Hallmark ornaments made a great model of the Nautilus submarine from 20,000 leagues Under the Sea. It's very small and has batteries to turn on some LEDs to light several important windows. Unfortunately, Hallmark designed the lights to go out after about 20 seconds. This is a problem, I want to power the sub (boat) externally (hidden wires) and keep the lights on. Obviously, some form of plastic surgery will be required.. So, I started into the battery compartment with a Dremel tool fighting encapsulation material and battery compartment plastic... I was able to free the small push button which slightly protrudes the deck. This is a momentary button (not push-on, push-off), which initiates the timed illumination.
Having freed the power wires, and the blue switch wires, I was able to see them pass aver the ship's salon area and move upward into the wheelhouse where the second light is needed (the eyes of the monster) .. This is an area I will not violate with a jittery Dremel tool. There must be another way: What do you think of an onboard small circuit that when powered, will start the lights (the button is replaced by a very small solid-state relay or equivalent. When on, the LEDs draw 30ma with 3.3 DCV main. The AI circuit must know when the wheelhouse turns off the LEDs (no more 30ma flowing). Instantly, the solid-state relay turns them back on again!... and so on... forever.
Yes.. this will look like a reactor malfunction .. but, the ship is the first of its kind.. and probably there are some electrical issues .. perhaps some random dimming could be added.. but, that's an upgrade for later.
This boat is available on Amazon and eBay ... Has been around since 2010? Yet, Hallmark has lost the wiring diagram, and all info .. except that it uses LR44 batteries.. which it doesn't, tho it does say that in the battery compartment ... Actually it only uses LR41 .. but soon with your help, it will not use any batteries.. Thanks much .. regards, Michael
Having freed the power wires, and the blue switch wires, I was able to see them pass aver the ship's salon area and move upward into the wheelhouse where the second light is needed (the eyes of the monster) .. This is an area I will not violate with a jittery Dremel tool. There must be another way: What do you think of an onboard small circuit that when powered, will start the lights (the button is replaced by a very small solid-state relay or equivalent. When on, the LEDs draw 30ma with 3.3 DCV main. The AI circuit must know when the wheelhouse turns off the LEDs (no more 30ma flowing). Instantly, the solid-state relay turns them back on again!... and so on... forever.
Yes.. this will look like a reactor malfunction .. but, the ship is the first of its kind.. and probably there are some electrical issues .. perhaps some random dimming could be added.. but, that's an upgrade for later.
This boat is available on Amazon and eBay ... Has been around since 2010? Yet, Hallmark has lost the wiring diagram, and all info .. except that it uses LR44 batteries.. which it doesn't, tho it does say that in the battery compartment ... Actually it only uses LR41 .. but soon with your help, it will not use any batteries.. Thanks much .. regards, Michael