From: Clint Jay <cjaysharp@gmail.com>
To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. <piclist@mit.edu>
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Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:49:09 -0700
Subject: Re: [EE] EL lamps dimming
Thread-Topic: [EE] EL lamps dimming
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It is/was an issue, depends on the encapsulation of the EL material, I seem
to remember reading that one or more companies had worked out a way to
encapsulate it in miniscule glass beads which reduced the problem.

My experience with the flexible panels (Laptop backlights originally and
then on smaller LCD panels in embedded gear) showed that degradation
happens with use and age (much like a fluorescent tube) and any damage to
the plastic film encapsulating the panel would cause rapid degradation due
to moisture ingress, even if not damaged the thin wires that connected the
panel to power weren't perfectly sealed or had been damaged by soldering so
panels would degrade from the entry point.

On Thu, 22 Jul 2021 at 04:45, Neil <picdude3@narwani.org> wrote:

> Hmmm... hadn't thought of things like moisture.
> Sadly, the only fix is a pricey replacement.
>
>
>
> On 7/17/2021 5:40 AM, Clint Jay wrote:
> > Hi Neil,  they do age in use, I'm not sure if they age in storage but
> > moisture absorption used to be a problem.
> >
> > On Fri, 16 Jul 2021, 05:10 Bob Blick, <bobblick@outlook.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi Neil,
> >> I believe the brightness is more stable when controlled by current, so=
 a
> >> series resistor is probably better than a voltage divider.
> >> Friendly regards, Bob
> >>
> >> ________________________________________
> >> From: piclist-bounces@mit.edu <piclist-bounces@mit.edu> on behalf of
> Neil
> >> <picdude3@narwani.org>
> >> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2021 8:14 PM
> >> To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public.
> >> Subject: [EE] EL lamps dimming
> >>
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I'm helping someone build a flight sim from parts of an older
> >> FAA-certified simulator, and currently working on the EL panels.  I ha=
ve
> >> 2 questions re: dimming:
> >>
> >> First, the older panels are much dimmer than the new panels.  The devi=
ce
> >> is ~9 years old, but as we understand it, it was in storage for most (=
if
> >> not all) of that time.  Do EL lamps just go dim over time without use?
> >> If not, then maybe the device was used quite a bit, or maybe the quali=
ty
> >> of the EL panels have just improved over time.
> >>
> >> Second, I need to dim the newer panels to match the older ones.  Can I
> >> do this with a simple voltage divider on the output of the EL inverter=
?
> >> I have one inverter powering 7 small panels, so I'd have to dim the
> >> output side to the new panels, or maybe get a second inverter and dim
> >> the input of one of the inverters.
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >> -Neil.
> >>
> >>
> >> --
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Clint. M0UAW IO83

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