Using Lightsheet, are there any websites with guidance

jvasilatos · Post by **jvasilatos** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:12 am

I just got a small patch of red lightsheet to create triangle display panels on the inside of a Studio scale TIE Fighter kit so they are not going to be very big.

I thought it would be as easy as wiring it to a 9 volt power source but no dice... so I am assuming there is some intermediary device I need for power to get from the battery into the lightsheet but I don't know where i should get the information or device?

Thanks for any input...

Jerry

Oh yeah, this is the lightsheet I bought:

http://www.e-clec-tech.com/smelpar.html

To create these panels behind the pilot:

http://www.nitestar.com/SSTIE/TIEcaps.jpg

ralphee · Post by **ralphee** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 11:20 am

Dont you need an inverter for the power? i know little on this but id like to get hold of some for later use, and i did read something about a power inverter?

http://beingseentechnologies.goemerchan ... chnologies

not sure if the link wil work JV but heres where i read it!

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 2:34 pm

Electroluminescent sheet or wire needs relatively high voltage to operate. You can get night lights that plug directly into an electric outlet - which gives you an idea of the voltage you need. The SAFE way to run EL sheet or wire is with an " INVERTER " that takes battery voltage and steps it up to quite high voltage at a high frequency. The high frequency helps make the EL sheet brighter.

Oh, and " LIGHTSHEET " is actually a trade name for a specific, very bright type of EL sheet. Sadly, I don't think the maker is offering it at the moment.

You can get inverters and kits from www.allelectronics.com . (Drat. I gotta work out some kind of a promotional deal with them, I mention 'em so often.

)

Umi_Ryuzuki · Post by **Umi_Ryuzuki** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:38 pm

You needed to order this with your EL sheet.
http://store.yahoo.com/e-clec-tech/elpowersupply.html

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:38 pm

And you might wander down the forum to "CHEAP EL WIRE - $3" to get boh the inverter AND some EL wire for $3.

jvasilatos · Post by **jvasilatos** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:30 am

Umi_Ryuzuki wrote:You needed to order this with your EL sheet.
http://store.yahoo.com/e-clec-tech/elpowersupply.html

Ah HA. Didn't see that. Thanks guys.

JV

Antenociti · Post by **Antenociti** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 5:10 pm

Try this if its a) for small sections and b) required to fit into a small area.

I have some and used some - excellent driver for small sheets, no noise, no heat and very small so easily hidden.

Paulbo · Post by **Paulbo** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:39 pm

Rather than start a new thread for my question, I'll co-opt this one ('cuz it's related):

I am finally getting ready to do the final assemly/lighting work on my 2001 space pod and am planning on using material from E-Clec-Tec - they have a (relatively) inexpensive starter kit ( http://www.e-clec-tech.com/jupakita.html ) that I'd like to supplement with additional sheets.

Their people can't answer my questions and I'm hoping someone here can:

How many square inches can I power with their inverter?
Can I run two inverters in parallel to power additional area while still running two leads into the model?

Thanks!

Paulbo · Post by **Paulbo** » Thu May 18, 2006 4:55 pm

I *think* I just answered my own question by going to the link posted earlier by En'til Zog. The All Electronics kit ( http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/i ... _KIT_.html ) appears to be identical to the E-Clec-Tech one, and states that it can run up to 6 of these panels. This is way more capacity than I'll need.