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EL Wire Question

marcoos_1

marcoos_1

Registered
5Years
Joined
Jan 22, 2019
Messages
208
Location
Glasgow-ish
Apologies in advance if this is a stupid question as I am pretty new to all this......

I've bought some EL wire to light up the mixmaster wires on my Dr Dude. I can't quite get a clear answer from the ebay seller I bought them from, but do I need a driver for these or can I power directly from a GI socket on the machine? I see different types of driver for sale for the EL wire, but the seller told me they were all to convert battery DC power (AA batteries or 12v car power sources normally) to around 6v AC. I asked the guy and he said I still need a driver even though I have a 6v AC power source??????

I'm far too scared to plug them in and try them in case I blow something up (and I don't have a separate ac power source to try them on). My plan was to power each of the 3 wires from the three individual bulb holders on the mixmaster so they are permanently on with the GI. I have converted the GI and playfield lights to LED anyway so hopefully power wont be an issue....or will it?

I'd rather ask here first, rather than fry something and then say "why did this happen!"

Mark.
 
Driver needs installing. Its only a small device. This will require 12v DC supply. It wont work off a 6v ac supply without flickering and only lighting half the wire.
 
Would like to see the effect that the EL wire gives the Mix Master wires once you get it sorted.
 
Last edited:
Ok, thanks for the input. I will get a driver sorted. Strangely enough the supplier offered me a driver that would work off a 6v input. As you say that might not be enough to power the wire properly. I will order up a 12v one.

Will take some pics if I get it sorted.

Mark.
 
OK, got the driver sorted and have been messing about with different lengths and types of wire etc. After a bit of messing about I have all three wires lit up (Red, Green and Yellow). Quite happy with the results. Not too sure if the pic does it justice. One slight issue is that for some reason I couldn't get a good red - its kind of pink but inside the original coloured Mixmaster translucent wires/tubes then it doesn't look too bad (but I will keep my eye out for a better red).

I tried a few different approaches to get the "curly effect" as the standard EL wire doesnt hold a form . I didnt want to have the steel wire showing with the EL wire wrapped around it, so I managed to get EL wire that is wound with a copper core to make it retain a shape. Luckily I got the right thickness to fit inside the orignal tubes, so its just a case of threading it through and attaching back to the original location. Looks standard apart from the light up effect which is what I was looking for.

First attempt 20200522_210714.jpg
 
Mate that looks amazing. We'll done! Personally I'm digging the pink but I'm a bit of a pink fanatic. I'm comfortable with that.

Got a link to where you bought the wire from?
 
Cheers.....I'm kinda warming to the pink myself! ☺

No problem for the info. I got it from EL Wirecraft (link below). Not necessarliy the cheapest if you want to shop around on ebay, but they are in the UK and were very helpful. All in (if I count the bits I actually ended up using) it was about £20. Pretty good value I reckon.

https://elwirecraft.co.uk/

If its for a Dr Dude I can give you the lengths etc and exactly what I bought.

Mark.
 
Nah do t have a project in mind for it yet but you never know. Always good to have a few aces up the sleeves.

Dr dude is a great game though. Pure 80s nonsense. Centre drain monster though if I recall.

Cheers for the link Mark 👍🏻
Davey
 
No probs. If you're looking around then check out the "EL Chasing Wires".......quite a nice effect too. I thought about trying them for when the ball goes into the mixmaster and it all kicks off, but they are a bit thicker so wouldn't fit inside the original sleeves. Might look quote good though. Could be a good effect around the edge of a ramp.
 
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