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Product:
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FlexiGlow EL Cable & Standard Cold Cathode Kit |
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Price:
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EL Cable $45 (CAN) / $30 (U.S), Cold Cathode Kit $35 (CAN) / $25 (U.S)
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Supplied By:
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FlexiGlow
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Author:
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Mantis
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Date:
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April 1st, 2003
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Rating:
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The FlexiGlow EL Cable sent for review is red in colour and measures 1.5 meters in length and 2.3 mm in
diameter. Upon removal from the package, I noted that a heatshrink covered solder joint that connects
the EL Wire to the power cable had separated. In order to repair this and proceed with testing, I
consulted 2 sources, Bit-Tech's guide located here
and the included FlexiGlow documentation. This issue can most likely be caused by the minimal packaging
of a simple re-sealable plastic bag which allowed the unit to bounce around and minimal amount of solder
used to seal the joint of wires. Electroluminescent Cable, often referred to as EL Cable, is constructed
from a phosphor coated copper wire that emits a glow when current is applied. Two very fine wires are
twined around the phosphor coated wire and are then coated with a plastic sleeve to protect them.
Coloured plastic tubing covers the wires and dictates the color of luminosity. The brightness of the
phosphor coating will degrade over time, after approximately 10 000 of continuous use on maximum
brightness, the phosphor coating will plummet to 50% of its initial maximum brightness. The FlexiGlow
EL Cable can be cut and re-attached into several sections as long as the length doesn’t surpass the
amount supported by the inverter of 10 meters.
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Click image for larger view
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Click image for larger view
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The FlexiGlow EL cable obtains power from a standard Molex adapter which features quick snaps for easy
attaching and removal. The attached red and black wire provides a substantial amount for routing the EL
wire and power connections out of site. The review package also included FlexiGlow's version of a
Standard Cold Cathode. The FlexiGlow Standard Cold Cathode ships in a cardboard tube with plastic end
caps, the cathode and accessories are tightly wrapped in bubble wrap. The contents revealed, a 12" Cold
Cathode, 12V Housed Inverter, Rocker switch, a Molex connector and a set of instructions.
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FlexiGlow cold cathode instructions
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Click image for larger view
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The instructions sheet features a small diagram illustrating the proper method of attaching each piece
of the Cold Cathode Kit if additional assistance is required. Also listed are Contents, Installation
instructions, safety precautions and warranty information. Either end portion of the FlexiGlow Standard
Cold Cathode feature acrylic end cubes which hold the protective housing and bulb in place. I was
pleased to see that the tube is centered within the casing. A small square of pre-applied Velcro
resides at the bottom of each end cap for use when mounting to the desired surface. The FlexiGlow
Standard Cold Cathode features a lightly tinted acrylic casing which debatably can improve or hamper
the overall hue of the like being emitted.
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