EL Wire, or Electroluminescent wire, features a rigid wire core coated with phosphor and encased in a protective PVC sheath. When an AC signal is applied, it emits an aqua (blue-green) glow. You can change its color by altering the coating, like this vibrant pink one. It resembles thin neon and is highly flexible, holding its shape and can be curled around your finger. It's an easy way to add a glow to your project. It's not as bright as LEDs but consumes much less power! We offer 2.6mm thick EL wire with a pink coating, pre-cut and soldered to a standard quick-connect EL wire. Made with the latest technology, it's twice as bright as the 'standard' 2.3mm EL. Running at 1.5KHz/90V, it emits 27 cd/m² of light and has a half-life (50% brightness reduction) after 3000 hours of continuous use. It draws about 10mA per meter. Its capacitance is about twice that of 'standard' EL, 11 nF/m. So, if you're using an inverter, it can drive only half as much high-brightness wire as standard. This wire is great for costuming, decoration, accent lighting, safety vests, bicycle/motorcycle/car/boat/home decoration, signs, etc. However, it's not designed for outdoor use and will fade if constantly exposed to UV. To use, connect the wire to an inverter that provides an AC supply of about 100V at 2000 Hz. An inverter is not included. This 250 cm long wire is the maximum that our handy 2xAA portable pocket inverter can drive. The full length draws 200mA from 2xAA batteries (so 2000mAh batteries will last about 10 hours in 'constant' mode). We used EL wire to make our awesome TRON bag, so check it out for inspiration. This is a pre-cut, pre-soldered 250 cm long piece of EL. You can plug it right into an inverter and start glowing in seconds. If you want to do something more complex, you can cut and resolder it as you like. Soldering to EL wire is a bit tricky, but we've written a detailed step-by-step tutorial. To cut and re-solder EL, you'll need wire strippers, a soldering iron & solder, copper tape, and heat shrink. A third-hand tool is also very useful. Note that EL tape, EL wire, and EL panel are made with different processes, so the color and brightness won't be consistent between different types of EL products. The EL tape won't match the EL wire or EL panel exactly, and they'll all be slightly different colors.
Using this EL wire is a breeze. First, you'll need to connect it to an inverter that provides an AC supply of about 100V at 2000 Hz. Remember, the inverter isn't included in the package. This 250 cm long wire can be powered by our 2xAA portable pocket inverter. When you use 2xAA batteries, the full-length wire draws 200mA, so a pair of 2000mAh batteries will last around 10 hours if you keep it in 'constant' mode. You can plug the pre-cut and pre-soldered wire right into the inverter, and it'll start glowing in seconds. If you want to customize it further, you can cut and re-solder it. But be aware that soldering to EL wire can be a bit tricky. You'll need wire strippers, a soldering iron and solder, copper tape, and heat shrink. A third-hand tool can also make the job easier. We've got a detailed tutorial to guide you through the process. This wire is super versatile and can be used for things like costuming, decoration, and accent lighting. But it's not meant for outdoor use. If it's constantly exposed to UV, it'll start to fade. Also, keep in mind that different types of EL products like EL tape, wire, and panel are made differently. So, their colors and brightness won't match exactly.
