Introduction

Electro luminescent (EL) wire is a nifty material that glows when a high-frequency AC current is applied.  It comes in a variety of thicknesses and colors, and can be used to achieve all sorts of effects.  A small inverter powered by two AA batteries is enough to cause a length of EL wire to glow, so it is very portable and safe since there's no high voltage to deal with. 

We thought it would be neat to build an animated "neon" sign as a Christmas gift for the lovely Mrs. Spookyblue's dad (whose job requires that he carry a gun, and who is affectionately known as "The Colonel" in certain circles.  This is not a man I ever want to disappoint.)

The project took about three weeks to complete, and we were happy with the results.  What follows is a step-by-step guide that covers everything you need to know to build your own EL wire sign.