EL wire works under water

[BillT]

I got some EL (ElectroLuminescent) wire to see if it would work under water and to see how bright it is.
EL wire has a central core wire surrounded by a layer of plastic (which emits the light). Around this is spiralled another wire which does not touch the inner wire. This is then enclosed in a clear plastic tube. Its about 1.0 mm in diameter and has been used in clothing. The two wires act as a capacitor with the photo-emitting plastic between them. When operating a voltage oscillates at about 1,000 cycles/sec activating the inner plastic sheath to emit light. It is more efficient than LEDs at turning electricity into light. Not all that bright though. I was wondering if dunking it under water would change its capacitive properties and prevent it from working.

EL wire with the lights off:


EL wire with the lights on:

[Mugwump]

Is that the same as the light rope that you buy???....I'm thinking of putting some along my steps going downstairs....

found it....here's a link....you can get a variety of things with this technology..even tape...

http://www.ellumiglow.com/

[Mir]

That's awesome! What exactly are you trying to use it for though?

[BillT]

That's awesome! What exactly are you trying to use it for though?

Don't really know. Just wanted to get my hands on it so I could check it out. It does not seem to be bright enough for illumination purposes.

The backup plan is give it my daughter for x-mas. Maybe she can sew it into something, like for halloween.

Is that the same as the light rope that you buy???....I'm thinking of putting some along my steps going downstairs....

found it....here's a link....you can get a variety of things with this technology..even tape...

http://www.ellumiglow.com/

That is a very cool link.
the light ropes I have usually seem are just made with little lights or LEDs in them. Your link has EL wire and sheets also though.

[Mir]

That's awesome! What exactly are you trying to use it for though?

Don't really know. Just wanted to get my hands on it so I could check it out. It does not seem to be bright enough for illumination purposes.

The backup plan is give it my daughter for x-mas. Maybe she can sew it into something, like for halloween.

ooo that's a good idea. that would be really neat for creepy glowing clothes. Maybe a good purpose for it would be to make kids visible to cars when trick or treating... They probably wouldn't like having some big electricity source attached to them though, lol

[BillT]

Maybe a good purpose for it would be to make kids visible to cars when trick or treating... They probably wouldn't like having some big electricity source attached to them though, lol

Humm, could be mounted on bicycles. Power source is two AA batteries.


Since my daughter is a drummer in a band, she could put it on her drum set. Might look cool in dark places.

[Mir]

Maybe a good purpose for it would be to make kids visible to cars when trick or treating... They probably wouldn't like having some big electricity source attached to them though, lol

Humm, could be mounted on bicycles. Power source is two AA batteries.


Since my daughter is a drummer in a band, she could put it on her drum set. Might look cool in dark places.

oh, it only needs two AAs? I thought it would have needed something bigger. that's really cool. It would look awesome on drums