[sdiy] still more modular UI epitaph or epiphany

[jays at aracnet.com]

I've done several lighting systems with EL (Cool Neon) wire.

The product that I use takes ~90-140V AC modulated between ~200 Hz - 4 kHz. You can use either/both the voltage or modulation frequency to control the brightness.

There are a number of inverters (you'll almost always need an inverter) that generate the needed power. These run on anything between a button cell (1.5V) to 12V. Two main criteria for selecting the inverter are length of wire and input voltage.

In the inverters there are some coils and stuff that might not be to friendly to an analog systems as far as noise and EMI. Also the wire itself forms a big antenna which has AC going threw it. Even thougth the frequency is low there can be some pretty nasty harmonics generated that could be an issue to.

Jay S.