Recently I have noticed that we get some pretty good wind late at night around here. The day is a wash but it starts to pick up around 9pm on. I have been toying with an idea to light up my lei kites with some EL lite rope and a small battery pack. The el wire is small enough to run inside the leading edge without damaging the bladders. The battery pack could be velcroed to the center strut and not weigh that much. I think if I get really creative, I might be able to rig it to light the struts too. Not sure if this will work but I think I'm going to experiment with the idea a bit. Anyone ever tried this before? Most of my lei kites leading edges are slightly transparent or opaque so I was thinking this might work.

I did that with these led lights several years ago.



They flash red/green and have some pretty good magnetic stick to them. I sandwiched the kite material between them with a couple in the corners. They are a bit smaller than a dime in size and use two button batteries...
Can't find the link online to them.

I bet you could use cyalume sticks too!

Excellent idea! Of course, it's been done before.......

http://youtu.be/e2I-_tIDV-4

:eureka:

i have done hundreds of night sessions. i used fingers lights for a short while, but the reality is you don't need them.

the light thing was just a hassle, but most importantly a small beacon light on you. looking at the kite will only be distraction and a bad habit.

...go without make it easy. well adjusted eyes just don't need it. what you do not want is starring at the kite with all the lights on it and then look away...all acuity is lost for about half minute, so a solid knowledge of the local terrain holes, post, and any obstacles are elements to be concerned with. the confidence conveyed while riding in the dark was huge. my first jumps and air transitions where in the dark.

I just kinda wanted it for the coolness factor. Flying blind is not a problem except for some of my really light feel kites. I just bought all this crap too! LMAO! I'm still gonna give it a go and see what I can come up with. Yeah it's gonna be a pain but I have nothing else to do lately due to no wind. I like tinkering with stuffs! :D

Quote: Originally posted by riffclown

HAHAHAHHA! My house almost every year!!!!!!

Quote: Originally posted by swesting

Excellent idea! Of course, it's been done before....... http://youtu.be/e2I-_tIDV-4 :eureka:

OOPS wrong post... LOL! MY house almost every year! HAHAHA!

We attached break lights to the kite. So it happened we could see the kite, but not the electric barb wire behind us. I got shocked by the beauty of the night. Haha.

After too many beers we went into towncenter and put the kite on 10 meter lines and did night street kiting.

Good times.
Night kiting is fun and sharable with friends.

We used a powerkites. On handles. Easier to move in the city around the trees.