DIY - ABL using EL wire, and 3/16" tube - Page 22 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

wylde1 · 05-17-2010, 09:49 AM

I'm going to paint the front for sure. I'm just trying to work out how to run the EL wire now. From what I can tell the plastic they use for the cloth inserts is not clear.

I'm thinking of trying to run just exposed EL wire across the top of the trim but I'm not 100% sure how I'd secure it yet. I want to try to steer clear of glues because I'd like to be able to replace the wire if it ever failed. But I'm not sure if 3M double sided tape will be enough to hold it in place. lots of thinkin' to do.....

*TAG UR IT* · 05-17-2010, 10:47 AM

Use the clear tubing from home depot or an aquarium store. use the bendable type. then, use hot glue to hold it in place. just a thought
since you are not using glues on the wire directly, you will be able to change out the wire later on if you need.

wylde1 · 05-17-2010, 10:56 AM

yep that had occurred to me, but I'm not sure how it would look having a big tube along the outside edge.

How thick is the plastic on the door panels? I know it's thick enough to do on the dash pieces, but I'm thinking of grooving the top edge of the dash pieces to fit the 2.2 mm EL wire in. I have done some intricate dremeling work in the past and I'm confident I can do it. Just not sure how much material there is to play with on the door panels...

would anyone with their panels currently off be able to check that out real quick?? even if it was ~4 mils it would still be plenty strong. I'd only probably do about a 1 mil groove to keep the wire in line, and then put some 3M clear tape over it to secure it. Then it's just a matter of removing tape if I need to change the wire.

wylde1 · 05-20-2010, 12:09 PM

here's another question about the power inverter. does the length it's talking about mean how much EL wire it can run? or how much distance from the inverter it can run?

say I have the 0-4 ft inverter. and mount it in the dash next to the drivers side fuse box. can I run 4 ft of speaker wire and then 4 ft of EL wire on the end of that? or does the total amount of wire in general have to add up to 4 ft?

make any sense?

*TAG UR IT* · 05-20-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wylde1

yep that had occurred to me, but I'm not sure how it would look having a big tube along the outside edge.

How thick is the plastic on the door panels? I know it's thick enough to do on the dash pieces, but I'm thinking of grooving the top edge of the dash pieces to fit the 2.2 mm EL wire in. I have done some intricate dremeling work in the past and I'm confident I can do it. Just not sure how much material there is to play with on the door panels...

would anyone with their panels currently off be able to check that out real quick?? even if it was ~4 mils it would still be plenty strong. I'd only probably do about a 1 mil groove to keep the wire in line, and then put some 3M clear tape over it to secure it. Then it's just a matter of removing tape if I need to change the wire.

mm...nah. don't put any tubes out the outside edge. Leave them on the inside where they were originally meant to be run.

The plastic is not thick enough to make a groove in it and actually lay the wire down (for the door panels). It wouldn't work. Sure, the dash parts are thick enough to do a SMALL line in the plastic. I mean, go for it if you think you can do it. But, the integrity of the panel is going to be compromised as well since you are going to be cutting a pretty long line in the panel. If after you cut that line and install, and I push on teh panel, it's going to bend in pretty well. I wouldn't do it. Just run it on the inside. You can sand w/ 2,000 grit and use a polisher to get the plastic panel clean again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wylde1

here's another question about the power inverter. does the length it's talking about mean how much EL wire it can run? or how much distance from the inverter it can run?

say I have the 0-4 ft inverter. and mount it in the dash next to the drivers side fuse box. can I run 4 ft of speaker wire and then 4 ft of EL wire on the end of that? or does the total amount of wire in general have to add up to 4 ft?

make any sense?

To my understanding, you can run the speaker wire and then the el wire. I think it's how much power the inverter pulls from lighted wire...the draw. Speaker wire won't pull any power...just the wire that lights up. That is how I understood it. You will quickly find out if that 4ft inverter will work before even installing it just by hooking the two up and turning the power on. If it flickers, it won't work. I still have all my el wire stuff...wish I could find some use for it. I thought about using it for the glove or the trunk. I might need a bunch more wire.

wylde1 · 05-20-2010, 12:48 PM

ok that makes sense about the wire length

If i could put the wires on the back side of the panel I would for sure. But I have a 1SS and my panels are cloth covered. I don't think the plastic is clear on these ones so the light won't come through the panel. That's why I'm trying to think of a way to do it on the outside

*TAG UR IT* · 05-20-2010, 01:31 PM

Yeah...you'd have to rip out the entire cloth and paint the panel. SUPER hard to do if painting on the inside (get a shop to do it) and if you paint on the outside, difficult, but can be done.

wylde1 · 05-20-2010, 02:27 PM

yeah I plan to take off the cloth and paint the panel. But I cant do it on the back side because it is not clear plastic underneath the cloth like you guys got with the painted panels. I think it's white on the doors and black on the dash

torranosaurus · 06-07-2010, 02:40 PM

Am about 80% done with the lime green EL in my synergy. Looks great, and the color match is dead on.

Blacky · 06-10-2010, 01:43 AM

have finished m y El wire ABL in my 1SS

looks amazing

the Trim Kit i have Wrapped with 3D Carbon look vinyl, and the armrest with Alcantara

SouthJerseyGuy · 06-10-2010, 12:56 PM

is that behind or in front of the trim pieces?

Blacky · 06-10-2010, 02:24 PM

its in the front, becaus i have not the transparente 2SS panels, have put it on my changed 1SS Trim Kit

wylde1 · 06-10-2010, 02:37 PM

Blacky That looks awesome!

I have been trying to figure out how to do this to my 1SS as well. How did you secure the EL wire to the panel?

Blacky · 06-10-2010, 03:22 PM

here it gives speziell EL wire with "keder" <dont know its the right word in english, with that its easy to glue it from behind on the panels. have the complete work do in 1 Day

EL wire looks like this

05-17-2010, 09:49 AM	#295
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	I'm going to paint the front for sure. I'm just trying to work out how to run the EL wire now. From what I can tell the plastic they use for the cloth inserts is not clear. I'm thinking of trying to run just exposed EL wire across the top of the trim but I'm not 100% sure how I'd secure it yet. I want to try to steer clear of glues because I'd like to be able to replace the wire if it ever failed. But I'm not sure if 3M double sided tape will be enough to hold it in place. lots of thinkin' to do..... __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

05-17-2010, 10:56 AM	#297
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	yep that had occurred to me, but I'm not sure how it would look having a big tube along the outside edge. How thick is the plastic on the door panels? I know it's thick enough to do on the dash pieces, but I'm thinking of grooving the top edge of the dash pieces to fit the 2.2 mm EL wire in. I have done some intricate dremeling work in the past and I'm confident I can do it. Just not sure how much material there is to play with on the door panels... would anyone with their panels currently off be able to check that out real quick?? even if it was ~4 mils it would still be plenty strong. I'd only probably do about a 1 mil groove to keep the wire in line, and then put some 3M clear tape over it to secure it. Then it's just a matter of removing tape if I need to change the wire. __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

05-20-2010, 12:09 PM	#298
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	here's another question about the power inverter. does the length it's talking about mean how much EL wire it can run? or how much distance from the inverter it can run? say I have the 0-4 ft inverter. and mount it in the dash next to the drivers side fuse box. can I run 4 ft of speaker wire and then 4 ft of EL wire on the end of that? or does the total amount of wire in general have to add up to 4 ft? make any sense? __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

05-20-2010, 12:48 PM	#300
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	ok that makes sense about the wire length If i could put the wires on the back side of the panel I would for sure. But I have a 1SS and my panels are cloth covered. I don't think the plastic is clear on these ones so the light won't come through the panel. That's why I'm trying to think of a way to do it on the outside __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

05-20-2010, 02:27 PM	#302
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	yeah I plan to take off the cloth and paint the panel. But I cant do it on the back side because it is not clear plastic underneath the cloth like you guys got with the painted panels. I think it's white on the doors and black on the dash __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

05-17-2010, 10:47 AM	#296
TAG UR IT www.Camaro5store.com Drives: 2014 ZL1 #705 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SA, Texas Posts: 26,558 View My Garage	Use the clear tubing from home depot or an aquarium store. use the bendable type. then, use hot glue to hold it in place. just a thought since you are not using glues on the wire directly, you will be able to change out the wire later on if you need.

05-20-2010, 01:31 PM	#301
TAG UR IT www.Camaro5store.com Drives: 2014 ZL1 #705 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: SA, Texas Posts: 26,558 View My Garage	Yeah...you'd have to rip out the entire cloth and paint the panel. SUPER hard to do if painting on the inside (get a shop to do it) and if you paint on the outside, difficult, but can be done.

06-07-2010, 02:40 PM	#303
torranosaurus Banned Drives: 2010 orange 2SS Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA Posts: 166 View My Garage	Am about 80% done with the lime green EL in my synergy. Looks great, and the color match is dead on.

06-10-2010, 01:43 AM	#304
Blacky Drives: Camaro 2010 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 308	have finished m y El wire ABL in my 1SS looks amazing the Trim Kit i have Wrapped with 3D Carbon look vinyl, and the armrest with Alcantara __________________

06-10-2010, 12:56 PM	#305
SouthJerseyGuy Drives: 2010 Camaro 2SSRS Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: new jersey Posts: 37	is that behind or in front of the trim pieces?

06-10-2010, 02:24 PM	#306
Blacky Drives: Camaro 2010 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 308	its in the front, becaus i have not the transparente 2SS panels, have put it on my changed 1SS Trim Kit __________________

06-10-2010, 02:37 PM	#307
wylde1 I am the Stig Drives: Black w/ IOM stripe 1SS Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Saskatoon, SK, CAN Posts: 1,312	Blacky That looks awesome! I have been trying to figure out how to do this to my 1SS as well. How did you secure the EL wire to the panel? __________________ 2010 Camaro - 1SS, Black w/ Orange stripes

06-10-2010, 03:22 PM	#308
Blacky Drives: Camaro 2010 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 308	here it gives speziell EL wire with "keder" <dont know its the right word in english, with that its easy to glue it from behind on the panels. have the complete work do in 1 Day EL wire looks like this __________________