Glow paper?

[Heli-opolis]

I'm sorry if this has been asked and answered already but a usage of the forum search function didn't seem to turn up anything. Even Professor Google seemed stumped.

Anyone know what 'glow paper' is? You can see an example of its use at http://glowire.com/RCHELICOPTERS.htm, the last image on the bottom on the right side.

I've never heard of it but would definitely like to get my hands on some.

Any info available would be greatly appreciated.

[kavic5150]

Thats an Electroluminescent panel or el panel. Its usually sold in sheets, ribbon (tape) or small squares and simple shapes. Align has a branded product that is their logo and it goes on the canopy. This stuff is not as bright as an LED strip on 12v btw.

Its a similar material as el wire but in a sheet. It requires an inverter to light up and acts as a capacitor but also glows blue/green. Different colors are achieved by adding colored filters over the thin el panel.

It uses around 90 to 180v AC @ 400-4000Hz depending on the size of the panel and the inverter or driver used. Be careful, any exposed wires after the driver can deliver a nasty shock, ask me how I know. The higher the voltage the brighter the el panel. Also a smaller el panel connected to an inverter will be brighter than a larger one.

The best inverter I found for Rc applications is here:

http://store.glowire.com/products/F2-9-volt-driver-for-3%27-%252d-15%27-of-Glowire.html

You can also use this one for a 4.2v single lipo input:

http://store.glowire.com/products/F4S-3-volt-driver-for-1.5%27-%252d-6%27-of-Glowire.html

These guys sell cheap el ribbon by the foot and they are the only place I know that will include press to fit connectors so you can make custom size ribbons/panels:
http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/category/213/Electroluminescent-Strips/1.html

Here are a bunch more links to various vendors and info. I've ordered from Jab-tech so I can vouch for them. Sparkfun and adafruit are also well known vendor sites.

http://www.sparkfun.com/categories/226
http://www.ladyada.net/learn/el-wire/
http://www.adafruit.com/category/50_79
http://www.jab-tech.com/EL-Wire-and-EL-Tape-c-62.html
http://www.thatscoolwire.com/store/category.asp?CategoryID=188

Most of the ebay sellers charge way too much for this stuff.

If you go to walmart or a big box hardware store, they often have plug in nightlights with a small panel of this stuff but its not very bright on 120v @60hz.

[Heli-opolis]

Holy everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know-about-EL Batman!!!

You gave more than I could have ever hoped to have received!

Thank you very much!

[Elgyn]

Originally Posted by kavic5150

Its a similar material as el wire but in a sheet. It requires an inverter to light up and acts as a capacitor but also glows blue/green. Different colors are achieved by adding colored filters over the thin el panel.

Give it a couple of years and it will be surpassed by OLED's. They've alrady made a few fexible OLED screens. So it's a matter of time before they're cheap enough for mass production

[kavic5150]

Hopefully OLED will be brighter too. I'm considering getting an el driver SMD chip and some small custom circuit boards to make my own EL panel driver.

On my current (haha) el project I'm getting 115v AC from the 3v glowire driver. Not sure of how many Hz its supplying, but I want more juice. I would really like to get closer to the voltage saturation point of my el panels. The brighter the better.

Who cares if the el panels begin to fade after 400 hours. Do you know how many 7 minute flights that is? 3,428 !!

[Heli-opolis]

It's my understanding that the voltage is not as important as the frequency. The higher the frequency, the brighter the wire or panel but also, the shorter the effective lifetime.

Most drivers I have seen are all 120 volts but with differing frequencies with 2kHz and 4kHz being the most common I've seen, although there are others as well.

[Elgyn]

this will explain the basics of OLED display

http://www.digikey.ca/ca/en/techzone/lighting/resources/articles/oled-displays-offer-brighter-images.html

imagine an 80" tv being only a couple of millimetres thick!

[Heli-opolis]

Originally Posted by Elgyn

imagine an 80" tv being only a couple of millimetres thick!

And, at that size, one might want the 'screen' to be curved, which OLED technology seems to make easy!

I've a question for other night flyer's out there, do you guys and gals see EL sheets used much on birds people are flying or use it yourself?

[kavic5150]

I've only seen pics of the align trex logo done in el panels.

I did see a website that offered custom el panel shapes.

But if you get those press to connect NIC connectors included with el tape from allelectronics.com you can do them yourself. The trick is to first trim the el panels, use some good quality clear tape to seal the edges and prevent any moisture from getting into the phosphorous layer and then apply those NIC connectors. Also mulitple panels can be driven with a single inverter by connecting them in series.

I have searched digikey for those same connectors but havent found them. I might have to email them and send some pics so they can be identified.

[Heli-opolis]

Thanks for the additional info!

[Elgyn]

Originally Posted by kavic5150

I have searched digikey for those same connectors but havent found them. I might have to email them and send some pics so they can be identified.

digikey can be a PITA when searching for connectors. Try newark.com as well