Design & Make a 3D-Printed Ryobi 18V Light

I light up a bulb with an 18V battery by 3D Printing a custom mount. Links and more in the full description! ADAPTER IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR SALE! https://300mpg.org/shop/
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EDIT: There has been considerable interest by Ryobi fans who do NOT own a 3D printer who are interested in purchasing this adapter. Because of that, we are making them available for sale: https://300mpg.org/ryobi-18v-light-bu...

For this project, I was inspired by two simple 3D objects - one that goes on a Ryobi 18V battery and one that holds a lightbulb. I basically just wanted to put the two of those together and then have the terminals connected with nickel strips, as those are easier to shape and fit within a 3D print.

I used a low current, low temperature, low voltage lightbulb. These are typically used for landscape lighting and are also great for campers, RVs, solar projects etc. Many low voltage LED light bulbs will run on a range of voltages. The bulb runs straight off the 18V battery, with no need for power conversion. This LED light bulb is TWICE as bright as the Ryobi lantern I own.
The best bulbs I have found are the LeMeng brand. They are specifically designed to run anywhere between 10 and 30 volts: https://amzn.to/3T3Fjp3

On a 4 AH battery, this light will run for about 10 hours.
It appears that the internal BMS on the battery will cut power at 2.8V/cell, so you can't accidentally over-discharge your battery. I ran the battery overnight. In the morning, but bulb was off. The voltage was low, a little over 14V. I put the battery on the charger and it recharged fine.

.STL Files referred to in this video:
Simple Ryobi Battery Clip - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:119...
Light Bulb Socket - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:423...
Final 3D Ryobi Bulb Holder - https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:533...

If you simply want to BUY an adapter, you can do that at: https://300mpg.org/ryobi-18v-light-bu...

Thank you to Chris, "Nerys" on Thingiverse, for the 3D design work.
If you like projects like this, check out the one's on Chris' channel -    • RYOBI Hacks, Solar, Batteries  

Tools and Materials:
Ender3 S1 3D printer: https://amzn.to/3iNNWkk
PLA Filament: https://amzn.to/3JW5LJS
I had some 8mm Nickel which I cut in half: https://amzn.to/3LmnlqI
But the project is otherwise designed for 4mm, such as: https://amzn.to/3DjQFvi
(I bet even aluminum foil would work! Somebody try it and let me know!)
DC LED Light Bulbs: https://amzn.to/3qO1Ozv
And if you have a PowerWheels or anything else you want to use a Ryobi battery with, you might want to look at: https://amzn.to/3tPqdqh

The actual 3D print itself took less than 3 hours. It was printed with HEATED BED, NO SUPPORTS, and ZERO FILL.

If your light bulb doesn't fit the threads perfectly, just warm up the print with a hair dryer for a few seconds and then thread the bulb in. Makes for a perfect fit.

If you DO cut some nickel strips in half, keep in mind it CAN be sharp. If you need to pull hard on it, use a needle-nose pliers, NOT your fingers. (Ask me how I know!)

Here's a video showing specifically how to thread the nickel strips through the 3D print:
   • Ryobi Light Bulb Adapter: How to Install N...  

Hope you like the project!

If you like what I do you can support me at:
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Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
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