Past Student Work

Light Up Mannequin Head

Posted by Sabrina on
Creator: Ally Gawrys
September 14, 2016
Creative Switch: Light Up Mannequin Head

Create a mannequin head whose eyes and necklace charm light up when necklace is put on. The circuit works with two separate parts when the necklace is to touched copper tape in the lower neck of the mannequin, all LEDs will light up. 

What you’ll need:
  • Styrofoam mannequin head
  • A long strand of wire
  • 220 ohm resister
  • Copper tape
  • 3 LED lights
  • Solder
  • Conductive thread
  • 9 V battery
  • Scotch tape
  • Rubber cement glue
  • Knife
  • (Optional accessories for the face)

Step one:

Assemble two blue LEDs to mimic the eyes on the doll. Attach one LED to another spacing them with another wire. Solder two very long wires to the other ends of the LEDs.

Step two:
Take the ends of each of the long wires and attach them back along the head and solder a piece of copper tape on each side of the lower neck
Step three:
Assemble the necklace by braiding pieces of conductive thread to wire, add a resister and a red LED and repeat on the other side of the necklace.
Step four:
Cut a hole in the back of the base to fit the battery in.
Step five:
Assemble, tape, and glue the headpiece on to the mannequin.
Step six:
Touch all components including the necklace component to the copper tape (may want push pins to stabilize) and each end of the necklace to the battery.
Step seven:
Remove tape and decorate the mannequin however you please. I attached false eyelashes and applied a lip color. 
Enjoy the finished product!