ElectroLuminescent Bumper Sticker

Step 6 The Finished Product

It's amazing how lame the Apple sticker now looks,
My next project, I will make a EL apple logo! (DONE!)
www.instructables.com/id/EL-Backlit-Apple-Logo/

Comments

[Mega1mpact]

epic licence plate.

[james.c.obrien]

 You, sir, are an inspiration.  I'm blatantly ripping off your idea, but the vehicle I'm installing in is a Toyota Tacoma.  My shirt is in transit from ThinkGeek, my soldering iron is at the ready, and I'll steal some fabric tape from the wife.  I'll have the nerdiest truck in Maine, that's for sure :)

[macgeek]

and I hope YOU POST PICTURES!!!!!

:)

Jonathan

[james.c.obrien]

 Will do.  Quick question, though - does/did your t-shirt power supply (pre-hardwire, mind you) emit a high-pitched tone?  Mine does, and it seems to change pitch with the strength of the signal displayed.  Odd...I shouldn't hear it in the car, but still.

[macgeek]

yea, it does have a high pitched tone, if its in the back of the car the ambient road noise hides it.

it's annoying for about 5 minutes, then it blends in with the other noises.
(just like me!)

Jonathan

[kingvater]

Woot! More maine people on instructables.

[shanty1812]

very nice!! i ll try it in my mitsubishi L200

[Sarek]

Thanks for the quick reply Jonathan. This is a tad off topic, I have an aftermarket car stereo and its remote that uses 2 AA batteries.

My car (honda S2000) has an OEM unit that controls the OEM radio on the dash. There is a kit out that let's me wire my remote to the dash controls but I have to keep changing the batteries as needed.
Is it possible to use the same solution that you though of to also hard wire my car stereo remote to the car (ie parking lights)?

Thanks in advance for any info...

HAHAHA and I'm not quite forty... yet ;-)

[macgeek]

if the buttons are on your steering wheel that may be complicated
the only real power usually to the steering column is a horn and maybe
a airbag control, both very critical and not to be mucked with.

maybe rechargeable batteries are a better solution?

Jonathan

[Sarek]

That is very true. Sorry I wasn't clear before. Unlike other OEM radio controls that are located on the steering wheel, the S2k is on the dash left side by the start button..
link to pic

because I'm a noob to electronics, my main concern was if it's the correct "converter" for the 2 AAA baterry remote. (I stated AA earlier which is incorrect, sorry)

wadayathink?

[Crucio]

2 x AAA (or AA or C or D) yield about 3V as each is 1.5V.  A car's battery gives 12V and USB gives 5V.  You need something (a regulator or transformer) to reduce the car's 12V or USB's 5V down to 3V before you can use the car's power to substitute away your batteries.

This may not be the project for you if you're not sure how to do the above.  But if you can find an electronics buddy, this is easily do-able.  I'd say the hardest part will be taking down your dash to tap into the right power wires.  Rather than using the the running lights, it's probably best to tap into the stereo power cables.

An easier alternative, with very good results, is to convert the system to use D-cells.  You can do that by installing AAA pass-through blanks that connect to a D-sized battery holder pack, which can be installed out of sight.

AAA batteries have about 1250 mAh of capacity, while D cells have about 20500 mAh.  So a single D cell will last longer than 16 AAAs.  That effectively eliminates the battery replacement pain.

[Sarek]

Great info! Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. I will try the D-cell option. At least I wouldn't have to worry about it for possibly 2-3 years at a time. :D


Thanks again Macgeek and Crucio!

Sarek

[thefutureisnow]

Hey Sarek, try using a usb car adapter. I bought one of ebay real cheap for my ipod. But I can also plug anything that runs off usb into it.

[macgeek]

its 3 AA batteries (4.5v) - The .5v voltage difference is minor,
and it works perfectly.

Jonathan

[Crucio]

Jonathan,

Sarek's application uses 2 AAA's.  See his comments, above.

[kmodek]

Really really cool.

[prezdead]

thats awesome and love the license plate!

[Sarek]

looks great!  Did you hardwire the wires to the car? or did you use the cigarette socket? Great Job!

[macgeek]

See? your over 40! - you called it a cigarette lighter, not a power port!
it's hard wired onto the parking lights, so the unit only goes on in the evening
(during the day you really cant see it)

Jonathan

[macgeek]

This is a Day view of the bumper sticker

[GreenD]

Ahh good thinking, now the circuit board is from the shirt? I'm assuming you ordered that?

Why does it need batteries if it is hardwired to the lights? I don't understand the necessity for two power supplies?

[Mikey8567]

GreenD if you look thru the whole build you'll see that he bought a Cig lighter 12dc-5vdc power adapter (you can even use one from say a Motarola mini USB cig adapter) and used it to replace the battieries (AA's). He then wired it into the running lights (providing the 12vdc) only at night when it's dark and he's running is headlights (Headlights and running lights, some call these parking lights) that way it only works when his running lights are on. There is only one power source and it's the 12vdc provided by the running lights circuit, not two power supplies.

[ROOKIE49]

i LIKE THIS IDEA, I even have the shirt but I might just use rechargable batteries.