what is the best battery to use

[GeluKhanGharr]

Why on earth would anyone tell you to do it that way is beyond me. Yes, the battery set-up gives you 18, but then the voltage splits in 2 to the serialized inverters. So each inverter gets about 9 volts if they are identical. When connected to the jack they are in paralel so the voltage there is the same, 140(?) volts, but the current should be higher. So you probably get a few more miliamps than if you simply used a single battery with a single inverter. As we know, EL is almost insensitive to current change. Only a different voltage or frequency(particularly the frequency) would make a differrence in brightness. So that renders one battery and one inverter completley useless in this set up. However, I am thinking - WTF is applying 140 volts to the output of an inverter going to do to it? Doesn't look good, mesa thinks. Blow-up in your face? It might...
Like Tim said, it hurts to try and think about it, kinda like quantum mechanics.
Don't try it Suit-man(or the higher ground is gonna git ya)
I have learned that if the inverter is rated for 12 volts you can pretty safely apply 18 volts to it. Just make sure you always have load on it. Do away with one inverter and you should be fine. Add a 1 MOhm resistor in paralel to the jack so you have some load if you turn it on without the blade in place.

Man, those guys will do anything to sell an extra inverter, won't they?

Born of Sith, seduced by the light side.

[informalmyx]

with my setup i notice a little heat but nothing mor ethen a gentle warmeth

<center>
"Many claim to have found serenity, and through serenity to have overcome anger. Such arrogance is astounding."</center>

[suit_man]

hey, gelukhangharr, i don't appreciate being talked to like i am an idiot. no, it doesn't render one of the inverters and batteries useless. my blade is much brighter than when i had just one 9v. this has been wired up and in my hilt for a few months already, and it is probly not gonna blow up. please, don't talk like i am a moron just because i am less than half your age.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

[GeluKhanGharr]

suit-man, my friend, I have no ideea why you feel I was talking down to you, but I appologize if I came accross that way, that was not my intention. I was actually just trying to be helpful, thus my suggestion to drop one of the inverters from the setup and see what happens. I fed quite a few 12 Volt inverters from 18 volts and they get the wire quite bright without overheating.
Again, don't take my words the wrong way. I genuinely wanted to help not to treat you disrespectfully in any way. Peace?

Born of Sith, seduced by the light side.

[suit_man]

thanks man, yeah, peace. i am not gonna drop one of the inverters though, i don't want to totally redo the inerds of my saber, i will try just one inverter in my next saber though. i am gonna make a graflex, which will be about 4 inches shorter than my saber now, so i need all the room i can get.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

[GeluKhanGharr]

So what is the size ot the hilt? I was able to fit all my stuff - holder, inverter, sound chip, speaker, switch and 2 AAs in about 8 inches. Really crowded in there, but it worked. I had to do it that way so I can do a Obi/Luke style hilt and I couldn't put anything in the thin section. The whole thing still came to about 13 inches, though.

Born of Sith, seduced by the light side.

[suit_man]

my hilt is just over 14" long. with about a 4" blade holder. i think that if i can drop an inverter and shorten the blade holder, i should have no problems, especially since my switch will be outside the tube. i am making a special clamp so that the switch will be kinda like the one on the anakin fx. has anyone else tried to do the switch like that?

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

[GeluKhanGharr]

you mean like this?


Born of Sith, seduced by the light side.

[suit_man]

kinda. it will be a sliding switch though. and it will be on the side of the boxie thing that sticks out.

i am a nerd, if you don't like it, i will cut you with my lightsaber

[GeluKhanGharr]

I've been thinking about a side sliding switch for a while too. It's just hard to find a switch that will fit well inside the box. And I'm not thrilled about the rivets I used to attach the box. Any suggestions on attaching the box so nothing shows on top?

Born of Sith, seduced by the light side.