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Electric seat post.

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Old 05-15-08 | 12:07 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Cynikal
Can you post instructions? I would love to do this to a frame.
A frame would be difficult (although not impossible) - but it would be expensive, perhaps prohibitively so.

Go buy yourself a small sheet of electroluminescent panel, a cheap inverter and some wire, you can wire the sheet up in 15 minutes, then you can play around with it to see what is possible, it can be cut to any shape you want (once you don't cut the connectors to the power supply off) rolled into a tube or folded however you like, it is pretty robust stuff and difficult to break/ruin - for example if I were to take a hammer to my seatpost above and give it a good strong smash, I would have a dented seatpost but the light would be unaffected.

Whatever you do don't forget to tape over all cut edges with something like sellotape - otherwise you will get a mild electric shock when you touch those edges ! And don't forget to unplug the power before cutting, you don't want to be like me and throw a pair of scissors across the room from the shock
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:07 AM
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I don't know how the inverter is going to go down the seatpost. You still need the wires to come out to plug in to the EL, and the seatpost clamp makes for a pretty tight squeeze. I would just try for compact to go under the seat.
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:09 AM
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It would be an easy solution to just run a very small seatbag and put a hole in the back of it.
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:13 AM
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Originally Posted by Peedtm
I don't know how the inverter is going to go down the seatpost. You still need the wires to come out to plug in to the EL, and the seatpost clamp makes for a pretty tight squeeze. I would just try for compact to go under the seat.
The top part of the clamp is not load bearing, my plan is to drill a small hole in the centre of this part and run the wires through that - but maybe you are right if I can sort out a more compact inverter/power unit it might be less hassle to just zip tie it between the rails at the rear (??)
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:14 AM
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Originally Posted by hxzero
It would be an easy solution to just run a very small seatbag and put a hole in the back of it.
Seatbags aren't allowed on tarck bikes, it's the law !!!!
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:14 AM
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How long does it last on a full charge?
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Ill Mitch
Instructions would be great!
It is super simple if you can handle a pair of scissors and the occasional electric shock - see my reply to Cynikal above.

Get some EL panel - cut it to the shape of your seatpost - get out the sellotape and insulate the edges - wrap it around your seatpost (I made a tube that can be slid on and off when the seatpost is taken out of the frame) - plug it in - ride around the streets like you are in Tron
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Ill Mitch
How long does it last on a full charge?
I am not sure how long it lasts, I have only switched it on for a few times (perhaps 6-7 hours in total?), last night I rode from Greenwich to Camden (London/UK) I took a fairly long route so it took around 2 hours, it was as bright at the end as it is was at the start.

(running on four little AAA 1.5v batteries)

If this stuff is anything like electroluminescent wire it is pretty good on power usage, I might be able to tell you in a few days/weeks ?
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:30 AM
  #34  
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i love it
it's just that i don't like the way the "inverter" hangin on your saddle

someone should experiment this on their backpack/messenger bag or whatever u guys use
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:36 AM
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Originally Posted by RaeFixie
i love it
it's just that i don't like the way the "inverter" hangin on your saddle
Yes me too ! I am trying to shrink the inverter/power and have it inside the seatpost.

Originally Posted by RaeFixie
someone should experiment this on their backpack/messenger bag or whatever u guys use
I have !!

My bag is like a funfair
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by tynan
Yes me too ! I am trying to shrink the inverter/power and have it inside the seatpost.



I have !!

My bag is like a funfair

nice!
is it waterproof?
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Old 05-15-08 | 12:49 AM
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Originally Posted by RaeFixie
nice!
is it waterproof?
Yes, as long as you buy a bit of that heat shrink stuff that you put over electric connections and heat with a lighter so it shrinks and seals the join.
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Old 05-15-08 | 02:55 AM
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I could see top tube pads being made with this stuff. and, as much as I personally don't care for TT pads, this could be really smart for riding at night. is it possible to run one of these off of a dyno hub?
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Old 05-15-08 | 03:01 AM
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I thought for sure that this thread would be about *****s.
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Old 05-15-08 | 03:32 AM
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Originally Posted by xxsoultonesxx
I could see top tube pads being made with this stuff. and, as much as I personally don't care for TT pads, this could be really smart for riding at night. is it possible to run one of these off of a dyno hub?
I am no expert in electrics but you need an AC source (hence the inverter) I am not sure how that would work with a dynamo **********
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Old 05-15-08 | 03:32 AM
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Originally Posted by kjohnnytarr
I thought for sure that this thread would be about *****s.
Hmmmm. . . that's given me an idea
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Old 05-15-08 | 08:51 AM
  #42  
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Thanks for the info. I'm rethinking the frame idea but the cover of a mess bag would be cool.
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:33 AM
  #43  
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Someone cover a read fender or a side of your rear triangle with this stuff.

https://www.glowhut.com/electrolumine...-inverter.html
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Old 05-15-08 | 08:35 PM
  #44  
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How visible are the gaps in the EL sheets? If I patched 2-3 sheets together side by side (and was particularly neat about it) would the gap show at all? I'd be interested in making my top tube glow at night, though, having gaps would ruin the effect.

P.S. brilliant. I was thinking of doing something similar but hadn't considered EL materials. Well done
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Old 05-15-08 | 08:50 PM
  #45  
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This seems really pointless to me.
Why modify your bike in such a way when there are simpler and more useful lighting set-ups?
Just to look cool?
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:21 PM
  #46  
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Is it as good as it looks, or some sort of trompe-l'oeil from the camera and the lighting? Because if it's as good as it looks you are a genius, I thank you for posting this.
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by 40x14
Is it as good as it looks, or some sort of trompe-l'oeil from the camera and the lighting? Because if it's as good as it looks you are a genius, I thank you for posting this.
The pictures are pretty accurate, the best way to describe it is that in the flesh it looks almost identical to a fluorescent tube.
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:39 PM
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Originally Posted by icelemmings
How visible are the gaps in the EL sheets? If I patched 2-3 sheets together side by side (and was particularly neat about it) would the gap show at all? I'd be interested in making my top tube glow at night, though, having gaps would ruin the effect.

P.S. brilliant. I was thinking of doing something similar but hadn't considered EL materials. Well done

You should be able to get it pretty tight as you can cut (with a scalpel or craft knife) directly into the light source, no real need for gaps - and once switched on small imperfections are somewhat lost.
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:40 PM
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Originally Posted by FarAwayBoy
This seems really pointless to me.
Why modify your bike in such a way when there are simpler and more useful lighting set-ups?
Just to look cool?
Why comment on something you find pointless ?

Why is simpler better ? I think it is pretty simple in the respect that you switch it on with a switch like any other bike light.

Yes I think it looks cool, I like things that look cool.

Last edited by tynan; 05-15-08 at 09:46 PM.
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Old 05-15-08 | 09:49 PM
  #50  
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this would be so awesome to have on your bag for night riding
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