In keeping with my tendency to prefer to build/develop a solution instead of just buying something off the shelf, I've completed a super quick and satisfying solution for my new Kobalt tool chest. I wanted some localized lighting while working in the top work area. I looked online to see what was available commercially and found this . Yeah, no way I was paying that much for that, just the justification I needed to go and find myself a DIY solution. Initially, I was going to use a magnetic switch I had layi
The PCB design took me all of about an hour and then I went on to building an enclosure I could print for it, I'm really enjoying learning more about Fusion 360, they now let you import your Eagle PCB into your 3D design, which drastically simplifies getting a perfect fit with the first print. I modeled a quick enclosure that would fit the PCB and components and waiting on my boards from OSHPark.com.
Installation was pretty simple, I grab a 12V 2A power supply I had laying around (I never throw away a working power supply) and with a bit of black hot glue, had everything installed and ready to test out. Voila, I had an automatic LED light that cost me all of about $15.00USD, and I learned a whole lot about how to build thermally isolated dissipation pads on PCBs, drive MOSFETs as switches and import Eagle Cad PCBs into Fusion 360 to simplify enclosure modeling.