Making light work of things

Upcycling Innovation: From Power-Hungry to Eco-Friendly

Our members don’t just use technology—they rethink it. When our club received a donation of old halogen spotlights, we faced a dilemma. They were massive energy hogs (drawing up to 500W!) and the yellow light was a nightmare for detailed maker projects.

Instead of letting them head to the landfill, member Mic stepped in.

Using a 12V power supply

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and repurposed LED strips,

he gutted the old tech and transformed it into a crisp, high-quality task light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Compared to the old halogen light which may have been brighter …

 

The Results:

• Better Visibility: Superior colour rendition for precision work.

• Massive Savings: Power consumption dropped from a measured 400 Watts to a mere 3.7 Watts.

• Zero Waste: Another piece of hardware saved from the scrap heap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in turning “trash” into tech? Whether you’re an electronics expert or just starting to tinker, we’d love to have your hands (and brain) in our workshop. We are all about learning and sharing knowledge. Come along to our next session, ask questions, share your ideas, and help us build a more sustainable future—one project at a time.