Anyone added working headlights to a Childs Pedal Car ?

[Arlie71]

Hi
Hope this is the right place.

So I have just bought my daughters Christmas present, a pedal fire engine ( go to Amazon.co.uk and search for Great Gizmos Fire Engine Classic Pedal Car )

I would love to have the headlights work, at the moment they are just plastic dummies, but everything unscrews.

So was thinking of small battery operated LEDs with a wire to switch on the dashboard, but never done things like this before so was hopeing for some advice from all you experienced model builders out there.

Main issue is to make sure its safe, that the lights, battery box and switch can be made toddler proof and that it cant overheat etc. (she is 3 but loves taking things apart.)

Any feedback greatfully apreciated.

Cheers

Andy :-)

[pmessling]

You could buy a plastic enclosure box from maplins, use a 9v battery, wired to a switch and the LED's, one each side

like these flashing ones.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/10mm-flashing-red-led-uk...

And velcro the box out of sight.

LED's dont get hot so nice and safe, and 9v battery should last a while, and no danger with one if hidden.

[wooly350i]

I was going to say what he said !!

[Arlie71]

Hi
Thanks for the replies both of you.

Can I ask a really stupid basic question.

If I want a nice big Chunky switch on the dashboard do I need any special thickness / type of wiring to go from the switch to the battery box and to the LEDs ? Do I need to add fuses or anything ? or is it simply a case of run wire from switch to 1 LED then wire to Next LED then to battery box then back to switch. (Yep I may be 43 but I dont even the know the basics with wiring :-) )

Also any hints to best way to mount the LEDs within the plastic headlamp ?

Pics to show what I mean

[pmessling]

No need to fuse it, unless you lick a 9v battery you wont get a shock from touching the wires. Using a big switch for a kid is great, less likely to break and good for a kid to play with.

You could just use some speaker wire and choc block connectors if you dont fancy soldering it together.

As for mounting the LED's hot glue gun will work fine.

Now all you have to find is a siren, or mount a bell.

[steveo3002]

yeah any wire will do they dont need alot

if you havent already got some led , you want superbright ones idealy

[steveo3002]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-Superbright-5mm-White-...

these pre wired ones might suit you...incase you didnt know a regular led off the shelf needs a resistor wiring inline so it doesnt pop , the ones in the link will just work as is

[Arlie71]

Thanks both of you.
Will hopefully get it built this weekend.

As for the Bell/Siren am way ahead of you, ordered one of these



Is loud enough to wake the dead :-) also got a proper bell with a piece of rope to the clapper so she can ring it like mad while driving, and have just sorted out a blue flashing beacon.

Mrs still doesnt know I bought it, is not an easy thing to hide !! But should give my little girl a huge smile on Christmas Morning and keep her busy while I cook dinner.

Cheers for the advice again, I know its the simplest of things to do, just good to get the reasurrance that I hadnt missed anything important out.

Andy :-)

Andy