Add EL wire to a hat!

 by Zem
Contest Winner
Hello everyone! Firstly, I would like to thank Enlighted for their Instructable on adding EL wire to clothes, it helped me out a bunch with this. Check it out: www.instructables.com/id/how-to-add-EL-wire-to-a-coat-or-other-garment/

Now, read on!

 
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Step 1: Supplies.

Okay, you'll need:

A hat, I used a cheap felt top hat from UsToy.

Scissors.

An awl.

El wire kit. I bought mine from Thats Cool Wire. Link to the kit I bought: http://www.thatscoolwire.com/store/item.asp?Category=168&SubCategoryID=124&GroupID=&SKU=WY-NH-LZ-3V
You'll need enough for the rim of the hat your working on. (Or whatever design your doing)

To attach the battery pack to the inside of the hat, I used a piece of stick on velcro. (The hook side)

A needle, and fishing line. (I used two really long pieces, I ran out the first time.)

finfan7 says: Dec 9, 2009. 6:24 AM
Is the battery pack just a battery pack or are there any modifying elements?
Zem (author) in reply to finfan7Dec 9, 2009. 8:25 AM
Good question, it is actually an inverter that came with the kit, and it holds one double A battery. The wire has to run on a higher voltage, so thats what the inverter does. 
finfan7 in reply to ZemDec 9, 2009. 7:42 PM
An inverter transforms AC to DC.  It's the sort of thing found in every wall adapter.  Do you mean a transformer?  That would make a DC voltage into another DC voltage?  What kind of voltage runs through the  wire?
Adam Manick in reply to finfan7Mar 10, 2012. 3:00 PM
Actually, an inverter creates an alternating current (AC) from direct current (DC). Transformers don't work on DC unless the DC is pulsed. That is what happens here. A transistor circuit is used to turn the DC into AC. Then it is routed through a transformer to boost the voltage.
Zem (author) in reply to finfan7Dec 9, 2009. 8:36 PM
I'm not the best person to answer this. =/ But, if you check out the Instructable in the related area here, look at Enlighted's Instructable, she explains it a lot better then I can. 
finfan7 in reply to ZemDec 9, 2009. 9:36 PM
I'll take a look.  Thanks anyway.
Zem (author) in reply to finfan7Dec 10, 2009. 8:08 AM
Your welcome! Sorry I couldn't explain better. 
Shut Up Now says: Jul 12, 2010. 9:26 AM
wait, doesn't el wire require high voltage ac to run? or do i have something mixed up.
Zem (author) in reply to Shut Up NowJul 14, 2010. 9:29 PM
In the battery holder, there's a built in transformer/inverter thingy that takes the voltage from the batteries and makes it run the EL wire.
glow products says: Nov 24, 2009. 12:47 PM
(removed by author or community request)
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