Random ambient LED video (Patreon)

exploring a "500" LED eBay light string (with schematic)

Every year I feel the urge to put out a video that makes people aware of the dangers associated with these horribly unsafe lighting strings widely sold on eBay for over a decade. This one is different though, as it has a rotary pattern selector (keeps last setting), so well worth reverse engineering. The main issues with these light strings is that they have poor electrical safety standards. Ultra thin and easily broken wire with no significant strain relief (the listing warns of a risk of breaking just while unrolling them!), loose covers over live connections on the controllers and often horribly under-rated resistors in the strings that can burn up. That seems to be more common with the shorter 100 LED strings. This one wasn't pushing the resistors too hard. I don't recommend having these lights where kids can play with them (all kids play with fairy lights) and where pets might nibble them inquisitively. Despite being advertised as suitable for outdoor use, these are NOT waterproof and will wick water between the wires and sleeving, resulting in a shock risk and fast failure due to DC accelerated corrosion. Note that in this video I did have exposed live electrical connections. As always, work to your own safety level. If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:- https://www.bigclive.com/coffee.htm This also keeps the channel independent of YouTube's algorithm quirks, allowing it to be a bit more dangerous and naughty. #ElectronicsCreators