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Thread: Anyone had any luck resoldering a broken section of EL Film?

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  1. #1
    Force Aware Tyhm's Avatar
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    Default Anyone had any luck resoldering a broken section of EL Film?

    I can solder EL Wire no trouble, but I'm having a devil of a time finding anyone who's successfully re-soldered a section (partially because it seems noone can agree on what to call the stuff!). Had a break in the middle, cut off the broken section...now neither part works. Might try cutting a bit more off and sealing it, hopefully the ambient moisture didn't get Too far in...but can I salvage the Other part, the part Without copper leads? It's parallel plate EL...
    Here's the situation; I got a length of EL Film (EL Foil, EL Tape, Backlight Panel, whatever you wanna call it), but it was way too long and not wide enough. So I folded it twice - no trouble there, still functioning fine, and at this point it kinda coils around one and a half times; there's a section facing the wrong direction but no big deal, a bit of duck tape, a bit of swallowing my pride over the inefficiency of it all, but it fits the panel I'm trying to light (the buttons pad for a power glove, incidentally). I go to screw it all together...and it won't fit. I readjust a few times, and it sorta snaps in the middle; now it's sparking at the break, and only lighting up the first section intermittently. So I cut off trouble part, it works fine for a few seconds and dies; the rest of the EL Wire before and aft of the intersection works fine so I'm not worried about the inverter...I hear moisture's a problem so, as I previously stated, I'll try trimming and sealing, possibly baking the moisture out if all else fails. But http://www.luminousfilm.com/el_lamp.htm says you can apply power to the copper power bus along the side...I don't see one and I'm hoping they don't mean the end that already has a lead hooked up...

    Anyone have any experience with this?
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    I've worked a lot with EL wire, but never film. Unless it was to pull damaged film out of a Parks Saber blade to I can replace it with EL wire.

    Though I did have a job where I was heat bonding EL panels to keypad circuit boards for Motorola.

    That none of that means I can be of any help to you. Sorry.
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    Jedi Council Member cardcollector's Avatar
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    Oh man! If J-lo can't help you with El....

    I'd venture to say no one can!
    Got a Question? There's a thread for that...
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    Force Aware Tyhm's Avatar
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    That bad is it? Well, then I shall push forward the limits of understanding I suppose...-_-
    It's not supposed to be cheap or easy. It's an ordeal.

    But if you're not here to make a light saber the hard way, just follow this guide and stay out of the way.

    If you're lost, here's a directory of all the most pertinent threads - it'll save sorting through the rubbish, thank the mods for braving it for us.

    If you have a question, there's a solid chance it's answered here. Not too much to ask you to check ONE page for your question before posting, is it?

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    I have tried it and had the best luck with (**gasp**) cold solder (that was only once).
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    You actually got one of those things to work, LDM?
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    Force Aware Tyhm's Avatar
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    Interesting; so there Is hope, is there? Just have to find my damn electrical tape to seal up the cut...I know it's around here somewhere...mercifully I've got about 6 inches of screw-up before I'm screwed and have to buy more parts I can't afford...
    It's not supposed to be cheap or easy. It's an ordeal.

    But if you're not here to make a light saber the hard way, just follow this guide and stay out of the way.

    If you're lost, here's a directory of all the most pertinent threads - it'll save sorting through the rubbish, thank the mods for braving it for us.

    If you have a question, there's a solid chance it's answered here. Not too much to ask you to check ONE page for your question before posting, is it?

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