You don't need to use LEDs that powerful... and driver boards aren't needed for lower power (and cost LEDs).

John, have you looked at the backlighting method described  here: http://www.hanskrohn.com/start.htm

Check the Building Tips page if you haven't seen it. The method is much cheaper than others and the basic material is commonly available locally.

Steve,

Thanks.  Yeah, I saw that.  But it still involves a LOT of extra work (read "valuable time") as well as a bit of extra money (EFIS panel alone......... cost of the self adhesive films, about 8 $1 LEDS, some perfboard stock, more wiring, more power supply amperage, etc.) for just the backlight effect.  And plexi / acrylic is a real BI*&H to work with if you don;t have the correct tools!!!  

YES it is nice to have... and someday I might slowly replace the panels one-by-one with backlit ones.  But it was a conscious decision not to go backlit for the first iteration of the pit.

I'd say that if I had gone that way, the pit would now only be about 1/2 of the way to where it is now.  And this is already a LONG project for me.

One of the ideas I had was using the electroluminescent film with a panel facing over that similar to what he is using, surface mounted on wood or metal panels.  Bought in bulk enough for a whole pit at once, it might be cheaper than all those LEDs and wiring and perfboard.... and might be a real timesaver construction wise.


best,

.......................john