Building "Disney-like" Indiana Jones flickering tunnel lamps is really quite simple. All
you need you can find at any electronic store, such as Radio
Shack and your local hardware store.
Note: Since this project uses electricity, young children should
be monitored by adults when building this project.
Difficulty:
Intermediate hobbiest
Parts
List
Light bulbs (white bulbs, not clear and < 50 watts ) and pig-tail light sockets
Lamp electrical cord (as long as necessary to light your walkway)
Wire Nuts (two per light, two for the switch, and one more)
1 two prong electrical plug
Black electrical tape
Flourescent light starter (the fifteen to thirty-five watt range)
Pusshbutton or toggle switch rated for 120/240 volts
Hobby box
Grommets
Building
Instructions
String the lights in series to the electrical wire using wire nuts (wire - light socket - wire - light socket ... wire - light socket - return wire)
Drill three holes into the hobby box. One to hold the switch. The other two to allow entry and exit for the electrical wire.
Mount the switch and grommets in the holes.
Mount the two prong electrical plug on a six foot section of electrical wire.
Strip 1/2 inch of insulation off the end on the six foot wire with wall plug, the start of your lamp run, and on either end of a 6 inch single wire section
After pulling it through the grommet, attach one end of the six foot wire to the switch and tighten the restraining screw
Attach the 6 inch wire to the other side of the switch.
Protect the switch with electrical tape
Attach the free end of the 6 inch wire to one end of the flourescent light starter (you can use a starter socket or just twist or solder the wire to the lug)
After pulling it through the grommet, attach one end of the wire attached to the lamps to the other end of the starter
Cover the starter connections with electrical tape.
Attach the last two wire ends together using a wire nut.
Close the hobby box.
Attach the light bulbs to the light sockets. Changing the wattage will change the effect so you might want to experiments with various wattages and mixes.
Where to next?