I’ve had a query about LED strips and individual LED lights. Both have their place.
I want to buy a light hat:
If you are thinking of investing hundreds of dollars into a commercial transcranial red and near infrared light device, make sure that you select a device made with individual LED lights.
As an example, the photo above shows two of the eight legs of the Duo Coronet. You can see the bespoke individual LED lights that are each soldered on to the frame. One row is deep red 670nm and the other row is near infrared 810nm.
Each LED light is connected to the electronic controls through which power, pulse rate, timing and location of lights are controlled. The Duo Coronet is set for 24 minutes, 12 minutes on 670nm pulsing at 40Hz, followed immediately by 810nm, also pulsing at 40Hz. The Coronet turns itself off when the session is completed.
Don’t buy a device made with LED strips. Only buy a device with individual LEDs.
I want to make a light hat:
LED strips are perfect for making your own light hat device. They are inexpensive to buy and easy to use at home. Here’s how:
Buy a cheap 5m roll of 12Volt DC red LED strip on eBay.
Make sure it is 12V DC.
Don’t worry about wavelength, just aim for the darkest looking red you can find.
Download the Cossack instructions.
Watch DIY Cossack – the movie.
Have a look at some other Cossack photos.
Can I make a light device using individual LEDS at home?
Only if you are a whizz at electronics, can whip up printed circuit boards and you are a virtuoso with the soldering iron.
If anything electronic is a mystery, then LED strips are the way to go for making your own device.
Red lights on the brain 