3V EL inverter - how to control directly from Arduino

Using Arduino General Electronics
1

Hi,

I got a 3V EL interver and 3m of blue EL wire. I found out the 3V output of the Arduino board is sufficient for it to light up.

It it possible (and a good idea) to control the EL inverter to the arduino power supply and control it with a digital pin?
Or, could it even be powered by the signal of a digital pin?

(Yes I am quite noobish with electronics, please type your answer loud and slowly... ;))

2

How's this:

poooooooosssst aaaa liiiiinnnnkkkkk tooooooo theeeeeee paaaaarrrrrttttssssss.....

3

CrossRoa, I can read you loud and clear!

It is this 3V EL inverter: EL Inverter - 3v - COM-10201 - SparkFun Electronics
Datasheet: http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/SPECIFICATION%20of%203V3M%20-%20副本.pdf
And this 3m length EL wire: http://www.sparkfun.com/products/10195
Datasheet: http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/Components/LED/Technical%20Information%20of%20Flexible%20Neon%20wire.pdf
and an Arduino UNO

KE7GKP, the board is neither sweating nor smoking, and still alive. I have seen the EL Escudo and other EL shields but am wondering whether I can spare the expenses.

4

KE7GKP, thanks a lot for your advice and explanation of the UNO board! This pretty much means I should have used relays/optoelectric couplers many times before :roll_eyes:

I'll have close look at the UNO datasheet and get an ampmeter right away...