El wire help/advice! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 07:19:29 am
content: I am in the process of installing some component speakers in my car, and would like to spice up the look with some sound responsive lighting around each speaker. I've found through research and my own reasoning that voltage running to the speakers is not enough to make El wire glow (not very scientific description but whatever), so it turns out that the best way to wire up sound reactive El wire is to use a sound reactive inverter. However, I would like each speaker (2 tweeters, 2 mids and 2 mid bass) to have a light reaction to only its frequency range. (If this needs a better description just ask). But that would that I would need to use several different sound sensitive invert boxes! So I either need advice on how to wire several inverter boxed together, or advice on different solution for getting power to the wires.Thanks for reading this ridiculously long post!Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 07:21:45 am
content: Essentially, I want this:https://youtu.be/tzOwP22eg3QBut around each speaker in my cab, and individualized sound reaction to each speaker, or each pair of speakers.Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 04:42:55 pm
content: I believe El wire uses a high voltage, and requires an inverter like CCFL lighting. As a hack of a commercial product, you could get an inverter with audio response, then remove the mic and feed in your audio signal, the problem is that the crossover that splits the signal per speaker based on frequency happens after the amp, so feeding that signal into your inverter would be a pain to deal with.As a custom solution, you'd need something like 3 bandpass filters, one for each range of the speaker, and then feed those signals into the inverters. You'd have to manually tune the frequency response to match your crossover, your speakers, or just whatever visual preference you have, but you'd be able to take a split off line level signal as an input.

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 04:55:24 pm
content: Quote from: DaJMasta on March 04, 2017, 04:42:55 pmThat gives me some solutions to consider! Thank you!Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 04, 2017, 07:56:18 pm
content: So based on a combination of more studying (this whole project has encouraged to research and learn a lot) and the advice given, I have some up with a possible solution that brings up 1 or 2 more problems.I could use an active 6 channel crossover between the stereo and the amp. This would give me better sound quality, and at the same time would give me 6 individual leads that I could "pigtail" to 6 different modified sound responsive inverters. Essentially, J could tap into those, and use a hardline input in place if the built in mic. A problem from this arises though: I would need at least 3 inverters for the El wire, and I can't seem to find any source on how I could connect multiple inverters. I would want to be able to use one 36v power source for all 3 of the inverters (each uses 12 volts). Is there a way to use one power source e for multiple inverters?Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 12:36:55 am
content: All of this seems a bit complex. Have you tries hooking up a mains transformer in reverse to the output of your audio amplifier?

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 01:10:07 am
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 05, 2017, 12:36:55 amWell I haven't tried anything yet. It's all in theory for now. I just order the component speakers set, then I'll have to order the amp in couple weeks. After I get that all installed, I'll start messing with this el wire stuff.Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 01:11:44 am
content: Or you could use a PA amp with a 100V line output. It probably has better frequency response than a mains transformer, too.

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 01:13:07 am
content: Quote from: artag on March 05, 2017, 01:11:44 amSo what would something like that look like, as far as wiring it all up?Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 02:29:43 am
content: Quote from: pocketDrop on March 05, 2017, 01:13:07 amIt's just a special type of audio amplifier with a 100V output, rather than a much lower output voltage of a regular amplifier designed to drive speakers directly. The higher voltage can be sent over long, thin wires, with very little voltage drop and each speaker cabinet as fitted with a small transformer to drive an ordinary 8 Ohm speaker.In this case the 100V output can be used to drive the EL wire directly.Another option is to use a 100V speaker transformer (rather than a mains transformer) in reverse and an ordinary amplifier to drive the EL wire. A speaker transformer will have better frequency response than a mains transformer but it may be more difficult to get hold of.

author: pocketDrop
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 05, 2017, 02:42:30 am
content: Quote from: Hero999 on March 05, 2017, 02:29:43 amAnd I could use that to also transfer the frequencies to the lights?Sent from my ONE A2005 using Tapatalk

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2017, 10:39:33 am
content: Quote from: pocketDrop on March 05, 2017, 02:42:30 amIf all you need to do is flash the lights to the beat of the music, then yes.As far as the frequency response is concerned, as EL wire is capacitive, it will probably respond better to higher, than lower frequencies.