The LED candle project that went wrong (twice)

This project was supposed to be so easy. But a decision to add over-discharge protection backfired when I discovered that when the little DW01 lithium cell protection modules are powered up, they sometimes go into standby mode and can only be "woken" by charge current going into the cell.

I hadn't broken the wire on the LED (until I pulled it!). The module had just gone into standby mode.

On a plus note, the candle now has a USB-C charge port inside it for recharging the lithium cell.

I like to show my failures so you don't feel so bad when your own project goes wrong.

AliExpress has loads of flickering LEDs in all colours, but I've not been able to find packs of the newer style subtle version yet.

Here are the scripts for making the candle parts. You can copy and paste them into OpenSCAD to get custom 3D printing files.


The base:-


//Candle base
//Base thickness
base=1.5;
//Base diameter
basedia=50;
//Insert height
height=7;
difference(){
union(){
//base plate
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=base,d=basedia);
//insert
translate([0,0,base])
cylinder(h=height,d=23);
//reinforcing taper
translate([0,0,base])
cylinder(h=2,d1=25,d2=23);
}
//inner core
translate([0,0,1.5])
cylinder(h=10,d=21);
}
$fn=100;



The shaft sections:-


//stackable Candle shaft
//Height of main body
height=50;
difference(){
union(){
//Main body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=height,d=25);
//taper
translate([0,0,height])
cylinder(h=3,d1=25,d2=23);
//insert
translate([0,0,height+3])
cylinder(h=6,d=23);
}
//core
//Main body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=height,d=23);
//taper
translate([0,0,height])
cylinder(h=3,d1=23,d2=21);
//insert
translate([0,0,height+3])
cylinder(h=6,d=21);
}
$fn=100;



The flat top:-


//Flat candle cap
difference(){
union(){
//body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=6,d=25);
}
//core
translate([0,0,1])
cylinder(h=10,d=23);
//wick slot
translate([-1,-.5,-1])
cube([15,1,10]);
}
$fn=100;



The pointed top:-


//Pointed candle cap
difference(){
union(){
//body
translate([0,0,0])
cylinder(h=6,d=25);
//cone
translate([0,0,6])
cylinder(h=15,d1=25,d2=0);
}
//core
translate([0,0,-1])
cylinder(h=7,d=23);
translate([0,0,6])
cylinder(h=14,d1=23,d2=0);
//wick hole
translate([0,0,17])
cylinder(h=7,d=1.5);
//slot
translate([0,-.5,-1])
cube([15,1,22]);
}
$fn=100;




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