BlinkM Coin Cell Battery Holder
Description
Power your BlinkM or BlinkM MinM smart LEDs with this snap-together coin cell holder and BlinkM mount. Minimal soldering (just two solder dabs) required.
Includes holes for turning into a pendant and mounting additional diffusers over the BlinkM.
Includes holes for turning into a pendant and mounting additional diffusers over the BlinkM.
Instructions
Parts needed:
- one each of plastic pieces here (see the STL files)
- two CR2032 3V coin cells
- one 4-pos female header socket (Digikey S7037-ND or equivalent, digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?keywords=S7037-ND)
- two short pieces of solid wire (old resistor leads, 26 gauge wire stripped, etc.)
Steps:
1. Push the 4-pin socket into the hole until it stops. It should friction-fit in without any need for glue.
2. On the bottom, feed the two wire pieces in as shown in the photos, and solder them to the two pins on the header socket. These wires become the battery terminals.
3. Bend the wire battery terminals so they make good contact with the cells.
4. Insert coin cells, snap together top piece.
5. Insert BlinkM and watch it play its light sequence.
6. To protect the back, put a small piece of gaffers tape or similar over the terminals.
Now I don't really like coin cells because they're not rechargeable. But as a quick, portable way of showing off BlinkMs, this little coin cell pack does pretty well. There also exist rechargeable CR2032 cells. Since these are at 3.6V, you should probably use only one and fill the rest of the space with a penny or two as a spacer.
- one each of plastic pieces here (see the STL files)
- two CR2032 3V coin cells
- one 4-pos female header socket (Digikey S7037-ND or equivalent, digikey.com/scripts/dksearch/dksus.dll?keywords=S7037-ND)
- two short pieces of solid wire (old resistor leads, 26 gauge wire stripped, etc.)
Steps:
1. Push the 4-pin socket into the hole until it stops. It should friction-fit in without any need for glue.
2. On the bottom, feed the two wire pieces in as shown in the photos, and solder them to the two pins on the header socket. These wires become the battery terminals.
3. Bend the wire battery terminals so they make good contact with the cells.
4. Insert coin cells, snap together top piece.
5. Insert BlinkM and watch it play its light sequence.
6. To protect the back, put a small piece of gaffers tape or similar over the terminals.
Now I don't really like coin cells because they're not rechargeable. But as a quick, portable way of showing off BlinkMs, this little coin cell pack does pretty well. There also exist rechargeable CR2032 cells. Since these are at 3.6V, you should probably use only one and fill the rest of the space with a penny or two as a spacer.
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License
BlinkM Coin Cell Battery Holder by todbot is licensed under the Attribution - Creative Commons license.

I made these for a project my son was doing for cub scouts. Turned out great and he won 1st prize in the local and district competition. Thanks!!!!