CREATIVE SWITCH – FAIRY WAND – Mackenzie Carlson

For my creative switch project, I decided to build a fairy wand. To build one yourself, you’ll need:

• 5 LEDs
• Copper tape/conductive tape
• Soldering Kit
• 4 coin cell batteries

The first step to building a fairy wand switch is laying out your circuitry. I decided to use a series circuit, so the conductive tape is just going to go in one line around the edge of the star. Make sure to leave gaps for the LEDs. Once the tape is laid out, solder the 5 LEDs to the tape, making sure the anode is on the right and the cathode is on the left. Check to make sure that there aren’t any breaks or tears in your tape that could disrupt the circuit as well.

The second step is to feed the positive end of the conductive tape through the staff part of the wand, making sure that there’s extra facing up on the end so that the batteries can make contact with the tape. Put all 4 coin cell batteries in the bottom part of the staff.

Next, tape the negative end of the conductive tape on the outside, bringing it down far enough that it can connect to a moveable flap on the end of the staff.

Cover up the tape and circuitry with whatever decoration you like and voila! Pressing the flap at the bottom of the staff will light up the wand!