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Find Helpful Tips About Profiling, Advertising And Marketing With Electroluminescence Or EL
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Electroluminescence – Read more about Electroluminescence Back lighting
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What is EL or Electroluminescence?
The EL-technology makes it possible to produce light-panels with flash/light animations. EL-panels are thin as paper (0,2 mm). The El-panel is flexible, shockproof, practically maintenance free and last for a long time. Switchgrape Sweden produces the flash/light sequence in a picture by help from the Adobe Flash software. These flash/light sequences is then transferred (programmed) to a CPU (inverter) who controls the light procedures in the EL-panel.
The result is amazing. Think about posters on the bus stop, logotypes on windows as well as floor advertising where the picture moves and lights just like flash movies on the web.
The EL-technology opens a whole new world of possibilities.
FAQ
Here you have the most common questions about Electroluminescence, but feel free to submit your own on info@switchgrape.se
What Is EL?
EL, or Electroluminescent Lamp, is essentially a flat Screen Printed light bulb consisting of layers of conductive and non-conductive plastic and and a layer of phosphor. The phosphor is laminated between two conductive layers and, as a voltage is applied between the two conductive layers, or electrodes, the phosphor emits light energy.
How do you power EL?
EL Lamps are powered by an electronic inverter (power supply) which runs at a frequency from 50-1000Hz. Depending on the application of the el lamp the power source can be supplied by a wall socket 110-240 Vac, 12V Dc (for vehicle sign-age) or battery operated for small portable el lamps.
Are Inverters supplied?
All of Switchgrape el panels come with matched electronic inverters and animated media comes with sequencing driver’s and power supply for controlling the animation. We can supply panels without inverters at the customers request.
How much power does EL use?
EL has a very low power consumption typically consuming 75-90% less power than any other point light source.
How long does EL last?
EL under the right conditions should last up to 12,500 hrs at half-luminescence; this is the industry measurement of which el is at 50% of its original brightness. There are many factors which can affect the lifetime of el lamps, Animating or cycling the el lamp will increase lifetime of the lamp while higher frequency (for higher brightness lamps), temperature, humidity and UV light can all reduce this.
Do I need to seal my EL lamp in a box?
Indoor Use:
Because EL panels are self-contained (laminated), there is no light box required for indoor use, they simply can be hung with or without a picture frame, wrapped around a pillar or fixed to the wall by double sided tape. because of its lightweight you don’t have to deal with heavy infrastructure to install an animated EL sign panel.
Outdoor Use:
For outdoor use it is necessary to seal and enclose your el lamp within a waterproof enclosure to protect from UV (ultra-violet) exposure and moisture, this can be as simple as using Polyurethane paneling front and rear using waterproofing glue and silicon as a sealant. This will maintain its flexibility characteristics for pillar or column wrapping.
In what size can animated EL be produced?
We can produce animated EL panels that are as small as a credit card and as large as bus stop signage or by combining the panels together billboard sizes can be achieved.
In what size can EL sheets (the light area) be produced?
We can produce EL sheets in a wide range of standard paper sizes from A5 through to A0 or we can custom make them to your exact requirements. Our largest single sheet is 100cm x 200cm.
What is the minimum order quantity?
When ordering from our minimum order quantity is a single unit, however due to our manufacturing process any custom sizes or bespoke animated media to any minimum order quantity, however this will always depend on size of the media so please ask your Switchgrape sales rep.
What colours are available?
EL is available in white on/pink off (POWO). Additional colours are achievable by adding dyes or coloured overlays.
Do I have to provide the animation for Switchgrape?
Switchgrape provide a service to animate your media for you, by working closely with you the customer we can take your media and ideas for animation to provide you with a computer graphic animation of what is achievable, by working with small computer MOV’s we can email these to you for fast turnaround (usually within 3 working days). We will also use our expertise to help with ideas and show what is possible to give your animated media the best potential.
Experience:
Advertising:
We can design and make small or big-sized Electroluminescence advertisement screen with high brightness, flash or “Fade in Fade out” effect according to any advertising originality. They can be put together as large-sized indoor or outdoor EL advertisement screen. The brightness, colour and flash effect can replace neon lamps and propaganda lights. It can be shaped up once, needless of maintenance, which greatly improves the advertising effect of the products. By adopting advanced technology, we can make your products be displayed in plane with best advertising visual effect. At present, it is the most advanced hi-tech plane advertisement display screen. Producing watch apheliotropic patches with 1 sq. cm, large cold luminescence patches of more than 5000 sq. cm
Backlighting:
Producing colourful lighting patches, specially fit for producing sophisticated pure white and other pure products with other colours cell phones, thermometer, key pads, taxi meter, automobile meter, night light, clock, palm displays, etc. The EL backlighting products produced in our company have the features of high brightness, stable quality, low power loss, high and low temperature resistance, moisture proof, lighting or displaying in special environment, etc. There are more than five lighting colours. It is your best choice of backlighting. Welcome various requirements for size, lighting colour, and flash effect. We promise to provide you with good services for any EL products. Producing manufacture outfit drivers and supply relevant IC, luminescence instruments. We can design inverters according to the customer’s requirements.
Finished Products:
At present, our company has many designs of armbands, badges, new style lighting caps, T-shirts, eyeglasses, and picture frame with the features of “beautiful”, “small” and “exquisite”, which are the most delicate decorations when you are outside at night. We can make any size and pattern you like best according to your own requirement.
Features of EL:
• Wide visual angle, fixed plane light emitting source
• Superfine and level, up to 0.2mm
• Light weight
• Rich lighting colours
• Bendable
• Strong shockproof ability
• Soft and reliable, no glare when gaze the light emitting source
• Low power consumption
• Cold light emitting source without generating heat
• Long service life over 12.500 hours
• Various shapes
• No ultraviolet ray
Pricing:
Project pricing for EL products is determined by the following variables:
• Image size
• Size of actual area to be illuminated
• Quantity
• Number of lighting sequences and/or complexity of lighting sequence
• Finishing including type of lamination, framing and backing, installation.
• The addition of UV protective coating (recommended for signage used in exterior windows or outdoors where exposed to direct sunlight).
Note: Standard tooling fees apply for all projects and will be determined once project details are finalized.
Additional tooling may be required for special projects that have not been previously prototyped such as a new consumer product or promotional item.
Read also about suspended ceiling – more tips on this blog.
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