Electronic soldering kits for LED mini-menorahs.
Available now in a few different LED color choices.
| Buy LED Mini Menorah kits
LED styles currently in stock:
Big 5 mm LEDs: Blue, White.
Mini 3 mm LEDs: Blue, White, Yellow
Kit Price: $10
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| So what's this all about, anyway?
Last year we released an open-source design for these LED mini-menorahs as part of our open source electronics projects for the holidays. You can download and modify the source code, use it to program your own microcontroller, and solder the microcontroller to some LEDs to help make your own holiday decorations. |
 | In order to make the project more accessible, we sell electronic soldering kits so that you can make your own LED mini menorahs-- without any programming. |
| Each kit, as built, has a battery box that holds three AA batteries, with 6-inch leads that go to the microcontroller which has the nine LEDs directly soldered to its pins. Our LEDs come in different colors and in two different sizes, 3 mm and 5 mm, which are shown in the pictures here:
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| Our mini-LED Hanukkah menorah is a modern update of the traditional hanukkiyah, the nine-armed Hanukkah candelabrum. Two candles are lit on the first night of Hanukkah (one "real" candle plus the uppity lighter candle, or shamash which apparently doesn't count), three on the second night, right up to nine on the eighth night. That's (2+9)*(8/2)=44 candles all together, for those of you keeping score. Ours works pretty much the same way, but uses less wax. When you turn it on, it steadily (without blinking or animation) displays the correct configuration of LED "candles" for a given night of Hanukkah. Each time that it is switched off and back on, it displays one more light than it did the previous time that you turned it on-- unless it showed all nine last time:  Just in case you do crave animation, there is also a neat demo mode (which comes after the 8th night) that cycles through the different configurations at a rate of about one "day" per second. |
 Each kit includes a pre-programmed microcontroller, nine LEDs in your choice of style, (empty) 3xAA battery case with switch, and clear printed instructions, all in a resealable antistatic pouch. You supply: soldering iron and solder, three AA batteries. Assembly is easy with the included comic-book style instructions. If you are in doubt about whether this project is for you, you just might want to download them and skim through before ordering. Menorah Instructions (400 kB PDF document). |
Ordering information:
| LED Menorah kits are in stock. We ship one to several times per week depending on order volume. You can pay for your kits securely using a credit card, bank transfer, or other methods through PayPal, even if you don't have a PayPal account. Use the secure shopping cart above to make your selections and place your order. Standard shipping is USPS Priority mail, 2-3 days to most addresses. USA orders: Flat rate $5 per order for as many parts, stickers, and/or small kits as you like.
International orders:
We ship international priority mail to most countries. Minimum shipping cost is $10.00 for Canada and $12.00 to most other countries, and covers up to five small items or kits.
Option 1: Contact us for exact shipping costs; and we can give you a custom invoice that includes the shipping costs.
Option 2: Use the shopping cart directly (which may not charge you correct shipping, especially for large orders). If necessary, we will send you a separate bill for the shipping costs. Ask us about the cost first to avoid surprises.
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Obligatory kit warning:
When building an electronics kit, use common sense and appropriate safety precautions. Keep in mind that it's possible to cook (destroy) both LEDs and microcontrollers with a soldering iron, so please solder carefully. If you really think that you are going to make big mistakes, consider getting an extra kit to begin with-- you'll save the cost of shipping that second box. |
Questions? Need help? | We've set up forums to discuss tricks, tips, and troubles with these projects, whether you got the components here or elsewhere. And, as always, please feel free to ask if you have any questions. |
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