Lights and Action

 The blue glow given off by the strand seen here is electro-luminescent wire otherwise called EL wire. An alternating current electric potential of approximately 90 to 120 volts at about 1000 Hz is applied between the copper core wire and the fine wire that surrounds the copper core. The wire can be modeled as a coaxial capacitor with about 1 nF of capacitance per foot, and the rapid charging and discharging of this capacitor excites the phosphor to emit light. The colors of light that can be produced efficiently by phosphors are limited, so many types of wire use an additional fluorescent organic dye in the clear PVC sleeve to produce the final result. These organic dyes produce colors like red and purple when excited by the blue-green light of the core. From Wiki.
As a result, the HF AV signal can drive other strands of EL wire in series or parallel for similar loads.

The light seen here in EC courtyard is from NRL and draws about 1kW through a large incandescent bulb. Two are being used this week to light workers for the East Campus projects.