EL wire??? questions, please help i need to know

Lillian Axe · 26-February-03, 07:30 PM

A couple years ago i noticed this EL wire at edmunds scientific.
I now see its available for the PC its really cool stuff, but i never even seen it in the flesh before so i dont know anything at all about it.
Does the wire have to be hooked up in a special way?
also does it run off your PC's PSU.
anyone know how long it will function before it doesnt light up anymore?
if anyone has any links or any indepth information about this stuff please let me see
thanks

NoSlak · 26-February-03, 07:40 PM

www.Xoxide.com has it , I bought some a while back from them to do up my keyboard but when I got it I found out that you needed some kind of switch or transformer for it to connect to your PSU that they dont tell you about or sell it is like a 2 pronged molex on one end, thats all I know d00d.

AntiM · 26-February-03, 08:34 PM

Yeah...I'm still waiting for my replacement cc lamps from Xoxide NoSlak.

You need a transformer for it. The EL wire has two thin wires that attach to the transformer. More than one piece of EL wire can be run off a single transformer. It will last approx. 4000 hours. I bought mine at Target in the auto parts section for about half what you'd pay from a PC shop. And simply wired it to a molex connector to run at 12V.

carbongraphite · 26-February-03, 09:03 PM

buy the expensive quality wire. the cheap EL wire is all burnt and dim. well what did i expect from walmart. i guess its okay since it wasnt going in my comp anyways.

IronSerif · 26-February-03, 10:43 PM

Yeah I bought some cheap EL wire sometime last year, and it only lasted about 6 months or so. not sure if that's the going lifespan of EL wire...but 6 months..eh...kinda sucks

FunkyFresh · 27-February-03, 02:47 AM

Tends to make sort of a high pitched whine when on, too. Not real loud, but there nonetheless.

IronSerif · 27-February-03, 10:36 PM

I had el wire on my backpack (the hardshell boblbee one) running along the sides.

But sadly that EL wire has died on me as well

carbongraphite · 28-February-03, 03:43 AM

im surprised i havent seen fiber optic rope used instead yet

TiZakit · 28-February-03, 03:52 AM

thats a good idea for a back pack, what did you use to power it?

Gamma_Goblin · 28-February-03, 04:41 AM

he prolly used appropriet battteries. cuz all you need is 12 volts and batteries are direct current power supply.

just make a bracket or even pcb mount it in a lil project box. it wouldnt be hard..

brandon

TiZakit · 28-February-03, 04:52 AM

Thats what i figured... be neat walking around with a 1 million foot cord though. well maybe not.

vladimir · 28-February-03, 08:58 AM

www.elwirecheap.com

has elwire at cheapst price ive seen...cc also and inverters

FunkyFresh · 28-February-03, 12:35 PM

Directron also seems to have a good price on it, $14 for a 5-foot kit ($20 shipped).

IronSerif · 28-February-03, 12:56 PM

It was pretty sweet actually...I ran the EL Wire along the side of the backpack, where the hardshell meets with the aluminum. It was powered by two AA batteries.

Actually!!! I just found a pic of it on my server....you can sorta see the RED el wire

http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze4494h/BackPack.jpg

Im_gumby · 10-March-03, 03:27 PM

Just be aware that the EL wire color may not match your other colors. My blue EL wire (Sunbeam) doesn't come close to matching the blue color from my blue LED fan, the EL wire is more of an aqua color.

anime-fan-man · 10-March-03, 03:47 PM

How would you hook el wire to your computer any way?

Im_gumby · 10-March-03, 03:53 PM

It has a little transformer (1.5"x.5"x.75") that has a molex (the wide 4 prong power plug) connector.

doogiemo · 12-March-03, 11:57 AM

wow... my 1st post here... if you are looking for cheap and quality EL wire, you must check www.coldcathodes.com it's the best price I've seen and they do have a nice kit set up. I love EL wire and if you look around you can even find double core EL wire wich, of course is a lot brighter than the regular EL wire.

IronSerif · 12-March-03, 09:29 PM

Doogiemo - Welcome to Pimprig ! Enjoy your stay

doogiemo · 13-March-03, 09:45 AM

Thanx for the warm welcome Iron

26-February-03, 07:30 PM		#1 (permalink)
Lillian Axe Apex Techie I	EL wire??? questions, please help i need to know A couple years ago i noticed this EL wire at edmunds scientific. I now see its available for the PC its really cool stuff, but i never even seen it in the flesh before so i dont know anything at all about it. Does the wire have to be hooked up in a special way? also does it run off your PC's PSU. anyone know how long it will function before it doesnt light up anymore? if anyone has any links or any indepth information about this stuff please let me see thanks

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26-February-03, 07:40 PM		#2 (permalink)
NoSlak Gridiron	www.Xoxide.com has it , I bought some a while back from them to do up my keyboard but when I got it I found out that you needed some kind of switch or transformer for it to connect to your PSU that they dont tell you about or sell it is like a 2 pronged molex on one end, thats all I know d00d.

26-February-03, 08:34 PM		#3 (permalink)
AntiM Aqua Pimp	Yeah...I'm still waiting for my replacement cc lamps from Xoxide NoSlak. You need a transformer for it. The EL wire has two thin wires that attach to the transformer. More than one piece of EL wire can be run off a single transformer. It will last approx. 4000 hours. I bought mine at Target in the auto parts section for about half what you'd pay from a PC shop. And simply wired it to a molex connector to run at 12V.

26-February-03, 09:03 PM		#4 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa	buy the expensive quality wire. the cheap EL wire is all burnt and dim. well what did i expect from walmart. i guess its okay since it wasnt going in my comp anyways.

26-February-03, 10:43 PM		#5 (permalink)
IronSerif Lead Pimp Writer? Hell Yeah!	Yeah I bought some cheap EL wire sometime last year, and it only lasted about 6 months or so. not sure if that's the going lifespan of EL wire...but 6 months..eh...kinda sucks

27-February-03, 02:47 AM		#6 (permalink)
FunkyFresh 'Da Doctor of Funk	Tends to make sort of a high pitched whine when on, too. Not real loud, but there nonetheless.

27-February-03, 10:36 PM		#7 (permalink)
IronSerif Lead Pimp Writer? Hell Yeah!	I had el wire on my backpack (the hardshell boblbee one) running along the sides. But sadly that EL wire has died on me as well

28-February-03, 03:43 AM		#8 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa	im surprised i havent seen fiber optic rope used instead yet

28-February-03, 03:52 AM		#9 (permalink)
TiZakit Apex Tech Demi-God	thats a good idea for a back pack, what did you use to power it?

28-February-03, 04:41 AM		#10 (permalink)
Gamma_Goblin Senor Cisner-Hoes	he prolly used appropriet battteries. cuz all you need is 12 volts and batteries are direct current power supply. just make a bracket or even pcb mount it in a lil project box. it wouldnt be hard.. brandon

28-February-03, 04:52 AM		#11 (permalink)
TiZakit Apex Tech Demi-God	Thats what i figured... be neat walking around with a 1 million foot cord though. well maybe not.

28-February-03, 08:58 AM		#12 (permalink)
vladimir Pimp PHP Pro	www.elwirecheap.com has elwire at cheapst price ive seen...cc also and inverters

28-February-03, 12:35 PM		#13 (permalink)
FunkyFresh 'Da Doctor of Funk	Directron also seems to have a good price on it, $14 for a 5-foot kit ($20 shipped).

28-February-03, 12:56 PM		#14 (permalink)
IronSerif Lead Pimp Writer? Hell Yeah!	It was pretty sweet actually...I ran the EL Wire along the side of the backpack, where the hardshell meets with the aluminum. It was powered by two AA batteries. Actually!!! I just found a pic of it on my server....you can sorta see the RED el wire http://members.bellatlantic.net/~vze4494h/BackPack.jpg

10-March-03, 03:27 PM		#15 (permalink)
Im_gumby Slightly Silly Moderator	Just be aware that the EL wire color may not match your other colors. My blue EL wire (Sunbeam) doesn't come close to matching the blue color from my blue LED fan, the EL wire is more of an aqua color.

10-March-03, 03:47 PM		#16 (permalink)
anime-fan-man Apex Elite Tech	How would you hook el wire to your computer any way?

10-March-03, 03:53 PM		#17 (permalink)
Im_gumby Slightly Silly Moderator	It has a little transformer (1.5"x.5"x.75") that has a molex (the wide 4 prong power plug) connector.

12-March-03, 11:57 AM		#18 (permalink)
doogiemo Apex Techie Wannabe	wow... my 1st post here... if you are looking for cheap and quality EL wire, you must check www.coldcathodes.com it's the best price I've seen and they do have a nice kit set up. I love EL wire and if you look around you can even find double core EL wire wich, of course is a lot brighter than the regular EL wire.

12-March-03, 09:29 PM		#19 (permalink)
IronSerif Lead Pimp Writer? Hell Yeah!	Doogiemo - Welcome to Pimprig ! Enjoy your stay

13-March-03, 09:45 AM		#20 (permalink)
doogiemo Apex Techie Wannabe	Thanx for the warm welcome Iron