How to Attach (or Reattach) EL Tape (Electroluminescent Tape)

When trying to connect EL Tape, if you have worked with other electronics or EL Wire before, then this should come very easily to you. If you are familiar with most electronics but have never worked with EL Wire before, it still may come fairly easily for you as this concept is actually easier than EL Wire in most respects. Basically there are a positive and negative channel which runs the entire length of the tape. These two channels act like most electronics where you have a positive and negative and the two cannot touch. The main difference is most electronics need to have a closed loop system where the ends double back around and make a consistent flow of energy to make the electronic device work properly. For Electroluminescent products, you MUST have an open loop where the positive and negative channels (or wires) do not touch, otherwise it will short out the tape.

The following tools are recommended for this project:

1. Battery Pack (or Inverter) - Without this your tape won't glow, so it will be handy to have one available so you can test this along the way.
2. Wire Cutters/Knife/Razor Blade - Basically anything sharp will do, but a razor blade is the easiest to use.
3. Soldering Iron - A must have. Without this, your connection will be shotty and may not light up.
4. Helping Hands - This nifty little tool is a must have in any electronics grab bag.
5. EL Tape (Electroluminescent Tape) - You wouldn't be doing this project without it!
6. Heat Shrink Tubing - Colored looks cooler, but black is just fine. You can pick this stuff up at Frys, radio shack, etc.
7. Solder - Leaded or unleaded... I like the unleaded stuff just because I know lead is horrible to breathe in.
8. Oops, where's 8?? I accidentally left out a lighter (or heat gun) AND copper tape (or circuit pen).

Step 1: Step 1: Cut Tape and Peel Back Plastic Layer

Step 1: Peel back the 3M Tape layer and protective plastic coating. The green layer is a semi-non conductive layer which is what you will see as you pull back the tape layer. The easiest way to pull this back is to use a razor blade or sharp knife to dig in between the plastic seams, which will allow you to peel this back like a banana. The grayish layer is the conductive layer which is what the connection will actually be affixed to. Making a connection straight onto the conductive layer will allow you to have a continuous charge. If you make your connection on the green layer, you may notice your tape lights up, but it will most likely short out much faster. More likely than not, it probably won't even light up.

Comments

[rcroft]

Does it matter which lead you solder to? Is one positive and the other negative or does it just matter that you have solid connections on both?

[Laia_bee]

Hi! I just made a video making small parts thanks to what I read of this tutorial. It is made in spanish but has subs in english.

http://youtu.be/gSyb7TVdtQo

: )

[nonoe]

I have white EL tape with a 50/50 split, but there is no green or gray layer. It is black throughout. Might be a lead coating? But, anyways, would 24-gauge copper wire be enough to connect two EL tape pieces together? Or do I need absolutely copper tape?

[ElectricFeel]

I like using copper tape, but it's not the easiest thing to come by. If you use wire, it should work just the same. All you need is something that will run the current through.

[fangelini]

Hi, if i need cut in small parts el tape is possible soldering ?

[ElectricFeel]

It is possible to make very small pieces of tape glow, however it all comes down to how much labor you want to do. Each connection (for me at least) probably takes about 5 minutes.

[akolafa]

How would you recommend making the attachment if you only have sections that are from the middle of strips? I Have a few strips of orange tape that only have a 90/10 split and I am afraid the copper will be too big or the solder will melt the outside tape layer.

[ElectricFeel]

If you have a circuit pen, it makes it the easiest to stick to the tape's surface. The copper tape sometimes has a tough time sticking to the charged surface. As such, you may opt to use a circuit pen which sticks a bit better.