Portable red LED's

[ianpallen]

I bought a LED chain, so the advert on ebay called it.
It came today and I wondered how to 'fit' it to the cage without a hamster climbing the bars and chewing the wire (if I fitted it direct to the cage)
I as then thinking of light reflectors on strip lights, but I dont have one in my shed. I have a plactic tub which I cut the bottom off.
The lights off ebay for £2.79 complete with battery switch box but no batteries. Free postage. (battery operated)
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/_57_zpsc3b4ae78.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/_57_zpsc3b4ae78.jpg.html)
The tub and then it with bottom cut off
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights001_zps59210c39.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights001_zps59210c39.jpg.html)
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights002_zpsb19014f9.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights002_zpsb19014f9.jpg.html)
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights003_zps5fde9f1b.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights003_zps5fde9f1b.jpg.html)
I lined the bottom with silver tape used in sealing heating ducts joins.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights004_zpsa65a822f.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights004_zpsa65a822f.jpg.html)
The lights switched on (not so dark shed)
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights006_zps1d09b570.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights006_zps1d09b570.jpg.html)
Glue the battery box to the bottom. The battery box lid is glued and I can still get in by sliding the battery case to change them.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights008_zps54a33347.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights008_zps54a33347.jpg.html)
Coil all the wire inside and glue in place with hot melt glue
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights009_zpsfae52149.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights009_zpsfae52149.jpg.html)
Lights on
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights010_zps89b1ecb6.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights010_zps89b1ecb6.jpg.html)
In situe on the cage. This can be moved to any cage or can be fixed to one cage with cable ties if desired.

[ianpallen]

The lights on the cage and even in daylight, you can see the reflection of the lights in the cage.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/2ndledlights011_zpsbe56bc3c.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/2ndledlights011_zpsbe56bc3c.jpg.html)

[spyro87]

Wow, I have to say you are one very handy man :D

I love all your home made hamster things. Brilliant. Truly. I may have to nab this idea so I can my own hams in the dark - they get up to such mischief when they think they're not being watched :o

[ianpallen]

Wow, I have to say you are one very handy man :D

I love all your home made hamster things. Brilliant. Truly. I may have to nab this idea so I can my own hams in the dark - they get up to such mischief when they think they're not being watched :o

Thanks. I put up the pics as a step by step so others can see how easy it is to make.
I will take a pic tonight when it is dark to see what effect it has on the cage.

I was thinking of making a unit similar with a computer cooling fan to draw heat out of the cage in hot weather. I could connect it to a 6v solar panel so it works in the day when it is warmer. Off to ebay to find a cheap fan. ;) .

Edit : Fan now bought .Waiting for it to be posted.

[spyro87]

That is epic!
A built in cooling system. Lucky hamsters you've got :D

This weather definitely requires it though!

[ianpallen]

That is epic!
A built in cooling system. Lucky hamsters you've got :D

This weather definitely requires it though!
Thanks Spyro. I suffer with the heat and the hams are wearing fur coats. i am hoping it causes a slight coolness draught above the cage.

Although I have bought a fan off ebay, it is only a 60mm fan. My laptop sits on a cake rack with a 75mm fan at the cooling fins side and the fan is / was adapted with a USB plug to cool my laptop quicker. I have used the 75mm fan and replace the side fan when it comes.
I cut another tub down to same height as the lights one (and sliced my thumb in the process. Beware of new sharp stanley knife blades.
I cut marked around the fan case and cut, leaving the corners rounded so I could glue the fan to the tub base. i have to wait to get a PP3 9v battery holder with switch to wire it up. Here is the basics.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/Hamsterfan001_zps3dadbc76.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/Hamsterfan001_zps3dadbc76.jpg.html)
Inside the tub. The battery holder will be hot glued inside when it arrives.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/Hamsterfan002_zps073b4e48.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/Hamsterfan002_zps073b4e48.jpg.html)

[dave123791]

Wow, this thing is EPIC!

All your DIY stuff are great and professionally made. And you also have your own work base: wish i could have my own work base instead of doing all my stuff in the shed: accompanied by mealworms.

[ianpallen]

Thanks Dave. I do my projects in my shed. It is a mess in there and there is only standing room just inside the door. It is a concrete shed and I had to put my own electrics in via a long cable from a kitchen socket. I dont have half the tools I would like, but I have enough to manage. My projects are not professional, but they are safe (even if I am not with tools. lol) and look fairly decent.
I enjoy making and upcycling things. It keeps my mind active, and having small furry pets, I like to make things for them. :D

[dave123791]

Thanks Dave. I do my projects in my shed. It is a mess in there and there is only standing room just inside the door. It is a concrete shed and I had to put my own electrics in via a long cable from a kitchen socket. I dont have half the tools I would like, but I have enough to manage. My projects are not professional, but they are safe (even if I am not with tools. lol) and look fairly decent.
I enjoy making and upcycling things. It keeps my mind active, and having small furry pets, I like to make things for them. :D

I have electricity in mine too but i put a solar panel on the roof. If i ever need more electricity i am connected to the kitchen socket via an underground cable. I have all the tools i need but no space to put them haha. I used to use our 2nd garage as we only had one car but my dad bought a 2nd car so i had to make the shed and get electricity in it. I got the solar panel for free on Gumtree. Your projects look way better than my ones. I'm not very creative.

[ianpallen]

The battery op led's at night. They light up really well in the dark. The cage does not need any more.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/newleds001_zps261cbce2.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/newleds001_zps261cbce2.jpg.html)
The light moved over to the right to light up the platform
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/newleds002_zpsba43881d.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/newleds002_zpsba43881d.jpg.html)
And Tarzan (still dont know wether to call him Boris) hiding in his coconut looking out.
http://i740.photobucket.com/albums/xx46/ianallen2/Hamsters/newleds003_zpsf2ac56a5.jpg (http://s740.photobucket.com/user/ianallen2/media/Hamsters/newleds003_zpsf2ac56a5.jpg.html)