Electronics tech question

[Eddie]

Im trying to install 2 very tiny 2mm leds as eyes in a figures head. they must be wired in series. These leds are SMALL ! Talking pin head here with two leads comming out!

Problem- I cannot insulate the leads from each other in the extremely confined space and heat shrink tubing for each lead is out of the question as they don't make tubing small enough.

Question can I use paint to insulate the leads and if so what kind?

Would a clear Lacquer be non conductive?

[compirate]

That is small (2mm dia, 2.5mm long, about the same as the thickness of 2 dimes)

How about sealing them with silicone? It would hold the wires apart and cover them.

[jmtech]

Some people have used a thin coat of clear finger nail polish as a good insulator.

[fast toys]

I use liquid electrical tape. You can get it a bunch of places and it works really good on hard to get to stuff.

http://www.plastidip.com/home_soluti...cal_Insulation

[MrGoodBurn]

I use liquid electrical tape. You can get it a bunch of places and it works really good on hard to get to stuff.

http://www.plastidip.com/home_soluti...cal_Insulation

That was my thought... I use it all of the time on small stuff. It works real well. You can also use a conformal liquid used to seal PCB's that have been scratched.

http://shop.willyselectronics.com/br...fm/4,7360.html

[Eddie]

You guys are good! I actually thought of using Plastidip I never knew they made a product for my specific need... Liquid tape!!! Thx for the info

As for clear nail Polish that sounds like it may work as well only I would be afraid that it might crack over time in the application that I am using, as there are tons of vibrations that the leds will be subjected to.

[Youngjedi]

Are you lighting up Barbie's Eyes?

[luckydog]

it sounds like a cool pinball mod

[rilaw]

+1 for silicone. I have had sucess with it in the past with an led mod...

[Eddie]

Here are some pics I took to give an idea of what is involved

1 The size of the Martian and the LEDs compared to a Pachinko ball. Note I have already drilled out the eyes!

2 Close up of the great drill work LOL. The eye holes are perfect.

3 One LED in place fits like it was made to be there.

4 Back of head hollowed out for LEDs Head was solid and the neck is very thin the material is not that easy to work with! Note the LED leads from the left eye.

After the leads have wires connected they run down through a hole drilled into his back from behind his neck.
The Martian in this last Posted photo is LARGER than the actual Figure!!!

If I succeed it should work like this

http://www.pinballnews.com/learn/martians.avi

[luckydog]

he's acting a little crazy after his brain surgery

[Eddie]

Lol

[rubberratt]

Orange Silicone Tape

Thin and soft !

Radio Shack

Hot glue Awesome for almost any application

[Eddie]

The LEDs are so small and delicate I didnt want to risk the heat of hot glue on them.

The leads are so close together and small on each LED and the eye sockets have no room to spare for leads and excess tape material to pass through. I already tried LOL

A big problem is that the LEDs must enter the head from the face not from the back of the head as there would be no way to insert the LEDs into the tight eye sockets
from the back of the head as you would have to push them very hard, somehow, without breaking the leads.
You cant push them with a small screwdriver or scribe between the leads there is No space and you cant push the LEDs on the edges around the leads as once again there is no space ie. not enough edge to push against. These suckers are small LOL

It would be impossible to tape each lead perfectly separate in this particular application if at all.

I believe the only solution is to coat each lead with an insulating material thereby retaining the same amount of space and not risk breaking the Leads within the LEDs trying to separate them enough to tape them properly.

[daverob]

I'd expect that some insulation stripped off from a similar gauge wire to the leads (or something a little larger for the soldered joints), would be the neatest solution.

Personally I'd use expandable rubber sleeving (we call it Hellerman sleeving over this side of the pond), but it's not much use if you don't have the special three prong pliers to expand the sleeving over the wire/joint.

[Eddie]

You mean Heat shrink? I would use it if I could find some small enough.

The smallest that I have is still to big. It wont shrink down small enough to grab the leads!

What is a 3 prong plier ? How does it work?