Neon String

[DaveW]

Anyone used this stuff? (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=115993) It seems great, but i've not seen it on a mod, so i was wondering if there was a problem with it, such as does it last long, or use up lots of power...or just look really crap in...

If anyone's used it, tell me what you think. I'm thinking about buying some but it's expensive now.

-Dave

[Nagoshi]

If we can use it on our motorcycles (cause thats what is written on the package), it sorely doesnt suck much juice. Maybe because modders uses better quality neon sticks (this one is flexible tho).

I dont really know, the only lighting stuff I have in my case are the power and HDD leds, plus the DVD led ^_^;

[DaveW]

It's not a stick, it's 10foot of thread...it glows when you pass current through it.

theory is that it's flexible and you can cut it into whatever shape you like.

I'm worried it's going to look crap after 2 months.
I'm sure someone here's used it...but I can't remember who...

-Dave

[xmastree]

10 foot? The writeup says 5" and 10" but the picture shows a 3" tube.
Very confusing.

[Rankenphile]

That's el wire. Neat stuff. But xmastree is right, that's 10 inches, not 10 feet.

I know Defyant used it in Storm'd, for the lightning bolts behind the smoked plex.

[b4i7]

i had some of that stuff on one of my cases at one point....i took it off cuz it did eventually fade....to the point where i could barely tell it was on.....though it was a modded wire from car use

[The Modfather]

EL Wire is nice, it comes in handy for a lot of things. It's nothing new, been around for a couple of years now. I'll probably incorporate it into my current mod in some way.

[Cevinzol]

EL has been around for a bit but its lack of use makes me wonder.
If it was the greatest thing since sliced bread every vendor would be selling it. Instead I see CCL rigs, UV tubing/sleeves/jacks, and LEDs for illumination sold everywhere. Either the markup is low or the vendors know something.

[The Modfather]

None of the above actually. EL wire is used plenty in modding, it just isn't as bright as, say, a laser LED or UV or CCFL's so it can't replace those items.

[DaveW]

Whoops! I had the wrong link, i've fixed it now.

Her it is again. (http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=115993)

I know it's been around for a while, i'm probably going to get some to play with anyway.

Modfather, how is the stuff when you cut it? Is it easy to hook up if say, you bought 10' and then cut it into 8" segments?

Thanks for the feedback, and if you see this, b4i7, how long did it take to fade? (I expected it would eventually fade, but hey, everything does. If it lasts long enough i'll use it.)

Just as a long shot, anyone know if there's a relationship between the time it lasts and the current passed through it?


EDIT: Here's the plug...
EL Neon String is the coolest way to accessorize any vehicle with neon lighting! This innovative neon fiber is completely flexible so you can twist it into any shape. It's safe for indoor and outdoor use and goes anywhere your imagination takes you!

Available in two flexible lengths: 5' and 10'. Trims to any size, installs quickly and easily, long lasting brightness and low voltage.

Put EL Neon String around speaker covers, floor mats, running boards. Use it for outdoor lighting, around boat or dock, on a bicycle even.

Comes with installation instructions, mounting hardware.

-Dave

[The Modfather]

Well if you cut it into multiple segments only the one that's nearest the source of power is going to light up of course. What you're showing there is for automotive use (I tried it, it doesn't work) but you can easily find it for PC use, plenty of places sell it. I've seen it in at least the more common colors (blue, green, red I think, that's what I want to get, hope I can find some).

When I found that I couldn't use the automotive stuff in PC's I used it in my truck, it does come in longer segments for automotive use, I just wish it came longer for PC use too. Looks pretty cool around the headliner in my truck. On the PC, the times I've used it it's been mostly to get light in places where you wouldn't see the EL wire anyway but I've seen people use it in some really creative ways.

Examples:
http://www.chickenorfish.com/tech/BotraxCaseMod/Red-ELwire-styleshot-cof.jpg

http://uk-car-store.com/images/elwire1.jpg (Automotive here)

[DaveW]

Hmm. It does look pretty good, doesn't it? Don't know if it's more trouble than it's worth, but it might be nice for some nice effects...that i'll now have to think up off.

Anyway, thanks very much for all the info guys!

-Dave

[Nagoshi]

Simple idea... but if you can find a way to fix the string beside your watercooling tubes, it could lit your water, and the wire wouldnt be really seen... it would light the inside of the case too...

I dont know if you really understand what I tried to tell you... The possibilities are infinite tho with ELWires, if you sleeve your PSU cables with some transglucent sleeving (like green plastic for example) you could get a string to pass in it so it would lit all your wires o_O

[DaveW]

That's actually a pretty good idea...thanks for that, i'll definately get some now...order it in with that 19" flat panel i have my eye on.

So what colour of string should i get? It would seem i have the following choices, as i only know one supplier.

Red
Purple
White
Neo-Blue
Green

As my computer's black and orange...i'm thinging purple, neo blue, or red. I might go with the red as i might incorporate some red into the case.

-Dave

[Rankenphile]

A dangerous red, or a toxic green. Either would go well with your industrial theme. Althugh keep in mind most red lights tend to look rather pink, so you might need to surround them with some red cellophane.

[b4i7]

i had the case for about six months before it faded...i bought the case with the EL from a friend after he had it for about 2 months and it faded 2 to 3 months before i got a new case

i do like how EL wire looks...just dont be retarded like my friend and crazy glue it hes not the brightest bulb in the box...had to take a roazor...and some of the front panel with it to get it off

hope that was helpful

[b4i7]

A dangerous red, or a toxic green. Either would go well with your industrial theme. Althugh keep in mind most red lights tend to look rather pink, so you might need to surround them with some red cellophane.




the EL wqire i had was red...it actually looke red...i was happy with it

[The Modfather]

Yeah, red EL Wire is red, you're thinking of CCFL's, those tend to look very pink. But EL is nice and red.

I'd say anything BUT the blue, blue has been used to death 10 times over, be different, use the red, green or purple. Or, be creative, get the white and use an orange maker to make it match your rig's color scheme.

[DaveW]

orange maker

Possible typo, you mean marker? Like a pen?

As it stands, i'm probably going to get some red EL wire. Glad i got this inspiration before i put my PSU back together! Hope you don't mind me stealing this idea :D

b4i7, thanks for the info, sounds like it shouldn't be a problem at all. 2-3 years is plenty of time in my opinion, lasts longer than a video card these days ;)

-Dave

[xmastree]

I saw some of this in the local shop. I was asking about it, oh, it lights up when you connect it? show me. Huh? It's already connected?
He cupped his hands around it and it was indeed glowing, just. But this was in a brightly lit shop.

Maybe in the depths of a dark case it would be more visible.

I'd ask to see it in action before you buy it.

[The Modfather]

You're not stealing any ideas, people do this a lot. And yep, that was a typo.

This is what I plan to do with the Red EL wire in my current project.

View my worklog, it'll explain it better than I can type it out here right now.
http://infinity-customs.com/blog/?&blogid=3

[DaveW]

It's only about $10 for 5' so i'll buy some and play around with it. I'm planning to use LED's only for the interior lighting, so this will definately brighten stuff up if it's nice enough :)

I'll let you know if it's decent or not.

-Dave