Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: unclet on January 31, 2008, 03:51:44 pm
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Lets say I attach some blue EL-Wire underneath a 1" strip of black plastic. Will the EL-Wire glow enough so I can see the blue light coming out from the sides of the black plastic?
I am trying to figure whether El-Wire simply lights up a bit or whether it actually "glows" enough to emit light about 1" from the wire?
I know I asked this next question before but I can not find the post ..... so
How long does EL-Wire last? Also, does the light fade as it gets older?
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Lets say I attach some blue EL-Wire underneath a 1" strip of black plastic. Will the EL-Wire glow enough so I can see the blue light coming out from the sides of the black plastic?
I am trying to figure whether El-Wire simply lights up a bit or whether it actually "glows" enough to emit light about 1" from the wire?
I know I asked this next question before but I can not find the post ..... so
How long does EL-Wire last? Also, does the light fade as it gets older?
Umm... I guess you would say it glows. I'm not sure what you mean by "lights up" vs "glows". Are you thinking it's like an LED or something?
Not sure about how long it lasts, I've seen numbers vary. It depends on how much current you try to shove through it. I found a table somewhere that shows brightness, current and average expected life span before 1/2 the lumens is lost. I'll see if I can find it again.
And yes, it does fade with time.
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I'm not sure what you mean by "lights up" vs "glows". Are you thinking it's like an LED or something?
I know it is not LED lights. What I mean is, if you can not "see" the blue El-wire at all, will you still see the blue light shining? I guess this is a hard question to ask.
Having information about the longevity of the EL-Wire would be nice. The one I am looking at buying connects directly to a PC's Molex connector so it must use either the 5V or 12V power.
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I'm not sure what you mean by "lights up" vs "glows". Are you thinking it's like an LED or something?
I know it is not LED lights. What I mean is, if you can not "see" the blue El-wire at all, will you still see the blue light shining? I guess this is a hard question to ask.
Having information about the longevity of the EL-Wire would be nice. The one I am looking at buying connects directly to a PC's Molex connector so it must use either the 5V or 12V power.
I think I know what you are asking... there isn't that much "glow"... nothing like a neon tube if thats what you are envisioning. I've never seen EL very intense.. that does not mean its non-existent by any means... but I've never seen it.
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What exactly are you looking to see the light against? Is this under t-molding to see it glow out the sides, or is it some kind of strips that would be against a flat surface?
I have some el-wire at home that I can try and check with later. It will glow, just not sure how bright and how well with lights on.
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One place I am thinking of putting EL-Wire would be on the inside of a black speaker cover which is mounted to MDF board. Will the blue light of the EL-Wire light up the inside grill of the speaker good enough?
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I would say no it would not glow the way you want unless you put 5 or 6 strips of it back and forth. Here is some work I did with EL wire. The famed one is coiled behind 4 layers of printed transparences.
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/stan2323/DCP_1606rs.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/stan2323/DCP_1607rs.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/stan2323/DCP_1623rs.jpg)
(http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u293/stan2323/DCP_1620rs.jpg)
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One place I am thinking of putting EL-Wire would be on the inside of a black speaker cover which is mounted to MDF board. Will the blue light of the EL-Wire light up the inside grill of the speaker good enough?
You'd be better off using a cold cathode... They're very cheap and come in a variety of colours. You can get them from most PC Case Mod suppliers. Alternatively you could use the high intensity LED's that Randy at Groovy Game Gear sells.
Best Regards,
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
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I would say no it would not glow the way you want
Thanks for the picture ..... I agree .... I do not believe EL-Wire really "glows" .... it simply lights up only.
I should have been smart enough to just ask for a picture :P
You'd be better off using a cold cathode...
Do they make 4" or 5" cathodes? If not, then a cathode will not fit in my space.
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http://www.coolneon.com
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Do they make 4" or 5" cathodes? If not, then a cathode will not fit in my space.
Yes they do.... the smallest ones start at about 3" long up to about 2 feet long.
This site has some of the 4" ones.... http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html (http://www.xoxide.com/coldcathodes.html)
That said, just google for PC Case Mods there are loads of suppliers. You might even find one near to you so you can check them out.
Best Regards
Julian (Fozzy The Bear)
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I would suggest the CC light like fozzy stated
I took a 80mm ring and put it under my xbox jewel on a blue transulcent case and it will light the room up with the house lights off.