McClean:BlueLightSetup

Overview

This protocol describes how to connect blue LEDs for cells which need to be incubated in blue light.

Luxeon Blue LED. The light shown below is no longer produced. This is similar. [1]
XITANIUM 12W 350mA Converter Converter Sold Here(Update if link is broken)
TE Connectivity AMP Connectors 2058943-1 Connector Sold Here(Update if link is broken)
Cable Stripper
Any 120W power cable, with the end opposite from the power plug stripped.
Electrical Tape
Solder and Solder wire
OPTIONAL: To connect multiple Blue Light LEDs to one power source:
- Any circuit breadboard
- Connecting wires for the breadboard.

Step 1 Connect Power Plug to XITANIUM converter. The converter has two small pins which can be pushed down (shown by my pen in the photo). Push the pin down. Keeping the pin down, insert the stripped cable wire. Release pin. The cable wire should resist being pulled out if this is done properly. Repeat for both wires and corresponding pins. Wrap in electrical tape.
Step 2 Solder Connecting wire to the sides of the LED.
Step 3 Insert the connecting wire to the XITANIUM converter. Plug it in.

In this protocol, we connect multiple blue LEDs in parallel to the same power source.
Step 1: Plug in the end of the Connecting wire to a breadboards power channels.
Step 2: Connect the LEDs to a small wire which touches the breadboard's power strip on one side and the LED on the other.
- To know which way the current should flow, guess and check. I didn't break my LED by doing so.
- Ignore the black wires which are attached to the LED. The previous person soldered a Connector on each LED and I left them, but you only need one TE Connectivity Cable per breadboard. The TE Connectivity AMP Connector is plugged into the same channel where the Red wire is. The red wire connects this to the main power strip. The yellow cables are plugged into the power strip and soldered to the LED. Not shown: The other side of the TE Connectivity Cable is connected to the other breadboard power strip. This other side of the LEDs are connected to this other power strip via a soldered wire.
Step 3: Wrap everything in electrical tape. Test it.
Step 4: Find a spot in your incubator and tape it in. Appreciate your futuristic incubator.

Please feel free to post comments, questions, or improvements to this protocol. Happy to have your input!

List troubleshooting tips here.
You can also link to FAQs/tips provided by other sources such as the manufacturer or other websites.
Anecdotal observations that might be of use to others can also be posted here.

Please sign your name to your note by adding '''*~~~~''': to the beginning of your tip.

Gietz, R.D. and R.A. Woods. (2002) TRANSFORMATION OF YEAST BY THE Liac/SS CARRIER DNA/PEG METHOD. Methods in Enzymology 350: 87-96.