Technology in Textile Electronics – Using EL Wire for Decoration

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Technology in Textile Electronics Using EL Wire
for Decoration
proto-pic.co.uk
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EL wire

• EL wire is not just suitable for e textiles
  projects, its flexible nature and low power
  demands make it an ideal candidate for many
  decorative projects, both in and out of the world
  of electronic fashion.

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El Wire for decorating stages and night clubs

• The wire can be operated using AA batteries,
  often for hours before the power source needs to
  be renewed.
• Around 100 metres of EL wire may be powered by
  AA batteries for a whole night making the wire
  perfect for decorating projects that need that
  extra special look to them.

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• It also makes EL wire ideal for a range of
  theatrical and evening entertainment options
  including decorating stages and night clubs, or
  creating animated signs for bars and restaurants.

Emits Cool light - no heat is generated

• The light given off by the wire has another
  property it has almost no heat coming out with
  it.

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• This is because EL wire is almost free from
  resistance. It converts almost all of the power
  running through it into light hence its ability
  to last so long on so little energy.
• With no resistance in the way of the power, no
  heat is generated and there is no impedance to
  the effect.

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Colour of the light blue, green, purple

• The light given out by the wire is a blue to
  green colour reminiscent of the light display
  seen on the surface of the ocean at night in the
  tropics, where krill and other tiny crustaceans
  flash and burn.
• It must be noted that the actual luminesce
  provided by EL wire is not the same thing as
  phosphorescence in the oceans.

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• The phosphor coating in the wire produces the
  light, and is relative in some degree to the
  chemicals and enzymes producing the reaction in
  the sea but EL wire provides a genuine electro
  luminescence while krill are putting out what is
  called bio luminescence.
• The difference between electro luminescent and
  bioluminescence is simple enough the first is
  caused when a current is passed through or over a
  phosphor surface while the second is catalysed
  thanks to working biological processes.

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Making of EL Wire

• EL wire is made from two strands of copper wire
  a thick copper core, coated with phosphor and
  a much thinner coil, which is wrapped around both
  the copper core wire and the phosphor that coats
  it.
• The power is delivered using an inverter, which
  for such a small power source can be practically
  pocket sized.

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• As the core wire charges it builds to a point
  where discharge is inevitable the discharge
  passes through the phosphor coating and builds a
  charge in the coil wire.
• The excitation and discharge of the two wires
  causes an AC to pass over the phosphor.

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• Which in turn excites its molecules unto they
  emit the cold-looking glow of electro
  luminescence.
• With no heat and very little power
  requirements, the wire is able to last all night
  perfect for even the most demanding of
  applications.

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