Bear Grylls' survival programs are getting more and more popular every day. extreme conditions wildlife. More and more people are thinking about the environmental friendliness of certain household items.
We bring to your attention the opportunity to independently make a flashlight that runs on water, which will not harm the world around us and will be able to work an unlimited amount of time, if there is a source of water nearby.
When you read this for the first time, you thought it was a joke. However, it has been experimentally confirmed that the flashlight works on ordinary tap water for about thirty minutes, with an increase in salts in the water, and simply speaking, using sea water, the continuous operation time increases to two hours.
Remembering the school physics course, you understand perfectly well that our water battery consists of copper and zinc plates, water is an electrolyte. Unfortunately, the output voltage isn't too high, so you'll need to build a fairly simple boost converter to get enough current to the LEDs.
For assembly, you need to purchase the following components:
PVC pipe 10 cm (3/4 inch) long;
PVC adapter from ¾ inch to 1 inch;
A small ferrite bead (you can remove a similar one from a non-working housekeeper);
Transistor 2N3904(NPN);
1K resistor;
LEDs and a reflector (you can also remove it from an old flashlight);
Copper and zinc electrodes;
Copper single-core wire in lacquer insulation;
4 sheets of toilet paper;
A piece of clear plastic.
You will need the following tools and equipment:
1) Soldering iron;
2) Glue gun;
3) Superglue.
A water battery will serve as a power source for the future flashlight. As we said above, it will consist of two metal plates. The copper plate is the anode and the zinc plate is the cathode.
Step-by-step instructions for making a flashlight powered by a water battery:
1. Take 3 sheets of toilet paper and wind them around the copper electrode (power plus), then attach the zinc electrode (power minus) to the resulting roll and twist the rest of the toilet paper around both of them.
2. Wrap the resulting roll with copper wire, laying the winding rings at a distance of about 1 centimeter between them, in order to subsequently preserve the integrity of the toilet paper and prevent it from deforming and tearing when it gets wet.
3. Choose a cap of the appropriate size, plastic is best. If you do not want to look for such a cover for a long time, you can cut it yourself from any piece of plastic found at home.
4. Make two slots in the cover suitable for the electrodes. Insert electrodes wrapped in toilet paper in the slot and strengthen the connection with sealant (can be replaced with superglue).
5. Familiarize yourself with the boost converter circuit. In the second diagram, the boost converter is drawn in more detail.
6. Assemble the converter according to the diagram. Solder all the details.
7. Glue the reflector with LEDs and radio components to the PVC adapter.
8. Cut out a circle of transparent plastic with a diameter corresponding to the diameter PVC pipes. With it, you will see the remaining amount of water.
9. Fill the flashlight with water.
The launch of water lanterns is a mass event that has been held on a regular basis in recent years, gathering more and more people who want to touch the mysterious ritual of making love wishes. To prepare for the next launch, you can make water lanterns quickly and easily with your own hands from improvised materials. And at the same time, get acquainted with a sad legend that is associated with a floating bowl in the shape of a lotus.
Learning to make water lanterns with our own hands: the legend of the lotus
According to one of the beliefs, there was a tribe on the shore of Lake Khanki, in which there were girls of unearthly beauty. One of them was Lota, who was distinguished by her white skin color. However, she was always sad because of her unrequited love for the young man Entoi, who was in love with the impregnable Eine.
One day she sent him for a gift that no one had seen before. A year has passed, but the young man has not returned. And Lot died in the waters of the lake, unable to bear the separation from her beloved. However, Entoy soon returned after an unsuccessful search for home and saw the beautiful flower that Lota became after death. He plucked an unprecedented plant and presented it to his beloved. After that, they lived happily ever after.
And the flower was named after the girl Lotus and he died only after the death of the young man. Since then, Lotuses have been blooming on the water, and people, remembering this beautiful story, let out floating lanterns, wishing to find true love.
Let's move on to the MK for making a water lantern from fabric
A simple way to make a Lotus water lantern from a light fabric (tulle or organza), which everyone can do.
You will need:
3) Scissors;
4) Marker;
5) Thin wire;
6) Substrate.
Sample:
Manufacturing steps:
1) 8 petals are cut out of light fabric for each flashlight.
2) We cut the wire into 8 parts with a length of at least 30 cm. We give each blank the shape of a petal and glue it onto fabric parts.
3) We cut out a small square blank from the substrate, thanks to which the flowers will be floating. And we begin to form two rows from above, each of which will have 4 petals.
4) In the center we glue a circle of cardboard. This is a candle holder.
It remains only to light the fire and check the resulting lanterns by running them in the bathroom.
We make a flashlight from corrugated paper with our own hands
This method is similar to the previous one. However, crepe paper water lanterns look more realistic and magical.
You will need:
1) Corrugated paper in different colors;
2) Styrofoam;
4) Scissors.
Manufacturing steps:
1) From a piece of thin foam, cut out two small circles that will be needed to make one flashlight.
2) From corrugated paper, using a ready-made template, we make nine petals and five green leaves. These blanks should be slightly twisted, giving the volume necessary for realism.
3) We proceed to the formation of a water lantern. To do this, glue the leaves to one of the foam circles, and attach the second one on top.
4) From the petals we form two rows of a flower, attaching a small candle to the middle to hide the smeared core.
The result is a very delicate lanterns!
Using the skills gained as a result of studying these master classes, you can make other types of water lanterns, some of which are shown in the photo.
Video materials on the topic of the article
Relatively recently, you built a beautiful artificial reservoir in the country. It looks elegant, the guests are delighted, and you like everything. But there is always a feeling that something is missing. Some kind of zest, the last point or something.
You can improve the landscape miracle with additional lighting. It will take quite a bit of time and effort, but after installation, your pond will simply shine. ABOUT proper arrangement illumination we will talk with you.
What can be the backlight for the pond
All light sources can be divided into 2 types:
- Surface.
- Underwater.
Surface lighting is considered the safest and relatively easy to organize. It is outside, and does not touch the water surface. True, it illuminates only the upper part of the reservoir. A type of surface lighting is considered to be a sealed lamp. It will float on the surface of the water.
Surface lighting The underwater lighting option is much more interesting. Together with it, the water acquires a mysterious glow, the volume of the pond visually increases. The effect will increase several times if plants are planted at the bottom, decorated with stones and other elements.
underwater lighting "Underwater" equipment for fountains and ponds is 100% hermetic, has a special waterproof coating. There are no strict requirements for the color of the lamps. It can be absolutely anything. Each lighting device is installed on the bottom or walls. Of course, if the pond is not very deep - up to one meter. Otherwise, the light coming from the depth will not be visible at all.
Which lamps to choose for surface lighting
For a better understanding of the situation, we propose to consider various options for lighting fixtures in the pond. And, of course, choose the best one.
- Incandescent lamps. The simplest and affordable option. But with a small caveat. It is always necessary to place such a lamp in a special protected case. Due to accidental ingress of dirt or water, the device will quickly fail. Other disadvantages are obvious: fragility, a modest range of colors, fragility, high energy consumption. Even modern options fall short of setting really good lighting.
- Halogen bulbs or simply "halogens". The installation of halogen lamps can be recommended on the shore. They provide a sufficiently powerful stream of light and will be able to illuminate every detail in the pond. The use of filters will allow you to change the color scheme. Each device must have a sealed enclosure that can prevent any possible damage. Among the disadvantages is the high power consumption, especially compared to LEDs or fiber optics.
- LED lighting. The best choice for arranging lighting. Differs in simplicity of connection, profitability and safety. The backlight emits uniform light. Experts recommend installing LEDs even in ponds irregular shape, after all, the body of the lamps is very flexible. And if you additionally program the lighting, you can get an interval glow or bright colors of the rainbow in your area.
- Optical fiber. It consists of a searchlight or a lantern connected to dozens of translucent veins that transmit light. It also changes color easily and is not afraid of a humid environment.
Optical fiber for pond illumination What to buy for underwater lighting
All of the above types of lamps can be installed under water. The only condition is that they must be enclosed in an airtight casing.
- Discharge lamps or tubes. They are divided into three types. They consume a minimum amount of electricity, last much longer than other incandescent lamps, give a soft, pleasant glow. However, there are also disadvantages. These are relatively large dimensions, the need to purchase additional control gear, the presence of toxic elements. Far from the best the best choice for the pond.
- Fixtures on solar panels. There are surface and floating.
Thus, it can be concluded that the best choice for organizing lighting LED lamp, optical fiber.
Video review of the lamp
Floating lights - popular models on the market
From a safety point of view, it is best to organize a floating backlight. There are many models and dozens of manufacturers on the market. Below we will tell you about the most popular and in demand.
- body of water in classical style. It is better to buy the same strict flashlights here. Small children's ponds are equipped with various kinds of figures of animals, characters of favorite fairy tales. The Russian company Diorit XXI produces lamps that are original. They float gracefully on the water, powered by solar panels. In addition, such floating lights are very economical.
- RemiLing, Stone lamps. They also run on solar panels. In addition to realistic stone imitation, they are characterized by democratic value. They are used to illuminate the pond on the shore, and are also suitable for organizing underwater lighting.
- Floating lighting by Aquael. A unique lighting option from a Polish company. Thanks to him, in the country you can create truly extraordinary beauty. Imagine a device of three lamps, the body of which is made in the form of a large water lily. Lamps are three flowers. They are made so precisely and professionally that no one will be able to distinguish them from a living water lily.
Lanterns on the water As you can see, there is no need to make water lanterns with your own hands. They are sold ready-made and look amazing.
Pond illumination example (video)
Illumination of a pond with a fountain
What to do if a fountain is installed in the country, and you want to diversify it with some kind of lighting? Let's figure it out.
glowing fountain So, when organizing the lighting of modern fountains in artificial reservoirs traditional and specific lighting options can be used. For example, you can install a backlight with a rotation function, which will consist of several lamps of different colors. Fasteners are carried out under water.
You can also find lighting for mini-fountains in stores. With its help, organizing a fountain with lighting is very simple. The backlight is installed on the nozzle, and then illuminates the fountain from below.
Illumination for fountains and ponds can be organized using the following spotlights:
- Underwater. They emit a flood of light, attached directly to the bowl.
- With reflected light. They allow you to direct the flow of light to specific details.
- With divergent beam. Use them when you need to illuminate individual streams, cascades.
- With a parabolic beam. Allows you to design a fountain with composite water jets.
- With parallel beams. It not only illuminates the jets of your fountain, but also paints them in a variety of colors.
Of course, there are situations when, for some reason, it is not possible to install a pump in a reservoir, to equip a fountain. For example, your pond is too deep. In this case, floating pond fountains come to the rescue. Advanced models have a fog generator.
floating fountain The Chinese Jebao FLD -36 looks very unusual. Has the following characteristics:
- Diameter 36 cm.
- Height 17 cm.
If the fountain imitates a volcano, the water will rise to a height of about 2 meters, the fountain in the form of a bell - 60 cm. Equipped with a beautiful, mysterious mist-smoke generator, LED backlight. Its power is 3 watts.
When it comes to illuminating the coastline, bollards come to the rescue. This is the name of the lanterns-columns 1 meter high. The distance between them varies from one to four meters and depends on the power of the light.
conclusions
We hope that after reading our article you will be able to arrange lighting that will perfectly match the design of the pond, personal plot. Illumination gives unforgettable emotions, truly fabulous sensations. Therefore, you will definitely like it!
Because their launch is considered a mass event, which in Lately takes place regularly and gathers an increasing number of people who want to plunge into the world of mysterious rituals of making love wishes. There is a beautiful legend that water lanterns - either in the form of a paper lotus flower, or in the form of a white cube with a lit candle inside - help to fulfill the most secret dreams and desires.
Workshop on creating a fabric water lantern
To make such a flashlight, you will need to use light fabric (tulle or organza), glue, scissors, marker, thin wire, substrate. Even a beginner can handle the work on the product.
Sample
First you need to cut out 8 petals according to the template for each of the lanterns.
Then cut the wire also into 8 petals with a length of at least 30 cm. Then it should be shaped into a petal and glued to the fabric part.
Using a substrate, it is necessary to cut a blank in the shape of a square so that the flowers are floating and float on the water. Then, starting from the top, it is necessary to form a couple of rows, in which there will be 4 petals.
Then in the middle you need to glue a circle of cardboard - this will be a support for the candle.
Finally, all that remains is to light the fire and test the flashlight by putting it on the water in the bathroom.
Making lanterns from corrugated paper
This method is similar to the previous one. water lanterns, made from corrugated paper, have the most realistic and magical look.
For the manufacture of this product, it will be necessary to use corrugated paper of different shades, foam, glue, scissors.
Execution process
From a piece of thin foam, cut a couple of small circles that will be needed to create one flashlight.
Then from corrugated paper, using ready template, make petals in the amount of 9 pieces and five green leaves. After harvesting, you need to twist a little, thereby giving them the desired realistic volume.
Water lanterns can be made from various improvised materials. Their launch is considered a mass event, which has been taking place regularly recently and attracts an increasing number of people who want to plunge into the world of mysterious rituals of making love wishes. There is a beautiful legend that water lanterns - either in the form of a paper lotus flower, or in the form of a white cube with a lit candle inside - help to fulfill the most secret dreams and desires.
Wish fulfillment lanterns
There are two options for flashlights. For the realization of romantic and spiritual dreams, a flashlight, decorated in the shape of a lotus flower, will help. And for the fulfillment of material or ordinary pragmatic dreams, cube-shaped lanterns will help.
To make dreams come true, you should light a candle in the middle of a water lantern, then stand with it, holding it in your palms. And at the same time, think about your most secret desire, concentrating at the same time and by the power of thought, attracting the realization of your cherished dream. And then you need to lower the attribute into the water, like a boat, let it go with the flow. All good things must come true!
Often, water lanterns are allowed not only by young dreamers and romantic natures, but also by people of completely different age categories. They approach the pond in pairs or one at a time, because everyone wants love and well-being, no matter what social status their marital status or age.
Even families with children are suitable so that every child is happy. The spectacle at such moments is fascinating when you see the eyes of a child making his most cherished wish to a personal water lantern and believing that his dreams will come true.
Legend
The legend tells that a tribe lived on the shores of Lake Khanki, in which there were girls of unearthly beauty. One of them was called Lota, and she was distinguished from all by her white skin tone. However, she was sad all the time, as she was unrequitedly in love with the young man Entoy, and he, in turn, loved the impregnable Eine.
One day, Eine sent Entoy to get a gift that no one had seen before. But a year later, the young man never returned. And Lot committed suicide in the waters of the lake, as she could not stand parting with her lover. But still, Entoy returned, having not found the right gift, and saw the flower that Lota turned into after her death. Having plucked it, the young man gave it to his beloved, and they began to live together happily ever after.
And the flower later got its name in honor of the deceased girl - Lotus. And he wilted only when the young man died. From that moment on, lotuses grow on the water, and people who remember this beautiful legend launch floating lanterns into the water, in the hope of finding true love.
DIY fabric water lanterns
To make such a flashlight, you will need to use light fabric (tulle or organza), glue, scissors, marker, thin wire, substrate. Even a beginner can handle the work on the product.
Sample
First you need to cut out 8 petals according to the template for each of the lanterns.
Then cut the wire also into 8 petals with a length of at least 30 cm. Then it should be shaped into a petal and glued to the fabric part.
Using a substrate, it is necessary to cut a blank in the shape of a square so that the flowers are floating and float on the water. Then, starting from the top, it is necessary to form a couple of rows, in which there will be 4 petals.
Then in the middle you need to glue a circle of cardboard - this will be a support for the candle.
Finally, all that remains is to light the fire and test the flashlight by putting it on the water in the bathroom.
DIY water lanterns made of corrugated paper
This method is similar to the previous one. Water lanterns made from corrugated paper have the most realistic and magical look.
For the manufacture of this product, it will be necessary to use corrugated paper of different shades, foam, glue, scissors.
Execution process
From a piece of thin foam, cut a couple of small circles that will be needed to create one flashlight.
Then, from corrugated paper, using a ready-made template, make petals in the amount of 9 pieces and five green leaves. After harvesting, you need to twist a little, thereby giving them the desired realistic volume.
Using the petals, form a flower in two rows, and attach a small candle in the middle, under which you can hide the soiled core.
The output should be original delicate lanterns.
If you try out the skills that were obtained after studying the master classes described above, you can arrange other variations of water lanterns, some of the samples are shown in the photo below.
As you can see, it is enough just to make your dream come true. The main thing is to stock up necessary tools and materials, choose the time for creativity and have a strong belief that a wish released into the water with the help of such a flashlight will come true!
A selection of videos on the topic
