Stick a Fork in It, This LED Tester Is Done

When they want to test their electronic components, most people would find a suitable instrument from an electronics distributor. But Ian Dunn is clearly not most people. When Dunn wants to test a component, he heads for the refrigerator.

Dunn built a very, err… special device for testing LEDs. To be perfectly frank with you, it is frightening. But this surprising tester does work, so it has that much going for it, anyway. Not that that will give you much comfort as you lie on the ground being electrocuted, but you will at least know which of your LEDs are good.

The “device” is a hot dog that is plugged into a mains power supply line via forks that are stuck into each end of it. With that much juice running through the frank, there is enough energy to light up any LEDs that you stick into the meat-like substance. There is also plenty of energy left over to cook the hot dog, so you can have a wiener with all the fixins in about two minutes time. Never mind that slightly metallic taste. It’s probably fine.

Check out the full project write-up of Dunn’s 100% “Safe” 120VAC LED tester for all the details, but I would strongly urge you to pass on making this one for yourself.