This is a novel twist on the commonly available electroluminescent wire. Instead of the single connection outer spiralled wire around the electroluminescent core there are three outer wires forming a helix along the wires length, that can be energised individually. When these are energised sequentially it creates a subtle chasing effect along the length of the wire.
Electroluminescent material usually works like a light emitting capacitor, in that it has an inner and outer electrode on a phosphor loaded dielectric layer. When an AC voltage is applied across the two electrodes the phosphor glows. Because of this, the control circuit has to use AC switching devices like triacs to switch the channels. It also has to generate a modestly high voltage (around 100V) at a modestly frequency in the region of a few hundred Hertz. In basic fixed output modules this can be as simple as a step-up transformer with a single transistor feedback circuit.
In this controller a small anonymous microcontroller (probably a PIC12 or clone) is used to drive the step-up circuit and switch the outputs via small AC switching components.
Electroluminescent material usually works like a light emitting capacitor, in that it has an inner and outer electrode on a phosphor loaded dielectric layer. When an AC voltage is applied across the two electrodes the phosphor glows. Because of this, the control circuit has to use AC switching devices like triacs to switch the channels. It also has to generate a modestly high voltage (around 100V) at a modestly frequency in the region of a few hundred Hertz. In basic fixed output modules this can be as simple as a step-up transformer with a single transistor feedback circuit.
In this controller a small anonymous microcontroller (probably a PIC12 or clone) is used to drive the step-up circuit and switch the outputs via small AC switching components.
can the led module light up without pressing the switch? The plan is to modify it using an old laptop battery
Ohhh, that's super cool! I've only ever seen the regular on or off stuff
Neat video.
Ive had an idea i have been trying to figure out how i would go about it or if its possible at all with el wire or lumilor paint.
Id like to make a word light up from a swtch. Only the whole word wouldnt immediately be illuminated.
I want to have a word tjat ill choosrelluminate from left to right letter by letter using , the effect or look iguess.(Thhe same way that a a fuse would bu:5c55. 5vf/y/rn lile on dynamite or cannon. And then when it reaches end of wort stays illuminted till switched off
Bravo……need scope….10x…….close up……cheers
Is it possible to create letters with this material; to cut and splice a "Y" or "T" without a noticeable junction…?
Oh wow, watching this almost 8 years after release, and the controller looks pretty much identical to the one I bought last week. That's funny. I converted mine to USB-C power, so now I don't have to worry about those batteries anymore.
Clive –
You said in the bad old days it suffered from serious light intensity degradation. Does that mean that the coil you are demonstrating no longer has this drawback ?
I ask rather than just buy one and see for myself because they are not that cheap.
can we control el wire with dmx 512 driver?
What's the website where you bought this?
You should revisit this stuff and stick it on a bench supply. Overdrive it with current and voltage to the point of fail.
hi great video ! so do you know if is there any schematic to use electroluminescent wire using just solar panel with rechargeable battery and small charger/controller module please?
It feels weird being on the otherside…still a good video though
I love your video's I watch them all the time but there is one thing i will ask for all the inexperiance but intreauged falk like me. Instead of just saying what components are inside also tell us a little about them. E.g. what is the purpose of a triarch?
Is there anyway to make ewire brighter?
Do these need Current Limiting? Can I just hook 110 AC to them?
Couldn't you make it brighter, you would be the guy to go to
what is the life span of the el tubes.
could this be run from a usb ac adapter? would it require current limiting or would the adapters own limit be alright? I have some old ones that are only rated to 0.6 A and newer ones that go up to 2.3 A. I know there are charging cables that chase but I'm hoping for a cable that will just light all the time that I can power via USB.