EL Wire shines in a Makerspace!

I just love attending workshops at HSBNE (Hackerspace Brisbane) which give me skills and ideas for our school Library Makerspace. EL wire (Electroluminescent wire) is a fabulous material to add into making. It is a thin copper wire coated in a phosphor which glows when an alternating current is applied to it, it produces a 360 degree unbroken line of visible light. Its thin diameter makes it flexible and ideal for use in a variety of applications such as clothing or costumes. It comes in many colours with connections to a battery pack with inverter, it produces a cool light without heat and can be glued or sewn. Purchases can be online, for example : AliExpress, AdaFruits

After some instructions and understanding of EL wire’s capabilities and how to extend use with a EL Sequencer, which is a board that contains an Arduino-compatible microcontroller, and circuitry for controlling up to eight strands of EL wire, I was ready to decorate! The only thing I could find in my car was my daughter’s cap!! I’m sure she will love it when I return it to her 🙂

 

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Jackie Child
Jackie Child has been teaching primary aged students for 40 years in a number of countries. She is passionate about how children learn through constructivist pedagogy. She is a Teacher Librarian at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and a sessional tutor at Griffith University for pre-service teachers. Jackie doesn’t believe in standing still, there is always plenty to ‘do’ and learn!

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