Anybody know anything about light sheet?

JohnnySpud · Post by **JohnnySpud** » Sat May 09, 2009 1:25 am

How do you use it? where can I get it? Can it be cut to the desired shape/ size? UGH!

ModelMan · Post by **ModelMan** » Sat May 09, 2009 4:53 am

I used it as a ceiling light in a galileo 7 kit and will be using it in a M Falcon cockpit.

I found mine on ebay, but if you hunt around for EL wire, EL sheet and EL ribbon, you will find it at other places.

EL Sheet is brighter than EL Ribbon by a lot and similar to EL Wire. Sheet can be cut to shape, but don't touch the edges! They are live! Using the scraps for other projects is very difficult. It is a couple layers of paper thin material sandwiched in paper thin plastic. So to wire a scrap piece you have to slit in between those paper thin slices and solder wire in there. Very tough. You also need an inverter for each piece, so that can get expensive.

The stuff ain't cheap, but it does stuff no other lighting source can do.

Here's a link to how I used it in the Galileo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkOQkaN9 ... 5D&index=9

The playlist on the right of that page will have more scattered talk throughout. The last video has it fully lit and sealed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwbqaiU1 ... D&index=17

It's fun stuff. Expensive, but fun. It's the only option in many cases.

Warped Speedster · Post by **Warped Speedster** » Sat May 09, 2009 6:33 am

I got some 1"x5" EL Strips from All Electronics. (Good store) http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-st ... ips/1.html

Inverter. http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-st ... IPS/1.html

They are white when not energized but glow sort of a bright aqua blue when lit. I haven't had the need to cut any of the strips yet but I guess they can be cut. They also bend very easily. They're a pretty handy size to use for scratchbuilding.

Actually, you really don't need an inverter for each light strip but the more strips you use the more load it puts on the inverter so you may notice a drop in brightness if you use too many strips, even if the inverter is rated for that load.

Although I do suggest using the inverter with these strips you can also connect the strip leads directly to 120 volts AC if you don't want to use an inverter. These strips are usually connected to a power source in a "parallel" hook up, but you can also connect two strips in "series" using the inverter, or with 120 volt house current. They will glow a little dimmer connected in series but will last much, much longer that way, if that's a concern.

Note: Three strips in connected in series will not work, as far as I've tried.

USE EXTREME CAUTION; I don't suggest anyone ever using house hold AC voltage to opperate these strips unless you're very familiar with higher voltages and alternating current. You can blow up your model and, or, yourself if not careful.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat May 09, 2009 10:13 am

Being Seen is another site that sells EL sheet. I've never purchased from them, but only because I haven't needed anything lately.

They have sheet, ribbon (Flatlite) and string (Cable) in several colors each. The Flatlite page also lists the converter sizes. Generally, you add up the total square inches of how much sheet/ribbon you're using, then get a converter that can handle that amount.

It's not difficult to work with, you just need to be extra careful with your connections. Make sure everything is sealed and insulated.

b5ranger99 · Post by **b5ranger99** » Sat May 09, 2009 10:37 am

I have picked my sheets up at model railroad shops. The RR hobbyists use it for billboards, street signs, and building lights.

Great stuff.

I have never been able to successfully make new connections to a sheet.
That isn't to say it can't be done.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat May 09, 2009 10:41 am

Ziz wrote:Being Seen is another site that sells EL sheet. I've never purchased from them, but only because I haven't needed anything lately.

They have sheet, ribbon (Flatlite) and string (Cable) in several colors each. The Flatlite page also lists the converter sizes. Generally, you add up the total square inches of how much sheet/ribbon you're using, then get a converter that can handle that amount.

It's not difficult to work with, you just need to be extra careful with your connections. Make sure everything is sealed and insulated.

If only their online store worked....

Ti Raven · Post by **Ti Raven** » Sat May 09, 2009 12:57 pm

This is cool stuff! I had never even heard of it before......

erredois · Post by **erredois** » Sat May 09, 2009 4:21 pm

I was planning to use in my Falcon cockpit, but after some tests I found its brightness too weak, unusable to me. Would work only in darkness. As bright as those Indiglo wristwatches.
I ended up using LEDs instead, with better results.

JohnnySpud · Post by **JohnnySpud** » Sat May 09, 2009 4:45 pm

Well, WarpeD just sold me one of those really nice Orion III spaceplanes, and with such a lovely interior it would be a shame NOT to light it. The problem lies in the fact that it must be modified to be lit, as it is amazingly not engineered to be. Any suggestions from anyone else who owns one?

bigh827 · Post by **bigh827** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:38 am

There use to be adds for this stuff in my modeling mags, then nothing. From what I've seen here and other places it does the trick, and can be formed in to some very tight spaces.

WarpeD · Post by **WarpeD** » Sun May 10, 2009 12:53 am

Having seen the parts in question first hand....I'd just run a narrow strip of lightsheet down the middle of the passenger cabin ceiling. For the cockpit, a single red or blue LED mounted in the location of the instrument panel would do the trick for the cockpit. It's hard to see inside them bitty windows, and I know you could never see the one in the cockpit, and to see the ceiling of the passenger cabin you'd probably have to be able to look through the wings. Maybe carve a very shallow trench in the ceiling to accomodate the thickness of the lightsheet. They sell that stuff in lots of sizes too, and all you'd need would be one that's originally intended as a backlight for lettering on an instrument panel.

JohnnySpud · Post by **JohnnySpud** » Sun May 10, 2009 2:33 am

Too bad that flatlite stuff only comes in big rolls, I only need about 3 or 4 inches worth. Maybe LEDs would be better after all, WarpeD is right, there is NO way you can see the ceiling in that thing which is a real shame if you ask me because it looks EXACTLY like the movie in there! It seems like one could make a nice cutaway with this Stargazer kit to show off the interior, but where's the fun in that?

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sun May 10, 2009 8:14 am

JohnnySpud wrote:Too bad that flatlite stuff only comes in big rolls, I only need about 3 or 4 inches worth.

It doesn't only come in big rolls, it says "Lengths Up to 300' long". You tell them how much you need and they cut it to length.

Yes, their online store seems to be down but the phone number still works.

jdwaggoner · Post by **jdwaggoner** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 9:44 pm

Gil at Just An Illusion uses it for his big Seaview and big Flying Sub lighting kits. I remember reading someplace that he can provide other sizes and shapes as well.

http://www.needfulthings.net/jai/catalog/index.php

Jeff

scottgirvan · Post by **scottgirvan** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:29 pm

This looks like a good spot to ask this.

I will soon be building some hanger equipment and I want to backlight some diagnostic display screens. Basically I'm designing some graphics, printing on clear acetate (for overhead projectors) and I want to backlight it.

LEDs in a box give me a hotspot. I assume EL sheet was born for this type of project but just want to be sure before I spend the $30.

Thanks for the help.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Mon Jul 04, 2011 10:36 pm

Yep, that's what it's for. Depending where you get it and the way it's designed, you may have to build your consoles to have the screen area recessed a bit so that you can have framing space to hide the wiring connector. Don't do any major design/construction on your consoles until you have your EL sheet product in hand and can see how it needs to orient itself.

paraclete1 · Post by **paraclete1** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:13 am

Has anyone here used Lightsheets to light the inside of the Galatica landing bays? If so, is it possible to cut one sheet in such a way as to light both bays or do you have to light each bay separately? If it's the latter, do you need another power supply?

I'm talking the old Battlestar, not the new one.

scottgirvan · Post by **scottgirvan** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 7:24 am

Ziz, thank you sir.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 9:19 am

para - you just use two sheets, one in each bay, and then wire them in parallel through the body.

DLMatthys · Post by **DLMatthys** » Tue Jul 05, 2011 6:04 pm

OK for the record LightSheet is a brand name only when my good friend Mike Emory ran it. Unfortunately LightSheet is long time been out of business. Miss ya Mike! It looks like Being Seen is gone with the Dodo birds as well.

So all that kinda stuff is really named Electroluminescent Lamp...
Let's just call it EL Lamp.

My current source for EL Lamps is now at Miller Engineering.
http://www.microstru.com/Experimenter-Kits.html
I like to use the largest sheet he stocks 4" x 6" #4601 (scroll to the bottom.) The user can cut it to shape, curve it and bend it to a point. Don't fold or crease it or the phosferent compound will break and short out within the laminate sheet and keep it dry.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30727025@N ... 1577581472
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30727025@N ... 577581472/

I do want to use bigger sheets... I keep searching for it or just might throw some money at a EL Lamps fabricator and then resell it. Buy the sheet or cut out by laser to fit to Trek kits. My specs demands it to work around 4.5 to 6 volts. I use JKL inverters that take in 5 volts with a 60 volt AC out put... and yes... they can be a little shocking!

Gilusions · Post by **Gilusions** » Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:57 am

If you like I can cut it to any size from 1/4" wide to 39" up to 1800' I am a carter partner with the company so if there is any interest let me know

bigh827 · Post by **bigh827** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:20 pm

Gilusions wrote:If you like I can cut it to any size from 1/4" wide to 39" up to 1800' I am a carter partner with the company so if there is any interest let me know

1,800 feet, that's a lot of light sheet.

Ramsayman · Post by **Ramsayman** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:22 am

Been looking for this stuff, great thread!