A little help

[fergus123]

Hi there,

i have this thin film that emiits light and i have a transformer , 230v ac to DC (unknown) and i was wondering how they are connected?

here's a link to some picture of the things

 

[Externet]

Seems to me that transformer is the correct to energize that LEC Light Emitting Capacitor. Should work on AC not DC, and the frequency is about right.

 

[fergus123]

Thanks i was wondering what i need to hook them up because there are no connections on the film

 

[Externet]

If there is no connections on the film, it will not be easy. Perhaps it is a factory reject, promotional sample or unfinished product. There is two conductive layers, one top and one bottom that need to be fed with AC.
If nothing is attached, and as last resource, lightly scraping could gain access to somehow apply conductive epoxy. Try to not do it one above the other, but using different opposite areas on the LEC.

edited, added ---> **broken link removed**

Be careful, it is not low voltage what you will be playing with.

 

[fergus123]

they have 2 metal strips around the egde of the flim

 

[Externet]

Ahá !... check continuity between those strips, should show open circuit. Check the terminal at the transformer output cable and see how they can mate.
Connect and power up. Avoid touching exposed conductors, and come back with results.

 

[atferrari]

Hola Fergus,

It seems to me that you have not clear idea of what you are dealing with.

Is yours a standalone transformer (AC at the input, AC at the otput), because you say "to DC". Or Is it a DC power supply of some kind after all? Most likely it is this last.

All the electroluminiscent materials I know, work driven by AC where two things are important: frequency and voltage.

Your link points to pictures. It would be much better to get a datasheet or minimal indications of what you need to drive that material. Could you?

 

[colin55]

Electroluminescence works at approx 400Hz.

 

[Externet]

Hello Agustín, Colin.
Yes, the 'transformer' Fergus pictured on his link is actually an AC powered oscillator, output data is on its label, fits well to drive that LEC that has to be in the neighborhood of 100V 1KHz.
I have a couple of dozen LECs that work nearly fine on plain mains 115V/60Hz, with a limiter resistor in series for peace of mind.