Ellumiglow Lighting Technologies Blog

One of the most common complaints we hear about EL Wire is not necessarily the wire itself, but the inverters. Nearly every el wire inverter or battery pack that has been made to date uses a very high frequency (generally over 1500Hz), which tend to make a loud humming noise which is in our audible range, and can be annoying in quiet environments. This is because most inverters are never really in tune. They rely on providing a wide range of applications, which is great for broad markets, but when trying to narrow down to a specific product, every inverter that has been built to date has fallen short. In the past, we’ve relied on cheaper overseas inverters that have achieved illumination, but have habitually been poorly made, with cheap components making them unsuitable for mass market appeal.  While they are fine for loud environments, like concerts and more, typical overseas inverters that make a loud humming noise can drive people nuts. In quiet environments like in ho...

We get the question often, what's the difference between Electroluminescent Wire and Laser Wire™? They're both accent lights, right? Well, that's about where the similarities stop. Let's dig into the differences here. We also created a quick video showing the differences side by side (below). EL Wire has been around since the early 2000s, and is a thin wire that is powder coated with the element of Phosphor. Specialized voltages and frequencies excite the particles inside, creating a beautiful glow. The inside is made up of a copper core wire, and small angel hair wires which create a positive and negative charge for the electrodes to pass through. EL Wire can be cut to nearly any length and can be bent to nearly any shape. Laser Wire™ systems on the other hand are using specialized optical fibers which transmit light down an extremely thin tube. The entire diameter of the wire is 0.9mm, and the lighted element inside is less than 0.2mm. That's about the size o...

We are proud to announce the worldwide premier of Tinko: The World's First 5V Smart EL Inverter designed for wearables. What's so special about Tinko? First, Tinko is the first EL Inverter designed in Portland, Oregon and manufactured in the USA that is made for wearables. Thus having a small form factor, quiet, efficient, and made with quality components are all factors on why Tinko will soon be used in every EL Wearable in the near future. Second, Tinko is made far differently than most EL Inverters. Rather than using a giant inductor like most inverters, Ellumiglow's proprietary design allows for near silent operation, making it possible to install into jackets, hats, and other garments we hold close to our bodies. Third, because it runs at 5V and comes standard with a USB A-Type Connector, pairing Tinko with any number of cell phone charging batteries makes swapping power simple. Use Tinko for camping, running, hiking, snowboarding and much more, and never be wit...

We are excited and proud to announce the world's first Laser Wire System called OpalDrive. A complete package for retail, trade shows, events, productions, wearables, safety and more. Laser Wire is a super thin (900um ~ 0.9mm) lighted wire that lights up 360° beautifully. If you are familiar with EL Wire, Laser Wire addresses each drawback of EL Wire and makes it better. It's thinner, brighter, more flexible, doesn't hold a memory, lighter, consumes less power, more vibrant colors, ability to integrate into wearables, fabrics, wood, metal, and more. The future of lighting is here, today. Check out some images below of the vibrancy of Laser Wire and how it can be used. To find out more information on Laser Wire, OpalDrive or how to purchase, visit the link below. http://www.ellumiglow.com/opaldrive-laser-wire-5m-system

POP Displays are there to attract attention. Sure companies these days are using LED's, and EL Wire, but have you seen any using Laser Wire? Maybe not today, but over the next few years, many companies will start using this fantastic lighting technology for many reasons: 1. Size - They say size matters, but in the lighting world, it really does. Being able to tuck your lighting elements and hide them into places is of huge importance to the retail  industry. Seeing wires or bulky circuit boards are rarely desired, so having a clean, neat lighting element to enhance various facets of a lighting installs are needed in the industry. Laser Wire by Fibrance addresses these issues using an overall diameter of about 0.9mm. 2. Flexibility - Most wires have an internal wire membrane inside which keeps the wire relatively rigid, and keeps a memory. For areas where straight lines are needed, this simply is not acceptable. Making a wire with a memory straight can be an undertaking, but whe...

A BIG, "Well done"  to our Japanese friends for submitting this video. Great dancing and spectacular sequencing make this a sure-to-be million view video on YouTube. If you are wondering how this is done, read below: Each costume in the video is 2.6mm EL Wire and driven by two battery packs, one for the torso, and the other for the legs. The sequencing effects are all custom made sequences that all work from a DMX-512 output. The scenes are preset and can be "fired" on cue from a 3rd party behind the scenes. These scenes can be programmed individually, or together as you see in the video. For more helpful hints and tips on EL Wire Costumes, visit Ellumiglow.com .

Here is a great video for how Electroluminescent technology works. From our friends at limelite.com, this video shows the basics of the technology, where it came from, and gives us an indication about where it's going.

Matt Katzenstein, a Colorado State engineering student makes his own sound activated inverter capable of being used with his smart phone. This Android-powered system lights up to music, speech and other sounds. Check out the video below for a quick demonstration. Another option is purchasing a Sound Activated EL Wire Battery Pack which can do the same thing, without all the technical know-how. Nice job Matt!

From our neighbors to the north, comes an exciting new band that thrives on technology. This unique group certainly knows how to party, and dresses the part. As each band member comes on stage with a different Tron-inspired persona, the crowd lights up with excitement. Not to be thought of a just a band, or just a bar, Top Men want to you to simply, experience. Next time you are up in Canada, look up Top Men for an experience you will never forget. For more information on the Top Men Experience, visit:   http://topmenband.wordpress. com Costumes were made by the band, and purchased Ready Made EL Wire Kits from Ellumiglow.com. Click on the video below to check them out in action.

As the days get shorter, many people like me have the same feeling… “Oh well, no more night running after work”.  And then shortly after, the holidays come around and we come to the realization, it’s time to jump into the fat pants again. Working out after work doesn’t have to stop when it gets dark, and here are a few helpful tips to keep you seen and safe while finishing up your evening workout. See Or Be Seen – The number one reason why people don’t work out as much during the winter is they don’t have the right tools. Like a carpenter without a hammer, it’s no reason why you don’t work out in the dark. Your safety is more important than gaining a few lbs’s. Illuminating yourself is just as important as illuminating your path. Many times when we work out at night, you can get by with the city’s street lights or even the run where night time paths are common. Choosing a well-lit path in parks, boardwalks, and near rivers typically has well lit running paths in order to see...

Reader (ch00ftech) reports a new style of EL Wire Sunglasses sure to catch on. Made from an Arduino chip and a little neatly placed super glue, these unique glasses I'm sure were the hit of NYE 2012. Read more from his blog here.  http://t3chnolochic.blogspot.com/p/design-sketches-electronics.html

Very cool EL Lamp created by new submitter, LucidMovement  recently created this very cool way to make another use out of EL Wire. Check out this video for more information on it. The inspiration behind the lamp is obviously a DNA double-helix, but what you may not know is to grow the crystals, LucidMovement  built a helix-shaped growing substrate from nichrome and Electroluminescent Wire and submerged in a warm aluminum solution. As soon as crystallization occurred, it was mounted in an acrylic tube, and sealed with silicon. Pretty cool stuff!

Hurry! There's still time to order your last minute Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers and more from Ellumiglow.com . Last day for guaranteed delivery before Christmas is Monday, December 19th. Cool stocking stuffer ideas are found here.

Credit Aquabumps Australia. Known for is cute lovable Koala bears, Fosters (Australian for beer), and now Night Surfing. Taking the world by storm, this up and coming sport takes EL Wire and gives it an amazingly cool use. Sewed neatly along a wetsuit, along with EL Wire glued to a surfboard, this new sport gives surfers the ability to surf day or night. The use of Waterproof EL Wire Battery Packs  enable the EL Wire to be completely submerged in water, while still functioning perfectly. Disclaimer : Many EL Wire inverters and battery packs are not waterproof, so if you intend in making night surfing your new sport, make sure it's waterproof or your surf sesh will be cut short! Thanks to a user submission ( @ BFunk20XX), this awesome video came across our desk.

Image via Wikipedia A warm thank you to everyone for their support this Burning Man season. We truly appreciate all the help and support. Please make sure everyone that is planning on going to the playa is safe and glowing! Make sure you get your EL Wire orders in by the end of the day August 22nd to make sure you receive delivery before you leave for the playa! From all of us at Ellumiglow.com, thank you and be safe! Related articles Burning Man to get taste of Playa Provisions (sfgate.com)

First off, don't get too excited... Or disappointed. EL Wire, because of the properties, can never truly change colors from Green to red, or blue to orange. EL Wire is made from a colored plastic tubing which cannot change colors. What is possible however is to alter the frequency at which the EL Wire is powered. This enables the wire to change a different hue when it is powered from a different frequency. Take a look at this handy how-to guide and have fun with EL Wire projects! http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/07/making-el-wire-change-color.html UPDATE 2015: While EL Wire technically cannot change colors, Laser Wire can. It uses laser technology which is similar to fiber optic lighting, but allows for more flexibility, brighter light output, thinner and lighter weight product. Because there is a light source at one end, it allows to change out the laser module easily if needed. Related articles Computer-controlled EL wire light show (hackaday.com) Fergie Ligh...

We've been hard at work creating an exclusive T-shirt that is fun and fashionable. Made with a super soft Black T-shirt, The "I Love Dirty Beats" T-shirt is great for parties, to wear around town, or to your favorite festival. Check out this video for your first look. Sold exclusively at http://www.ellumiglow.com

Although we do not expect to see it for another year or two, we love EL Safety Technology and want to find out all the new happenings of it. A UK inventor came up with a mass production ready helmet that uses Electro luminescent technology in it. Capable of being seen for up to 300 meters, these helmets would provide bicyclists and police officers a new added safety element. To date, one of the leading causes of police accidents and deaths are caused by traffic accidents, both on bikes and directing traffic. Read more on the story here: UK Inventor Creates Glowing Helmet

New shoes to some are like winning the Super Bowl. For those people, they also don't really know what sport the Super Bowl entails... Here are a couple new shoes that we may see later this year using EL Panel Technology to their advantage. Want a cool way to be seen in the club, and still look like a million bucks? Well now you can, for a low, low price of $1650.00. EL Wire Clothing and  EL Panel Clothing are new hot items just hitting the market. Make sure you are seen at night and make that impression that counts. Check back often as we are on the forefront of any EL Progress. To see more about these shoes, visit Shoes Inspired by Tron .

Live  music shows, whether it’s a rock concert or a DJ set, are meant to be remarkable and entertaining.   There is so much that goes into putting on a concert or show to please the thousands of people in the audience.   One of the things that can make a live show that much more engaging and enjoyable are the visuals you see that goes along with the music you are listening to. Laser light shows are a key ingredient in the production of a great concert.  Laser lights have become a phenomenon among many rock, pop, hip hop and mainly electronic talent.  Laser light is practical in an entertainment setting like a concert because of the nature of laser light allows a narrow beam to be produced, which allows the use of optical scanning to draw patterns or images on walls, ceilings or other surfaces including  theatrical smoke and fog .  This light beam is also extremely visible to the naked eye, which makes the lasers so captivating.  ...