El-Wire

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:23 pm

After a lot of trouble with UPS I finally got my little El-Wire sample. I popped two new AA's into it and all that lit up was the little red indicater light. I've wiggeled everthing to see if there's a loose connection but still no show. Anyone out there familiar with how to test these things?I don't want to go through the hassel of sending it back and I'm really not much good with electricity. I see that there's a lot of it out on the playa.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:28 pm

Got any photos you can post anywhere? Indicator light? What indicator light? Loose connection? What connection? Electricity? You see a lot of it out on the playa? What playa?

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:38 pm

I'll try and post a picture latter. What I ment to say was that I've seen a lot of El-Wire or flouresent light tubing on the Playa at night,so I sent away for a sample unit which consists of nine strands of different colored tubing conected to a single wire that goes into a battery powered unit that has a switch on it that you can turn on and off. If you go on the internet you'll get a better idea.

phil · Post by **phil** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:12 pm

> If you go on the internet you'll get a better idea.

I'm on the internet now. :->

It sounds like the connection from the single wire to the battery is bad. Send an email to your supplier and see what they suggest regarding determining the location of the fault or mention where you live -- someone reading this thread may live near you and have the ability to check the circuit for you.

lebarondescarteun · Post by **lebarondescarteun** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:02 pm

I live in Pasadena California. Anyone know of a place I could have this device checked out. I'm sure Phils right about a bad connection.

Teo del Fuego · Post by **Teo del Fuego** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 3:14 pm

El-wire is notoriously fragile at the junction where the plastic coated phosphorous wire connects to the transformer housing. You've obviously got juice because your little red LED is illuminated, but you definitely have a short from the power supply to the the very tiny wire than wraps around the phosphorous core. I've had many El-wire units go bad this way. Its slightly tedious, but you can strip the plastic coating back to reveal that tiny copper wire and solder it to the copper wire you've revealed by stripping back the insulation coming out of your power supply.
It's possible, but not likely, that you have a break in the connection with the large phosphorus-coated center wire.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:55 am

I agree with the probable diagnosis of Broken Secondary Wire or Wires...There are actually TWO little eensy teensy strands that wrap around the core, and they ARE fragile. Sometimes you can detect the location of the break by methodically bending or pinching the wire and EL strands. Try pinching at the joins, where the power wires join the EL. If this fails, locate your receipt....

phil · Post by **phil** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 10:05 am

Fragile is too kind. These wires are smaller than a hair and much less sturdy.

I have two thoughts. One is to try to find the break and fix it. The second is, it's not worth the trouble, find your receipt and send the unit back. If you try to fix it and fail, you may screw up your chances on getting a replacement. Email the vendor and ask if they have suggestions. Ask if you try a self-repair and fail what they'll do. Ask your seller for help.