Wires & Lights

Copper tape is being added to the plane by following the guide lines in the template.

Locate the gray circles and rectangles on your plane template. Remove the backing on a piece of copper tape and place the tape over one gray rectangle (so a portion extends into the circle, as pictured).

Caution: Try not to rip or crinkle your tape; you want one strip of tape per side.

Another piece of copper tape is being added to the template (following the guidelines).

Repeat the previous step with the other gray rectangle.

Copper tape "wires" have been added to the plane.

You now have two strips of copper tape that parallel each other and begin on either side of the plane. These act as wires.

An LED light is depicted. The shorter wire represents the negative (cathode) lead. It also has a flat spot on the ridge at the bottom of the LED.

Image in the Public Domain

Look at your LED:

  • One lead wire is shorter than the other.

  • The ridge at the bottom of the bulb has a flat spot above one lead wire (see image).

Each of these conditions identifies the negative lead (cathode).

LEDs work when their positive lead is connected to the wire from the positive side of a power source and their negative lead is connected to the wire from the negative side of the power source. Determine which piece of copper tape will connect the positive (anode) LED lead.

An LED light with the leads gently bent apart (at an approximately 90 degree angle) so they can be secured to the plane.

Gently bend the LED lead wires so they can touch both pieces of copper tape on your plane.

The LED leads are being taped to the copper tape wires on the template.

Secure each lead to the copper tape wires with a piece of transparent tape.

The plane has the LED secured to it's back.

The finished product should look like this image.