Making a glass with automatic backlight

A glass with automatic backlighting, which turns on when there is liquid in it and turns off when the liquid runs out, will certainly become not only a beautiful, but also a unique decoration of the festive table.

We offer you to watch a video of this beautiful homemade



In order to make such a glass in home conditions, we need the following materials and tools:
- pliers or pliers;
- a small nail;
- dowel;
- Super glue;
- an elastic band for banknotes;
- two plastic glasses;
- Light-emitting diode;
- 3 volt battery;
- a piece of wire;
- two buttons;
- flux;
- solder;
- soldering iron.

First of all, we have to make three holes in the bottom of the glass. One hole for the LED should be in the middle, and two for the buttons on the sides.


We will make a large hole for the LED with a dowel, and two for the buttons with a stud. In both cases, the dowel and cloves need to be heated on fire.


Now we insert the buttons into the holes, then the LED and carefully glue everything so that the design is completely tight. The button carnations should look down.

Next, slightly shorten the cloves of the buttons, since they are very long for our glass.

Now go to the connection of the LED. The long leg, which is also known as the anode, is positive, and the short leg or cathode is negative. Accordingly, solder the anode to the plus of the battery. We don’t touch the cathode yet.


Solder the battery minus to one of the buttons.


Solder minus the LED to the second button. Thus, we get a gap that does not allow the LED to light up, and the gap will close the water or other drink.


Finally, we need to take care of the tightness of the battery compartment and the LED. To do this, take an elastic band for a bill, fold it in half, put it on a glass with an LED. We put the second one on this glass and squeeze it well, thus ensuring the complete tightness of the compartment with the LED and battery.


Now we can proceed to testing our original glass. Pour water into it and enjoy the beautiful sight.We pour out the water and the LED goes out.


In the end we will bring useful information. The world's first LED was manufactured by GeneralElectric in 1962.