LED - Fibre Optic Costumes

[Zozaroni]

Looking for the best place/ideas on where to buy/ how to make some super awesome LED or fibre optic costumes for my first burn!

All help is appreciated.

[digital]

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neo ... no-library
https://learn.adafruit.com/category/leds
http://www.adafruit.com/category/168
Etc etc

[I have no financial interest in adafruit -- but wish I did!]

[VultureChow]

Let me point you away from fiber optics and toward LED. And EL Wire. I've picked up a good number of fiber optic threads when mooping.

[FlyingMonkey]

Do a search on Side Glow Fiber Optic. It's pretty cool stuff. Kind of a cross between EL wire & Neon. As for light sources I have found that automotive LEDs used for accent lighting are very bright & can really make fiber light up. Side glow comes in many diameters (from angel hair to thicker than a pencil) & has a decent bend radius which makes it perfect for costumes, belts, hats & what ever you can think of. The cool thing with side glow is the whole length glows but it still shines very brightly out the ends.

[Zozaroni]

Thank you to all

I will get researching for the ideas you have given me!!

Hoping I find what I'm after!!

[FlyingMonkey]

Let me point you away from fiber optics and toward LED. And EL Wire. I've picked up a good number of fiber optic threads when mooping.

Valid point for normal FO but not a concern with the thicker side glow.

I have some individual "fibers" as thick as hot glue sticks that are far more flexible than brittle. Usually if you get multi-stranded fibers they are incased in a clear vinyl sleeve that you can cut to expose the individual fibers. (then you MAY have a moop potential). I had a 8' long whip that I totally abused & while some of the fibers had internal cracks, none broke. The light from this is a pretty cool effect & with RGB LEDs can be any color. This stuff is perfect for a hat brim, belt or just about anything you can think of to prevent you from being a darkwad. It takes about as much effort as working with EL wire & forms nice smooth curves (unlike EL wire after a night on the Playa).

Another advantage I found out by mistake is if you gather all the individual fibers & point them in front of you together they act as a dim but usable flashlight.

I like & use EL too, but think it looks pretty half-assed after it gets all bent out of shape. Each has it's own plusses & minuses depending on the application.

I'm not endorsing any company or merchant but this is what I have used for a light source.




Here is a video of what it can look like. (keep in mind that this is probably using a powerful 120v power source & LEDs will be dimmer).

[media]

Try it out & as with anything you tale to the Playa be mindful of it's moop potential.

[FlyingMonkey]

https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-neo ... no-library
https://learn.adafruit.com/category/leds
http://www.adafruit.com/category/168
Etc etc

[I have no financial interest in adafruit -- but wish I did!]

Lady Ada is awesome. I think I have a crush on her.

[some seeing eye]

If you search
Power and Illumination - viewforum.php?f=278 for clothing

and

Clothing - viewforum.php?f=279 for illumination

you might find some ideas, The great adventure begins!

[VultureChow]

Let me point you away from fiber optics and toward LED. And EL Wire. I've picked up a good number of fiber optic threads when mooping.

Valid point for normal FO but not a concern with the thicker side glow.

Damn that stuffy is sexy.

Your right though. What I have picked up seems to be the stuff from those cheap hair clips.

[Zozaroni]

Thanks again to the reply's guys!!

I'm soooo stuck with what to go for... I was set on using El Wire but now not 100% sure as I'd hate to leave moop lying around!!

Haven't really looked that much into fibre optic's but ill give it a browse...

Sooooo many ideas running through my head!!

I just hope I can create what I am imagining....

[gaminwench]

You CAN!

You might not get it right the first time, but ...

You can bring your vision to life!

[trilobyte]

I'm giving this thread a nudge over to clothing and playawear - the preparation board is a better fit for general project related questions.

There are some great responses above, you could probably also find some awesome info on the Instructables site or looking through Make Magazine. Buzzwords like e-textiles or wearable electronics/wearable lighting may also help you in your research. Good luck!

[digital]

I'm soooo stuck with what to go for... I was set on using El Wire but now not 100% sure as I'd hate to leave moop lying around!!

Haven't really looked that much into fibre optic's but ill give it a browse...

I think you misunderstood the advice above and switched the two.

El Wire is OK and non-MOOPy.
Fiber optics, given the nature of tiny plastic fibers, are not advised and can be MOOPy.

It might be overwhelming but that's why you start in February and not July!

[FlyingMonkey]

I'm soooo stuck with what to go for... I was set on using El Wire but now not 100% sure as I'd hate to leave moop lying around!!

Haven't really looked that much into fibre optic's but ill give it a browse...

I think you misunderstood the advice above and switched the two.

El Wire is OK and non-MOOPy.
Fiber optics, given the nature of tiny plastic fibers, are not advised and can be MOOPy.

It might be overwhelming but that's why you start in February and not July!

If you are doing your first lighting project EL wire may be the way to go. You can buy it in different lengths & it often comes already hooked up to the power supply so you don't have to do any soldering.

On the other hand, if you want to take on more of a challenge & are comfortable soldering then you can buy EL wire in bulk & attach your own connectors for the power supply.

As we discussed above, the tiny "angel hair" fiber optics can be a MOOP concern but Fiber Optic cables also come in different diameters & the larger bundles typically consist of many smaller fibers wrapped in clear vinyl tubing. Side Glow Fiber optic is really cool because unlike normal fibers that only emit light from the tips, it also glows through the sides. This gives you a lot of creative options for multi colored projects & as long as you don't liberate the smaller fibers from their sheath they are not a very big MOOP hazard. With side glow Fiber Optics you typically have a light source at one or both ends of the fiber. I listed some incredibly bright LEDs above that sufficiently illuminate the fibers & only need to be connected to one end (depending on length). That way you get the glow (like EL wire) & the bright light shinning out the ends of the fibers. That's why I really like Side Glow FO. All I do is solder a LED to the power wires with a switch & carefully align the LED with the fibers. Then I use heavy heat shrink tubing to secure the LED to the fibers. No glue or epoxy. It's that easy.

The down side with fiber optic is that unless you have a really kick ass light source they usually won't be as bright as EL wire. But I find it more than bright enough on the Playa at Night.

[VultureChow]

Don't let any of this scare or dissuade you. You can make your vision, or as often happens with me, you will find a different vision as things start to either work or not. Keep us up to date and feel free to ask for help or ideas as you progress.

[FlyingMonkey]

oh, oh, oh, I almost forgot to mention that you can also buy EL wire with welting so that you can sew it in to a costume. Welting is just a flat plastic part of the sheath that runs the length of the EL wire & can be sewn directly to cloth, paper, whatever you want.

welting.png

Lets not forget the ever popular strips of LEDs which conveniently come with adhesive backing & often weather proof. Typically you can cut these LED strips every 3 LEDs so you can customize the length. I got some RGB LED strips for my bus that even came with a remote to change the patterns & colors.

It's only February so try a couple of different things & if something doesn't work then you still have lots of time to get it right.