[sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip

jays at aracnet.com jays at aracnet.com
Wed Jul 28 01:26:49 CEST 2004


Larry,

Probably not. There are 2 ways to control the brightness of an EL panel. One is the voltage and the other is the frequency that it is modulated at. The stuff that I am familar with will tolerate up to 4 kHz. The curves that I have looked show that the higher the freq the brighter the EL panel but shorter the life span. So at such a low frequency you'll probably just have a dimmer, longer life panel.

Jay S.

 Larry Hendry <jlarryh at iquest.net> wrote :

> I have been running some for quite a while from 120V 60Hz line Ac and using
> them for stage lighting (so I can see stuff when the lights are off).  I
> know they are supposed to run at high frequency.  But, I have had no
> problems running them this way and just forgetting the inverter.  Am I
> totally screwing up?  Anyone else done this?
> 
> Larry
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <jays at aracnet.com>
> To: <synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 11:49 AM
> Subject: RE: [sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip
> 
> 
> There are some issues that may make EL technology hard to use. They run at a
> high AC voltage. Usually between 80-160 volts so they require an inverter.
> These aren't all the expensive. Real problem is that some of these are made
> really cheap with minimal bypass and square waves which give nasty harmonics
> causing pretty nasty noise. The newer inverters usually run above 50 kHz but
> the EL panels are modulated at 150 - 1000 Hz. So some additional shielding
> and power supply conditioning may be required to keep noise from getting
> into the audio/synth circuits.
> 
> Jay S.
> 
> Bert Schiettecatte <bschiett at etro.vub.ac.be>
> wrote :
> 
> > Thanks for the tip. I knew about EL but never looked into it since I'm
> > looking for a way to mix red, green and blue light to create any colour
> > I want.. I haven't found an EL material that does all three colours?
> > Also, somebody told me EL is not very bright? I'm trying to make a
> > visual effect in the dark so maybe the level of EL is adequate...
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]
> > On Behalf Of J. Larry Hendry
> > Sent: dinsdag 27 juli 2004 14:03
> > To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > Subject: Re: [sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip
> >
> >
> > All Electronics often has an assortment of these electroluminescent
> > strips (EL).  I see they have one now that is 3&quot; x 3.1&quot;
> catalog
> #
> > EL-8.
> > That's not much bigger than 6cm (where's my calculator?).
> 1-800-826-5432
> > www.allelectronics.com One thing you have to watch with them. They are
> > surplus.  If you find what you want, but all of them you need.  You
> > cannot always count on them having them later. Larry
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: &lt;mikael at mikmo.dk&gt;
> > Or what about those light panels used to illuminate backlit notebook
> > monitors, sometimes they are really cheap at the electronic goldmine,
> > right now i just can't remember what they are called, and maybee they
> > are a little on the large side for a 6 cm x 6 cm panel.
> > www.goldmine-elec.com
> >
> > Citat &quot;Metzger, Michael A&quot; &lt;MAMETZGER at partners.org&gt;:
> >
> > &gt; Best way I've seen to evenly illuminate a panel is to is
> to.....place
> > &gt; it
> > in
> > &gt; front of an illuminated panel. For 6cm x 6cm I'd suggest about
> frosted
> >
> > &gt; 4 LED's behind a frosted panel. Then on top of that place the
> panel
> > &gt; you want to
> > light
> > &gt; up. It works best if the final panel is frosted or has a pattern
> on
> it
> > (photo
> > &gt; transparency, etc).
> > &gt;
> > &gt;
> > &gt; ----Original Message-----
> > &gt; From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> >
> > &gt; [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On
> > Behalf Of Bert
> > &gt; Schiettecatte
> > &gt; Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 5:22 PM
> > &gt; To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > &gt; Subject: RE: [sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip
> > &gt;
> > &gt;
> > &gt; I tried something like that a while ago... Seems to work, but it
> is
> > &gt; not easy to really do a uniform lighting. Most of the time you
> still
> > &gt; see the light pattern thrown by the LED lens...
> > &gt;
> > &gt; -----Original Message-----
> > &gt; From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> >
> > &gt; [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]
> > On Behalf Of Tim Heffield
> > &gt; Sent: zondag 25 juli 2004 23:05
> > &gt; To: Synth-Diy
> > &gt; Subject: RE: [sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip
> > &gt;
> > &gt;
> > &gt; You might try putting polished aluminium foil on three sides and
> the
> > &gt; bottom (assuming it is clear acrylic)and then light it from the
> one
> > &gt; side edge without the foil.  You could lightly sand the top side
> or
> > &gt; spray it with the &quot;Glass Frosting&quot; spray to
> evenly diffuse
> the
> > light.
> >
> > &gt; You would have to play with how many LEDs it will take to
> evenly
> light
> >
> > &gt; it.
> > &gt;
> > &gt; --Tim
> > &gt;
> > &gt; -----Original Message-----
> > &gt; From: owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> >
> > &gt; [mailto:owner-synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl]On
> > Behalf Of Bert
> > &gt; Schiettecatte
> > &gt; Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 4:38 PM
> > &gt; To: synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl
> > &gt; Subject: RE: [sdiy] Diffused LEDs tip
> > &gt;
> > &gt;
> > &gt; Now that we're on the topic, anyone got experience designing
> and
> > &gt; implementing light guides for LED lighting? I've been trying to
> find
> a
> >
> > &gt; cheap way to light a piece of acrylic 6cm x 6cm in a uniform
> way
> using
> >
> > &gt; LED(s). Sort of a light tile ...




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