LEDs and glowing/light elements

[Arashi_Calunata]

Now, how practical are these? Is there any hazards beyond the obvious? I'm talking in general.

I'm in the "The more you know" cycle of my week.

And I meant "LEDs", not the "lED". If anyone was confused, my sincerest apoligies.

[Kobuk]

Can you explain a bit more in-depth, please? What is it specifically you want to know?

[Arashi_Calunata]

Posible hazards, wiring tecniques, simple things like that.

[kuroneko jusan]

Depending on how bright you want these effects to be and how many you want, you might want to consider EL wire as well, it's pretty costuming friendly.  I have worked with both, so if you can give me a better idea of the application I can probably at least steer you in the right direction.

[Chiscringle]

LEDs are fine as long as you remember to include pull-up resistors.  Otherwise you'll have the LED across a full potential difference and the current will make it burst.  The smoke is somewhat noticeable and very embarrassing, not to mention painful if you were touching the LED at the time.

Oh, and LEDs can heat up depending on what kind they are and how much current you run through them.

[Arashi_Calunata]

What different kinds of LED wire are there? Do you mean color, Gauge (Assuming it is measured at the same level as copper wire), or current levels?

[kuroneko jusan]

What different kinds of LED wire are there? Do you mean color, Gauge (Assuming it is measured at the same level as copper wire), or current levels?

I assume you are asking about the EL wire I mentioned above?  It's not really measured in gauge but the stuff I have experience with is about 1/8 in or 3mm thick.  It comes in multiple colors and lengths, lights up along the entire surface, and there are also panels and ribbon like varieties.  here is a link to a place that sells it, they offer a lot of information on it here, and if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page you can see the other varieties they have.

https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10196

[Arashi_Calunata]

Updated Question; A certain part of the armor, the Visor of the helmet, I wanted it to glow... Preferably with a color-changing capability. I thought of lining it with EL wire or something, but tests have proved.. troublesome. The visor (Not actualy there yet, I don't have any materials. I tested this with a peice of 4" by 6" peice of window glass. And with blue)

What I'm asking is; Should I use a specific glass? Which side of the helm should it be on? Should I use a special type of EL? This need to be so I can still SEE out of the helmet. With little more than a tint...
 
I'm banking on the visibilty being DRASTICALLY reduced. So, if this isn't possible, is there a place I can get one-way glass in red, purple, blue or gold?

[Twizler the skunk]

El wire takes a rather high voltage to work, hence the inverter. ig you want multi colors  your best bet is RGB leds with a controller chip.  Like this http://youtu.be/N8z9ADwWh9M

[Jacoby Quinn]

i am personally planning on using low level tritium elements on my suit eventually