Range hood lighting

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My range hood lighting sucks. Since I’m limited by 12 volt, camper style hoods AND because they ALL have sucky lighting, I am making my own using “ring LEDs”. Adding modes controlled with a push button and an ON/OFF switch potentiometer dimmer.

The ring LED shown are RGB. They do not produce a satisfying white light economically.

Adafruit company released NEOpixel ring LEDs with 4 addressable color. RGB and White. They were out of stock so I put the project aside. Finally have some on the way so the project continues. The RGB consume ~60ma per LED to produce bright white. The 4 color will reduce that to ~20-30ma for bright white I believe. I will be using an off the shelf 12v to 5v buck converter.

I whipped up a prototyping block for my potentiometer with Shapr and printed it. about 45 minutes start to finish. If I could find a potentiometer with an ON/OFF switch and momentary push switch that would be ideal.

Now to research what printer filament for the clear cover for the LEDs and circuitry that will put up with some heat.

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I am moistly doing this for fun and to keep my aging brain from going soft. Shapr does help!!!

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For LEDs like this I think you could get away with translucent PLA, translucent PETG should do just fine. I’ve used translucent PETG for various LED covers and never had an issue with it warping.

However, if these are bright enough, you may want to just use a non-translucent material to get some light diffusion going. I’ve made a photography lighting rig with LED boards and used just matte PLA as diffusion sheets to get more even lighting. A single 0.2mm layer.

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Looks good! I like it.

Being as it is in the range hood It might have to be at least PETG and more likely ABS. I’ll be monitoring the temp above the stove top for a couple days. I can make the framework out of black ABS and use glass for the LEDs. I have the glass, tools and know how.