Glowies, Blinkies, UVies & Other Illuminations

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:00 am

I'm thinking about just prewiring a bunch of different stuff, and then changing them around on-playa...The UFO has a dashboard with switches for individual lighting channels that I can mix and match at whim, plus FM radio and a tone generator that makes various sirens, horns, space effects, barnyard animal noises and some "demented Japanese ice cream man music". The change-a-blinky units can also be adapted for personal use, on my Playa Excursion Suit.
Two soldering weekends left! *looking for snow shovel to clean workbench with*

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:37 am

Ha! In know that workbench feeling! Interchangable blinky concept... sounds interesting. Let's... ahem... hook up!

Hey you know those radio id tags they are starting to put on products at Wal Wart, etc to eventually replace the bar codes? What if we gave those to blinkies or people so the ID's could be read and "interfaced" when walking by somebody. Like a changing light show based on proximity to others.

Eek! She's making my blinky go all squirly! I must be in love!

Marscrumbs · Post by **Marscrumbs** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 4:34 pm

[quote="Zane5100"]As to UV sources, stick with 4' fluorescent lights. LEDs just don't cut it for wide area coverage.[/quote]

They make cheap plastic safety covers for 4' fluorescent bulb. Reduces breakage and also good anti moop measure in case they do. Found these at Home Depose for less than two bucks and well as the UV bulbs, themselves

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:45 am

Happy Glow Year!
Obviously, this would be a good year to explore more energy-efficient and/or eco-friendly lighting...And while a layer of living bioluminescent algae may ROCK in concept, perhaps just switching from glowstick to LED would do for a start. I recently found great strings of ultrabright white LEDs at Target, and now's the time to look around for post-Xmuz cheapies. GREEN lights don't seem to be big faves at places like Pep Boys, and I often find them on sale- How convenient is THAT? And better deals can often be found online, although I tend to deal in immediate gratification and like to see the goods live before purchasing. Remember that FREE light can be had by utilizing reflective surfaces! Save those old batteries, especially 9V types, since they often retain enough juice to run some lights long after their ability to power a smoke detector has expired. 1.5V batts can be clustered in megapack battery holders (available at Rodeo Snack) to aid in the harvest of remaining juice. Taking the time to wire a bunch of little battery-hungry glowies and blinkies together and using a big rechargeable battery instead can be very satisfying as well as convenient in the long run- Such batteries can be found for around twenty bucks at sporting goods stores, and pack enough amp-hours to run numerous goodies for the whole week if you avoid energy-sucking incandescents. I've gotta light a whole spaceship this year, so believe-you-me I'm concerned about the juice!

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:36 am

Hmm. As far as energy efficient goes, that can mean a lot of things. If you're only thinking of electrical devices that's one thing but if you want to take other fuels into consideration it can mean many things. Impact the fuel has on the environment, amount of resources consumed to use the method, mathematical theoretical efficiencies of energy consumed vs. light output. How about kerosene lamps? Propane torch? Flint and steel? Solar lamps?

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:33 am

One thing I've been looking for is a small, "enclosed flame", propane lamp. Something small to light the gauges on propane devices.

I was thinking along the lines of a pilot light with a viewing glass. Just enough to read a gauge or two.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:53 pm

MikeVDS wrote:One thing I've been looking for is a small, "enclosed flame", propane lamp. Something small to light the gauges on propane devices.

I was thinking along the lines of a pilot light with a viewing glass. Just enough to read a gauge or two.

/
How about a miners acetylene head lamp?..I saw one years ago but do not remember how it worked. MSN search "acetylene head lamps"

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:07 pm

Might get some ideas from those. Looks like they were used for early 1900's cars? I was thinking headlamp, on someone's head for mining. Ideally I'd like something with standard fittings so I can just screw it in and be done. I cannot really think of any reason someone would manufacture something like that, so I don't know where to begin looking.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 2:24 pm

One blacksmth shop I worked in had a tank that corbide and water was mixed. I never did the mix. Maybe look at old coal mining stuff.. Then again Ebay my have one. The one I saw years ago was about the size of my fist. I m going to look at the car head lamps for the fun of it.

Post by **mdmf007** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:27 pm

Carbide lamps do not put out enough light. In a mine with dark adapted eyes you can navigate with a luminesent watch.

Carbide lamps are bright as hell underground. Above ground though they are slightly brighter than a candle.

I would suggest a simple headlamp. The multi stage LED ones are the easiest on batteries.

Also the carbide is hard to find, and once activated cant be stopped until the reaction is done.
later all.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:48 pm

How expensive is glow in the dark paint?

How many different types of glow in the dark paint are there, and what are the differences?

I've got a few different ideas I want to play around with, but only if I can stay within a (very) limited budget.

Thanks!

B.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:01 am

I HAVE seen decent glow-in-the-dark paint and tape, but worthy stuff tends to be spendy. Search "theatrical supply".
I've tended to be LED and El-centric with my posts, simply because I feel that they represent the most practical solutions. Propane, kero and butane are good for fireplay, but for just plain 'ol illumination they have drawbacks and dangers. Dropping an LED lantern doesn't create broken glass and a flaming spill. Never burned the crap outta my hand on a strand of El wire.
There's a part of my brain that has special receptors designed to enjoy Big Flaming Stuff And Explosions, and it MUST be fed. But since this IS supposed to be a vacation, why have to worry about getting burned alive or (worse) bitched at by Earth Guardians?

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:27 pm

Thanks. The reason I asked about glow in the dark is that I have been wanting to buy an old bus and convert it for camping and, since at least here in Wisconsin it is illegal to leave the bus yellow, I would need to repaint it, I figured I could have some fun with glow in the dark. I kind of like the idea of having weird designs and stuff show up in the dark, and figure glow in the dark could be a low maintance way to go.

I'm still quite a way from actually being able to do anything-- I haven't even figured out WHERE I could work on a bus!-- so I am taking my time researching stuff.

Thanks again.

B.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 7:15 pm

Sorry- Didn't mean to burst your bubble about GITD stuff. And maybe there IS something out there that'd do the trick, depending on your expected results, but I have yet to see satisfactory stuff yet. How about using UV reactive paints and some cleverly-placed Ultra-V light sources? UV LEDs are good for up-close situations, and you could rig up a row of them to illuminate the sides of the bus sort of like the spotlights on a billboard. Or use neon or flouro UV tubes if necessary, though the energy draw's higher. Or accenting the design with EL wire, GOOPed directly to the sides of the bus- It'll peel off clean later, if the surface is smooth and intact. Or install Lexan or Plexi panels and backlight 'em from within the interior! Those side-lit menu boards are kinda fun, too....

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:40 pm

Oh, I figured that there was a reason I hadn't seen that sort of thing being done. I was kind of hoping that something had been developed recently I wasn't aware of, or that someone had figured out how to get good results.

I suppose something like EL wire or some of the other suggestions you gave are probably the way I should go when/if I can ever get the project off the ground. I just rather liked the idea of paint from the "low maintance/little to go wrong" angle. I am definitely NOT a wiz with the soldering iron!

(I like technology and gadgets, but they rarely seem to like ME....)

Thanks. I've got some stuff to think about.

B.

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 10:11 pm

Roscoe (Theatrical supplies et. al) makes:

A couple glow in the dark paints...
A boatload of UV active paints...
A couple of gels that simulate (filter, actually) blacklight and work with almost any light...
And a ton of siver shiney reflective pattern surfaces.

Wildfire also make UV active paints & high output lighting fixtures: They are pricey, but they pretty much started the UV active paint world, have been doing it for about 14 years.

BAS, have you considered spray on/paint on chalkboard? One of our campmates has a bus with panels painted w/chalkboard; loads of fun for festive decoration and easy to clean up when you want a new design. It's also very scratch resistant.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 5:03 pm

Where could I get spray on chalkboard? That is something I HAVEN'T considered, and sounds like it could be fun.

B.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:03 am

Most places that carry Krylon products should have the blackboard stuff...I've seen it at True Value hardware, WalMart and such. I don't remember if it's recommended that you first prime the surface, (I assume so) but if that's the procedure then I suggest sticking with Krylon primer. For overall results and fast drying time I have found Krylon products to be superior to Rustoleum and the others. This from someone who's emptied countless hundreds of cans of spraypaint.

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:09 am

Yeah, Krylon is good, but I don't like their "Fuse" line that is supposed to be designed to adhere to plastics. The other rattle cans seam to do a better job of that.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:24 am

I've had okay results with the Fusion stuff on dry, clean plastic with a rough texture- The plastic bucket seat from my failed vehicle of last year, in fact. (I was painting the black seat white, to help out with the sun factor.) But on smooth, nonporous surfaces it does seem to want to peel unless you rough it with sandpaper first.
I tried a can of the transparent color glaze (green, of course!) and was somewhat unimpressed. But their good 'ol primers and straight colors KICK ASS.

Whoops! I forgot to mail your package, Jelly! Found a few more things to throw in around the "passenger"....Heh, heh.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:52 am

Thanks. If/when I can afford to do my bus project I will try to remember that stuff. (The idea of a bus/blackboard is kind of amusing!)

Darn job loss!

B.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Jan 06, 2007 8:32 am

A quick wipe with acetone will make your plastic ready for paint.. Then applie two coats just mist and dry between.. Now paint BUT if you lay it on heavy it will fall off.

coats coats i say

axolotl · Post by **axolotl** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:49 pm

If you have, do you recommend them?

I've seen cheap ones on eBay and elsewhere. They are 8 or 12 inches long and marketed for casemod geeks. I'm wondering how effective they would be to light a structure or vehicle that was covered in fluorescent paint or fabric. About how far away will they make it glow? Running them on batteries (I'm thinking several small 6v lantern batteries) how long would they last?

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:30 pm

How about those LED flicker candles?

That Little Lights webstore sells them... I haven't seen an ani-Gif that shows them doing their thing... they sound cool. I know the "flame" would look stupid but if the reactive light in the tent looked like real candle light it'd be kickass night lighting. I know those incandescent flicker dimmers the movie lighting guys use for fire effects look awesome when you see the light reflecting off of surfaces.

MikeVDS · Post by **MikeVDS** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 5:49 am

Those LED candles can look very good. I first saw them as solar lights along my friends front walkway. They look like real candles in that situation. They do not shed much usable light unless they line a path or mark something. I've also seen ones that just look like white LEDs.

I'll probably get some of those solar powered ones to put around our village.

Post by **AntiM** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:34 am

We scooped up several of the battery operated Christmas LED candles during the clearance sales. The have an eye that tells them when to light up and they run freakin' forever. Don't shed much light, but I keep thinking the front room is on fire.

Fex · Post by **Fex** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:49 am

AntiM wrote:The have an eye that tells them when to light up and they run freakin' forever. Don't shed much light, but I keep thinking the front room is on fire.

All I needed to know.

SOLD!!!!

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 10:15 am

Check WallGreens, They have battery oped glow sticks..Keep pushing the botton and you get different blinky patterns..$1.99 in the nik nak secton.

Rocket75377 · Post by **Rocket75377** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 8:45 pm

axolotl wrote:

They're tough, and for a little extra money, you can get the type surrounded in polycarbonate tube designed for undercar lighting. They are amazing and awesome and I'm putting as many of them as possible on my bike.

Post by **AntiM** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 8:01 am

Bought a solar-powered house sign from harbor fright, with the intent of making a custom light-up license plate for the rhoadescar. Nice copper finish casing, two LEDs behind a white panel with a clear panel over it. Stuck it in the kitchen window for now, and the damn thing lights up the entire room. Might be very useful to light a camp area such as bike parking. On an eye sensor, and the only way to turn it off is to open it up and take out the battery. I'm making a cover in case we want to block the light. ~$14.

Glowies, Blinkies, UVies & Other Illuminations

Who has played with those CCFL blacklights?

Re: Who has played with those CCFL blacklights?