Conductive thread DEV-11791

Other E-textiles
1

Hello, I have a couple of questions regarding your conductive thread DEV-11791:

  1. Is it suitable for heating projects?

  2. If so, which is the best current value?

Thanks

2

Hi Lili,

I am not 100% sure I understand your questions here so if I miss something, please reply and try to include as much information as possible regarding what other parts you are intending on using this thread with.

  • - No, this thread is not recommended to be used in a heating circuit. For example, [[this project](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/heating-pad-hand-warmer-blanket) that uses our [[Heating Pads](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11288) has the heating circuit separate from the LilyPad circuit since the heating pads draw quite a bit of current (~600mA at 5V). The conductive thread is not insulated like standard hook-up wire so it will heat up and could damage the fabric it is sewn into.
  • - I am afraid I do not understand this question. We do not have a current rating for the conductive thread, unfortunately, but all of our conductive thread is the same material so there is no "better" version of it. The primary difference between the two spools ([[Smooth](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/13814) and [[Standard](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/10867) is just how tightly wound the thread is and has fewer "loose strands".
    • [/list]

    If you have not yet, I would recommend reading through our various [How-To Tutorials for LilyPad. For this question in particular, I would recommend reading our [Basics of E-Sewing and [Powering LilyPad LED Projects guides.

    I hope this helps answer your question. If you have any other questions about the conductive thread, please reply to this post and I would be happy to help.](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/powering-lilypad-led-projects)](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/lilypad-basics-e-sewing)](https://www.sparkfun.com/lilypad_how_to)](Conductive Thread Bobbin - 30ft (Stainless Steel) - DEV-10867 - SparkFun Electronics)](Conductive Thread Bobbin - 12m (Smooth, Stainless Steel) - DEV-13814 - SparkFun Electronics)](https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11288)](https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/heating-pad-hand-warmer-blanket)

    3

    Thanks for your reply,

    Let me try to explain better:

    I am working in a project that involves thermochromic pigments. Beneath the thermochromic layer, I want to place a line drawing that will be revealed once the pigments are heated.

    I want to use the conductive thread as the lines of my drawing so when I heat the thread it unravels the drawing, something like the pic below:

    Captura.PNG

    This is why I need to heat the thread but I don’t know if this kind of thread would be suitable for my project.

    In case it isn’t, which one would you recommend?

    PS: Using heating pads is not an option for this project, as it would heat a whole surface and not just lines.

    Thanks again :slight_smile:

    4

    If you push enough current through the thread, it will heat up. It would take some experimentation on your part to figure out how much voltage and current a given length of thread will take to reach the desired heat. If you have an adjustable power supply that can output a few amps of current, try various lengths and voltages until you find what works best for your project. Be careful though, too much voltage and the thread can glow orange hot!

    5

    I’ve used conductive thread for this application, but the one SparkFun sells is not the ideal thread.

    You’ll have better luck with a thread specifically made for this purpose, such as Bekaert Bekinox VN12/1*275/100Z. These threads are manufactured specifically for heating textiles. https://www.bekaert.com/en/products/bas … e-textiles

    You can find lots of information about different conductive threads and some data on use cases here: https://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?p=379. That site is a large documentation project all about e-textiles and craft technology materials that I highly recommend checking out.

    6

    I have not tried this before but try looking at this tutorial that was linked on the product page for the Thermochromatic Pigments => https://learn.sparkfun.com/tutorials/21 … c-circuits. You’ll want a MOSFET to control the power and experiment with how it heats up as Chris explained.