EL Wire class slides

EL_Wire.pdf

NOW Live as wiki: edit below

local suppliers

http://www.coolight.com:

Burning Man discount via JackRabbitSpeaks announcement list. Mention "JRS" for discount.

http://www.livewireneon.com/

LA Based. Shop in Van Nuys -> Hacker Supplies

http://coolneon.com/ : Great customer service. QUICK TURN AROUND

alternative supplier:

http://www.sunlight-global.com/product.asp?id=1619

Soldering

Knowing the basics is NOW pre-requisite
Safety: Light, Fumes, Heat

Solder:"to make solid"

Mechanic: electronic and structural

Tinning: cover all connections with a small coating of solder

Re-Flow: applying heat to melt existing coating of solder
tip: Heat wire, not solder

EL Wire Composition

(via wikipedia)

EL Wire Vocab

core or magnet wire: center solid core wire

phosphor: glows pink or blue

corona wires: two thin tricky wires

clear sheath: adds structure and protects fragile phosphor and corona wires

PVC: colorful softer sheath. varies in size and shape

EL driver: provides alternating current of 90 - 120 volts at about 1000Hz

EL Tools - Specialty

Automatic wire strippers	great for sheath removal without damaging the corona wires
helping hand	hold the soldering iron so you don't have to. Securing the soldering iron instead of the wire with helping hands is not safe nor secure.  In the group setting it was a really bad idea.  There was way too much going on with unattended hot irons. That said I've still noticed dramatic speedup doing this and will continue on my own.
high heat hot glue gun	makes heat shrink work better by filling in the would-be air space created by binding many different thicknesses of wire.
buttoneer	lazy way to attach el to clothing and great for field repairs

Types of EL Wire

1.5mm: too fragile, cording foot standard,

2.5mm: a little fragile

5mm: super strong

tail wire: made for sewing, but you must plan ahead

EL Wire Class Supplies

5 feet el wire

el driver
wire connector

battery
heat shrink

The Few Steps

1. expose wires

2. tin

3. add heatshrink

4. solder
5. secure

The Many Steps

1. Strip outer coating
2. Strip inner coating, revealing core and two corona wires
3. Use a good wire stripper
4. Test corona wires
5. Scrape or BURN phosphor off main wire
6. Thread heat-shrink tubing for later use
7. A hands-free device
8. A simpler device
9. Thread heat-shrink tubing for later use
10. Pre-tin core wire
11. Thread heat-shrink tubing for later use
12. Solder core wire
13. Trim sharp edges
14. Test the core connection
15. twist corona wires about the tinned connection
16. Solder corona wires
17. test!!!!
18. Add small dub of hot to corona wire connection
19. Apply heat-shrink tube
20. Use some heat gun, lighter, or side of soldering iron

Line everything up

have you added heat shrink yet?

Add el driver and Power On

Terminate the end

Leave on the driver just don't touch any exposed wires. Leaving it on will enable you to catch any shorts in the act. Expose and bend back corona wires. Add heat shrink. done.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroluminescent_wire http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=MPDpl72RAhQ&feature=related http://www.gadgetcracker.com/2009/06/how-to-iphone- touchosc-pure-data-ableton-live/ http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2010/08/how- to_make_your_own_el_wire http://coolneon.com/SolderGuide.html http://blog.craftzine. com/archive/2007/12/hot_glue_sculpture.html