LED candle suggestion?

nquinn · 2018-04-18T21:42:17.000Z

Anyone have suggestions for small LED candles for a bedroom?

Looking for something with a low temperature (2700k or so?), similar to actual candle-light. Ideally could use a rechargeable battery and not button-cell batteries to save cost. Not sure what good options are out there.

Lightbringer · 2018-04-18T21:43:54.000Z

You want it out-of-the-box, or are you willing to mod/build something?

nquinn · 2018-04-18T23:59:42.000Z

Lightbringer:

You want it out-of-the-box, or are you willing to mod/build something?

Out of the box. Was looking at stuff like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Set-of-4-Rechargeable-LED-Candles-Flameless-Candles-with-Charger-No-Battery/350765672406?hash=item51ab4367d6:g:rSoAAMXQ1PNRZw8I

eBay

3 Piece LED Flameless Candle Set with Remote 4 and 8 Hr Timer Battery Operated...

3 Piece LED Flameless Candle Set with Remote 4 and 8 Hr Timer Battery Operated.

Maybe cheaper though - 1 or 2 would be enough.

Vegas_LED_Fan · 2018-04-19T20:28:47.000Z

I picked up one of the wax candles this morning at my local Goodwill outlet store. I read your post earlier in the day and just happened to see a 10 cm (~3.8”) tall candle like the one shown in the second link. It was only 75 cents so I figured it might be something worth trying. It’s nice when lit. Certainly worth what I paid for it.

If you are not going to use it frequently where having the remote control is nice, I’d suggest buying the set without it. If you read the reviews below the offering, the first review says the remote control was defective. Not a good sign for a brand new item. A 3 candle set w/o remote is as little as $6.55 postpaid Candles for sale | eBay

Seems like it is off season for a Halloween item. I can see that a mod for this would be to make it work on a single 18650 li-ion battery. Most LED lights that run on 4.5V AA or AAA batteries will also run on li-ion batteries and for an extra $1.75 I could add a remote control to the light housed where the existing AAA batteries are located or simply wire it to a 4.5V DC wall converter.

As to the other set of lights you linked (rechargeable tea lights). I wouldn’t buy them. Don’t expect anything more than a regular cheap tea light and if you buy 10 of the regular tea lights at a time they are about 55 cents each. I’m not a fan of lights that run on button cell batteries, even rechargeable button cells. Those tea lights are powered by a single LIR2032 button cell. The capacity is 40 mAh. I know because I bought a couple of $3 chip-on-board, USB rechargeable, LED bike tail lights recently. They are bright and well worth the $3 but they are throw-away lights when the Li-ion battery goes bad. I took them apart to see what was in the light. The power source is one LIR2032 battery. A replacement battery costs $1.85 but all are rated 40 mAh. Obviously it doesn’t make sense to replace the battery on a $3 light when it finally dies. However it should be good for a couple of years and about 500 recharges.

nquinn · 2018-04-19T20:38:00.000Z

Vegas LED Fan:

I picked up one of the wax candles this morning at my local Goodwill outlet store. I read your post earlier in the day and just happened to see a 10 cm (~3.8”) tall candle like the one shown in the second link. It was only 75 cents so I figured it might be something worth trying. It’s nice when lit. Certainly worth what I paid for it.

If you are not going to use it frequently where having the remote control is nice, I’d suggest buying the set without it. If you read the reviews below the offering, the first review says the remote control was defective. Not a good sign for a brand new item. A 3 candle set w/o remote is as little as $6.55 postpaid Candles for sale | eBay

Seems like it is off season for a Halloween item. I can see that a mod for this would be to make it work on a single 18650 li-ion battery. Most LED lights that run on 4.5V AA or AAA batteries will also run on li-ion batteries and for an extra $1.75 I could add a remote control to the light housed where the existing AAA batteries are located or simply wire it to a 4.5V DC wall converter.

As to the other set of lights you linked (rechargeable tea lights). I wouldn’t buy them. Don’t expect anything more than a regular cheap tea light and if you buy 10 of the regular tea lights at a time they are about 55 cents each. I’m not a fan of lights that run on button cell batteries, even rechargeable button cells. Those tea lights are powered by a single LIR2032 button cell. The capacity is 40 mAh. I know because I bought a couple of $3 chip-on-board, USB rechargeable, LED bike tail lights recently. They are bright and well worth the $3 but they are throw-away lights when the Li-ion battery goes bad. I took them apart to see what was in the light. The power source is one LIR2032 battery. A replacement battery costs $1.85 but all are rated 40 mAh. Obviously it doesn’t make sense to replace the battery on a $3 light when it finally dies. However it should be good for a couple of years and about 500 recharges.

What would be involved in converting from 3xAAA to 1x18650 though?

Vegas_LED_Fan · 2018-04-19T22:01:18.000Z

The wax candle has only two parts, the wax part and the LED and battery pack with switch. It took about 10 seconds to just pop the bottom part out of the candle. I’d probably go with the 4.5V DC wall converter as I know I can pick one of those up at the second hand stores easily and for less than a dollar. Cut the end off the wire coming from the converter. I would drill a small hole through the side of the candle, insert the wire through the hole and solder it permanently to the leads coming out of the battery box, and then pop the bottom back in place. If the light does not light you have the + and - leads reversed. The switch on the bottom will still work. You can see a picture of the innards here: http://tinypic.com/m/k2lsw4/1 Of course, never put standard batteries in the light when it is run off a converter.

I tested the light and it would not work on the Li-ion battery. I have done it often and this is the first failure. I guess it seems simple to me as I have dabbled with a lot of LED Christmas lights and LED bike lights where I didn’t want to use throw away batteries so replaced them with Li-ion batteries. Both the batteries and holders are cheap.

Sometimes the result isn’t very elegant but it works. A $2.50, 100 lumen, chip-on-board headlamp converted to a bike light. Went from 3 AAA to one 18650 battery. http://tinypic.com/m/k2lt15/1 and http://tinypic.com/m/k2lt1e/1 Even the cheap Chinese 18650 battery will run the light for about 2 hours between charges or switching out the battery for a fresh one.

Nicolita · 2018-06-19T01:22:30.000Z

Try a Flameless Candle, like a real candle but easier. No open flame means it’s a safe option for those with pets or children or for locations that don’t allow open flames. Flameless Candles are also ideal for anybody who prefers the peace of mind of knowing they didn’t leave a candle burning in their home. Easy On/Off switches or remote controls mean you don’t need to fumble with matches or lighters, and allows for placement in hard to reach places like on a high mantel or shelf. Our wide variety of candle styles and shapes means there is a perfect option whether it’s for an outdoor wedding, a dinner party, or just everyday home ambiance.

hanoilighting208 · 2018-08-01T10:11:56.000Z

nquinn:

Lightbringer:

You want it out-of-the-box, or are you willing to mod/build something?

Out of the box. Was looking at stuff like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Set-of-4-Rechargeable-LED-Candles-Flameless-Candles-with-Charger-No-Battery/350765672406?hash=item51ab4367d6:g:rSoAAMXQ1PNRZw8I

3 Piece LED Flameless Candle Set with Remote 4 and 8 Hr Timer Battery Operated | eBay

Maybe cheaper though - 1 or 2 would be enough.

it’s so urly :person_facepalming: