Hello friends! Potentially painless Noob question...

**Shadar Al'Niende** · 09-05-2009, 09:22 AM

Firstly let me say WOW. This site and the friendly forum go-ers have me in awe.

Now that I am done drooling, let me say I have read the following:

LDM's "n00b! So you want to build a MHS saber huh?"

The Saber Building Dictionary

and glanced at more than a few of the links Here

With all of that behind me, and a goal to construct my own Lightsaber (in true Jedi fashion) I have used the MHS builder to create an idea. I have also taken that one step further and compiled what I believe to be all the parts I will need.

My one questions is this. How do I know if I have everything I need before spending a few hundred dollars? This is where i rely on the charity of you experts

Here is what I have so far:

1 Hilt style 4 with guarded style switch hole
1 MHS choke style 3
1 Screw on LED blade holder style 11
1 MPS Pommel style 3 v2
1 LED "Corbin style" Battle blade 1" OD (36 inches)
1 Luxeon 3w driver V2 (Momentary)
1 SPST Momentary Guarded switch with blue button
1 MHS speaker and battery holder
1 8-32 x 1/8" Set screw
1 Build Your Own Luxeon III Electronics Kit
2 2 Wire quick connector
1 MPS Clip or 1 O-ring
1 MPS Insert style 7 (out of stock on style 1 and 6)
1 Drill & Tap Hole (8-32) service for the Blade Holder (is this needed?)
1 Foot of 1/8" Adhesive lined heatshrink tubing
6 1-3/16" ID Black O-ring
1 UltraSound 2.5 Sound Board

Here are my questions:

1. First and foremost do I have everything i need to make a working Saber? Lights sounds etc? I feel like i'm missing screws or have too many of something. (call that my ignorance)

2. I have no knowledge of electronics/soldering (google should teach me well) and this leads to a little ignorance. Do I need a resistor for the sound board? since one comes with the Luxeon III Kit for the LED? Do I have everything I need barring the Solder and Iron?

That should be it, Thank you if you are still reading. I just do not want to spend 300+ dollars just to have a bunch of parts and am a little anxious. (The wife has barely assented to this hobby of mine as it is

)

**$tarkiller** · 09-05-2009, 09:39 AM

As far as I see, You have everythig needed. Don't be afraid to do some more reading, as I see you have an Ultrasound on your list, and if not familiar with it, it could be wired incorrectly. Welcome, by the way. Except you do no need a driver for your LED, as the Ultrasound will do that for you. Yes the Drill and tap service is needed, either by you or tim, as this is the hole the your blade retention screw will go in. The retention screw is the screw that holds the blade in place when dueling, or spinning.

**Shadar Al'Niende** · 09-05-2009, 09:43 AM

Sweet! Thank you so much for such a prompt reply!

I am thinking of ordering the Sound Board later (when i have a bit more cash) I think i read somewhere that a different type of screw might be better for the blade holder? Also, I am good on the second resistor right?

Oh and until i get the sound board i would need the driver right?

**$tarkiller** · 09-05-2009, 09:58 AM

For your Blade retention screw, I would go with this guy http://www.thecustomsabershop.com/8-...crew--P73.aspx I find it works better, because you dont have to carry around an allen wrench all day, and I dont see any resistor on your list, and if you're not going with sound right now, you might want to try a 700mA BuckPuck from the store. It is a driver.

**Jedi-Loreen** · 09-05-2009, 10:00 AM

What second resistor are you referring to? You do not need to use any resistor if you will be using the Corbin driver.

**$tarkiller** · 09-05-2009, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Jedi-Loreen

What second resistor are you referring to? You do not need to use any resistor if you will be using the Corbin driver.

I didnt see that he had a corbin driver listed...

**Shadar Al'Niende** · 09-05-2009, 10:15 AM

without this driver here i wont have the retract and extend function though correct? Do I understand correctly that I do not need a resistor if using this driver or the Sound Board as they both handle that?

oh and the electronic kit (luxeon III) comes with a resistor in it if i am not mistaken, just did not know if one was needed for the driver/Sound board

**Jedi-Loreen** · 09-05-2009, 10:39 AM

I know the electronics kit has a resistor in it. I thought you might have thought that you needed a resistor for the switch, which you would if you were getting the illuminated Anti Vandal switch, but you don't need one with the Guarded switch.

What the resistor in the electronics kit does is bleed off the excess voltage from the battery pack that the LED doesn't need, which could actually burn it out if you didn't use a resistor using the "direct drive" method of the kit. So if you use some kind of driver or sound board (Buck puck, Lux 3 driver, FX sound board, UltraSound), you don't need a resistor, because the board/driver will handle that excess voltage itself.

And true, you won't have the extend and retract "effect" without the Lux 3 driver. And that only works with one of the "Corbin" style blades, which I see you are ordering.