el wire question

Sync · Post by **Sync** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:01 pm

Ok. so I got some elwire and an inverter. the inverter seems to work (zapped me when I touched the leads.> I stripped the ends of the wire as instructed and tied the tiny ones together. inverter buzzes when I connect the leads, but the wire dosen't glow. I think i terminated the wire correctly, pulling off the outer tiny wires at the end point. Any ideas, or better yet, anyone in the Bay Area that can spare a few moments to show me hands on how this is done? Cheepist class around here seems to be over 300 bucks. thanks

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:07 pm

What do you mean when you say you terminated the wire? With EL-wire, you connect one end to the inverter and leave the other end unconnected.

When connecting the inverter, one lead goes to the wire running through the center of the wire, the other goes to the tiny wire(s) spiraling around the outside. It's much easier to connect to those tiny ones if you use the copper foil.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:18 pm

Got a photo, Sync? Show the whole set up, both ends of the EL wire and the connection to the inverter.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 4:21 pm

topic discussed in detail two weeks ago right here on this board

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 1:45 am

Sync wrote:Ok. so I got some elwire and an inverter. the inverter seems to work (zapped me when I touched the leads.) I stripped the ends of the wire as instructed and tied the tiny ones together.

Untie the wires at the non-inverter end. Prolly will have to use your el-wire cutter and cut the end off. It sounds like you've shorted out your el-wire. The "non-inverted" end is NOT connected - actually the hairwires are peeled back and sealed over, the center is left open. Pseudo-picture below...

. . . . _
_______\ . <~~ Outer "hair" wire folded back
------------ . <~~ Inner center wire left alone - DON'T connect to anything!!!
________
. . . . __/ . <~~ Other outer hair wire folded back

Put shrink wrap over the end and seal. Or use Silicone. Your choice... Hope this makes sense.

The other side of your wire is what goes to the inverter - hair wires to one side (the wrapped tinned copper foil) and the center to the other.

Sync wrote: inverter buzzes when I connect the leads, but the wire dosen't glow. I think i terminated the wire correctly, pulling off the outer tiny wires at the end point. Any ideas, or better yet, anyone in the Bay Area that can spare a few moments to show me hands on how this is done? Cheepist class around here seems to be over 300 bucks. thanks

Whereabout in the bay area? Near Oakland?? It's easy to do. I could show you the basics in a couple minutes.

bb

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 4:29 am

Silicone is highly corrosive.
There is a special adhesive made for plexiglas.
I have not tested it on metal, but I think it is non-corrosive.
Available from tubelite.
Shoe goo may work for this purpose.
Silicone dielectric grease is not corrosive.
Irradiated pvc is superb heat shrink.

Schnee-morehead makes an acetone based acrylic available clear.
It does stay tacky and flexible for years.
It will seal fine gaps in metal from the outside.
Wonderful products from this company.

If you use clear heat shrink, it does not stand the heat the other types will.

Zane5100 · Post by **Zane5100** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:27 am

zapped me when I touched the leads

Uh, heard of a multimeter?

Hope you don't test other power sources with that method.

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:57 am

Also, check your connection on the thick wire and make sure you have the glow coating stripped off down to the bare copper; the inverter might not be making a full connection with it. Also all that stuff everyone else said.

SnowBlind · Post by **SnowBlind** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 12:23 pm

Sync wrote:anyone in the Bay Area that can spare a few moments to show me hands on how this is done? Cheepist class around here seems to be over 300 bucks.

Cool Neon usually does 'soldering parties' in the months before burning man. They do some hands on demonstrations and you can buy your wire right there.

They haven't announced any dates for this year yet though: http://www.coolneon.com

Sync · Post by **Sync** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 6:04 pm

Thanks to all your advice, I have seen the light! Thanks!

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Mar 24, 2007 6:08 am

GOOP does work well to terminate EL wire- I sometimes just poke the wire into the tube and then remove and let dry. But usually I like to shrinktube the ends, pinching the tube flat and then trimming it down...Makes a handy flat anchor when fastening to a surface. GOOP is WONDERFUL for tacking the wire to nonporous surfaces, and peels EASILY when you're bored with the results.
One troubleshooting tip with EL- The power supply has polarity, so if it won't light up try swapping the leads. On lengths that I recycle regularly I even put tiny tabs of tape on the wires with "plus" and "minus" signs on 'em.

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