Electro luminescent foil as tail light

[joe]

I added a 10 mm EL foil stripe to the back of my i2:

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_ubl_white.jpg

Note: this is NOT the reflective stripe, the photo was taken without flash!

The foil is driven by an inverter that produces 100 volts dc @ approx. 1500 Hz and consumes a very low current (33 mA @ 12 volts input). It's not quite "bright" but nevertheless very well visible at night, but not at daylight.

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_tail_light_detail2.jpg
http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_tail_light_detail1.jpg

Battery, inverter, wiring etc. are installed completely hidden. :)

--
Johannes

[KSagal]

VERY COOL!

Pimpers everywhere lookout... There is a new master in the house!

[luckie]

Must chime in with, "Wow nice."

Doug :)

[citivolus]

I can see the next competition coming to a TV network near you.
"Premier Pimper!"

[jgbackes]

I added a 10 mm EL foil stripe to the back of my i2:

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_ubl_white.jpg

Note: this is NOT the reflective stripe, the photo was taken without flash!

The foil is driven by an inverter that produces 100 volts dc @ approx. 1500 Hz and consumes a very low current (33 mA @ 12 volts input). It's not quite "bright" but nevertheless very well visible at night, but not at daylight.

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_tail_light_detail2.jpg
http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_tail_light_detail1.jpg

Battery, inverter, wiring etc. are installed completely hidden. :)

--
Johannes

What a GREAT mod! Where did you find the parts? Do you have a project page?

Also, I assume you mean 100 volts AC at 1500 Hz.

[Majestic]

What's to stop you from using a different color strip for the front and maybe place the strip on the handlebars? Perhaps amber? I really like this idea.

What is the blueish glow coming from under the seg?

[joe]

If I add some to the front, I want white. But the shop (Reichelt, an online shop in Germany) has the stripes in cyan, green and red only. Though they have 10x10 cm sheets in white (pink when off)

A vertical strip (or two) along the LeanSteer frame would be cool, hm? :D

@Majestic
See this thread: I drilled into my Li-Ion packs! (http://forums.segwaychat.com/showthread.php?t=15528)

--
Johannes

[SEGsby]

Pretty darn cool stuff. :)

SEGsby

[joe]

On we go:

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_rim_lights_off.jpg

I embedded EL (electro luminescent) wire into the groove in the rim and covered/sealed it with silicone.

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_rim_lights_2.jpg

I'll try to fit the inverter and the batteries behind the hub cover. There's only 11.5 mm space (height) but I already found a suitable inverter. I'm not yet sure about the control/switch, steady/blinking mode etc. Watch the small movie:

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/images/thumb_wmv.jpg (http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/rim_light.wmv)

--
Johannes

[Sal]

... I have ever seen!

BRAVO!

-Sal

[KSagal]

I have used mercury switches in the past. Maybe you can use one that engages with centrifical force, making it automatic. (you would still want a kill switch for daylight to save the batteries)

[DCTenor1]

Are you all engineers?
What is a lowly lawyer to do?! I barely got through my basic computer science course in college!
I want my i2 to glow too, dammit!!!

[polo_pro]

Are you all engineers?
What is a lowly lawyer to do?! I barely got through my basic computer science course in college!
I want my i2 to glow too, dammit!!!

Simple...get a law passed that require insurance companies offer a segway as an alternative to an electric wheelchair if a doctor recommends this. You are in DC, right? 8^) 8^) 8^)

If you do that, I will personally come to DC and make your segway "glow" ... we're talking like the sun even at night!

[Tarkus]

Very, very nice.
You pimp you.......

Be Big,
Alan

[SEGsby]

Pretty freakin' pimptastic. :)

SEGsby

[joe]

What's to stop you from using a different color strip for the front

Nothing. Here we go:

http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_front_light_on.jpg

Unfortunately, switched off the color of the strip is slightly pink... :o
http://forums.segwaychat.com/gallery/albums/userpics/13972/normal_front_light_off.jpg

Both the rear and front strip are powered by a single inverter (glued to the gearbox with 1K-Pur body sealing compound). The emitted light is rather weak (only consumes a few mA), so it's no ersatz for a headlight but a very nice lighting effect. :D

--
Johannes

[SLong]

Very cool stuff, Joe.

For all the ( non lawyer ) people on this side of the pond that want to glow, I found this place out here in California.

http://electroluminescence-inc.com/

They do small & custom orders as well.

[hellphish]

For the absolute brightest EL technology, check out http://www.lighttape.com/ I used to work for these guys and the quality of their product is quite insane really.