EL Lighting

[mauriceb]

Of course you could avoid any backlighting issues by using panels with integrated backlighting such as the IBL panels produced by FDS. The extra cost for these panels is well justified in my opinion when you consider the extra cost & grief associated with EL sheets.
But that's just my opinion and I don't work or have any business association with FDS (I'm just a happy customer

Maurice

[alaxus]

Of course you could avoid any backlighting issues by using panels with integrated backlighting such as the IBL panels produced by FDS. The extra cost for these panels is well justified in my opinion when you consider the extra cost & grief associated with EL sheets.
But that's just my opinion and I don't work or have any business association with FDS (I'm just a happy customer

Maurice

That of course would be nice if FDS made panels for my said Aircraft.

[mauriceb]

That of course would be nice if FDS made panels for my said Aircraft.

That is indeed a problem, although new panels are in the works. That is also why I picked a 737 since I wanted fast progress and a 737 seemed like the best choice to me since parts are plentiful.

But anyway, my only point really was to consider all available options and to weigh the pros & cons of the different methods of back-lighting. Sometimes the hidden costs & problems are way more than you anticipate and paying a bit more at the beginning can be the cheapest option at the end (assuming you have a choice of course).

Maurice

[Michael Carter]

In some ways I'm fortunate that the 727 was retired by most US domestic airlines. Parts are plentiful for the most part, and relatively cheap as far as real aircraft parts go.

The average control head or module sells for $25 to $100 and it includes the whole thing. Knobs, lights, switches, Dzus fasteners, and the important factory backlit panel.

I don't know what an aftermarket backlit panel costs, but by the time you add the required switches and/or indicators the cost surely climbs up into the real used aircraft part range.

[Electroluminescent]

Hello,

I have a lot of experience with electroluminescent lighting and I would be glad to answer any of the questions that come about.

A short explanation:

El works on AC power at either a high frequency, high voltage or both. The AC current excites the electrons in the light emitting phosphor and this action creates the light.

El can work from just about any power source including batteries, you just need the right inverter to convert the source power to the AC power that the lighting needs.

Generally, if you are going to use batteries, it is good idea to deal with commercially available types like AA, AAA, C, D and 9V.

The best batteries for their size and power output is the AA. They are also very inexpensive if you buy a no name brand. In my experience, the energizer and duracells are only 3-6% better than the no-name ones and they are less than half the cost.

Direct your questions here and I would be glad to help out in anyway I can.

thanks

Ed