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how to add EL wire to a coat or other garmentby enlighted on June 19, 2008

Table of Contents

how to add EL wire to a coat or other garment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   How to add EL wire to a coat or other garment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   List of materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Choose garment to light up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3:   Plan the light layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 4:   Select and order the EL wire and inverter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Step 5:   Cut, strip and solder the EL wire junctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Step 6:   Attach the EL wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 7:   Finishing steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Step 8:   Other examples: EL wire logos and shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 9:   Other examples: EL wire suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Step 10:   Other examples: EL wire hats and helmets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-add-EL-wire-to-a-coat-or-other-garment/

Author:enlighted    author's websiteFounder / Chief Fashion Engineer of Enlighted Designs, Inc., specializing in custom illuminated clothing and costumes for performers. 10+ years experiencewith fabric-mounted LEDs, EL, and other luminous materials.

Intro:  How to add EL wire to a coat or other garmentAs a lighted costume designer, I get a lot of questions from people who want to know how to make their own EL wire costumes. I don't have time to help everyoneindividually, so I thought I'd consolidate my advice into one instructable. Hopefully this will help you understand the steps involved in this labor-intensive process, and getyou started with your own lighted clothing projects.

Rather than describe how to make a single specific design, I am trying to make these instructions fairly general so you can create your own EL wire layout for almost anytype of clothing, although many of my example photos refer to lighted coats. Also, since EL wire is very fragile in situations where it is flexed repeatedly, a lot of these tipswill focus on methods for improving durability and getting the longest possible life out of the garment.

UPDATE: I never intended this to be a tutorial for copying other people's work, but it seems that some clarification might be useful. It's great to be inspired, but I'd like toencourage this community to take things a step further and use these techniques to create their own original designs.

Image Notes1. leather jackets make a good base for an EL wire design (though it does make the sewing more difficult)

Step 1: List of materialspiece of clothing to light up (see guidelines in that step)

sewing supplies:needle, clear thread, scissors

EL wire (can be a single color or a mix of colors)EL wire driver/inverter matched to the total length of glowing wire used in the designbattery holder and switch (if not included with driver)

If you are soldering:soldering ironsolderwire stripperswire cuttersheat-shrink tubing, heat gun

optional:glue, pins, clamps

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Image Notes1. standard thickness EL wire (2.3 mm diameter) can be bent in corners like this2. thin (angel hair) EL wire can be bent into tighter shapes, but is more fragile

Step 2: Choose garment to light upSome types of clothing are better-suited for EL wire installation than others. It is usually easier to get good results when the stiffness of the wire is similar to the stiffnessof the base fabric, and the garment does not stretch or flex too much in the areas where the EL wire is installed.

recommended:leather, suede, vinyl, various forms of imitation leatherdenim, thick cotton/polyester blends, velvet (non-stretch), faux furquilted/padded jackets (like a parka)any medium to heavyweight fabric that does not stretch

not recommended:lightweight fabricsstretch fabrics

In most cases, you don't want the EL wire to be significantly stiffer than the fabric, or the wire will dominate the drape of the garment. (one exception would be a rufflededge on a tutu, for example). Also, if you bend or fold part of the wire when you wear it or store it, it will retain some of the bend in that location when you want tostraighten it out. Over time, these areas are more likely to break.

If you are working with a lined piece of clothing, open up the lining by gently snipping the stitches in an inner seam. Open it enough so that you can access all the placeswhere you will put EL wire.

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Image Notes1. leather jackets make a good base for an EL wire design (though it does makethe sewing more difficult)

Image Notes1. EL wire on a suit jacket: limiting the installation to the lapels is a good idea,that part does not flex as much.

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Image Notes1. create lighted cuff with a short piece of EL wire, connected to the rest of thesystem by a (non-glowing) double strand of ribbon cable that can handle the flexof the elbow.2. the long piece in the front is continuous with the loops around the collar andthe lines on the shoulders. this jacket should be transported and stored with thefront piece flat, if possible.3. front pocket outlines are made from separate pieces of EL wire, joined to thedriver with double-stranded ribbon cable.

Image Notes1. piece 1: a loop of EL wire around the front flap2. piece 2: side stripe3. piece 3: other side flap4. piece 4: right arm5. piece 5: left arm6. this jacket is relatively lightweight, and the shape is dominated by the stiffnessof the EL wire. It should be transported or stored without folding or creasing thelong lines on the front and arms.

Image Notes

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Image Notes1. this corset has EL wire installed on the reinforced boning - a good choice,since it does not flex there

1. hats do not flex while you wear them, another good choice for EL wire. thisblack fedora is decorated with red EL wire.

Image Notes1. EL wire added to a bra with a pre-formed foam cup (which does not flexmuch). The most fragile part of this design would be in the center of the bra.

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Image Notes1. denim coveralls provide a good fabric weight, but the EL wire in this piece will

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be vulnerable to breaking at the knees, elbows, and at the waist if it is worn witha belt

Step 3: Plan the light layoutAdding EL wire to clothing can be a good project for a beginner who has limited experience with electronics or sewing. However, you should be aware of the limitations ofEL wire when you plan your design.

The center core of EL wire is made of solid copper, and like any solid wire it will break due to fatigue damage after repeated bending. On the human body, the elbows,knees, shoulders, and hips undergo the most movement. You can make the electronics last longer by mounting EL on areas that don't flex as much, and using strandedinsulated connector wire (which can flex) to join the glowing pieces together inside the garment.

Plan the placement of EL wire with temporary markers like pieces of string, pins, or stickers, or make a sketch on a digital photo of the garment. You can follow theseams, or add axtra lines as desired. Decide which sections can be lit up with a single continuous piece of EL wire, and which will require multiple pieces.

Then, decide what path the wire will take for each section, and mark the entry and exit points. To make sharp "T" shaped junctions, you may need to run the wire insidethe jacket at some locations.

Image Notes1. sample path for a simpler logo created with a single piece of EL wire, showing entry and exit points. dashed lines indicate places where the wire passes behind thefabric

Step 4: Select and order the EL wire and inverterMeasure the total length of EL wire that you will need, taking into account parts that will be hidden behind the fabric, and add at least 2-3 inches at the end of each pieceto allow for stripping and soldering the ends (or sealing the un-soldered ends). If you are not experienced with soldering EL wire, order extra so you can practice. Youmay need to cut and re-strip the ends multiple times.

There are many sources for buying EL wire online, such as coolneon.com and worldaglow.com

Thicknesses:thin (angel hair)normal thickness (2.3 mm diameter)extra thick/phat (3.2mm or 5mm diameter)

I prefer normal thickness, high brightness wire for most applications. The thin wire can be bent into finer shapes, but it is more fragile (better suited for a hat or a tiara, forexample). The thick wire is more durable, being protected by a thicker outer plastic core, but it cannot be bent as tightly and may not be suitable for designs with finedetails or sharp bends.

Colors:There are two standard phosphor colors for EL wire: aqua blue (which is white with a clear sheath when off), and white (which is pink when off, due to the addition of ared phosphor in the mix). The other colors (pink, red, orange, yellow, lime green, dark green, dark blue, and violet) are achieved by filtering the aqua light through a tintedouter sheath. Aqua tends to be the brightest, although the brightness can be adjusted when you select your driver.

EL Drivers:EL wire uses a high voltage and high frequency alternating current to activate the phosphor. An EL driver, also known as an inverter, is required to convert your lowvoltage DC power from the battery into a high voltage AC source. The length rating of the EL driver should be matched to the total length of glowing wire that you want toilluminate, regardless of whether it is wired in series or in parallel.Some drivers will produce a steady glow in your EL wire, others have built-in options for blinking and sound reactivity.

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Image Notes1. EL wire construction

Image Notes1. basic block diagram for battery, EL driver/inverter, and pieces of EL wire or ELflat panel.

Image Notes1. you can join multiple colors and lengths of EL wire in series or parallel.

Image Notes1. sound reactive EL inverters are also available

Step 5: Cut, strip and solder the EL wire junctionsYou can order the EL wire pieces pre-soldered if your design is relatively simple, and you want to skip this step.

The sketch below illustrates the method I use to solder EL wire. If you'd like more detail, you can get directions from the places that sell EL wire, or see this instructable:http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Solder-EL-Electroluminescent-Wire/

For each piece of EL wire in your design, cut the proper length (with at least a few extra inches at each end), and solder the end of each piece to a connector, or to adouble-conductor piece of ribbon cable that is long enough to reach the driver. The polarity does not matter - either wire can be connected to the center core or the outerwires. There are many methods for soldering EL wire, for any of these you should end up with a reinforced region with heat shrink tubing covering the junction.

I strongly recommend that you test the wire at this stage, joining the two conductors to an inverter, before it is attached to the garment. This is also a good time to join thepieces together to test the overall brightness, and decide whether you'd like to use a stronger inverter. You can achieve a higher level of brightness by overdriving thewire (e.g., attaching a short length of wire to one that is designed for a longer piece). It will burn out the phosphor on the wire faster, but that might not be important forsome applications. Under normal usage, EL wire should have 3000 to 5000 hours of glowing life before the phosphor fades to 1/2 of its normal brightness.

Image Notes1. many individual pieces of EL wire were soldered to leads for the illuminatedshapes on the Daft Punk gloves (which required normal finger flexing

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Image Notes1. solder junction surrounded by heat shrink tubing2. non-glowing connector wire3. red EL wire, standard thickness, high brightness type

Step 6: Attach the EL wireFor most projects, the best approach is to hand-sew the wire to the fabric with clear monofilament thread (fishing line). Look for the basic clear kind, in one of the lowerweights. I typically use the 6lb type, but 4lb and 8lb will also work reasonably well. You can also use standard thread, if you don't mind that it will block light from the ELwherever you make a stitch.

Make a hole in the fabric where you want to have an entry point. with the connector wires on the inside, pull the EL wire through the hole. When you get to the solderjunction and shrink tubing, leave that part inside the garment and position it in a way that can be reinforced. For example, you may want to sew it to the inside of a seam,or add glue. It is most important that the area inside the shrink tubing is not going to bend repeatedly - this is the most fragile part of the wire.

If you are doing the type of installation where you are running one long piece along an arm or leg, or another line that is going to extend when you flex, then it is better tomount the EL wire in a way that allows the end to slide slightly in and out of the hole.

To sew the wire in place: use a needle that is appropriate for the garment fabric (leather needles have a special piercing point at the end). Thread the needle. As a rule ofthumb, a good amount of thread to use is the distance between your hands when your arms are spread out. Shorter pieces will require frequent re-threading, longerpieces tend to get tangled and caught on things. I like to sew with a double strand of thread - meaning the needle is positioned at the halfway point on the piece of fishingline, and the two ends are tied together. A double knot is a good idea.

When you start sewing, run the needle between the two threads after the first stitch, to make a better anchor to the knot. This ensures the the knot will not pull through thehole in the fabric.Sew along the length of the EL wire with a diagonal whip stitch, using whatvever spacing is needed to hold the wire in the proper shape. If the fabric is especially thick ordifficult to sew through, you can use a line of topstitching as your anchor.Tie an extra knot in the fishing line periodically (every 5-6 inches), so that if part of it breaks it will not undo the rest of the stitching.

For some materials, a strong flexible glue may be a better choice. For example, EL wire can be mounted to a plastic surface (such as a helmet) by hot glue, E6000, or 3MSuper Strength Adhesive.

Another method for attaching EL wire to clothing is to make a casing or channel with sheer fabric, and slide the wire through there.

Or, if you're looking for an extremely easy short cut, or a quick temporary attachment, you could weave it back and forth through holes in the fabric, or hold it ontemporarily with safety pins, zip ties, or clear tape.

When you get to the other end, make an entry hole, if needed. Leave about 2-3" excess wire at the end. Seal the end with heat-shrink tubing and/or glue, and mount it onthe inside of the garment, as you did with the leading end.

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Image Notes1. close up view of diagonal whip-stitch, with red EL wire attached to vinyl

Image Notes1. entry point where the EL wire passes through a hole to the outside surface ofthe garment2. solder junction (covered by heat shrink tubing) is sewn to the inner seam flap tohold it in place. continue sewing excess connector wire to the inside seams by asimilar type of stitch

Image Notes1. an alternate installation method: sew casings in a sheer/translucent fabric,run EL wire through the gaps.

Image Notes1. another view of EL wire sewn to leather, using the topstitching as anchors

Step 7: Finishing stepsFirst, you will need to deal with wire management inside the garment. There should be enough slack for the non-glowing connector wires to reach back to the inverter andbattery without being pulled tightly when you move. But, you also don't want so much excess wire that it will get snagged when you put it on. I recommend using a bigstitch to sew these wires to the seams on the inside of the garment. If your jacket is unlined, this is especially helpful. If your jacket has a lining, it may be sufficient tomake some anchor points at key locations where the wire bends, like the armpits.

After all the wires running back to the inverter and battery pocket are stabilized, reconnect them as needed. They can be hard-wired to the driver, or joined to a plug if youwant it to be easy to change it later. Use heat-shrink tubing or other insulators to ensure that you do not short out the two conductors to each other.

Advice for the battery pocket:Use an existing pocket in the garment or add one, if necessary. The pocket should be close to the size of the battery pack. If you will be dancing or moving a lot in thecoat, you don't want the battery pack to bounce around too much, or fall out. Closing the pocket with a zipper or velcro can be helpful.

Clip a small part of the pocket seam, pass the wire through, and re-sew the seam closed so that the parts don't fall back into the lining. If you do not plan to change theinverter, that part can be hidden in an inaccessible part inside the lining, or sewn into a separate closed section of a pocket. Run the wire for the battery connector to thatpocket. There should be enough excess wire to easily access the end and change batteries.

Many EL drivers run on 9V or 12V. A standard 9V battery is good for many applications. If you want longer battery life with a 9V system, you can also use a 6-pack of AAcells.

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Image Notes1. entry point where the EL wire passes through a hole to the outside surface of the garment2. solder junction (covered by heat shrink tubing) is sewn to the inner seam flap to hold it in place. continue sewing excess connector wire to the inside seams by asimilar type of stitch

Step 8: Other examples: EL wire logos and shapesIn addition to lighting up the seams of a garment, EL wire can also be bent into shape to create logos and other designs, and sewn or glued to fabric. Please see thenotes on each image for more information.

Image Notes1. Violet EL wire was used to create these initials on the back of a western shirt.(the other trim is aqua)

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Image Notes1. Yellow EL wire logo for a Black Rock Ranger shirt.

Image Notes1. Lime green EL wire shamrock design created with multiple strands of thin(angel hair) wire.

Image Notes1. Dragon artwork illuminated with multiple colors of angel hair thickness Elwire.

Image Notes1. closer view of dragon: color changes occur by using the same entry/exit pointsfor two different pieces of wire.

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Step 9: Other examples: EL wire suitsHere are some examples of EL wire suits, with comments included on the photos.

Image Notes1. EL wire on knees is sewn to a padded region, and connected to the driver atthe waist with ribbon cable.2. arm cuffs are reinforced with foam craft sheets before the EL wire is added.3. front, shoulder and neck pieces are reinforced with padding4. these silver space suits are made of a thin metallic fabric that is not wellmatched to the stiffness of EL wire. so, reinforced padded areas were added tosupport the wire in key locations.

Image Notes1. leather motorcycle jacket with multiple strands of EL wire, in different colors,sewn next to each other

Image Notes1. detail of shoulder on leather jacket with EL wire.

Image Notes1. detail of shoulder in bright lighting: each strand is sewn individually withfishing line, and is also sewn to the adjacent wires.

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Image Notes1. one good strategy for putting lights on a tight bodysuit is to install the EL wireon accessories, such as shoulder pads (which do not flex as much as theunderlying spandex suit)2. elbow pad with EL wire trim3. glove with lighted trim on gauntlet

Image Notes1. EL wire on sides of helmet

Image Notes1. jacket with EL wire trim mounted in a casing between two layers oftranslucent fabric.

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Image Notes1. kneepads with red EL wire trim, created from one continuous piece on eachkneepad

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Step 10: Other examples: EL wire hats and helmetsHats and helmets can provide a good sturdy non-flexing base for EL wire. Cut holes in fabric, or drill/melt holes in plastic to pass the wire in and out of the hat at desiredlocations.

A small inverter and battery (9V type, for example), can be hidden in a hat with extra space inside, so those are generally preferred over something tight, like a low-crownbaseball cap.

The high-pitched whining noise of the EL wire system can be difficult to wear near your ears, although some people don't mind it.

Please see the photo comments for more information.

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Image Notes1. a bike helmet decorated with EL wire, attached with hot glue. the inverter andbattery are hidden in vent holes on the back

Image Notes1. another view of the same bike helmet in bright lighting. note that the white-glowing EL wire looks pink when it is off.

Image Notes1. hats do not flex while you wear them, another good choice for EL wire. thisblack fedora is decorated with red EL wire.

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Comments

50 comments Add Comment view all 153 comments

 poncedj says:  Mar 14, 2011. 11:08 AM  REPLYno se como bajar el pdf que rollo esta muy bueno pero xq complican todo

 efarrow says:  Mar 8, 2011. 5:26 PM  REPLYHey!This tutorial is great and I plan to do a lot with it, but i was wondering how it would fare as a pattern on the front of a corset. I just wonder how that wouldwork, with the boning and the not as stiff bits

 criggs-1 says:  Feb 22, 2011. 8:51 PM  REPLYThis is really cool, but how do you connect the wires to the battery pack? And where would a good place to find a cheap one be?

Any help would be much appreciated :)

 Sylar521 says:  Nov 2, 2010. 3:42 PM  REPLYDo you know how to sew in EL wire around joints like Knees, Elbows, etc? My friend and I are making Tron Legacy costumes, and we're using your guide,but we need to know if/how we can work EL Wire around joints in a costume into a single driver. Like, can you strip down the EL Wire and solder the coppercore to just a regular wire that can bend, and solder the other end into more EL Wire? Thanks a ton!

 enlighted says:  Nov 3, 2010. 8:51 AM  REPLYYes, you can use connecting wires to make durable/flexible junctions between the sections of EL wire - however you will need two conductors, onejoined to the center copper core, and another joined to the hair wires (with proper insulation, etc).Another option is to put really long lead wires on multiple pieces of EL, and run all of these pairs to the driver, and then splice them together there.

 bighamms says:  Feb 17, 2011. 11:22 AM  REPLYhello enlighted....quick question. I would like to build an EL suit for my son ( PROM attire). So a few questions. Best places to purchase the EL(ebay??) Approx how much would be needed to cover the body (i realize this is subjective as there are many body types and designs... but whatwould be a solid length to start with?) Does the wire just connect end to end like rope light?

Thanks in advance for being super swell

rob

 seaicmac says:  Dec 9, 2010. 4:26 PM  REPLYHey Enlighted!Super tutorial! : DI have a slight follow up from Sylar's question:If you intersperse sections of EL and standard conductive wire, will that effect the type of driver you need to use?E.g.- If I am running a total of 8 feet of EL wire (in 1 feet pieces), with 10 feet of standard conductive wire connecting those EL pieces- would I needto use a driver for 18 feet, or would one for 8 feet do?Basically- does the driver required depend only on the length of EL wire, or is it dependent on the entire length of the system (EL and non-EL wire)?

Again, fantastic tutorial! Many thanks again : )

 enlighted says:  Dec 11, 2010. 11:35 PM  REPLYThe length of non-glowing connecting wire does not count when you're calculating the driver size that is needed.

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 seaicmac says:  Dec 13, 2010. 7:21 AM  REPLYMany thanks :)

 Tarzi says:  Feb 16, 2011. 2:11 AM  REPLYDo you think Jeans is ok for doing this costume???

 thatsgenius says:  Nov 29, 2010. 12:52 PM  REPLYOMIGOSH!! i could use this stuff to make a tron legacy suit!!!

 paperclip32 says:  Feb 8, 2011. 12:41 PM  REPLYThis is how they made the suits in the movie.

 weeward1 says:  Jan 3, 2011. 2:28 PM  REPLYHi, does anyone know what type of fabric is used for diffusing the light? Would appreciate any help.

 rocketman217 says:  Jan 1, 2011. 2:10 AM  REPLYHi, does this need a driver or can just a battery be added?cheers

 ampeyro says:  Dec 24, 2010. 2:13 AM  REPLYEL wire is cool, but i can't wait to see the oLED pieces that will (probably) be in shops in 2012

 joemonkey says:  Nov 13, 2010. 5:54 PM  REPLYim using a sound sensitive transformer for a car, and i wired everything up and the transformer will not turn on, could it be defective?

 4ng3l says:  Sep 16, 2010. 9:33 PM  REPLYWhen I saw the picture for this project I instantly thought of Family Force 5...hahaha

 NostalgicStone says:  Sep 16, 2010. 3:09 PM  REPLYThis is simply amazing.I see a whole new era of outrageous (and awesome) clothing styles on the horizon :D

 emihackr97 says:  Aug 1, 2010. 7:51 AM  REPLYsame, need some El Wire Manufacturers in Mexico. PLZ

 thepelton says:  Jul 15, 2010. 7:38 PM  REPLYNeat! I wanna make something with this stuff!

 ilovetea says:  Jul 15, 2010. 7:54 AM  REPLYIn that first picture of the jacket, are those single EL Wires? How did you do the spacing, with black tape? or something like this with multiple ends? Thanks

 ilovetea says:  Jul 15, 2010. 8:02 AM  REPLYhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/carrieoke13/2994205440/

 orangesrhyme says:  May 29, 2010. 3:20 PM  REPLY I wonder how well Angel Hair EL wire would work in my hi-tops. I would assume that you could jam an inverter/power source into the soles.

Also, how well would a solar panel charging system work with EL wire?

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-add-EL-wire-to-a-coat-or-other-garment/

 enlighted says:  May 30, 2010. 9:00 AM  REPLYAngel hair EL is pretty fragile - the durability would be highly dependent on how it was attached, and whether you put it on flexing parts of the shoes.

Regarding solar charging:  in theory, you could find a solar system with a battery that would work with an EL inverter, but you'd be reducing the lifetime ofyour EL wire if that part is also left outside, in direct sunlight  (it is not recommended for extended outdoor use)

 Ghost Wolf says:  May 5, 2010. 11:46 PM  REPLYCan this stuff be put into a washing machine and dryer? or will it need to be dry cleaned?

 enlighted says:  May 6, 2010. 9:49 AM  REPLY I've already answered this question a few times in the comments (please look below) - but the short answer is that you should spot clean only.  Asidefrom the problems with moisture and heat exposure, EL wire is likely to be damaged by the tumbling/twisting action of machine washing and drying, andalso dry cleaning (which is not gentle at all, from a mechanical perspective).  

 Ghost Wolf says:  May 14, 2010. 8:22 PM  REPLYThanks I was thinking it could be used as a bicycle jacketThanks again! (5 stars!!!)

Ghost Wolf

 CBence says:  Jan 14, 2010. 7:33 PM  REPLY I think I saw this shirt in BRC!

 freexrider says:  Mar 24, 2010. 9:21 PM  REPLYr u talking about Brissie Riders Club?

 gruffy says:  Mar 29, 2010. 1:23 PM  REPLYhahahaa i think he's talking about black rock city. the site of BUUUURNINNG MAN.

huge festival every year in the black rock desert (hence black rock city)

 Father Christmas says:  Feb 15, 2010. 2:07 PM  REPLYI like the idea of the suit jacket being illuminated. It gives it a sort of cyber-class.

 big_ben12 says:  Jan 21, 2010. 1:07 PM  REPLYquestion : do u just run the wire through or are there no EL connectors tht go under the garment?

 wannaburst27 says:  Nov 28, 2009. 1:01 AM  REPLYo and can i do this with shoes

O_o thnx(again)

 wannaburst27 says:  Nov 28, 2009. 12:56 AM  REPLYcan i hot glue this O_o

thnx 4 the help

 Kdancer says:  Nov 4, 2009. 8:58 PM  REPLYI saw this web site and i ordered wire from www.elwireonline.com i got a great deal, they have a full line up of products that helped me get my jacket done.this web site was helpful and so was www.elwireonline.com .

 industriouscity says:  Oct 13, 2009. 8:01 PM  REPLYI've finished my EL wire suit. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoOEAdVSlto

 Dcking48 says:  Oct 11, 2009. 10:58 AM  REPLYi know you can buy the glow wires at ebay or amazon but i can't use that...where else can i buy it...offline ...thx in advance

http://www.instructables.com/id/how-to-add-EL-wire-to-a-coat-or-other-garment/

 hape0 says:  Aug 7, 2009. 6:25 AM  REPLYEY IS WATER PROOF??

 enlighted says:  Sep 9, 2009. 10:25 AM  REPLYEL is reasonably water-resistant, but it can be damaged from extended immersion, especially if moisture seeps in at the ends.

 marce7984 says:  Sep 1, 2009. 7:12 PM  REPLYI am a fan of Blue Man! Does anyone know where I can get those suits online? I have been looking for them but can't find them?

 enlighted says:  Sep 9, 2009. 10:24 AM  REPLYLike most costumes that are created for a specific show or a professional performer, you aren't going to find a place where you can buy them pre-made,"off the shelf". They are either made by the staff of the show itself, or by a company (like mine) that specializes in custom lighted clothing.

 Jran Sakarra says:  Sep 20, 2008. 10:21 PM  REPLYWhere can I buy El Wire?

 andrewt1001 says:  Jul 29, 2009. 9:52 PM  REPLYyou can buy it off of ebay for very little

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380116374292

this guy looks like a great guy to buy from (lots of sales and 100% feedback)

I know this is for a car BUT it comes with everything you need... you can even look at his other listings because 10 feet should be SO MUCH MORE thanyou need... 5 feet might be too much too.

if you are just making the helmet you should use

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110418962648

 GlowWireGuy says:  Oct 3, 2008. 6:34 AM  REPLYNeonString

 lightdude1 says:  Sep 26, 2008. 11:56 AM  REPLYJran, We have found if you are a person who understands el wire and can do all the work then ThatsCoolWire.com is the absolute best place we havefound. What is even better this company has every kind of kit available which are already built for those of you who do not want to solder and all that. Itgets better these guys will help you design your project for free over the phone.

 enlighted says:  Sep 21, 2008. 8:04 AM  REPLYI'd recommend coolneon.com or worldaglow.com - both have a good variety of wire and driver types.

 PsyOp says:  Jun 3, 2009. 5:21 AM  REPLYyour knowedge is reaching far and wide. THank you for making the world a better and more stimulating place : )

 MadScientistK says:  Apr 10, 2009. 4:01 PM  REPLYThis instructable is very helpful, thank you for posting it! One question, how do you clean garments with EL installed, or do you just remove the wire forwashing?

 enlighted says:  Apr 11, 2009. 12:09 PM  REPLYI typically recommend spot cleaning only for garments with permanently installed EL wire. If you disconnect the batteries, and the ends of the wire arevery well sealed, you may be able to submerge it briefly to hand wash it. When water leaks into the internal portion of the wire it will damage thephosphor and it won't glow anymore. I've heard stories of people throwing it in the washing machine, and having it work afterwards, but you riskmechanical damage from the tumbling, too.

 MadScientistK says:  Apr 13, 2009. 10:18 AM  REPLYThank you so much! I thought that would be the case.

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