Customizable LED Desk Lamp with Touch Control

Create a modern LED desk lamp featuring touch-sensitive brightness control. This project introduces basic electronics and simple soldering, resulting in a functional and stylish gadget perfect for any workspace.

Tech & Gadgets Beginner 4 hours $25
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare your lamp base by designing where the LED strip will be attached and where the electronics will be housed.
2. Cut the LED strip to the desired length following the cut marks.
3. Connect the LED strip to the Arduino Nano: solder a 220-ohm resistor to the data input line if needed.
4. Connect the touch sensor module to the Arduino: power (5V), ground, and digital input pin.
5. Program the Arduino with code that reads the touch sensor input and cycles through brightness levels (e.g., low, medium, high) to control the LED brightness via PWM.
6. Test the setup on a breadboard first to ensure the touch sensor controls the LED brightness correctly.
7. Once confirmed, solder connections securely and mount the electronics inside the enclosure or lamp base.
8. Attach the LED strip neatly around the lamp frame or base using hot glue or double-sided tape.
9. Connect the power supply via USB to power the Arduino and LED strip.
10. Finalize assembly and test the touch control functionality.
11. Optionally, decorate or paint the lamp base to personalize your project.
Materials
LED strip (5V, flexible)
Touch sensor module (capacitive touch)
Arduino Nano or similar microcontroller
5V USB power supply or power bank
Small breadboard or custom PCB (optional)
Resistors (220 ohm and 10k ohm)
Jumper wires
Soldering iron and solder
Plastic or wooden lamp base (can be repurposed from an old lamp or crafted)
USB cable
Hot glue gun or double-sided tape
Small enclosure box for electronics (optional)
More Projects You Might Like
Wireless Phone Charger
Wireless Charging Station for Multiple Devices
Wire Photo Holder
Portable Smartphone Projector
Smartphone Stand with Wireless Charging
Smart Mirror with Touch and Voice Control
Smartphone Stand with Wireless Charger
Smart Plant Watering System
Smartphone Projector
Smartphone Stand with Wireless Charger
Wooden Smartphone Charging Dock
Wooden Smartphone Stand with Cable Holder
Wire Frame LED Party Lanterns
Custom Bluetooth Speaker with LED Visualizer