An EL driver, also known as an inverter, is required to convert your low voltage DC power from the battery into a high voltage AC source. Please see the photo comments for more information. link to Can You Put Led Strip Lights Over Stove? Did you make this project? So, lets go over some of the best ways weve found for putting led strip lights on fabric. Question The most common method is to use heat-resistant tape. Well also give you tips on choosing the right LED lights for your look. Allows for easy repairs and will be much less time consuming to attach. 5 years ago. The good news is all led strip lights come with their very own adhesive tapes. This is also a good time to join the pieces together to test the overall brightness, and decide whether you'd like to use a stronger inverter. If you want longer battery life with a 9V system, you can also use a 6-pack of AA cells. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You can achieve a higher level of brightness by overdriving the wire (e.g., attaching a short length of wire to one that is designed for a longer piece). For some materials, a strong flexible glue may be a better choice. 3 years ago As far as visibility through the top layer of fabric, that will depend on how sheer the top layer is, and how bright your wire is (which varies with the type of driver and the total length of the wire). Run the wire for the battery connector to that pocket. ins.dataset.adChannel=cid;if(ffid==2){ins.dataset.fullWidthResponsive='true';}
Under normal usage, EL wire should have 3000 to 5000 hours of glowing life before the phosphor fades to 1/2 of its normal brightness. One of the biggest benefits of this method is that its very easy to remove if you need to do so. Colors: There are two standard phosphor colors for EL wire: aqua blue (which is white with a clear sheath when off), and white (which is pink when off, due to the addition of a red phosphor in the mix). Then you're the right place because in this article we are going to be using an EL glowing wire to light up your costume. Also, since EL wire is very fragile in situations where it is flexed repeatedly, a lot of these tips will focus on methods for improving durability and getting the longest possible life out of the garment. I had no problem with shipping them out of the container and on the playa. You can also cut the Velcro strips into whatever size you need, which makes them a more versatile option than other methods. Its also a good idea to use clear tape or wire to secure the lights in place. But, you also don't want so much excess wire that it will get snagged when you put it on. (one exception would be a ruffled edge on a tutu, for example). This can be a very effective way to attach the light and will look very professional. Check that every piece of EL wire is correctly illuminated when switching on the batteries. We use cookies on our websites for a number of purposes, including analytics and performance, functionality and advertising. Thank you guys!" This guide will show you how easy it is to get started. Im sure youve seen lights like these before. - There are Can You Put Electrical Tape Over Led Strip Lights? Then that could be sewing into hems etc.
This is a Great tutorial. You can spell out words, make patterns, or even just attach them randomly. 3 years ago, Hello! or have an amazing rave outfit for that upcoming festival? First, use the wire cutters to trim the excess wire from each light. make sure you are satisfied and stand behind their product. Some drivers will produce a steady glow in your EL wire, others have built-in options for blinking and sound reactivity. 6 years ago, I'm familiar with the method!
on Introduction. It's great to be inspired, but I'd like to encourage this community to take things a step further and use these techniques to create their own original designs. Rather than describe how to make a single specific design, I am trying to make these instructions fairly general so you can create your own EL wire layout for almost any type of clothing, although many of my example photos refer to lighted coats. If youre considering this option, we recommend using the Velcro Brand Industrial Strength Stick-On Fasteners. One popular option is led strip lights. The great thing about this method is that its easy to use and would mostly not leave a residue on the fabric as long as you make sure to clean the area before applying. In this article, we are going to talk about if you can put led strip lights on fabric. Ledlightplanet is compensated for referring traffic and business to the above company. With the 6.5 ft led fairy lights with the small button battery packs. 4. When you start sewing, run the needle between the two threads after the first stitch, to make a better anchor to the knot. Sew along the length of the EL wire with a diagonal whip stitch, using whatvever spacing is needed to hold the wire in the proper shape. I've had great results using a needle and fishing line (transparent) to sew EL wire onto a garment.
Another great thing about using this method is that you can use this for both LED strip lights and rope lights. You can follow the seams, or add axtra lines as desired. 
This will secure the lights in place and ensure that they last longer. Get started on your LED light-up clothing project today! First, make sure you purchase the correct type and size of LED lights. Hope next time you also present us this type of extraordinary blog. Be sure to follow the steps in this guide so your project turns out the way you want it to. A: The simplest way is to use a sharp knife-like an Exacto-knife and make sure you score it several times before applying pressure to cut it. The customer service however is what really stood out. But before you get too fancy remember not to make too many repeated bends since the EL wire is delicate and easily broken. Decide which sections can be lit up with a single continuous piece of EL wire, and which will require multiple pieces. After they were attached I hot glued the wire and bulbs to the fur. Durability is the key, you don't want to spend all that time on a costume just to be a darkwad on night 3 (I've seen it happen). How to Test a Light Fixture Before Installing, How to Make an Led Backlight for Stained Glass Panel, How to Change Light Bulb in Sub Zero 650 Fridge. Can you add non-stretch reinforcement behind the places you're mounting the EL wire? Then, thread the light through the hole and tie a knot to secure it in place. Michelle. Thank you very much! How do I get in touch with the writer of this article? how are you planning to attach the lights to these? if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'ledlightplanet_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_0',109,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-ledlightplanet_com-medrectangle-3-0')}; While one of the easiest ways to put led strip lights on fabric is using a hot glue gun, the best and safest is using double-sided tape or sewing them on. Show everyone how handy you are and hand-sew your outfit. I have made several light up faux fur coats using coats from the thrift store. A double knot is a good idea. Plus-and this is very important to us as buyers- fantastic + responsive customer service. Its important to be precise when cutting the lights so that your design will turn out the way you want it to.
Join the pieces together and the conductors to the driver before moving onto the next step. The sound activated feature is very fun and syncs nicely with the beat. I then used fairy lights and sewed them to the backing of the fur using thread and a needle. First, you will need to deal with wire management inside the garment.
You can attach LED lights to clothes in any way you want, so be creative! A good hint is to use a simple contour or to leave a gap in the area of the shoulders, elbows, and knees to minimize the stretching and shrinking of the EL wire. Another popular type of LED light is the neon light. When you get to the solder junction and shrink tubing, leave that part inside the garment and position it in a way that can be reinforced. About: Founder / Chief Fashion Engineer of Enlighted Designs, Inc., specializing in custom illuminated clothing and costumes for performers. (like a chest plate?) purge mask exorcist They can be found at most home improvement stores. The strips are available in different sizes, so you can pick one that fits your needs perfectly. Once you have a design in mind, its time to move on to the next step. So, as long as youre not planning to be rough with the led strip lights or fabric that you attach them to, this method should work well for you. Theyre also very inexpensive, which makes them perfect for people who are on a budget. As a lighted costume designer, I get a lot of questions from people who want to know how to make their own EL wire costumes. The center core of EL wire is made of solid copper, and like any solid wire it will break due to fatigue damage after repeated bending. If you are using wire to connect the LEDs, use a non-conductive material such as plastic or rubber. Hats and helmets can provide a good sturdy non-flexing base for EL wire. When attaching the lights to your clothing, use a strong adhesive. This method is more time-consuming but will provide a more secure connection. First, poke a hole through the fabric where you want to attach the light. 3 years ago However, the biggest downside to zip ties is that theyre not going to look as great as some of the other methods and may not last as long. Then, decide what path the wire will take for each section, and mark the entry and exit points. You can connect the EL wires by their copper center core or assemble the outer lines. Once you have measured and cut the lights, its time to attach them to the clothing. I haven't gotten around to it yet.. https://m.alibaba.com/showroom/programmable-led-light-string.html, A space for redditors who call Black Rock City home, Press J to jump to the feed. I love the way you describe everything in details, it is just amazing. Also, if you bend or fold part of the wire when you wear it or store it, it will retain some of the bend in that location when you want to straighten it out. What I personally like about this method is that you can easily remove led strip lights from fabric if you need to. When sewing curves, make the stitches close together to ensure a stable design. 
If your jacket is unlined, this is especially helpful. Measure the total length of EL wire that you will need, taking into account parts that will be hidden behind the fabric, and add at least 2-3 inches at the end of each piece to allow for stripping and soldering the ends (or sealing the un-soldered ends). Other advantages to using this option are that there are no limitations as far as where you can put the led strip lights or how long it needs to be. This will prevent the risk of electrical shock. Once your design is done, outline it with pins or stickers on the garment. To make sharp "T" shaped junctions, you may need to run the wire inside the jacket at some locations.
