Want to see a piece of the galaxy on your ceiling? How to do this is described below.
I've been dreaming about doing this project for several years, and now it's finally ready. It took a fair amount of time to implement it, but the final result was so wonderful that it was worth it.
A little about the project itself. I tried to do everything with my own hands to the maximum, which gave me complete creative freedom. As a result, I have the constellations of the northern hemisphere, control over star clusters using the remote control (brightness and color), response to music, backlight control, and, most importantly, the ability to change anything. I chose Arduino as the platform for all this because I am familiar with its programming. The MSGEQ7 chip was responsible for responding to music; the Internet is full of its descriptions. For communication, I used an NRF24L01 I had lying around. The PCA9685 servo controller is well suited for controlling a large number of LEDs. If you want to do something simpler and cheaper, you can look for ready-made kits on Amazon, but if you are interested in doing everything yourself, like me, then you will need the following skills:
- Introduction to Arduino programming.
- Experience in electrical circuit design and soldering.
- Working with alternating current.
Many people ask me the cost of the entire project. It's quite difficult to give a specific figure since I spent a lot of materials and it all depends on how much of it you decide to do yourself, the size of the project, etc., however, I think it could range from a few hundred to a thousand dollars. I worked on it on weekends, and it took me about a year to finish everything.
Making a night light from foil and a glass jar
In order to make a projector with your own hands, you can use ordinary glass jars. This option for making a night light is simple in that holes are made in foil, which is placed inside a glass jar. Being a thinner material, foil is easily pierced, unlike the sides of a tin can. To make such a projector at home, you will need the following materials and tools:
- glass jar with a screw-on lid;
Note! It is better to take a jar that is not “pot-bellied”, achieving a minimal difference between the diameter of the neck and the container itself.
- thick foil;
- awl;
- ruts;
- scissors;
- awl;
- flashlight or any other lighting device. A regular candle will do. With this design, you can use candles without much danger, since the lamp can be screwed tightly, thereby eliminating the possibility of fire in the apartment.
This projector is made by hand using the following algorithm:
- We measure the neck of the jar. Using these dimensions, cut out the required piece of foil. When rolled up, it should fit freely in the jar;
Note! When measuring the foil, remember to leave a small gap for “pinching.” If this reserve is not left, the foil will open and a gap will form, which will disrupt the created “starry sky” effect.
Preparing the foil
- After that, we proceed to making holes in the foil using an awl. Here you can also be guided by a specific hole pattern or do everything chaotically;
- then we twist the perforated foil into a tube and carefully insert it inside the jar. To prevent the foil from unwinding inside the container, it must be glued at the edges;
- After that, carefully place a flashlight or candle on the bottom. You should be very careful with the candle so as not to burn the foil. Therefore, to place it, you should use a long wire, which has been given the required shape (in the form of a spatula).
After that, screw the lid on and the projector is ready!
Ready projector
Such a lamp will have a more presentable appearance. In addition, it is more reliable, because the risk of fire is minimized, even if an ordinary candle is used as a light source.
Types of projectors
The effects created with its help directly depend on which light generator is used in the construction of a stretch ceiling. There are two main types of projectors used to create a star ceiling. These are mechanical and electronic devices. In mechanical projectors, a small electric motor rotates a special filter, which, in turn, changes the color of the light output. In electronic devices, color is controlled using LEDs controlled by a controller that operates according to a given program.
Although a mechanical projector is a little noisy during operation, it is capable of producing interesting lighting effects. Thanks to it, the stars on the ceiling can change their color in a random order, while some luminaries are just beginning to turn yellow, others are already going out or, conversely, acquiring a reddish tint. The dimensions of a mechanical projector are larger than those of its electronic counterpart, and this should be taken into account when choosing a place to install the device.
StParsek FORUMHOUSE user
It is necessary to clarify one point - whether the color change in the design of the light generator is chaotic or not. I think they will change simultaneously. In this regard, a projector with a mechanical color changer produces a more interesting picture.
Electronic light generators are silent, can be programmed and are able to interact with the user via a remote control. The only drawback of modern electronic projectors is the simultaneous change of colors. That is, all the stars turn on, go out and change colors at the same time.
Star lighting with Swarovski crystals
If you think that the ceiling of your apartment deserves the best design, there is a solution to make it ideally illuminated. We're talking about Swarovski crystals that can perfectly diffuse light from an optical fiber.
Using special reinforced rings, these objects are attached to the lower surface of the stretch ceiling. Then one or more fiber optic strands are inserted into them. This allows you to get several clear and bright rays cast in different directions. Thanks to Swarovski crystals, you can create bright constellations and realize no less extravagant design ideas.
Universe on the ceiling
You can also create a “starry sky” in the room using spotlights and special finishing of the ceiling surface. Spotlights will look great on a stretch ceiling, whose surface was originally stylized to resemble the night sky.
Ceiling in the style of "starry sky"
Making such a ceiling with your own hands is quite problematic due to the complexity of installing a tension covering, which requires special construction equipment. In this situation, spotlights are of great importance, which should help achieve the desired effect. Of course, if you are not a professional builder, then it is unlikely that you will be able to make such a ceiling yourself. But this option is too beautiful not to be mentioned at least in passing. If you dream of “settling” an entire galaxy on your ceiling, then there is no better way.
Making a night light from a tin can
The easiest and fastest way to make a projector with a “starry sky” effect is to use a lamp from an ordinary tin can. It is worth noting here that absolutely any cans can be used as the basis of a lighting fixture. It is only advisable to give preference to those banks that are of sufficient size. A small tin can won't do much good. It is better to use a container from condensed milk or canned fruit.
Note! The choice of the size of the tin can should be made according to the dimensions of the room. In a small room, the “starry sky” can be realized with a small lamp, but for a large room you can use one large jar or several small ones.
It is also worth noting that to do it yourself you will need a small set of materials and tools. The list of required items includes:
- tin;
- an awl or nail (even a bent one will do);
- paint of any color, but it is advisable to give preference to darker shades: blue, purple, black. This way you can create a suitable lamp in appearance and surroundings;
- autonomous light source. It can be a regular candle, a portable flashlight, or a stand-alone light bulb.
The process of making such a night light looks like this:
- Wash the selected tin well. It must not only be washed, but also cleared of the label. This is very important to do, especially if you plan to use a candle as a light source. An open flame can burn the label and cause a fire;
- Using a nail or an awl, we make through holes in the jar on its side edges and on top;
Note! The holes can be made randomly, or you can use a star map to create familiar outlines of the constellations. In the latter case, you can simply apply a design to the jar and make holes through it.
Making holes
- paint the jar in the chosen color;
- We put a candle or any other light source and cover it with our finished jar on top. That's it, the lamp is ready.
Ready night light
As you can see, you can make such a lamp with your own hands very quickly, spending about half an hour on it.
Making a night light from a can and LEDs
The night light, which is made from a can and LEDs, by and large does not relate to star projections, but it looks no less impressive than the two options described earlier. In addition, making such a lamp with your own hands is no more difficult. However, such a projector will cost a little more. To work you will need:
Ready LED night light
- glass jar. Some craftsmen recommend using a glass bottle. But the bottle in this situation will not be entirely rational, since it is difficult to place foil and LED strip in such a container;
- foil made of dense material;
- LED strip or several LEDs;
- drill;
- awl.
Here, the process of manufacturing a lighting device, an analogue of a “starry sky” projector, follows the same scheme as for a glass jar. The differences here are that LED strip is used as a light source. Because of this, such a design will cost a little more, since LED is not very cheap. But here some difficulties arise with the installation of related equipment (power supply when using an LED strip). To do this, you will have to drill a hole in the glass and thread a wire through it.
LEDs give a beautiful glow that will give the evening or night a special charm.
Features of making a lamp yourself
Starry sky option
It would be very good to make a lamp with your own hands, which plays the role of a projector. Why is it better to make a projector rather than buy one? The answer is obvious if you study in detail all the existing advantages:
- All materials needed for work can be found at home if desired. If something is not found, then the purchase will not cost too much;
- you will get your own “starry sky” quite quickly, without spending a lot on a factory model;
- If you wish, you can create a real star map using a drawing of familiar constellations.
In addition, all the work can be done with a minimum set of materials and tools. You can create a home projector “starry sky” in various ways. Let's look at several options in more detail to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each.
What can be done?
Remember, the most beautiful night lights with your own hands are created more easily in a friendly family company. The theme of the product may depend on the child’s personal preferences. You need to find out from him what he loves most. It could be a cartoon, a movie, or the sea.
You can start from here, the main thing is that the craft is safe and provides the necessary functionality - it illuminates the room in the dark. Then the little person will be happy and you will not worry about the safety of using the created assistant.
