An electronic flash is a necessity when you are trying to shoot in dimly lit or dark places. You can make an electronic flash using parts taken out of a disposable camera and combining them with parts from a hobby store and hardware store. You will also need common hardware tools found around the house.
Instructions
1. Cover a table with newspaper for a work area, and use the jeweler's screwdriver to remove the screws from the disposable camera. Remove the battery compartment lid from the back of the disposable camera. Discard the battery.
2. Insert the screwdriver into the seam and separate the two shells of the disposable camera.
3. Remove the screws from the disposable camera's circuit board. Remove the screws from around the flash. Lift the circuit board and the flash out of the disposable camera and set them on the newspaper.
4. Touch the contacts of the capacitor on the circuit board with the tip of the screwdriver to discharge any electricity. Push down on the metal contact at the center of the circuit board. Solder the metal contact down.
5. Cut four sections of 6-inch electric wire with the wire cutters. Strip the insulation off the ends of the wires using the wire strippers.
6. Solder one end of each wire to each of the two contacts surrounding the metal contact that is now soldered down.
7. Place the circuit board on the perf board. Solder the sides of the circuit board onto the perf board.
8. Use the nibbling tool to cut the AA battery holder in half, so it holds one battery. Solder a free end of one of the two wires from the metal contact switch to the positive contact on the battery holder.
9. Solder the end of the other wire to the negative contact on the battery holder. Solder the other end to one of the two contacts on the bottom of the hot shoe plate adaptor.
10. Solder the free end of the other wire attached to the metal contact switch to the other contact at the bottom of the hot shoe plate adaptor.
11. Place the flash onto the perf board. Use bonding glue to set the flash onto the perf board. Let the bonding glue dry for at least a day.
12. Put a AA battery into the battery holder. Place the battery holder against the back of the perf board. Attach the battery holder to the perf board by wrapping the electrical tape around the two of them.
13. Place the battery pack against the side of the camera. Wrap the elastic strap around the side of the camera and the battery pack to secure them together.
14. Put the hot shoe plate adaptor into the hot shoe contact on the top of the camera. Aim the camera, take a picture and fire off the homemade flash you have made.
Tags: battery holder, circuit board, disposable camera, perf board, metal contact, onto perf, onto perf board