Electroluminescent ???

[FlashlightOCD]

What is it exactly?

I bought a Nightlight from Publix that glowed in the dark, it was flat, didn't have any obvious bulb or LED, and plugged directly into wall outlet. Was that an electroluminescent application?

It burnt up in about a week [electrical problem was causing some strange voltage fluctuations in the house, that might have caused the burnout].

 

[The_LED_Museum]

Sounds like an EL (electroluminescent) nightlight to me.
They aren't supposed to blow up like that though, so try another one in the same outlet and see what happens.

As far as I know, most common EL material is a thin piece of plastic sheeting with electrodes on the front and back, and a phosphor material in between. The front electrode is a somewhat translucent metallic substance, so the light from the phosphor can get out. When fed a high AC voltage (100-300 volts), the phosphor glows; usually green or bluish for 120VAC nightlights. A higher voltage and/or higher frequency will make the EL material emit light that is brighter and bluer; though with a comitant reduction in device lifetime.

Examples of EL lighting can be found in Timex Indiglo watches, Krill lightsticks, the backlights found on some telephones and GPS receivers, and some types of nightlights.

 

[eluminator]

I guess they don't make them like they used to. My father bought something like this about 40 years ago. It was about three inches in diameter and about 1/4 inch thick, as I remember it. It had the electrical prongs sticking out the back. When plugged in to an electrical outlet it glowed green. It lasted quite a few years, maybe ten. After a couple of years it developed some dark spots that didn't glow, but the rest did.

 

[RevDavid]

My grandfather had one back then too. It matches your description nicely. It was old in the 60's when I remember it. He was a master electrician, and had lots of cool devices around.

David <><

 

[Cones]

Hi,

I have some EL devices that use EL wire reviewed on my website.

See here www.cones.free-online.co.uk
In the other stuff that glows section.

This gives a good description of how they work and gives links to the company that makes the wire and inverters. More info is available there.

Hope this helps

Mark