SparkFun Electronics Commentsurn:uuid:214d0e4e-f1b1-d287-ce26-ac5b4c9f82492024-03-28T05:29:09-06:00SparkFun ElectronicsMajones on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mMajonesurn:uuid:d8ea5a2c-a6ef-0a83-8965-5a1faf68b90f2012-12-23T12:34:29-07:00<p>The fine wires aren't too bad if your wrap a bit of copper tape around the outer sleeve, and solder the fine wires to that. Solder your lead onto the copper tape. For the other lead you have to scrape the phosphorus coating off of the inner core, but once you do it's easy to solder to. Shrink wrap the whole thing and bob's your uncle.</p>
cinderblock on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mcinderblockurn:uuid:0f501cd2-c042-ddc0-a45d-0646d8cea8b02011-07-22T16:40:49-06:00<p>No! Don't solder the fine wires to the inner core! Never!<br>
When you cut them shorter, it will work %80 of the time first try. The only reason it wouldn't work is if the fine wires got shorted to the main wire. Steps should be taken to ensure this shorting does not happen and is the only "complicated" part.<br>
Granted, at the end it gets power, the fine wires are annoying to solder.</p>
Merana on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mMeranaurn:uuid:623d1738-4a34-538f-7f10-f97b37f522882011-04-06T09:03:52-06:00<p>While it is possible to cut EL wire to length, it's a bit more complicated than just snipping the end and involves some pretty precise soldering of the two fine wires to the inner copper core wire.<br>
Here's a good site with some details on EL wire specifics: http://www.elwire.com/faq/faq.html<br>
And a great image of the physical structure of EL wire can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescent_wire</p>
shinmai on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mshinmaiurn:uuid:60d1a6cd-f808-92e8-2e58-054450dcef132011-01-14T13:39:25-07:00<p>I've tried Googling and found conflicting answers; can EL Wire be cut to length?<br>
If I correctly understand how these things work, it should be fine, but the shorter the wire, the brighter it glows, and the shorter it's lifespan. This I would be fine with, as I'm thinking of only trimming the wires a bit.<br>
However, some websites suggest, that cutting the wire would be like sawing a fluorescent tube in half, and that I should just try looking for wires in leghts that suit my project.<br>
Can someone put my mind at ease before I place my order?</p>
Customer #186903 on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mCustomer #186903urn:uuid:0e6b28df-55a8-761c-e726-29d4e66be9132011-01-10T14:21:19-07:00<p>the guys at farnell said it was 30 degrees if i'm not mistaken..</p>
RobertC. on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mRobertC.urn:uuid:a1e45a68-4daf-249b-2b9b-6122146641a02011-01-05T14:26:14-07:00<p>It doesn't hold shape, but is pretty flexible. I have a video getting posted soon that will show a bit of how it flexes.</p>
RobertC. on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mRobertC.urn:uuid:6cf7f34f-8000-b76a-976e-d0f85dc3dd042011-01-05T14:25:50-07:00<p>This wire works at 110VAC. Check the associated inverter below. We will get a full datasheet soon, but it works with all the other products we carry just fine.<br>
1.) I think you answered your own question.<br>
2.) I think you answered your question once again :-)</p>
spUserJCD on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mspUserJCDurn:uuid:fabd3b3e-2046-fd6a-84d9-3a474c9b431e2011-01-05T14:24:46-07:00<p>Can anyone characterize the flexibility of EL wire? Is it possible to create a complex outline or shape? Does it hold it's shape at all? Thank you.</p>
esklar81 on COM-10200 - EL Wire - Fluorescent-Green 3mesklar81urn:uuid:edd9979d-8557-fe45-1464-b44080d0f8a22011-01-05T13:56:19-07:00<p>One serious gap:<br>
What's "the appropriate voltage" and what current is drawn at that voltage?<br>
Two picky things:<br>
1) Is this wire "flourescent" (emitting ground grain) or "fluorescent"?<br>
2) Has the meter shrunk or the foot expanded? The last time I checked, 3 m was a bit short of 10 feet.<br>
Eric</p>