Tony Stark could do it in a cave!!! With a box of scraps!!

An-D

So, for Halloween, I'm gonna be pulling this off.

As you can imagine, the ARC reactor in the chest is the hardest part, especially since I (A) want it to look really good) and (B) want to do it myself.

But, I have no skills at electronic-stuff. Or very little, I should say. I took a week-long basic class a few summers ago, so I know how to solder and about positive and negatives and how to not have a 9v battery kill you...but not a whole lot more than that. I think by the end of the week, I had made a light bulb glow or something simple like that.

I found a tutorial for making a really nice looking ARC reactor here, and I've managed to find most of the parts, but the wiring of the LED lights is giving me trouble. I'm...really not sure how to go about doing it. The section of the tutorial about the wiring isn't really clear either. That can be found here.

So, anyone here in PA have some instruction for me? Or maybe something a bit toned down that would be easier for me to make and look good at the same time?

I have 6 smaller LED lights. Their stats are:
Intensity: 7000mcd
Viewing Angle: 30 degrees
FW Current: 25mA
FW Supply: 3.3v (typical), 3.6v (Max.)


And I have one larger LED light for the center. Its stat is:
Intensity: 28,500mcd
Viewing Angle: 10 degrees
FW Current: 20mA
FW Supply: 3.5v (typical), 4.0v (max.)


Edit:
You have to have an account at Instructables to see other pictures (its free) but I'll save you trouble and post the picture the guy had up of the electronics if it helps any:
Electronical Stuff

QuirkyLittleTyrant

I'm just doing the Easiest Arc Reactor one on the Instructables site for my el cheapo Tony costume, as my last attempt to create something using electricity nearly exploded and killed everything. It was cheap and looks pretty decent, but getting the balloon on was sort of a bitch. I also now have a really cool night light.

An-D

Yeah, I saw that one...but it doesn't look nearly as good and I'd like to try to master some sort of new skill while doing this. I like putting heart and soul into Halloween creations!!

Aioua

I was at a haloween party last weekend where a guy had a full tony stark armor suit made out of crudely cut cardboard, colored red with a crayon. He was "Recession Iron Man."

So, y'know, if you're up at 2am the night before the party trying to get your damn wiring to work, you can always fall back on that idea. :P

TL DR

Gizmodo:
DIY Repulsor light
DIY arc reactor (instructables)

Dunadan019

those little red and black dots are circuit connections. where the wires cross but there is no dot there is no connection.

only use 1 LED per the LED in that drawing and you should be fine.

those R1s amd R2s are resistors.

An-D

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

An-D wrote: »

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

YES

he has the resistors he used on his site, I eould suggest using the same as you are building the same thing

For my LED's I required 5x 180 Ohm resistors and 1x 330Ohm resistor.

330 goes in the middle

Dunadan019

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up wrote: »

An-D wrote: »

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

YES

he has the resistors he used on his site, I eould suggest using the same as you are building the same thing

he's using less LEDs, I doubt it should be the same but I definitly don't know what they should be.

Dark_Side

An-D wrote: »

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

Do some googling and read up on some basic electronics/circuits, as yes, you should probably make sure you're using the right resistors or your led's will simply burn out or not light up at all. More probable is that you will simply put to much amperage into them and significantly shorten their life.

Also Ohm's law, learn it, live it, love it. (I=V/R)
wiki

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up

Dunadan019 wrote: »

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up wrote: »

An-D wrote: »

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

YES

he has the resistors he used on his site, I eould suggest using the same as you are building the same thing

he's using less LEDs, I doubt it should be the same but I definitly don't know what they should be.

ooh well then... the guy also linked a calculator for it sooo...

unitedshoes86

dude, what you can create extremely complicate nuclear technology with just you tonka-toys?

Khavall

Dunadan019 wrote: »

those little red and black dots are circuit connections. where the wires cross but there is no dot there is no connection.

only use 1 LED per the LED in that drawing and you should be fine.

those R1s amd R2s are resistors.

That won't provide any power to his suit at all!

Psychotic One

Aioua wrote: »

I was at a haloween party last weekend where a guy had a full tony stark armor suit made out of crudely cut cardboard, colored red with a crayon. He was "Recession Iron Man."

So, y'know, if you're up at 2am the night before the party trying to get your damn wiring to work, you can always fall back on that idea. :P

LOL. The mental image of this is great. Iron Man if he ever became a hobo.

Blake T

I'd Fuck Chuck Lidell Up wrote: »

An-D wrote: »

Okay, I see. I make one circle on the outside of the ARC reactor for the positive end and a smaller one in the middle for the negative. The leads from the battery go right to the middle, but also cross either the positive or negative circle respectively. Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The resistors are another thing I'm not 100% on. Are there certain ones I should get for this project?

YES

he has the resistors he used on his site, I eould suggest using the same as you are building the same thing

For my LED's I required 5x 180 Ohm resistors and 1x 330Ohm resistor.

330 goes in the middle

Specifically these resisters are required for 3-3.5 Volt LEDs. Use this site that he linked http://ledcalc.com/ The guy used a 9Volt battery 20 milliamps desired and 11 LEDS. adjust the voltage for your LEDs.

rfalias

This is a sham!
I thought it was going to be a real one.

This is a Fark Reactor!

area

Timothy Leary Come Check Out This Theory wrote: »

DIY arc reactor (instructables)

I made this one over the summer, and it came out really well. I wish I'd used thicker wire for mine, but it's more than adequate for my purposes.

I'm just going in a suit though - I definitely cannot pull off a wifebeater. I intend to source a martini glass for added class though.

rfalias

area wrote: »

Timothy Leary Come Check Out This Theory wrote: »

DIY arc reactor (instructables)

I made this one over the summer, and it came out really well. I wish I'd used thicker wire for mine, but it's more than adequate for my purposes.

I'm just going in a suit though - I definitely cannot pull off a wifebeater. I intend to source a martini glass for added class though.

Scotch glass...
Tony would dare not drink a martini!

An-D

I will have scotch.


Okay, I made the basic circuit, and got some cheap LEDs that I could burn to see if this worked. And...the two connectors that go to the center would work, but the negative-positive circles on the in and outside of the circle wouldn't make anything light up. I have them crossed correctly, and the battery is good.

Have I done something wrong?

Dunadan019

An-D wrote: »

I will have scotch.


Okay, I made the basic circuit, and got some cheap LEDs that I could burn to see if this worked. And...the two connectors that go to the center would work, but the negative-positive circles on the in and outside of the circle wouldn't make anything light up. I have them crossed correctly, and the battery is good.

Have I done something wrong?

LEDs usually have a direction to them indicated by one side being flat (negative) make sure all of them are oriented correctly.

Infidel

An-D wrote: »

Than I connect the negative sides of the LED lights to eachother, because every other one is in contact with the negative circle (plus a resistor). Do I have that right?

The electricity is flowing in one direction. It only flows through diodes in one direction, anode to cathode. The anode is the longer of the two leads coming off the LED, and should be connected to your red wiring in the diagram. Note that means red to the long leg of the first LED, black to the short leg of the second LED, and therefore you connect different legs together between the LEDs.

If you connect two LEDs anode-to-anode or cathode-to-cathode, you are blocking most current in both directions, so nothing is happening. Sounds like you did this in your quote above?

NotASenator

Did somebody call me?

Pheezer

I don't want to be harsh here, but you might want to consider backup plans just in case you can't pull this off in time. This is dead simple in terms of electronics projects but if you've never done it before, trying to learn under a deadline is never easy. Working under a deadline is one thing, but learning that way is something else.

That said, if you're not sure if your shit is set up right, don't waste time soldering anything. Wrap the stripped bits of wire around the leads coming off each LED, and secure them with electrical tape until you've got it working. Once you've made it work, then disconnect the power and start soldering.

Also my suggestions for anyone ever looking to get into soldering:
1) Buy a soldering iron, not a gun. The tips are finer and better for small contact work and the heat control tends to be WAY better.
2) Don't spend more than $20 on a soldering iron. You don't need anything fancy. Find places that specialize in electronics supply and components, warehouse style places. The prices for everything will be way better than you'll find at a hardware store.
3) Never buy acid core solder because you'll fuck up any PCB you use it on. I know you probably have no plans to go at a PCB right now, but let's face it: One day you might, and rolls of solder tend to hang around for a long time in an amateur hobbyist's toolbox. You don't want to realize halfway into a repair job that you've completely fucked whatever it was you were working on because you forgot what type of solder you bought two years ago.
4) Use as little solder as humanly possible on any contact, and secure things in such a manner that you're not using soldered connections in a load bearing fashion. That is to say, you don't have LEDs hanging by the solder point. An LED doesn't weigh much and shouldn't break the point, but if it's swinging around and bumping into things because it's on your chest and you're drunk, you don't want the only breakable component that can't be fixed without ripping everything apart and pulling out a soldering iron to also be the thing that all of your lights are hanging by.
5) It's easier to solder two wires together if you twist them around each other first, then just apply a dab of solder to hold it together.

An-D

I know this is a simple project and I'm stubborn (and I like to think I'm smart), so I'm sure I'll be able to figure it out. Through trial and error at first, and than if that fails, I'll go to one of my engineering/computer science friends and see if they can guide me. I have all the right tools (soldering iron etc) but just require some know-how. I am Radio Shacking tomorrow to pick up resistors and to replace the LEDs that I blew out through my initial trial and error attempts.

Pheezer

Pull out your yellow pages and look up electronics supply places. You will find components for up to 1/10 of what the Radio Shack price is. Specialty supply places are the best by far. Also the people working there will frequently have some basic familiarity (if not reasonably advanced knowledge, lots of electronics engineers get these sorts of jobs to cover bills while they're in school) and might even have useful advice.

An-D

I BUILT IT IN MY APARTMENT!! WITH A BOX OF SCRAPS!


Still finalizing things. Soldering stuff (its just tied together now), painting it and I may throw on another layer of resin (I'm worried that it might mess with the thermal plastic. Anyone know? Should I worry about the LED lights melting it?)

Also, the party is tomorrow. What kind of drink should Tony Stark have? I'm thinking of getting a bottle of scotch unless someone else can think of a classier idea.

Thanatos

An-D wrote: »

Also, the party is tomorrow. What kind of drink should Tony Stark have? I'm thinking of getting a bottle of scotch unless someone else can think of a classier idea.

Gin! Tony Stark is a martini man.