An electroluminescent (EL) device achieves a significant increase in the lifetime of EL light sources by using a driver with a controlled duration of intervals between rectangular pulses and between packets is variable, causing changes in the duty cycle, and is determined by a signal passing through a feedback circuit having the EL light source connected to a feedback device including a sensing a resistor, and a programmable pattern generator, which may include a microcontroller, fed by the output of the feedback device. The use of the programmable pattern generator allows for precise control over the required waveform; adjustment of the waveform per a specific EL device to maximize its lifetime; storage of profiles of known EL devices, taking into account their behavior/performance under standard conditions of input voltage; and precise control over not-to-exceed parameters, such as maximum output voltage, current, and overall dissipated power.