We hope you’ve already got parts on hand for your holiday projects because shipping might be a little slow at this time of year. But if you’ve got a bag and some unused EL wire here’s a one-day project you should try. Make yourself a Tron-inspired shoulder bag, or backpack.
On the right, [PT] is doing fantastic job of modeling with his electroluminescent offering. This is another Adafruit offering that holds your hand each step of the way from designing, to sewing, to wiring it up. This will go great with that glowing unitard he’s been working on.
[Alan Yates] has also done a spectacular job with his Tron backpack seen on the left. He picked up his EL wire on clearance at a place called “big-W” after Christmas last year. They were selling 3 meter segments (each with their own inverter) for just $3. We’re happy he got a deal and even more pleased that he found a use for it.
[Thanks Drone]
One problem with this stuff is that the solid core wire that the phosphor is on kinks like…solid core wire. Even tiny imperfections are extremely noticeable when lit up.
haha tron is back in style!
I remember using this stuff like 10 years ago for my car. I simply wrapped it around the seats where the bead is that holds the fabric down. At night when it was lit up, you would feel like you were teleporting to where ever it was you were going. but like Pete said… if you get a kink you notice it right away.
Haha it’s Big W not big-W, I guess it just isn’t as popular overseas as it is here in Australia
It is kinda close to Wal-Mart. Same deal, really. As far as I am aware there are no Big Ws here in the states (I have never seen one). This would look pretty cool on a few items I have. Thanks for the post!
Haha it’s Walmart not Wal-Mart, I guess it just isn’t as popular overseas as it is here in Florida
I love it. Looks great in the dark but i am not sure how it will look in the day time. Bout put some into my laptop case so we will see. Cant wait to see the movie in IMAX that is for sure.
Actually, it’s Wal★Mart[1], not Walmart. I guess it just isn’t as popular in Florida as it is here overseas. :)
[1] Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wal-Mart_logo.svg
wal-mart
walmart.. …. all the same
http://walmartwatch.com/img/blog/logo_through_the_ages.jpg
Who the F cares about Wallmart and their stupid ass logo?
Seriously
THIS is a neat hack, but does every EL wire hack need an obligatory glamor shot of some tech dude all lit up with tech looking like he’s all teched up for a big techie night on the tech town?
Here’s an idea: Show all this EL tech while standing next to a woman.
Their new logo is walmart without the start at least here in florida
i meant star not start, and i agree is not important, but somebody thought it was in big W
I love EL ire
seeing that this is on a helmet it probably would not look right to use the el film as is and just cut out the logo (pumpkin carving style ) from black paper and use as a mask over the el film.
it would then look like a square block on the helmet (look like image over a redaction or 70’s to 80’s censorship block)
but if your project has colors and shapes that would mask the blocky look then using the entire film and masking it off would be ok.
then it would be a lot safer and last longer as per the comment above about moisture getting into the glowing layer.