Cockpit lightning (electroluminescence)

[Purzel]

Hi!
I'm close to finish my deskpit... so now it comes to backlighting...
Did anyone use a cockpit back-lighting with electroluminescene-foil ?


This kind of foils are from 0.4mm to 0.9 mm thick and: It can be cutted as you want it (yes! ) and if you buy a bigger multi-connector-foil, you can use that one with more panels, if you cut it and connect all pieces with your inverter (Inverters are selected by the size of the foil's surface - so no need for several inverters!).
Which is indeed very sexy, but is it to good to be true?

It should fit in between two instrument-plates
The only thing you should have as a power-source is an inverter (should work with sinus-wave!) and most of the inverters are dimmable.
There are 12V and 220V driven inverters (I guess in other countries 110V too).
I'm using DCS-BIOS.

So here are my questions:
Will it be bright enough to shine through the upper plate?
Did anyone used such a foil and is it possible to get this inverter dimmable via DCS-BIOS or do I have to use an ordinary potentiometer?
What's your experiences?

Greetings Purzel

Edited December 8, 2022 by Purzel

[lesthegrngo]

I have used it on a couple of gauges, using it behind thin (<2mm) 'opal' translucent acrylic. It works fine, but you won't be able to see it very well in daylight. I intend using it in the future and I intend to try and use my laser cutter to make it the correct shape, but haven't got around to it just yet. I just used a scalpel to cut it, but always made sure that I kept the original electrical connection points on it. I notice the one you have in the pic has multiple connection points, meaning that it is more flexible in terms of how you can cut it; mine only had one point

I would like to go back to it but it will definitely be something that will wait for the rest to function first, then be a retro fit. Not cheap though.

As for dimming, not sure, and not sure you will need it

Les

[Purzel]

Visibilty is only for the night, so I think it would be ok.

Would you be so kind and post a picture of it (night illuminated) ?

[Vinc_Vega]

I know the el-wires from a garden project. Total different technology than LEDs, so the wires cannot be dimmed. Their inverter may be powered by 12V or 2x AA batterys. It inverts the power to a high frequency (400 - 2000 Hz) and high voltage (60 - 120V AC). I think it depends on the colour. It's even cool for car projects

Cheap inverters tend to create high frequency noise, quite but hearable. I think the same principle is applicable to the el-foils.

A few things have to be considered during design. It could end in a try and error project by introducing additional high voltages and frequencies into your home made panels. So you may add electromagnetic problems to unshielded PCBs (acting like antennas) and microcontrollers.

Regards, Vinc

Edited December 8, 2022 by Vinc_Vega

[No1sonuk]

400Hz noise from aircraft electronics is common. I hear it daily - I work in a commercial aircraft component repair workshop.

Our usual saying about "noisy" equipment is that if you can hear the noise, you have a FAR more serious problem to deal with because your engines have stopped!