Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems June 16, 2012, 01:54:41 AM I know this is a stretch, but does anyone have one or two laying around? I just need one, but I'd gladly take more. I'm looking to do a little research on how to rebuild/restore them. I know Romeo2k had some for sale, and I sent him a PM, but he hasn't been online since April. Thanks! Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #1 – June 16, 2012, 06:32:07 AM Are you after working or non working? I think I still might have one of the non working variety and would be very interested in a cure. I know about 3 or 4 years ago I got some info from a guy on here on how he fixed some but I never did anything at the time, then I was going to get out of these toys till I had second thoughts on letting them get parted and trashed so Im back and very interested on what you come up with Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #2 – June 16, 2012, 10:54:05 AM I have a pair that doesn't work. One of them hums but they don't light up. You can have them for $15 shipped. Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #3 – June 17, 2012, 03:11:47 AM Quote from: Dansbirds;392459Are you after working or non working? I think I still might have one of the non working variety and would be very interested in a cure. I know about 3 or 4 years ago I got some info from a guy on here on how he fixed some but I never did anything at the time, then I was going to get out of these toys till I had second thoughts on letting them get parted and trashed so Im back and very interested on what you come up withI'm interested in either at this point. I've repaired one of my emblems. So far what I've discovered, is that they run off 12 volts. That 12 volts goes through an inverter, which takes the 12 volts DC and changes it to a very high frequency, but low amperage AC signal. The inverter is what makes the humming noise. That AC signal is what goes to the panel and makes it light up. With my emblems, I had one of my inverters working, and the other was dead. I replaced the electroluminescent panel with a new one, and I was able to make it light up again. Only...blue. I assume they lit white/yellow when new. My main goal is to be able to rebuild the inverter. I need to know how to make an identically functioning circuit as the old inverter using new components. I know I'll never be able to make it as small as the original, however. The original inverters aren't much bigger than a pencil eraser. They're also covered in a black rubber substance, probably to reduce the amount of hum that makes it into the car. This also makes it impossible to get to any of the original components that make up the inverter circuit. I know it uses an inductor and some caps, I doubt it uses any solid state circuits. Quote from: Loaded87IROC;392466I have a pair that doesn't work. One of them hums but they don't light up. You can have them for $15 shipped. PM sent Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #4 – June 17, 2012, 06:12:43 AM How did you seperate the lens without it breaking? One on my 83 still lights white, the other just hums. And on my 80 both sides that say silver anniversary light white, its a bigger piece but I would imagine the same idea Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #5 – June 17, 2012, 11:08:14 AM If you search on Electroluminescent here you'll find more info and links including this.http://www.coolcats.net/modifying/coachlamps.htmlNot sure if anyone has ever become the 'expert' so here's someones chance to step up. :hick: Quote Selected
Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems Reply #6 – June 17, 2012, 02:22:05 PM Quote from: Dansbirds;392532How did you seperate the lens without it breaking? One on my 83 still lights white, the other just hums. And on my 80 both sides that say silver anniversary light white, its a bigger piece but I would imagine the same idea Very carefully :p Quote Selected
Topic: Electroluminescent Thunderbird Coach Emblems (Read 782 times)
previous topic - next topic
