Electroluminescent wire as a "tacky light" |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Topic: Electroluminescent wire as a "tacky light" Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 10:38pm |
Also known as EL wire and glow wire. We used "tacky lights" for years on our popup but only used them a few times on our 'pod. A few years ago we bought this EL wire from IKEA on a closeout but never found a good use for it - its too dim to use as a primary light and we didn't have anything that needed an accent. On our latest trip we decided to try it on the 'pod. We like it so much I'm considering buying more, this time I'll get a brighter version. There are 9 or 10 colors available depending on the site you visit online, it comes in various thicknesses and brightness. It is waterproof so you can leave it up in the rain, but I've read that some of the colors use a secondary coloring in the outer sheath that can fade in the sun over time. It is very low power so it can be run from AA battery packs if you are dry camping, from your 'pod's battery if you buy a model that can accept 12 volt input, or from an AC power adapter. This is how ours look right now. We have two lengths of about 42 feet each, enough to circle our 10 X 10 EZ-up and also outline our Dome. Note that everything in this picture is brighter than it looks in person - the sky is dark and that is not the sun but the full moon. The EL wire is much darker too, I couldn't read by this but the stuff I'm going to order next I think I could. Sorry for the blurry picture, I was handholding my camera on a long exposure here... If you decide to buy this stuff, unless you are handy with a soldering iron make sure you buy it pre-soldered. Many places sell it - especially in bulk lengths - in its raw form if you aren't careful. Here is just one place that has it, I haven't bought from here but they have some pictures of the various colors. Mine is a cool blue almost white. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Damour
Senior Member Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Location: Quebec Online Status: Offline Posts: 162 |
Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 1:25am |
wow... it's hot ! good job
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kymooses
Senior Member Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Online Status: Offline Posts: 1807 |
Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 9:29am |
Wow, I thought this was just regular Rope Lighting at first but I checked out that website and that stuff is too cool!
Time to bust out the soldering iron and get to work!
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FISHTAIL
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 08 Jun 2011 Location: La Plata, MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 130 |
Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 10:09am |
I like it. So does the wife. We'll probably order some soon. I wonder how long those battery packs last...
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secretbard
Senior Member Joined: 12 Apr 2011 Location: Budd Lake, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 195 |
Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 11:13am |
Awesome. Although, being a kid at heart, I'd probably wrap that light around my body and run around the RV park singing Dixie.
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2010 Rpod 172 :)
2004 Chevy Trailblazer |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 15 Jul 2011 at 11:41pm |
I've seen costumes made from the stuff, like "stick man". That was funny. Yeah, it is much more like a really long flexible florescent light than a rope light. No single points of light, just one long one. There is a sister product called EL tape, too. Something else to blow some money on, LOL. Considering their small amperage draw they should last quite a while on a battery pack. Part of the equation is how bright your model is and another is how long it is. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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