one in the picture is inside a more recent glass Christmas decoration. I'm not able to find information on this exact light. I'd like to buy another but I don't know the precise model for this. I've tried googling different photos but there are no results. I could buy another glass decoration object but I wouldn't know what type of little led there's inside, since it has to be that size to fit in correctly.

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 09:23:12 am
content: That looks like a custom COB (Chip On Board) PCB to me, with clear epoxy coating rather than the normal black. It doesn't have the look of something that was purchased from a normal semiconductor manufacturer. Your best bet is probably to look on a China marketplace like Ali, it might be used in other Chinese stuff too.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 09:35:19 am
content: Agreed.I have some LEDs and heatsink PCB for them (ex China) that would look something like that. But it would be useful to have some idea of size.

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 10:01:06 am
content: What does that LED do? Is it a RGB, flickering, duo color, chromatic [color changing], white type?You might find some of the 5050 size surface mount LEDs are a good match. If we know what it does.

author: Ichisuke
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 10:45:09 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on April 25, 2023, 09:35:19 amIn size it's like a bit bigger than an LR41 battery. You actually use 3 of those batteries and insert everything in the bottom of the object you have to illuminate. So it definitely takes 4.5volts.Quote from: AndyBeez on April 25, 2023, 10:01:06 amThis one slowly changes the light from red to blu to purple. The one missing had a flashing effect instead but I'm not looking for a specific effect, just one compatible in size that I can put in the decorative object.

author: AndyBeez
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 01:51:56 pm
content: Look online for "3mm color changing LED". These two pin LEDs cycle through R-M-B-C-G-Y and only require a 2.5+ volt supply. There are quick cycle and slow cycle types. A 3mm LED might fit into the decorative glass flower.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 05:52:33 pm
content: It has three chips: two LEDs and a controller.

author: Ichisuke
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 06:04:55 pm
content: Ok thanks. I'll try and see if I can find something.

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 10:33:19 pm
content: To answer the original question: I doubt you'll be able to find anything like that. Your best bet is to make your own. A small 6-pin microcontroller, such as the PIC12F200 and a bicolour red/blue LED and some tiny resistors will do. To save space, you might be able to skip the decoupling capacitor, or use a low value such as 10nF, if it's close to the battery.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2023, 11:01:42 pm
content: Quote from: Ichisuke on April 25, 2023, 06:04:55 pmCheap widget breaks, finding replacement part is hard.... buy another cheap widget and throw away the broken one ?

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2023, 05:56:21 am
content: I have a very similar blinky that came out of a toy ball. It's unlikely that you'll find an exact replacement but there are probably Chinese sellers that have something similar. Shouldn't be too hard to make one though, SOT-23 microcontroller and a couple of 0402 LEDs and resistors, code to make it blink however you want.