EEVblog Electronics Community Forum
Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: MynameIsRain on July 07, 2015, 03:08:59 am
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Hello!! I would like to build a 12v EL - Wire inverter but i don't have any idea what component should i use. I search in the internet all i see is they use 555 timer and CD4047.
There is out in market of 12v EL - Wire Inverter but i want to make my own.
Thanks
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Someone round here, cannot remember who, has a posting signature that reads something like this...
"If you can buy it for $2 off ebay, why would you design and build it?"
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Someone round here, cannot remember who, has a posting signature that reads something like this...
"If you can buy it for $2 off ebay, why would you design and build it?"
to learn possibly? why else would he ask?
Hello!! I would like to build a 12v EL - Wire inverter but i don't have any idea what component should i use. I search in the internet all i see is they use 555 timer and CD4047.
There is out in market of 12v EL - Wire Inverter but i want to make my own.
Thanks
For a beginner I would use those designs you have found, least then you have some idea of how it works. They are easy to obtain and cheap to replace if you go wrong.
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I have made an EL inverter. My design wasn't all that elegant, it used a conventional 240V : 12 V (centre tapped) potted PCB mount transformer in reverse running at about 120 Hz. Simple two transistor astable driving a pair of output transistors. If I were doing it again I'd use a binary divider to generate the complementary drive signals to ensure 50:50 duty cycle and probably run at much higher frequency with a ferrite transformer. The 100 Hz approach works but needs a lot more voltage to push enough current through the EL wire, which is essentially a lossy capacitor.
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https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10469 (https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10469)
https://www.adafruit.com/products/448 (https://www.adafruit.com/products/448)
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@MynameIsRain
What is wrong with the designs using the parts you mention? I'm not sure what you are after when I read your question.
Also be wary of the hazards of high voltages made by EL inverters. If this is your first ever electronics project I would suggest having some fun with a few other circuits first, and get the help of someone who is confident working on high voltage items so they can give you some advice and tips when working on it.
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actually i want to lighten up an EL wire about 10 m or longer. if i design a 12v El wire inverter i need a high frequency and high voltage for lighten up the longer EL wire??
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actually i want to lighten up an EL wire about 10 m or longer. if i design a 12v El wire inverter i need a high frequency and high voltage for lighten up the longer EL wire??
EL wire is strange when you add longer lengths. According to this source (https://learn.adafruit.com/el-wire/using-el-wire) the driver needs to deliver more current to maintain the driving frequency (and therefore brightness) but I'm not sure what the voltage does.
Again, this sounds like a pretty heavy project. I'd advise buying a pre-existing solution for this.