El-Wire Sequencing questions, who's worked with them?

ilmarinen · Post by **ilmarinen** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 5:24 pm

So, I am working on a faux-neon sign for our camp that I want to have the following pattern:

*off*
"Word-1"
"Word-1 Word-2"
*off*

I'm trying to figure-out which, if any, sequencers would allow that. I emailed one place and they pointed me towards their 10-channel $75 model. Which is a bit overkill (out of budget) for my needs.

Many of the 3, 4 and 5 channel sequencers say "6 (or 8) patterns". Do those patterns typically include a CH1-on, CH-2-on, Ch-3-on, then all-off sequence? (Such that all 3 channels will be lit at the last step?). The smaller sequencers may be just be a *tad* too small for what I want for letter size, but trying not to spend a small fortune on this. (That's the other camp projects) So, I'll adjust my overall sign size to match the sequencer.

Guess I get spoiled by working in a technical field when I can get actual spec sheets on products before I buy.

Thanks,
Barnaby

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 5:27 am

*Out there....there's a world outside of Yonkers......*

Sorry, Barnaby...I just REALLY liked "Wall-E".

There's no law that says that you HAVE to have ANYTHING hooked up to a sequencer's channels if you don't want...You could use a three-or-four channel seq and only hook up two channels. You'd still get the "beat" of the empty channel(s) in the timing of the whole display.
For the "Word-1 AND Word-2" combo you'll need to have Word-1 wired to BOTH channels that'll get energized. (Wired in parallel, in other words, and with Word-2 added on a separate leg of the second channel.)
Got a handful of alligator leads? Give this a try. Don't solder until it works!

ilmarinen · Post by **ilmarinen** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 11:56 am

Wall-E was great.

As for wiring Word-1 into the same circuit as Word-2--unless my mental circuit mapping is all off (and it could be, but I do a bit of tinkering with wiring)--when Circuit-1 was energized, it'd feed back through the wiring to Circuit-2 and light Word-2 as well. As it's alternating current, diodes can't isolate it. True? Have you tried this and there is something I am missing?

I think I could do this with some messy series of relays and a turn signal flasher, but that'd be, well, messy.

-B.

robotland wrote:*Out there....there's a world outside of Yonkers......*

Sorry, Barnaby...I just REALLY liked "Wall-E".

There's no law that says that you HAVE to have ANYTHING hooked up to a sequencer's channels if you don't want...You could use a three-or-four channel seq and only hook up two channels. You'd still get the "beat" of the empty channel(s) in the timing of the whole display.
For the "Word-1 AND Word-2" combo you'll need to have Word-1 wired to BOTH channels that'll get energized. (Wired in parallel, in other words, and with Word-2 added on a separate leg of the second channel.)
Got a handful of alligator leads? Give this a try. Don't solder until it works!

capjbadger · Post by **capjbadger** » Wed Jul 16, 2008 1:15 pm

Hmm.. You're right. Simple diodes aren't going to work, unless... hmmm... If cutting out half of the AC to the EL wire would stop it from lighting up that might work.
No wait... That would kill everything then. Damn...

I have that 10 channel sequencer, and it will do what you need.

This might work too: http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/c.ACC ... ategory=13

Talk to them. They are great about helping.

Badger