Lightsaber Blade, EL Wire or LED?

I have read posts about EL Wire, the original Master Replica blades, Luxeon LEDs, and other options. I am making a battle ready saber, and I want it to look the best I can without spending a bundle. I would like some opinion from you experienced saber crafters about which light source is best, LED, Luxeon, EL wire, or something else?

 

Most definitely LED, it's bright, light, and cheap. (It is much brighter than EL.)

 

Can you use EL wire and LED at the same time?

 

No.

Not unless you're somehow able to meld both technologies to work together, separately, but all in the same hilt and blade. This would be theoretically POSSIBLE, but you'd also have one of the longest (or thickest) hilts in the galaxy, and would also require a throng of extra batteries to run each technology. Wouldn't be very "wield-able" and the Luxeon LED would easily drown out the glow from the EL wire. So... the short answer is "no", but the long answer is it although possible, it doesn't look favorable, nor would it be practical even if you DID meld technologies.

Either an EL or Luxeon would be "battle-ready". And yes, Luxeons are presently brighter, especially if you're going to use a 3-watt or 5-watt. K2's should be out mid-2006, and it's possible to get the same 3-watts with about 40% more brightness.

I also think this thread would (should?) get closed/locked, as you can find out much of this in the "LED Q&As" or look at Jedi Loreen's EL thread.

 

I prefer EL sabers, but thats because I'm big on cosplay and the EL blades give you even color and brightness on the entire length of the blade, so to me it's better for costuming. I don't really care that much about dueling.

 

"I also think this thread would (should?) get closed/locked, as you can find out much of this in the "LED Q&As" or look at Jedi Loreen's EL thread."

I have read Loreens and LED Q&A. The reason for my post is the two (at least that I saw) were never contrasted together. I know the data on EL and LED, but was curious about a head to head comparison. I may have missed that on another thread, but didn't want to run the risk of hijacking. The idea of combinding the two technologies, EL and LED together. I have an opinion that 2 9 volts with a resister and a inverter would run both without too much equipment. I would like to hear more thoughts on this.

 

Okay, I'll echo him then and say IT WILL NOT WORK. EL sheet is opaque. You will not see the LED(s) through it. With EL wire you'd have to wrap it around the LED strip (which would look horrible because of the stripes you'd get) and not only would EL wire block a Luxeons light you'd have no where to mount it because the mono plug would be where you mount the LED.

I can see a inner tube full of EL being used (If you figured out how to mount it below the plug) but a Luxeon would like Greytale said drown the EL out to being pointless.

What is you purpose in wanting to merge them anyway?

 

Pastor,
I've yet to hear of any way to marry EL to Luxeon. They are two different animals. A 9V wouldn't have enough amperage to run a Luxeon either. That's a question I get about 3 times a week. For a Luxeon, I recommend a few AAs as the bare minimum and about 6 to 7V when using a driver (for a 3 watt anyway). EL sabers generally run on 9 (or sometimes 12) volts.
EL is good if you're wanting a uniformly lit blade with a thinner diameter and the ability to change blade color quickly. I prefer EL wire blades to sheet, but that's a personal thing. Luxeons are good if you're wanting no electronics in the blade, with a brighter flare out at the base and (in the case of my blade film) a central "core" of light that tapers towards the tip. When coupled with a special driver like mine, a coring blade can be made to extend or retract, flash on impact or shimmer.....something EL can't do.
So it all comes down to personal choice really. Both systems are good. You just need to decide what your requirements are then go from there. If you figure out a way to marry EL with LED, I'm sure many of us here would love to hear about it.

Corbin Das

Corbin@CorbinsComponents.com

Corbin's Components

 

"What is you purpose in wanting to merge them anyway?"

Most of the reason Hack, is simply to see if I can. Both EL and LED have benifits, a Luxeon is brighter,but leaves part of the blade dimmer. Apart from the power issue, you could, in theory, install EL wire to help boost the light in the blade were the LED leaves it darker. With a mirror in the end of the blade, LED does provide a lot of light, but it give off a large amount at the base. My thought was using a LED that is not as bright, using EL wire also, and having a hybrid of both technologies. In this case, a Lexeon wouldn't be the LED of choice, and some provision can be made for the power. I doubt I will even try, but in my mind, it was at least worthy of consideration.