Owl LED Electronics Kit

Includes all components required to build the Owl LED Halloween Decoration:

• 1 × Front PCB
• 1 × Back PCB
• 19 × 5mm Red LEDs
• 22 × 5mm White LEDs
• 28 × 5mm Yellow LEDs
• 2 × RH6617 LED Driver IC
• 4 × J3Y S8050 Transistor
• 5 × 100 Ω SMD (0805) resistor
• 3 × 1 kΩ SMD (0805) resistor
• 2 × 7.5 kΩ SMD (0805) resistor
• 2 × 33 nF SMD (0805) capacitor
• 1 × USB Power socket
• 1 × USB Power cable
• 8 × Fixing bolts
• 4 × Copper fixing studs

Refer to product image gallery for pictures of all components.

Hands-On Electronics & Soldering Skills: Build your own spooky Halloween owl while developing practical electronics and soldering skills. With both through-hole and SMD-type components, this kit provides valuable experience with the miniature components found throughout modern electronic devices and is an excellent stepping stone towards more advanced electronics projects.

Understand Electronic Components: Gain hands-on familiarity with LEDs, resistors, capacitors, a microcontroller and other electronic components. Use the supplied circuit diagram to explore how the different components are connected and work together to produce the owl's colourful illuminated effects.

Circuit Assembly & Troubleshooting: Develop practical experience assembling a functional electronic circuit on a PCB. Learn how components are positioned and connected, identify potential soldering or assembly problems, and develop troubleshooting skills that can be applied to future DIY electronics projects.

Explore LEDs, Timing & Light Effects: Discover how a microcontroller-controlled circuit can create changing light patterns and animated effects. See how electronic signals control LEDs to produce the owl's multi coloured display, providing an engaging introduction to concepts such as voltage, current, timing and digital control.

Develop SMD Soldering Skills: The kit includes small surface-mount components, providing an opportunity to develop more precise soldering techniques. Working with these miniature components can help build confidence and dexterity before progressing to more complex SMD electronics projects.

STEM Learning Through Making: Turn electronics theory into a practical, working project. The Halloween Owl provides an engaging STEM learning experience for students, makers, hobbyists and DIY electronics enthusiasts, combining circuit assembly, soldering and experimentation with a finished Halloween decoration.

Q: Is this a soldering kit or a ready-made Halloween decoration?
A: This is a DIY electronics and soldering kit that you assemble yourself. Once completed, the finished owl becomes a colourful LED Halloween decoration, powered via USB.

Q: Does the Halloween Owl use SMD components?
A: Yes. The kit contains both through-hole and surface-mount components, including a very small SMD microcontroller. The SMD components provide an additional challenge for anyone interested in developing their electronics soldering skills.

Q: What voltage does the Halloween Owl LED kit use?
A: The completed project operates from a standard 5V DC USB power source. A USB cable is included but you'll need your own power supply such as USB wall charger, computer, laptop, power bank or another suitable 5V USB source.

Q: Can I use the Halloween Owl as a spooky LED decoration?
A: Yes. Once assembled, the illuminated owl makes a distinctive Halloween decoration for a desk, shelf, bedroom, workspace or Halloween display. Its DIY construction also makes it a fun alternative to a conventional ready-made decoration. Note that if you intend to use it outdoors, it's not waterproof so will need to be shielded from rain.

Q: Is this a good electronics project for learning to solder?
A: Yes. The kit provides hands-on practice soldering electronic components onto a PCB and includes both through-hole and surface-mount components. The small SMD parts make it particularly useful for developing more precise soldering skills. Not recommended if you've never soldered before; soldering SMD components is an intermediate to advanced level skill that requires previous soldering experience.

Q: Can the Halloween Owl be powered by a power bank?
A: Yes. Because the finished circuit operates from 5V DC and uses USB power, a suitable USB power bank can be used to power the Halloween Owl, making it suitable for portable Halloween displays.

Q: Can I connect the Halloween Owl to an Arduino, Raspberry Pi or other controller?
A: The project operates from 5V DC and can potentially be incorporated into other electronics projects where the required electrical conditions are met. External control should only be attempted if you understand the circuit and can provide a safe, compatible 5V supply or switching arrangement.

Q: Can the Halloween Owl be incorporated into a Halloween display or costume?
A: Yes. The compact LED circuit can be incorporated into creative Halloween displays and other maker projects. If integrating it into a costume or installation, make sure the electronics are protected from moisture and that the power source and wiring are securely mounted.

Q: What makes this different from a normal LED Halloween decoration?
A: Rather than simply purchasing a finished decoration, you build the electronic circuit yourself. The project combines soldering, electronics assembly and a finished illuminated Halloween design, making it both a decoration and a hands-on maker project.

Dimensions (approx., when completed):

• Height: 12 cm
• Width: 9 cm
• Depth: 1.5 cm

PCB Type: combination of through-hole components and SMD type components.

Power Supply: 5V DC (cable included).

Anyone can build this Owl LED Electronics Kit following our detailed step-by-step instruction manual which can be downloaded from the link below. The password to open the manual was sent to the same email that you placed your order from. Can't find it? Just Contact Us!

Download: Owl LED Electronics Kit Instruction Manual

Note: The manual requires a password. This was emailed to you after your order was processed. Didn't buy your kit from The Science Hut? You can purchase our manuals by clicking [HERE].

Skill Level: Intermediate
Age Rating: 12+ (adult supervision required for under 16's)
Assembly Time: Typically 2-4 hours

Tools required for this kit

• Soldering iron
• Solder wire with rosin core

We sell these items as a Bundle which saves 10 percent or we have an excellent Electronics Soldering Kit that includes these tools and more—an excellent beginners tool kit! Just click the links above to see these products.

Of course, you only need to buy the tools once; you'll use them again and again for your future electronics projects!

Some components are quite small so a tweezers is required for manipulating them. You possibly already have a tweezers at home, but if not, we sell them here: ESD Tweezers.

While not essential (assuming your solder wire includes sufficient rosin), we also recommend soldering flux for working with the SMD components. We also sell this here: Soldering/welding flux.

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