DIY Night-Light Kit

Night-lights can be found in many homes, even yours! Build your own night-light or lantern with this fun engineering project.

The circuit you build using this kit is just like the circuits you would find in a night-light at the store. With the included light-sensitive photoresistor, your night-light circuit will detect the light level in the room and turn on when it is dark. Want it to turn on sooner or shut off earlier? Use the potentiometer knob to fine-tune how much ambient light it takes to make your night-light shine. 

This hands-on project includes three LED light colors so you can customize your fun engineering project. Want to take your project to the next level? Design a cute cup creature, flashy firefly, a Chinese lantern, or your own creation using materials from your home! 

Follow these links for instructions to start creating.

Make a Night-Light

Engineer an LED Night-Light 

Nurture your student’s passion for engineering with this thrilling, hands-on experiment!

• Breadboard, 170 point, solderless, plug in
• Transistor, MOSFET N Channel TO-200
• Photoresistor, 16 kΩ to 500 kΩ
• Potentiometer, 10 kΩ
• Jumper wire, 22 AWG, 0.75”
• Resistor, 30 Ω, ¼ watt
• Battery holder for AAA cells
• 4 AAA batteries, alkaline, 1.5-volt
• Super Bright Red LED
• Super Bright Yellow LED
• Super Bright Orange LED