EL wire, also called Electroluminescent wire, has a rigid wire core coated with phosphor and covered by a protective PVC sheath. When an AC signal is applied, it emits an aqua (blue-green) glow. By changing the coating, you can get different colors, like this vivid orange. It resembles thin neon, is very flexible, can hold its shape, and can even 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 far less power! We offer 2.6mm thick EL wire with an orange coating, pre-cut and soldered to a standard quick-connect EL wire. Made with the latest technology, it's twice as bright as 'standard' 2.3mm EL. Running at 1.5KHz/90V, it emits 70 cd/m² of light and has a half-life (50% brightness reduction) after 3000 hours of continuous use. It draws about 10mA per meter. The capacitance is about twice that of 'standard' EL, 11 nF/m. So, if you're using an inverter, it will drive only half as much high-brightness wire as standard. This wire is often used 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 exposed to UV continuously. To use, connect the wire to an inverter that provides an AC supply of approximately 100V at 2000 Hz. Note that an inverter is not included! This 250 cm long wire is the maximum that can be driven by our handy 2xAA portable pocket inverter. The full length draws 200mA from the 2xAA batteries (so 2000mAh batteries will last about 10 hours in 'constant' mode). We used this EL wire to make our awesome TRON bag, so check it out for ideas. 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 can be really helpful. Also, keep in mind 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 orange EL wire is a breeze! First, you need to connect it to an inverter that provides an AC supply of about 100V at 2000 Hz. But remember, the inverter isn't included in the package. This 2.5 - meter long wire is the max length that our 2xAA portable pocket inverter can handle. If you use 2000mAh batteries, it'll last around 10 hours on 'constant' mode. The wire comes pre - cut and pre - soldered, so you can plug it into the inverter and see it glow right away. If you want to customize it, you can cut and re - solder it. Just grab wire strippers, a soldering iron and solder, copper tape, and heat shrink. A third - hand tool can make the job easier. We've got a detailed tutorial to guide you through the process. When it comes to usage, this wire is great for lots of things like costumes, decorations, and safety vests. But don't use it outdoors all the time. UV light will make it fade. Also, know that different EL products like tape, wire, and panels won't have the same color and brightness. They'll all be a bit different from each other.
