DIY Flood Light:   Providing a Sufficient Lighting Solution

FACTS CHECKED BY  Bob Smith

Sometimes you may find yourself in a poorly lit, large outdoor area that requires sufficient lighting. This can, in turn, cause an inconvenience when you try to navigate your surroundings.  LED floodlights help solve this issue through their wide-angle design, electronic circuitry,  and ultra-bright lights. So you will no longer need to worry about getting lost in the dark. After all, nobody wants to feel unsafe during such an event.  Upon reading this article, you will fully understand the purpose of these lights and how to DIY flood lights. So let’s take a look!

What is an LED Flood Light?

Image showing floodlights in a soccer stadium. 

Image showing floodlights in a soccer stadium. 

LED floodlights serve as ultra-bright lights that will lighten up spacious areas. Or example, you may see them commonly deployed during a nighttime sports event. Plus, these provide excellent lighting conditions during outdoor events such as concerts or festivals. Different industries, organizations, and companies may also utilize these in a light fixture to brighten up specific areas.

LED floodlights come in various shapes and sizes. Nd you can utilize them for different purposes.

DIY Dimmable LED Flood Light

We introduce a practical lighting solution that will suit your needs. Use the below circuit diagram as a reference to build a floodlight.

Dimmable LED flood light Circuit diagram.

Dimmable LED flood light Circuit diagram.

Required tools and components:

  • 20W LED case – 1x
  • 20W LED – 1x
  • Thermal glue – 1x
  • 10K potentiometer – 1x
  • 10K resistor – 2x
  • XL6009 Boost Converter -1x
  • Bolts and spacers
  • Washer
  • 12V Female connector – 2x
  • 12V Male connector – 2x
  • Male car cigarette lighter connector – 1x
  • Wires – 4x
  • Soldering kit

Steps:

Follow these steps to complete the project:

Step one

The first step involves disassembling the LED floodlight casing. 

The first step involves disassembling the LED floodlight casing. 

Source: Wikimedia Commons

First, take the old LED flood light case and remove the LED driver. Afterward, remove the LED driver’s glue. You will need to utilize an adjustable wrench and plier to remove the wire’s waterproof seal. Next, remove the old LED by desoldering its connections and removing each screw. Ensure that you remove the old heatsink compound and apply a fresh layer. Afterward, insert a new LED and screw it in place.

Step two

This step involves the boost converter. First, desolder the converter’s potentiometer, which will serve as the trimmer potentiometer. So keep it nearby! Next, grab the 10K potentiometer and solder one 10K resistor to the central pin. Afterward, solder a wire to that resistor and another to the potentiometer’s left hook.

Next, the second 10K resistor is soldered to the other potentiometer’s middle pin. Apply a heat shrink tube to the connections. Then, connect a wire to the small potentiometer’s resistor and a second wire to the plug underneath the gold knob. Finally, solder these wires to the contact points where you removed the old potentiometer from the boost converter.

Step three

Adjust the LED’s forward voltage with a voltmeter. 

Adjust the LLED’sforward voltage with a voltmeter. 

Next, ensure that you set the LLED’sforward voltage appropriately. T should not exceed 30 Volts. Next, ensure that you set the LED’s forward voltage appropriately. It should not exceed 30 Volts. Otherwise, the LED will no longer operate due to burnout. To do this, connect 12V to the boost converter’s input and attach the voltmeter to its output. Afterward, adjust the dimmer potentiometer to the maximum setting. In this case, rotate it to the right. Next, turn the trimmer potentiometer counter-clockwise until the voltmeter displays 30 volts. Lastly, rotate the dimmer potentiometer to change the boost converter’s output voltage. It should have a maximum rating of 30 volts, which helps maintain the LED’s voltage range.

Step four

Solder two wires to the LED’s cathode and anode terminal. Next, attach the boost converter to the LED case via the spacers and bolts. You must connect the LED wires to the boost converter’s output. Make sure the polarities match.

Next, solder two wires to a 12V female connector. Ensure the polarities match. Otherwise, the boost converter will sustain damage if you disconnect the cables. Then, attach these wires to the boost converter’s input. Place the 12V female connector on the case in the drilled hole for the connector. Use a washer to attach the dimmer potentiometer to the point. Lastly, screw, put everything together, and install a knob with the dimmer potentiometer.

Step five:

A car can distribute power to your LED floodlight.  Connect a 12V female connector to a car’s cigarette lighter connector. However, you must also ensure the polarities match to prevent damage. Apply a heat-shrink tube to provide insulation for each part. Connect a wire with a male 12V connector to the cigarette lighter connector.

Lastly, insert the cigarette lighter connecter into the car. The floodlight should illuminate after connecting the wire’s opposite end to the floodlight. Also, the brightness will increase if you rotate the potentiometer.

Summary

Overall, an LED floodlight makes it much easier to host outdoor events at night. Plus, they provide illumination for many industries that require lightning. For example, construction sites can utilize these artificial lights in poorly lit areas. As noted earlier, you can also design and build one, making it a more affordable solution for your at-home needs.  Do you have any questions regarding LED floodlights? Feel free to contact us!

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