Auto-Off Hack of Tap Light LED

Overview

The project illustrates how a tap light has been modified in order to provide a delay for about 3 minutes when the button is pressed off.

Explanation

The delay in turning off the LEDs can be adjusted with the capacitor and resistor and for this setup the LEDs will be kept for about 3 minutes before they get too dim to be usable. Any tap light can be used and be modified. In that device, the existing ON/OFF switch must be removed and can come in handy for some future projects along with bulb and socket. A 12mm square momentary switch was used instead which was positioned on top of the plastic housing using hot glue.

Since the lens on the tap light is quite opaque, super white bright LEDs is preferred so the light will not be diffused well. If the LEDs are not bright enough, it might result to a tap light the does not light up very much. To get the LEDs to fit nicely into the plastic housing the legs should be bent and ensured that all the anodes and cathodes are pointing the same direction away from center.