DIY Network

Copper Board Etching and LED Installation Copper board etching and installing the LED lights From "Craft Lab" episode DCLB-238

Guest Syuzi Pakhchyan demonstrates how to etch the copper board and then drills the holes in the board and inserts the LED's in the copper panel.

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Project designed by Syuzi Pakhchyan.

Materials:

16 super bright (X) LED's (15 for the board; one for the testing circuit)
3" x 5" copper board
plastic tray
plastic tongs
etchant solvent solution to remove copper
rubber or latex gloves
drill and drill bit
nylon abrasive pad or "0" grade steel wool
clamps
wood

Figure A

Etching the Board

1. Follow the directions of your etchant found on your packaging.
   • Always use etchant in a well-ventilated area, preferably outside.

   • Never place etchant in a metallic container. Always use a plastic container and plastic tongs.

   • Do not dispose of etchant solution down any drain as the etchant removes copper and will damage copper pipes.

   • Dispose of etchant solution properly according to provided instructions on package.

   • Wear rubber or latex gloves when handing etchant.

2. Place prepared etchant in a plastic tray.

3. Place the copper board in the etchant solution. Wearing rubber or latex gloves, continually agitate the etchant solution (approximately 10-15 minutes).

4. Place in a bath of soapy water to get it clean.

5. Remove all the toner that is on top of the copper plate with a steel wool pad (figure A).

	Figure B
	Figure C

Placing the LEDs

1. Clamp the etched board onto a piece of wood, and drill holes in the center of each circle with a hand drill (figure B).

2. LED's are polarized which means that the current only runs in one direction. Typically, LED's have one long leg (anode) which is the positive leg and one short leg (cathode) which is the negative leg.

3. The circuit board pattern is designed so that all the positive legs of the LED's connect to each other and all the negative legs of the LED's connect to one another. The large circles are for the positive legs; the small for the negative legs.

4. Slip the legs of the LED's into the drilled holes (figure C), making certain that the long legs are always placed in the large circles and the short legs are always placed in the small circles.