I get the feeling that this listing was used without realising that it was for a different type of product. The 3m induction sensing range only works when a 3m stick is used to push the button.
This was a cheap light, and I was intrigued to see the circuitry associated with the sensing. It turns out there isn't any. Interestingly, most of the negative feedback comments were about it being shipped as a UK night light, but actually having an incompatible plug.
The one redeeming feature of this unit is that it does use multi-chip LEDs for greater efficiency. That reduces the voltage dropped across the resistor, and increases the light output significantly from the low current necessitated by the use of a simple resistive dropper.
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Chinese induction nightlight and i get the feeling that perhaps they just copied someone else else's listing here because when you look at the induction nightlight which induction normally like a body sensor like a passenger infrared detector and when it says things like three meter range. You are expecting a passive infrared sensor or doppler detector. In this case. It's a very interesting detector because it works by pushing it on and off that is not an induction sensor.

But nonetheless we have this uh. It's other feature here it comes with the chinese socket pins. Uh. The other feature is you can just unscrew the top off revealing live connections.

Which isn't that great for a nightlight intended perhaps for a children's room. However you're probably wanting to see this lit and this is where it gets very awkward because that means. I'm going to have to go through to the toilet here and film in the crew bathroom here because uh that's only way. I'm going to find a socket this fits in so uh.

Let's go through to the bathroom. Shall we. And there we are a little bit of flicker going on as you can see uh you can also see the mirror in here. Has been mounted by a very very short joiner because this is actually what i see when i look at standard mirrors.

In fact hold on that's more likely. What i see when you're looking at standard mirrors in places like this because the joiners don't seem to understand or the bathroom fitters that the tall mirror. The mirror has to be the height of tall people also where they've note our lovely lovely student grade shower cubicle here complete with the shower head at face height now other things that we can do here. I can plug this since.

This is a shaper socket into the 110v outlet. And it's still lights ooh doesn't like that it still lights. But isn't terribly bright okay back to the bench uh in hindsight. I should have checked that was in focus because that was probably set quite close focus.

But not to worry. It's got the the image of the thing across most likely interesting. I shall unscrew the cabinets to reveal the bare circuit board and we can already see there's six leds are rectifier what looks like a resistor and that's very simple resistive dropper. If it is it pops apart complete with passion for a detector.

It's not really uh to reveal that the circuit board has been sorted directly to the pins. That's what holds in here and uh presumably being clamped in there as well. It is just a resistor. What the value is that resistor it is 623 62k.

I have measured the voltage across leds they appear to be six chip leds. The voltage measured across them was about 90 volts. Which leaves so what's the dissipation of that resistor going to be let me just compute that one moment computation is complete. Uh it's passing about 24 milliamps and the dissipation from that little wide classic quarter watt resistor is 036 watts to be honest.

I'd rather they'd use two resistors for the voltage rating. And also to spread the dissipation. But they didn't how expensive is a resistor china. I mean geez they could have put on the other side breaking the track to the redirect fire over there as well it's just like why do they do this it's very strange.
Very strange indeed also instead of putting it in line to the bridge rectifier they've kind of got it looping back underneath here. I shall draw you the schematic for this that's the best bet one moment please and here is the schematic. The incoming ac supply uh goes to the resistor first which is surprising then it goes to the switch and the other leg goes straight to the bridge rectifier. It goes through a bridge rectifier and then it's just six leds in series.

Uh configured. As six chips per led very simple. It's almost like the configuration of the tracks around the bottom. Here is very odd like not really logically thought out it's very strange how they've done it.

But that's how they've done it kind of looping back in itself. It's very strange. But it is what they've done uh interesting so that is what's inside this completely not induction nightlight. It's definitely got a range of three meters.

You just have to walk over three meters and press the button that's how it works. But there we go interesting. But uh i mean i suppose one redeeming feature they have used the multi chip leds. And the good thing about that is that say for instance they have got one here.

The poundland equivalent uses three leds. But they're just single chip leds in here. So it's kind of less efficient. A lot more has been dissipated across the resistors.

But the resistors are actually better rated than this one. But this is perhaps a better approach in that regard. It's more efficient. But it still means that they could have done with an extra resistor in here.

But that's not a surprise for this type of product. But interesting to take apart anyway well worth taking apart and exploring.

17 thoughts on “Ebay induction night light teardown”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Randy Carter says:

    There is no way that switch is rated for the voltages being applied.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Daniel Musat says:

    Maybe we should stop buying shit from china… as china returns back to the 90s.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gabriel V. says:

    Amazing haha! That's really really simple… Wow.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars JimBob says:

    Kind of bright for a night light isn't it?

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Adeeponion says:

    Short & sweet. My time with you is a treat. Neat!

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ray Mitchell says:

    😱 Oh my… what's this!?!?! A SCAM Night Light… what's this world coming to? But I think you were on to something there with the inadequate resistor… What happens if that resistor gets hot after many hours of use? Maybe then the resistor "induces" some smoke or plastic vapor (that hot plastic smell we all know and fear)? Maybe THAT is what the "Induction" part of the night night is all about? Other plausible theories welcome.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ChrisD4335 says:

    there is some kinda magnetic field generated by the circuit so technically it is an inductor

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RighteousSinner says:

    lmao "EBAY POOP" … janky-stanky GLUTTONY… "my god" help us from this $IN !

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jimmy B says:

    How does the term induction make one expect some sort of detection?
    Do you mean savvy ebay customers have come to expect the hijacking of the term induction? Or am I missing something?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars モレナウエル says:

    We keep using lighting fixtures manufactured on the cheap in China and then we complain when a house catches fire.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tank Figure 8 says:

    Would a capacitor across the rectifier’s output eliminate the flicker?

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars StudSupreme says:

    The chinese use one resistor instead of two because they don't take quality seriously. They worry about pennies of cost and have a very negative take on business principles. Likely a holdover from their decades of communism.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars keith king says:

    My god China ya have no shame.

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dielectric Videos says:

    I was hoping it would be an actual induction lamp, i.e., a cathodeless fluorescent light driven by RF from a resonant coil.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Curtis says:

    Your bathroom is such shit. That's the first thing I would be changing in the house

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alvaro S. says:

    I have an "induction night light", and it consists of a "support" with a coil that you plug into the wall outlet, and a "light" stick that you put inside the support / coil. The light has a battery that charges inductively and a PIR. When the PIR detects movement, the light turns on for 30 seconds or so. If you take the light out of the support, it automatically turns on. Then you can turn it off/on with an integrated switch and use it as a flashlight.
    I was expecting something like that when I read "induction night light"…

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ryan Roberts says:

    "Manual detection". You could get miles of range out of that if you just add a car!

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