has anyone tried ? looks intresting and easy.
Hi,
Fill me in, sounds interesting just haven't seen yet, but would try;)
Thanks,
Chad
look at www.fiberopticproducts.com/sideglow..that (http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/sideglow..that) is a good info site...I have seen it used WOW! trying to decide to use Led light source they have for about $60 our invest in the $240 12 volt light source with 2 outlets and color wheel...Just want to find out other peoples experiences...I like trying new things..to me that is....
I fixed the link....here ya go (there is no....that at the end, etc). http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Sideglow.htm (http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Sideglow.htm)
Kinda neat idea.
God bless,
John
thanks John as you can tell my comp skills need a lot of improvement ...I like learning new things...
Quote from: robertglines1 on November 18, 2009, 04:49:16 AM
thanks John as you can tell my comp skills need a lot of improvement ...I like learning new things...
No problem at all ;). I have been learning myself.
God bless,
John
I'd be interested in hearing how you get on with this - I kind of like the idea of this kind of stuff myself if it's done tastefully and with restraint.
Before spending a fair amount of money on fancy equipment to do the job it would be worth experimenting with some offcuts of perspex sheet and some LEDs. Get some clear perspex sheet around 1/4" thick and drill holes in one edge into which small LEDs can be glued. Use sandpaper or similar to lightly roughen up the opposite edge to give a 'matt' finish. The light of the LEDs travels through the perspex sheet and is diffused by the matt finish on the opposite edge in such a way as to form a completely uniform strip of light - in other words, the same affect as a side-glow fibre optic cable at a fraction of the cost and energy usage. Although you cannot bend the perspex in the same way that you can the fibre-optic cable, it can be machined into any shape you wish to be incorporated into the edges of furniture or however you wanted to use it
Jeremy
Thanks for the info link, it does look quite intriquing, just may have to try it out.
It's a nice glow, perfect for setting the atmosphere.
Chad
I like the implementations of Side-Fiber I've seen in recent years - however in RV's I haven't seen more than two good implementations (my opinion). Like Jeremy says:
Quote from: Jeremy on November 18, 2009, 05:49:33 AM...if it's done tastefully and with restraint...
Some people think the more BBQ sauce you put on the beter it tastes... I like to taste my tri-tip! ;D I think you should be able to find a descent LED light source for the side-light-fiber, most of the energy on an incandescent light is radiated in the 900nM-1300nM range (IR or "heat").
Quote from: Jeremy on November 18, 2009, 05:49:33 AM...Get some clear perspex sheet around 1/4" thick and drill holes in one edge into which small LEDs can be glued. Use sandpaper or similar to lightly roughen up the opposite edge to give a 'matte' finish. The light of the LEDs travels through the perspex sheet and is diffused by the matt finish on the opposite edge in such a way as to form a completely uniform strip of light - in other words, the same affect as a side-glow fibre optic cable at a fraction of the cost and energy usage. Although you cannot bend the perspex in the same way that you can the fibre-optic cable, it can be machined into any shape you wish to be incorporated into the edges of furniture or however you wanted to use it...
I've suggested a similar method for dash-board legend lighting a while back, except you silk-screen the smooth front face white (thin coat) and then on top of that you silkscreen the entire face black with the legends (negative of the letters - so that you can see the white letters where the black was not printed). This way the light only goes out (visibly) where the black paint did not go (i.e. the white letters, gauge markers). Also, if you want to do a little more efficient version of what Jeremy is suggesting, 3M makes light-pipe film for LCD screens that you can buy from distributors like Digi-Key. This film is placed over a standard clear sheet of acrylic or polycarbonate - the back is "roughed-up" more the further away from the LEDs you go, and then faced or painted with a reflective material on the back over the roughing (3M also makes a 99.8% efficient reflective film for this). The light is contained in the sheet, and escapes as light finds the rough surfaces at the back (light is directed towards the uncovered face). You can place a sheet of "3M Vikuiti" (that is pronounced "V-eye-que-it-ee") Brightness-Enhancing-Film (or BEF), on the output surface and it will recycle light this isn't close to perpendicular to the surface of the sheet back into the sheet until it escapes at the right angle (I guess that's a pun). Two sheets at 90-degree angles will constrain the light into a small cone about +/-15 degrees from perpendicular to the surface. Also, you can scatter wide-angle LEDs through the surface of the sheet by drilling a hole that is just large enough to fit the LED and put a reflective dot on the output side to bounce light back into the sheet (so that you don't get a focused hot-spot right over the LED) – see my crummy diagram below.
This method will give you a large flat light "surface" that you can place under cabinets to give a soft, even, projected light that's great to work under. You can also over-cover this with a matte sheet of plastic (glossy on one side, evenly matte on the other) to scatter light from the entire surface for a more "lambertian" light source. Placing RGB/W LEDs in the sheet will give you full color/color-temperature control, PWM dimming will give you the brightness control (need less light later at night, you can dim out the LEDs to reduce power draw).
-Tim
I noticed the more research I do that they have led light sources farther down on that site...most of the light sources will deliver 50 times more light than we would use. I had planned to use on the cove around the strip of mirror ceiling.30 inch wide by about 25 ft (each side) to be a mood setting light.I now have the rope lights behind the valances down both sides;might replace them if it works out good..
sorry I didn't finish my answer .From what I can tell the LED COLOR MAX 2000 would be the way to go and it is 12-24 volt with cable and all would be a little over $200.Not as cheap as rope lights..but this is a hobby for me and something unique I'd like to try..I could bomb...