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Old 05-05-2013, 03:52 PM   #491
ForgedReality
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What the hell happened to the write-up? :(
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Old 05-06-2013, 01:09 AM   #492
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What the hell happened to the write-up? :(
Well hello Thomas. Never expected to see you here of all places!

In answer to your question; a few things.

1) This thread kind of fizzled out. There's an outfit on C5 that sells LED light pipe kits that do what the OP originally came up with this idea for.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181339

2) Now that I've been running EL wire for awhile, I've been able to observe EL wire's limitations first hand. I just had to make a replacement for my left halo a couple months ago. After installing it, I noticed a slight difference in brightness between the new and old halos. I knew I was overdriving them to the max for brightness, and the trade-off is a decrease in the life of the wire. Wire is cheap, and if you're making these things yourself, you can always make a few extras to keep on hand for replacements, but I'm thinking I want something better. Another issue with my fog light halos is that I can't make them for anyone else, my bezels are apparently an anomaly, and I've never seen any others that could accommodate the EL wire like mine can. People love the bowtie, and mine still works going on two years now, but I don't know how much longer it will. And I can't make them for anyone else unless I want to get a cease and desist letter from GM's lawyers for copyright infringement.

I'm moving in a new direction now, focusing on LED's. Their much brighter and more reliable. I've got a design on the drawing board inspired by your green DRLs, but if I can pull it off, it will take them to a whole new level. I haven't been able to work up a prototype yet because I'm into a big project at the moment. Hopefully this Summer...

I'm not writing off EL wire. It has some nice qualities. I'm sure someone will come up with a creative use for it, and I'll be here if they need any advice on how to use the stuff.
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Old 05-06-2013, 10:50 AM   #493
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Am I missing something?
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Old 06-27-2013, 06:11 PM   #494
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Originally Posted by ForgedReality View Post
What the hell happened to the write-up? :(
yeah why would you take it down? what does it hurt to leave it up? this really messes me up taking it down bc i have the pieces sanded and im needing the instructions to cut the tab and lay the tubing. i already have all the supplies from the old setup bought.
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Old 07-01-2013, 01:23 AM   #495
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yeah why would you take it down? what does it hurt to leave it up? this really messes me up taking it down bc i have the pieces sanded and im needing the instructions to cut the tab and lay the tubing. i already have all the supplies from the old setup bought.
Are you talking about the across-the-dash ABL? If you are; as far as I know, all the information is still here in this thread. I'm not the OP of this thread. Forged Reality was talking about a couple different projects I did with EL wire that were otherwise unrelated to the ABL project. I was just saying that I abandoned plans to do a DIY of my own for those projects because I was dissatisfied with the final results, and did not want to lead someone else to do all this work (my projects, not the OP's) and be disappointed with what they get. If someone has an idea for something they want to create with EL wire, and need advice on using the stuff, I'll be happy to help. But I have not done the dash mod myself, and couldn't help you much with the project. However, I do believe there are some here that know what to do, and maybe they will be kind enough to post and help you.
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Old 07-15-2013, 09:29 PM   #496
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Quote:
Originally Posted by With envy View Post
Are you talking about the across-the-dash ABL? If you are; as far as I know, all the information is still here in this thread. I'm not the OP of this thread. Forged Reality was talking about a couple different projects I did with EL wire that were otherwise unrelated to the ABL project. I was just saying that I abandoned plans to do a DIY of my own for those projects because I was dissatisfied with the final results, and did not want to lead someone else to do all this work (my projects, not the OP's) and be disappointed with what they get. If someone has an idea for something they want to create with EL wire, and need advice on using the stuff, I'll be happy to help. But I have not done the dash mod myself, and couldn't help you much with the project. However, I do believe there are some here that know what to do, and maybe they will be kind enough to post and help you.
All the pictures from the install from the OP are all gone.
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Old 07-16-2013, 06:58 AM   #497
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I have posted this before but I will say it again...The El wire is a nice mod for the short term. It will require lots of replacements and labor. It tends to last only a few months in direct sunlight even with very dark tinted windows. I have done the el wire mod to my car a few times and just got tired of taking the door panels apart every few months. To each his own though I would personally wait till there is a better LED option for this type of lighting.
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Old 07-16-2013, 03:26 PM   #498
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All the pictures from the install from the OP are all gone.
I'd say PM the OP, but I looked him up, and he has the PM option turned off. I don't know what else I can suggest. Sorry.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mat300z View Post
I have posted this before but I will say it again...The El wire is a nice mod for the short term. It will require lots of replacements and labor. It tends to last only a few months in direct sunlight even with very dark tinted windows. I have done the el wire mod to my car a few times and just got tired of taking the door panels apart every few months. To each his own though I would personally wait till there is a better LED option for this type of lighting.
He's right. I posted pretty much the same assessment a few posts ago. It's cool stuff, but it has limitations. My advice is look into the LED light pipe kits available. That seems to be where everyone else has gone. (They weren't available yet when this thread was started. )
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Old 08-24-2013, 11:31 PM   #499
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Yeah im already kinda disappointed with the el wire. I finished the install the night before the fest this year. Its a little dim then i would want but it doesnt distract you while driving. Today is the 24th and its already dead in sections on the long trim. The car is never outside, always in the garage, its rarely drove at night so the el wire isnt even on and it hasnt even been a month! I read that bending it a lot shortens the life and i did have trouble getting the el wire in the tube for the full length of the long trim so maybe that is the source of my issues hopefully. Any thoughts?
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1100 = Preliminary Order Accepted (1/9/2010) Order # NSPHF8
2000 = Accepted by GM (1/12/2010)
2500 = Preferenced (1/12/2010)
3000 = Accepted by Production (1/13/2010) TPW = (2/8/2010)
3100 = Sequenced (1/29/2010)
3300 = Scheduled (1/29/2010)
3400 = Broadcast (1/29/2010)
3800 = Produced (2/10/2010) VIN # 2G1FG1EVXA9192608
4150 = Invoiced (2/11/2010)
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Old 08-25-2013, 12:24 PM   #500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 5THGENRS View Post
Yeah im already kinda disappointed with the el wire. I finished the install the night before the fest this year. Its a little dim then i would want but it doesnt distract you while driving. Today is the 24th and its already dead in sections on the long trim. The car is never outside, always in the garage, its rarely drove at night so the el wire isnt even on and it hasnt even been a month! I read that bending it a lot shortens the life and i did have trouble getting the el wire in the tube for the full length of the long trim so maybe that is the source of my issues hopefully. Any thoughts?
I've never had it go bad that fast, but there are a lot of variables that can affect it. I've worked it around pretty good when fabricating with it without any immediate negative effects; but I also used to have a loop that I carried around in the car for demonstration purposes, and it stopped working, I figure, from being kicked around all the time. As far as sunlight is concerned, I'm not sure what effect that has on the wire. I'm not going to dispute that it has some effect, but my halos have been mounted on the fog/DRL bezels for about two years now, and I've only replaced one. The other, although somewhat dimmer now, still works.

I'm sorry you put all that work in only to be disappointed, but I see that you've checked into the light pipe. Now that you've got all that experience getting into the dash, hopefully the install will go that much easier for you when you go to put it in. Good luck!
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Old 09-24-2013, 08:48 PM   #501
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EL Wire

This el wiring is getting faded out now. Ive had it in for 2 yrs and its starting to see breaking lights
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Old 09-24-2013, 08:51 PM   #502
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This el wiring is getting faded out now. Ive had it in for 2 yrs and its starting to see breaking lights
2 years wow....mine didn't last 2 months
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Old 02-25-2014, 01:29 PM   #503
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Does anyone know where there might be another link to the DIY. It doesn't show up here any more.
Thanks
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