posted
Rene showed me some cool LED's at a trade show a couple of years ago. The system is different than any other I've seen. The LED modules simply slip over an insulated 14 gage wire which connects to a transformer. You can put as many or as few LED's on the string as you need - mix and match the colors or whatever... There are no electrical connections and the LED's can be slid into position until you are happy then fastened in.
I've been dying to try the system, but life is busy and I just never got around to it until our latest project. I decided to bite the bullet and design the LED's into the signs we are doing for the submarine themed board room for my local MultiCam dealer. I ordered up a bunch of different colors and a few transformers and they arrived late last week. I've been busy since... I have thought of a thousand ways to use these cool doodads!!!!
The submarine room will feature some cool eye candy which showcases the things we can do with one of their CNC routers. Here's the primary piece...
The submarine is built in and around a large, deep glass bowl. The sign measures 32" wide x 31" high x 14" thick. There's still lots of details to come on the submarine and the paint on the sign itself but it is coming along nicely. I was just blown away when I plugged it in for the first time... LED's ARE COOL!!!
-grampa dan
[ August 16, 2010, 01:59 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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[ August 17, 2010, 11:12 AM: Message edited by: Dan Sawatzky ]
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Yep, they are cool. I recessed the back of an HDU cross I carved on my cnc to accept LED modules for a church sign. By day, a nice shiny 23K gold cross, by night, a nice amber glow around the cross from behind. LED's are very cool.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
I'll trade you for some welding lessons Donna...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I did a single-sided 3 foot round sign last month for a mexican restaurant with LED lighting. They truly are amazing and fun to work with. The transformers are so small and can be hidden just about anywhere. 3D signs are way cooler with light! I can see it now...Dan will be lighting up all of his new projects from now on!
Sign-cerely, Steve
-------------------- Steve Luck Sign Magic Inc. 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 (618)466-9120 signmagic@sbcglobal.net Posts: 870 | From: 2718-b Grovelin Godfrey, Illinois 62035 | Registered: Dec 2004
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posted
Ahhhhhhhhhh, I see you've been having fun again M. Dan.....
Those LED's are way coooool, I've used them in a few projects of my own and really turned out great.
Love your project Dan, I can already see a whole new chapter being in the writing in Yarrow... you guys thought there were lights in Vegas.... just wait! Dan's gonna go at this like a squirrel on RedBull!
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Here are some of the projects that I fun with a few years ago...
This one was purchaced by the makers of the LED's and is displayed in their show-room at head office.
This one has been displayed in my showroom for a few years now.
Another note, in Dan's little video, he uses insulated wires as we all would, but they don't have to be in all uses. The conductor could be a solid wire like a coat-hanger rod if you needed it to be standing up or something.
They also have models that are soaked in epoxy that become submersible... now how cool is that...underwater lights!!!
posted
Do you have to hold a low voltage license or electrical license to use LED's. I haven't used them because I thought I would need an electrical contractors license. If they just plug in, I don't see a problem.
Cool stuff Dan and Rene!
-------------------- Amy Brown Life Skills 101 Private Address Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I don't know about Florida Amy, but here in Michigan, as long as you buy UL approved parts there are no licenses needed for working with low voltage. You only need to have an electrician involved if you are hard wiring the transformer instead of using a plug.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5397 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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posted
The whole UL listing and LEDs is kind of messy actually. I am not UL listed and have done many exterior jobs with LEDs and so far just using a licensed electrician to pull the permit and make the final connection (really silly but it keeps it legit) has worked. I just did a job though where the state electrical inspector tagged the job because there was not a UL label. I showed him UL 48 which states that low voltage under 30 volts with a remote power supply is not covered by a UL listing and he let it go but I am finding more conflict lately. One option is to make friends with a UL listed shop and have them inspect your signs and sell you a label for whatever you work out - its allowed by UL but they don't tell anyone since they want your money.
-------------------- Brian Stoddard Northwest Wholesale Signs
posted
Ding Ding Ding .... Brian hit the nail right on the head...
As anything else in this wonderful world of ours, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY !
Four options: - stay away from electricity all together - become a UL/CSA shop - become good buddy with a listed shop (a cottage sign usually helps) - fly under the radars....
The day an inspector, who wants to score points with his boss, decides to drag you in dirt...he will and it will not be a pleasant day for anybody. If you're not listed properly, you'll find out they have resources to releave you of that extra money you had set aside for a fishing boat!
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