How to Build a Chase Light Circuit Board

Circuit Board Drawing

• 1

  Place the wooden board on a work surface and draw the outline of the chase light circuit board so you know exactly where to put everything as you build it. Draw an approximate 12-inch diameter circle using a plate or something similar as the template.

• 2

  Draw the shape of a small battery at the base of the circle; the part of the circle that's nearest you. Imagine the circle is the face of a clock to draw the battery at the 6 o'clock position. Moving clockwise around the circle, draw a 1 x 1 inch square at the 9 o'clock position. This represents the chase light unit.

• 3

  Move around the circle and draw six, 1-inch circles using a coin as a template. Draw a circle at the 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, and 4 o'clock positions. These represent the lights.

Build Circuit Board

• 4

  Measure the distance between the drawing of the battery and the drawing of the chase light unit using a tape measure, but follow the line of the circle, not a straight line. Write down the measurement. Measure the distance between the drawing of the chase light unit and the first circle and write it down, then measure the distance between the remaining lights. Finally, measure the distance between the last drawing of the light right around the circle, until you get back to the chase unit. Write down the measurement.

• 5

  Cut nine strips of single-core AWG 16 gauge wire using a knife. The length of each strip needs to be one inch longer than each of the distances you measured; this allows enough wire to make the connections. For example, if the distance between the battery and the chase light is 5 inches, then cut a 6-inch strip. You only need to cut single strips for all the connections, except the one between the battery and the chase light unit; this needs two strips of wire the same length. Strip 1/4 inch of plastic off the ends of every wire using wire strippers. This exposes the copper strands that connect to the various items.

• 6

  Place the light bulb holders on the six small circles. Put the screws into the screw holes on the light bulb holders and screw the light bulb holders onto the wooden board using a screwdriver. Place the chase light unit onto its representative drawing. If the unit has screw holes, then screw it to the board using a screwdriver. If it doesn't, then use a couple of strips of electrical tape and place it over the top and stick the ends of the tape onto the board to hold the unit in place. Attach the battery to the correct position on the board using tape.

• 7

  Attach one end of the strip of wire that goes between the chase unit and the first light to the one of the "Out" terminals on the chase unit; it doesn't matter which one. Loosen the terminal screw using a screwdriver and insert the wire under the screw and tighten. Attach the opposite end to one of the terminals on the first light bulb holder. Loosen the terminal screw and insert the wire under the screw and tighten. Continue to attach the wires to the each terminal on the light bulb holders sequentially, using the correct length strips of wire, until you attach the end of a strip of wire to the last light bulb holder.

• 8

  Attach the end of a strip of wire to the remaining terminal on the last light bulb holder and the opposite end to the remaining "Out" terminal on the chase unit. This is the longest strip of wire. Attach the end of one of the remaining strips of wire to the "+" terminal on the "In" part on the chase unit. Attach the last strip of wire to the "-" terminal on the unit. Attach the opposite end of the wire connected to the "+" terminal to the "+" terminal on the battery. Connect the opposite end of the wire connected to the "-" terminal on the chase unit to the "-" terminal on the battery. Turn on the chase light unit and you will see the lights chasing around the circle.