TruEL™ Wire

EL Wire.
Without the Failure Point.

Every EL Wire on the planet — including our previous models — uses fragile angel hair wires that cause premature failures at connections, end caps, and along the run. TruEL™ Wire eliminates that problem with a completely redesigned dual-core construction and proprietary TPU jacketing.

4mm
Diameter
1000ft
Max run
9
Colors
DMX
Control ready

Why TruEL™ Exists

The angel hair wire failure is not a quality problem — it's a design problem. It exists in every EL Wire product because that's how EL Wire has always been built. TruEL™ is a ground-up redesign of the construction to eliminate it.

Standard EL Wire
Conventional Construction
Every EL Wire brand — including our previous models
Construction
Copper core + Phosphor + Angel hair wires ⚠ + PVC jacket
Diameter2.6mm
Angel hair wiresYes — primary failure point
JacketingPVC
Max run~100ft before brightness drop
Moisture resistanceBasic
Common failure modeAngel hair short at connection
Best forCostumes, wearables, short runs
TruEL™ Wire
Redesigned Construction
Dual-core, TPU-jacketed, no angel hair wires
Construction
Dual copper core + Phosphor + TPU jacket
Diameter4.0mm
Angel hair wiresEliminated — dual core instead
JacketingProprietary TPU
Max runUp to 1000ft with Mondo HP / 24V
Moisture resistanceHigh — TPU is moisture, UV, chemical resistant
Common failure modeDramatically reduced
Best forStage, signage, architectural, long runs

The angel hair wires in standard EL Wire are prone to shorting at the connection point, the end cap, and along the wire length under flex stress. Stage and theatrical companies have historically avoided EL Wire in productions because of this — TruEL™ was specifically designed to make EL viable in professional performance environments where failure is not an option.

Choose Your Inverter

TruEL™ Wire requires more power than standard EL Wire — approximately 2× as much. Match your inverter to your run length and application. For maximum brightness, always use a TruEL™-specific inverter.

Long Run
24V Commercial
Signage, architectural, permanent
Input24V DC
TruEL™ run (standard)75–165ft
TruEL™ run (high brightness)125–325ft
DMXNo
24/7 ratedYes — continuous duty
AC adapterOptional add-on
Shop 24V Commercial →
Stage & Events
Commercial DMX
Lighting board integration
Input24V DC
TruEL™ runUp to 150ft
DMX controlYes — brightness, blink, constant
24/7 ratedYes
Also powersVynEL™ up to 150 sq in
AvailabilityContact us — limited stock
View DMX Inverter →
Do not use the Mondo HP inverter with standard EL Wire, EL Tape, or EL Panels. It is tuned specifically for TruEL™ Wire and the higher voltage output will damage standard EL products. Standard EL Wire inverters will power TruEL™ but at reduced brightness — halve the rated footage when doing so.

9 Colors Available

Available by the foot or in ready-made kits. Hover to see color names. White is currently limited stock — check product pages for availability.

Technical Details

TruEL™ Wire draws roughly twice the power of standard EL Wire. This has a direct impact on how you size your inverter and what you can expect from it.

If you use a standard EL Wire inverter with TruEL™, cut the rated footage in half. An inverter rated for 50ft of EL Wire will drive 25ft of TruEL™. It will light up, but not at full brightness — the standard inverter isn't tuned to the voltage and frequency TruEL™ needs to perform at its best.

For maximum brightness, use the Mondo HP inverter for runs under 30ft, or the 24V Commercial series for longer runs. These are tuned specifically to TruEL™'s power requirements and extract substantially more brightness from the same wire.

InverterTruEL™ runBrightness
Standard EL inverterHalve the rated footageReduced — functional but dim
Mondo HP 12V6–30ftMaximum — tuned for TruEL™
24V Commercial75–325ft depending on modelMaximum — continuous duty rated
Commercial DMX 24VUp to 150ftMaximum — DMX controllable

Standard EL Wire is not suitable for runs over ~100ft. The angel hair wire construction can't handle the voltage drop over long distances, and the fragile connection points are prone to failure during installation and under repeated flex stress. For anything requiring a continuous lit run over 100ft, standard EL Wire simply doesn't work reliably.

TruEL™ Wire with a 24V Commercial inverter can run up to 325ft per inverter in a single continuous run. For installations requiring more than that, multiple inverters can be zoned across the installation. The 1000ft maximum is achievable with proper inverter placement and wire management.

✦ For large-scale installations — architectural lighting, long-span signage, vehicle wraps, perimeter lighting — TruEL™ is typically the most cost-effective solution when you factor in labor, replacement costs, and downtime compared to LED alternatives that require pixel controllers and data wiring.

The 24V Commercial inverter is rated for 24/7 continuous operation, making it appropriate for permanent installations like advertising displays, restaurant and retail signage, and architectural accent lighting.

Stage and theatrical companies have historically avoided EL Wire in productions — not because the effect isn't good, but because standard EL Wire fails too frequently to be relied on in a live performance environment. Replacing a wire mid-run, or dealing with a failed connection during a show, is not acceptable.

TruEL™ Wire's dual-core construction and TPU jacketing make it substantially more reliable under the repeated rigging, flexing, and handling that stage use demands. The connection points — historically the weakest part of any EL Wire system — are significantly more robust without the angel hair wires.

The Commercial DMX inverter adds lighting board integration to the system. It accepts standard DMX512 input and supports brightness control, blink modes, and constant-on modes — making TruEL™ Wire a programmable element within a full stage lighting rig rather than a separate system that has to be manually operated.

✦ TruEL™ Wire and VynEL™ panels can both be controlled from the same Commercial DMX inverter. If your production uses both products, one inverter can drive both in a coordinated setup.

TruEL™ Wire is not always the right choice — it depends on what you're building.

Use standard EL Wire when: you're building a costume or wearable where the wire will be worn for a few events and then retired, the run is under 50ft, you need the thinner 2.6mm profile for tight sewing channels or fine detail, or you're working within a tight budget and the application doesn't require long-term durability.

Use TruEL™ Wire when: the installation is permanent or semi-permanent, the run exceeds 100ft, the wire will be subjected to repeated handling or flex stress (stage use, rigging, automotive), you need the moisture and UV resistance of TPU jacketing, or you need DMX control integration.

FactorStandard EL WireTruEL™ Wire
Profile2.6mm — thinner4.0mm — thicker
Run lengthUp to ~100ftUp to 1000ft
DurabilityLight dutyStage/commercial grade
JacketingPVCProprietary TPU
PriceLowerHigher
Best useWearables, costumes, DIYStage, signage, architectural, automotive
Large Scale or Commercial?
Tell us what you're building.

For runs over 300ft, multi-zone installations, DMX integration, or OEM production programs, we can help spec the right system before you order.