EL Wire Light-Up Dog Harness

Pages
Contributors: jenfoxbot
Favorited Favorite 8

Introduction

Whether it's to keep Fido (or in my case, Marley) visible on an adventure or as an awesome all-year-round costume, a light up dog harness is an excellent accessory for your favorite pup.

alt text

EL wire is a great option for wearable lights. It stays cool, is flexible, and comes in lots of different colors. This design uses the SparkFun EL Sequencer to automatically turn on EL wire when it is sufficiently dark outside, so you don't have to worry about locating Mr. Dog to turn the on system.

Materials

Here is a list of all the parts and tools used in making this project.

Electronics

alt text

Harness Materials

alt text

  • Dog harness
    • A vest or backpack will also work
  • Waterproof jacket w/ pocket(s)
  • Optional: Tupperware or other sealable plastic container

Tools

alt text

  • Safety goggles
  • Soldering Iron
  • Wire Cutter/Stripper
  • Epoxy (waterproof)
  • Scissors
  • Needle + thread OR fabric adhesive
  • Optional: Velcro

Recommended Reading

If you are new to electronics, EL wire, or the EL Sequencer, or would like more information on the main components in this project, check out this tutorial:

As this design also uses a lithium ion battery, I also recommend reading this tutorial to give you an overview on proper care and handling of lithium batteries.