Copper Traces on Wood??

[icor1031]

I need a building platform about 7ft by 1inch and 1/4inch. Can't find PCBs that long, and if I did they would probably be very expensive.

Is it possible to create copper traces on a long piece of wood, or perhaps you have another idea for me?

 

[TBennettcc]

Straight up copper wiring?

Why does the board need to be that long? That thick? What are you trying to do? How many components are we talking? What kind of components?

Details, details, details...

The more information we have, the better we will be able to help you.

 

[icor1031]

It's for this. This is my project, which is dead now.. Noob learning process.

It needs to be 7ft to go the whole length. I don't want to use multiple 11" PCBs because they wouldn't be very straight.

I will be putting LEDs on it. I haven't decided what kind yet. Probably 15k mcd 140º flathead LEDs, 20ma 3.2v (from memory). I don't know how many. I'm thinking 84 of them.

My car runs at 14.4v, with spikes to 14.3 and 14.5v. (I have ELMSCANNER to monitor voltage.)

 

[davenn]

yeah ok, well to protect the LED's from the weather and other damage they would be to be housed in something waterproof. Say a clear plastic tube, you would then individually wire each lead to the next one. You may find you have to do them in groups of 5 or so.
no need for lengths of wood, pcb or things like that.

there's a section at the top of one of these forums that has an introduction to wiring up lots of LEDs

cheers
Dave

 

[icor1031]

The wood is a base so that they're all straight and facing the same direction.

 

[davenn]

The wood is a base so that they're all straight and facing the same direction.

its under the car it wont matter, the wood wont last and would look rough.

they MUST be housed in waterproof tubing else they will short circuit the first time you go out on a wet road

Dave

 

[icor1031]

It matter to me if they're straight!!

I can put the wood in a plastic tubing or heat shrink, that's what I did on the last one.

It doesn't have to be wood, but I need a platform to keep them straight. Wire isn't going to do that.

 

[(*steve*)]

If you want it to be self-supported, get some aluminium channelling or similar and place the LEDs inside that. Depending on the size of the LEDs, you may be able to attach them to the channelling, poke them through, or mount them on short lengths of PCB inside it.

Whatever you do, you will need to ensure it is resistant to vibration, and then encased in a plastic tube (or similar) to make it watertight. when you attach it to the car, make sure you don't have dissimilar metals touching, it's a sure way to get corrosion.

 

[icor1031]

Okay, if I use channeling, do I still have to use wires the whole length?

 

[TBennettcc]

First, please read this:

https://www.electronicspoint.com/got-question-driving-leds-another-work-progress-t228474.html

Then, depending on which route you want to go, I might suggest the first method under section 2: wiring an LED and a resistor in series (x84 LEDs), and then connecting each of those assemblies in parallel. If the leads are long enough, you might be able to get with no wiring at all, apart from the initial connection to power at one end of the tube.

My $0.02.

 

[Treep]

Have you considered these?

These are just one possible solution.

Optek p/n OVM12F3B7 (These are Blue)

They come in 5 colors (Wht, Grn, Yel, Red, Blu), are waterproof as they are used for outdoor signage and are readily available online at both DigiKey & Mouser for < $3.00US.

My $0.02

 

[poor mystic]

Get an engineering shop to zinc-spray your wood (or whatever). Mask off the tracks with paper. You can solder to the zinc (if the 'whatever' won't melt under the soldering iron).