Installed EL strip in mailslot - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

ZombieEatsYou · 03-18-2013, 06:41 AM

It seems everyone has LEDs in their mailslots so I went with something different. White (actually, it's more of a cool white. Not blue, not quite white) 1/2 inch EL stripe from Xoxide.com. Didn't pay $120, didn't pay $61.44 only $12.95 plus shipping.

Wired it up to my parking lights. Don't think it will cause a ticket as it doesn't flash, strobe, and not quite blue enough to clash with LEO colors. Also did a DIY LED bowtie and rigged up a cheap LED light-pipe set up on the lower grill. Total cost for the entire front end lighting - less than $50.

LadiesMan217 · 03-18-2013, 06:52 AM

I'm very interested in EL tape but have never used it and I'm not exactly sure how it works. Every application I see looks amazing though.

Great job.

ZombieEatsYou · 03-18-2013, 08:30 AM

It's a phosphor that glows when a current is put to it. Waterproof, flexible, cutable.

LadiesMan217 · 03-18-2013, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZombieEatsYou

It's a phosphor that glows when a current is put to it. Waterproof, flexible, cutable.

Hmm...seems like this would be a good alternative for cupholder lighting. Cut it to the shape of the bottom of the cupholder.

Thanks, gotta look into it!

Forte · 03-18-2013, 11:51 AM

looks great! Good work.

awfarley · 03-18-2013, 11:53 AM

I've heard EL wire fades over time though... any experience with that?

ZombieEatsYou · 03-18-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awfarley

I've heard EL wire fades over time though... any experience with that?

It's only been in a few weeks. Even if it does, 2 foot strips are only $13 so does it really matter? My AAC LED bar only lasted about 2 years before the UV cracked the waterproof casing.

ZombieEatsYou · 03-18-2013, 05:04 PM

Did some checking. EL will last 1-2 years in direct sunlight. Did I mention it's $13?

awfarley · 03-18-2013, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZombieEatsYou

Did some checking. EL will last 1-2 years in direct sunlight. Did I mention it's $13?

Yeah that's what I was thinking but wasn't sure where I read it.

At that price it's pretty much disposable anyway. How do the wires connect to the EL wire portion? Some kind of fitting?

And also, don't you have to have some sort of ballast to use that?

ZombieEatsYou · 03-18-2013, 06:44 PM

As I understand it, the pos/neg wires are embedded the entire length of the strip. The current flowing between the two light up the phosphor. The wires then go into an inverter (about 2x2 inch square). The wires out go to the car's 12v. Easy, no plugs or connectors other than to car power. Next project is to put a pair on the roof of the cabin (front to back) or lengthwise across the roof by the rear window.

GVA 45TH 2SS · 03-18-2013, 07:16 PM

How well did it stick to the inside of the mailslot?

Mr. iNCREDIBLE · 03-18-2013, 07:19 PM

that's pretty slick.

I like the white bow-tie, does the mail slot strip match the interior ABL? looks kinda close.

zkdreads · 03-18-2013, 07:32 PM

any pictures of where you mounted your inverter or how you wired this. im interested for other projects

MackMan · 03-18-2013, 08:14 PM

Looks great! I might have to check out some EL wire/tape. Heard a LOT about it...

03-18-2013, 06:41 AM	#1
ZombieEatsYou Drives: "Bmblbee" 2010 RY 2SS/RS. VIN 12043 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Waldorf, Maryland Posts: 1,271 View My Garage	Installed EL strip in mailslot It seems everyone has LEDs in their mailslots so I went with something different. White (actually, it's more of a cool white. Not blue, not quite white) 1/2 inch EL stripe from Xoxide.com. Didn't pay $120, didn't pay $61.44 only $12.95 plus shipping. Wired it up to my parking lights. Don't think it will cause a ticket as it doesn't flash, strobe, and not quite blue enough to clash with LEO colors. Also did a DIY LED bowtie and rigged up a cheap LED light-pipe set up on the lower grill. Total cost for the entire front end lighting - less than $50. Attached Images __________________

03-18-2013, 06:52 AM	#2
LadiesMan217 Drives: '10 IOM/IO 2SS/RS Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,680 View My Garage	I'm very interested in EL tape but have never used it and I'm not exactly sure how it works. Every application I see looks amazing though. Great job. __________________ Proud Member of NEC5!

03-18-2013, 08:30 AM	#3
ZombieEatsYou Drives: "Bmblbee" 2010 RY 2SS/RS. VIN 12043 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Waldorf, Maryland Posts: 1,271 View My Garage	It's a phosphor that glows when a current is put to it. Waterproof, flexible, cutable. __________________

03-18-2013, 05:04 PM	#8
ZombieEatsYou Drives: "Bmblbee" 2010 RY 2SS/RS. VIN 12043 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Waldorf, Maryland Posts: 1,271 View My Garage	Did some checking. EL will last 1-2 years in direct sunlight. Did I mention it's $13? __________________

03-18-2013, 06:44 PM	#10
ZombieEatsYou Drives: "Bmblbee" 2010 RY 2SS/RS. VIN 12043 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Waldorf, Maryland Posts: 1,271 View My Garage	As I understand it, the pos/neg wires are embedded the entire length of the strip. The current flowing between the two light up the phosphor. The wires then go into an inverter (about 2x2 inch square). The wires out go to the car's 12v. Easy, no plugs or connectors other than to car power. Next project is to put a pair on the roof of the cabin (front to back) or lengthwise across the roof by the rear window. __________________

03-18-2013, 11:51 AM	#5
Forte Drives: 2011 2LT/RS CGM W/ Black Stripes Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Madera, CA Posts: 598	looks great! Good work.

03-18-2013, 11:53 AM	#6
awfarley Drives: 2011 5.7L Tundra Double-Cab X-SP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 2,031	I've heard EL wire fades over time though... any experience with that?

03-18-2013, 07:16 PM	#11
GVA 45TH 2SS KNGTFALL Drives: 2012 2SS 45th edition Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: (Near) Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,533	How well did it stick to the inside of the mailslot?

03-18-2013, 07:19 PM	#12
Mr. iNCREDIBLE Drives: 2012 2SS/RS Convertible Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: SoCal Baby... Posts: 2,530	that's pretty slick. I like the white bow-tie, does the mail slot strip match the interior ABL? looks kinda close. __________________ *I'm only responsible for what I say, not for what you fail to understand.*

03-18-2013, 07:32 PM	#13
zkdreads Drives: 2010 Camaro LS V6 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 2,784	any pictures of where you mounted your inverter or how you wired this. im interested for other projects __________________ C-LO or Sonic "Without Struggle there is no progress" I am your best nightmare!

03-18-2013, 08:14 PM	#14
MackMan Camaro CRAZY Drives: 2019 OC 1SS/1LE Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Winchester, KY Posts: 3,202 View My Garage	Looks great! I might have to check out some EL wire/tape. Heard a LOT about it...