SILICON LIGHT BALL

Silicon Light Ball, retail $24.95 (http://paintwithlights.safeshopper.com...)
Manufactured by (Unknown) for WiedaMark (http://paintwithlights.safeshopper.com...)
Last updated 04-30-09




Well, I don't think it's silicon; I think it's silicone, but the Silicon Light Ball, model SDL-107, is a small (3.2"), soft, white ball that has four LEDs, a driver circuit for them, and a rechargeable battery built in.

When you give the ball a little squeeze, it comes on, rewarding you with a multicolor display of LEDs that change colors by themselves. The ball has a milky white diffusion to it, so the entire ball is illuminated; you will not see the actual LEDs.

Since it's rechargeable, you never have to buy disposable batteries for it, and since it uses LEDs, you never have to fuss with changing light bulbs either.


SIZE



To use the Silicon(e) Light Ball, you might want to charge it first (see immediately below) just to be certain it's really topped off.

Pick up the ball and hold it by its top and bottom, and then squeeze and release it. This turns it on.
Repeat this action to turn the ball off.
Yes, it really is as easy as that.

You can place the ball anywhere you wish - within reason of course. I don't think you'd want to put it in the toilet bowl just for effect.



Since this product does not use disposable batteries, I don't need to tell you how to change them.

The Silicon(e) Light Ball is rechargeable, and comes with the charger you need.

To charge the internal batteries, remove the silicone "plug" from the underside of the ball, and place it where you won't lose it. Plug the end of the charger's cord into the receptacle you just exposed when you removed the silicone "plug", and plug the somewhat rectangular, cubical "wall wart" transformer into any standard 110-120 volts AC household receptacle.

According to the instructional material enclosed, charge the ball for 7 to 8 hours. This charge should provide 2 to 3 hours of total runtime on the ball before you need to charge it again.

Whent the charging cycle is complete, unplug the "wall wart" from the wall, unplug the plug in the ball's receptacle, and reinsert that silicone "plug" over the opening where the ball's charging receptacle is.



Since this is a decorative object and not a flashlight designed to be abused, I won't throw it, try to drown it in the toilet, stomp on it, run over it with a 400lb electric wheelchair, swing it against a steel rod, or otherwise abuse it like I might abuse a flashlight. So this section of the page may appear more bare than this section of the page on a page about a flashlight.

The Silicon(e) Light Ball appears to be at least reasonably durable, but the instructional materials do advise you to not drop it from a height of greater than 85cm (33.46"). There are no incandescent light bulbs inside the ball that could become broken, but the batteries, switch, and/or circuit could become dislodged.

The ball is not waterproof or submersible, so you should not use it in locations where it might fall into tubs, toilets, sinks, fishtanks, pet water bowls, or other places where water or water-like liquids might be found.

Admittedly, this is an eye-popping gadget, and as long as you don't throw it on the floor or in the toilet, you should receive a lot of enjoyment from it.



Here is a photograph of just one of the Silicon Light Ball's modes.


Spectrographic plot
Spectrographic analysis of the LEDs in this ball.


Spectrographic plot
Same as above; different part of the ball's cycle was captured.
USB2000 spectrometer graciously donated by P.L.



And here's a link to a Quicktime movie (.MOV file) of the Silicon Light Ball in action.
Dial-up users please note that this movie is 4,563,036 bytes (~4.4MB) in size.
It took 25 minutes 43 seconds to upload it via a 56K connection, so be aware of this when you click.
silicon9.mov
This is the format my digital camera produces movies in; it is not available in another format.


silicon0.avi
And here's another link to a WMP movie (.AVI file) of the Silicon Light Ball in action.
Dial-up users please note that this movie is 5,804,910 bytes (~5.6MB) in size.
It will take at least 30 minutes to load on a dial-up connection, so be aware of this when you click. This is the format my digital camera produces movies in; it is not available in another format.



TEST NOTES:
Test unit was sent by Mark of WeidaMark, and was received on the afternoon of 09-13-04.

The charger has a loaded output of 4.5 volts DC at 300mA.
The outside of the barrel on the plug is (-) negative, center is (+) positive.
Unloaded voltage is ~10 volts, which is normal for an unregulated wall wart like this.


UPDATE: 09-14-04
I charged my Silicon Light Ball overnight, just to be on the safe side.
It does look just a hair brighter, but I could be just seeing things here.


PROS:
Different than any other LED product that I'm aware of
Rechargeable batteries - never have to buy disposables for it
Reasonably durable construction


CONS:
Not water-resistant


    MANUFACTURER: Unknown
    PRODUCT TYPE: Soft, color-changing light orb
    LAMP TYPE: LED
    No. OF LAMPS: 4
    BEAM TYPE: N/A
    SWITCH TYPE: Pushbutton on/off inside ball
    BEZEL: N/A
    BATTERY: Unknown type and size rechargeables
    CURRENT CONSUMPTION: Unknown/unable to measure
    WATER RESISTANT: No
    SUBMERSIBLE: No
    ACCESSORIES: Wall wart charger
    SIZE: 81mm (3.2") diameter
    WEIGHT: 0.2kg (7.05oz)
    WARRANTY: Unknown/not stated

    PRODUCT RATING:

    Star RatingStar Rating





Silicon Light Ball * http://paintwithlights.safeshopper.com...






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