Has anybody tried making “florescent” lights from leds and clear tubing? Just curious. I am thinking of trying it.
The color from white LED’s is just about perfect. I’d try frosting the inside of a tube and put one LED in each end. LED’s are pretty directional so it won’t be real bright.
Or do it my way… After the long ago article on how to add florescent lighting to the RDC, I bought a supply of 6v lights at out local outlet store for a few bucks each.
Using a rechargable sealed-lead-acid 6v lantern battery, I’m running a 6v HEP line through my office car special that will allow me to run those tubes mounted in each car.
Neat idea Mike
You might try a piece of lucite rod with an LED in each end. Then, lightly sand the entire outside of the tube. This wil cause it to emit light over it’s full length.
Also, if you remove the d=curved top of the led, the light from it will be scattered better. I took the top from an led and buffed it up all around. It now lights almost the same on the sides as it does on the end.
How about ElectroLuminescent Wire?
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10197
Might be the most straightforward…
All ready been done… sorry… cost $300 when they 1st came out on the market. Retiro fit kit.
http://www.everled.com/led-lighting-products/everled-tr/
http://www.creativelightings.com/LED-T8-Replacement-Fluorescent-Tube-Lights-s/27.htm
I think this is different. $10 for 3 meters, and you can cut it. Exact voltage for a few inches is not super clear to me. You may need a voltage converter. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10201
Disclaimer: I have not tried this, and am a big LED fan, but if you are going for fluorescent, this seems closer to prototype…
We use LED in replacement for neon now… I can get this stuff in ribbions, molded sections ect… the voltages are normally a 3 or 12 volt system. Go vist a sign shop… I keep the leeft overs to light my buildings, they are hooked to a landscaping transformer and still working after 5 years of being on every night.
this is similar to what we use
http://www.okokchina.com/p/LED-Lamp/LED-module-for-signs-channel-letters-121843.html
There is a great article in Nuts and Volts this month on using electroluminescent wire. It requires ~80 volts AC at 1KHz using 8mA/meter according to the article. Changing the voltage and frequency will have an affect on the light produced. There are also panels. Sparkfun has what you need for the power supply. The N&V article showed how to use an optoisolator to control at high frequencies.
Michael Moradzadeh said:
I think this is different. $10 for 3 meters, and you can cut it. Exact voltage for a few inches is not super clear to me. You may need a voltage converter. http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10201Disclaimer: I have not tried this, and am a big LED fan, but if you are going for fluorescent, this seems closer to prototype…
Darn there is that word again - Prototype.
I have seen the strip leds at the electronics store. I will get a length of them one of these days and let my Electrical Engineering knowledge figure out how to make them work. My Bro John and I scored 8 strings (20 leds each) of “warm” LEDs at Big Lots two weeks ago for $4.50 each. They are 3 volts. Using current limiting resistor will do the trick for our purposes. Fabricating two light fixtures using them right now to light the facade of the Old Town Automotive Diorama. It’s in the Modeling Forum. Got tube bending springs from Micromark (work like a charm), bent two 90’s, cut to length, and got Light shades from Plastistruc. My cost to fab is about $1 instead of buying same thing for $11 already made.
Fortunately for our MRR (Mountain Rail Road), we don’t have a Hubble Telescope on sight to insure visual purity. 10 foot rule in effect. LOL!
John and I should have track done (>300 feet) and about 25 structures in place by Memorial weekend.
Doug, you will have to make the drive up the mountain and visit!
I should have my UP SD70 with it’s cars and bay window caboose all done up by then!
The strip LEDs are very nice. I have about ten meters of that (for the kitchen undercounters) and they are pretty nice and often waterproof (except at the ends). Yeah, good enough!