Electroluminescent film strips

[J Levine]

I have not asked about this subject in a while and was thinking that with all the new members maybe someone has identifed a source for these parts. What I am talking about is the switch panel backlighting system that Sea Ray used on many different models for many years. Without dragging up the whole subject these are electroluminescent film strips that when connected to a AC power source light up. Sea Ray used them to backlight the switch ID's on helms on many models including mine. The system uses an inverter to convert DC to AC, a potentiometer to adjust the light level and a number of separate electroluminescent film strips that were "glued" behind the dash panels that were etched with the ID lettering. My system works but one of the panels is shot. I have been to my llocal Marine Max parts departmetn with no help and checked the internet with little luck. Any one found a supplier for these things? I cant have the only 13 year old Sea Ray with this problem.

 

[fc3]

EL strips are generic. It's really old tech that's been around for about 50 years. The early 60s Imperials (1960, 61, 62, 63) had EL instrument panel lighting. Do a google search and you'll find lots of hits. Pick any supplier, it should work.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[J Levine]

Frank do you think this would work? For 3 bucks I guess I cant go wrong! I need a 1" x 6" strip but this is close enough.

http://www.allelectronics.com/make-a-store/item/EL-5/ELECTROLUMINESCENT-STRIP-5-X-1-/-/1.html

 

[fc3]

Probably, but I think the ones Sea Ray uses are blue-green, not green.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[J Levine]

Yea I know the color is not going to be right, but all I really want to do is see the lables. For $10 including shipping I figured I cant miss. Plus I could not find any blue green strips about the same size. Frank, thanks for the thought about the automotive connection, it helped me find some hits on these things that I could not come up with before. I did run across this site which has a DC LED light strip that they say is better than EL since it does not need an inverter. This maybe the way to go if the whole system is shot and needs to be replaced.

http://www.steinair.com/lights.htm

 

[skibum]

Try a google search on any numbers that you find on the strips installed on your boat. You might find an exact match.

Michael

 

[J Levine]

Try a google search on any numbers that you find on the strips installed on your boat. You might find an exact match.

Michael

Good suggestion, unfortunatly I have tried that for two years on and off with no luck.

 

[fc3]

I found blue-green, but the panels were significantly more money, about $50, but they could be cut and shaped with scissors. Pretty cool, IMHO.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[boatmailster]

be sure that both inverters are working

 

[J Levine]

I only found one inverter and this is the only stip that does not light up.

 

[J Levine]

Update on this repair. The replacement strip works great and is the same blue green color as the originals. It is slightly brighter and quite honestly looks much better than the originals.

 

[Hampton]

Well done. Thanks for the update.