Structure and Operation of Electroluminescent Wire
– EL wire is composed of a solid-copper wire core coated with phosphor.
– It has a fine wire or pair of wires spiral-wound around the core.
– An outer Indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive coating is applied.
– A clear PVC sleeve surrounds the core, and another clear, colored translucent or fluorescent PVC sleeve is added.
– An alternating current electric potential of approximately 90 to 120 volts at about 1000Hz is applied to the wire.
– The wire can be modeled as a coaxial capacitor with about 1nF of capacitance per 30 cm.
– The rapid charging and discharging of this capacitor excites the phosphor to emit light.
– Additional fluorescent organic dyes in the clear PVC sleeve can produce colors like red and purple.
EL Wire Sequencers
– EL wire sequencers can flash EL wire in sequential patterns.
– They require a low-power, high-frequency driver to illuminate the wire.
– Most EL wire drivers light up one strand in a constant-on mode, while some have blink or strobe modes.
– EL wire sequencers allow multiple lengths of EL wire to be flashed in a desired sequence.
– They can be used to create animations and can be synchronized to music or ambient sound.
Applications of EL Wire
– EL wire sequencers are used for costumes and can create animations on various items such as kimono, purses, neckties, and motorcycle tanks.
– They are popular among artists, dancers, and the maker culture.
– EL wire is increasingly used in nighttime events where mains electricity is not available.
– EL wire has been exhibited at the annual Burning Man alt-culture festival.
– It is also used for vehicle and structure decoration, safety and emergency lighting, toys, and clothing.
References
– The use of EL wire in wearable tech has been featured in BBC News.
– The US Patent 5,753,381 discusses the invention of electroluminescent filament.
Miscellaneous Information
– The telephone number in the photos has been obscured to comply with Wikipedia guidelines.
– Wikimedia Commons has media related to Electroluminescent wire. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescent_wire
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Electroluminescent wire (often abbreviated as EL wire) is a thin copper wire coated in a phosphor that produces light through electroluminescence when an alternating current is applied to it. It can be used in a wide variety of applications—vehicle and structure decoration, safety and emergency lighting, toys, clothing etc.—much as rope light or Christmas lights are often used. Unlike these types of strand lights, EL wire is not a series of points, but produces a continuous unbroken line of visible light. Its thin diameter makes it flexible and ideal for use in a variety of applications such as clothing or costumes.
