Fitting LED lighting strips

[chrisatisis]

Hi, I have bought some rolls of waterproof LED strips. Any one got advise about how to connect it to the power? So far my efforts are of the fail variety. The point of connection seems to be very particular and the lighting 'wire' kinda delicate.

Cheers

 

[Steve121]

There should be marks on the LED strip indicating where it can be cut, and '+' (positive) & '-' (negative) markings to show the solder pad connections. Mine had a pair of wires already soldered on each end, but I cut my 5 metre strip into 4 pieces, so had to solder 2 extra pairs of wires.
I'd advise connecting the strips via a PWM dimmer, as otherwise you're likely to find them too bright. Also, be aware that the strips are usually rated at 12 Volts, and your battery is likely to be as high as 14.4 Volts when being charged and over 13 Volts when fully charged.

 

[Tezza33]

I soldered wires on to the four contacts so that I could just run the lights where I wanted, you can buy connectors but you would still have to solder the wires to lengthen them so I prefered to solder direct to the contacts with shrink tubing to seal it

 

[Andys]

Hi, when we connected ours correctly they did not work , when we conected +tive to -tive they worked bloody Chinese

 

[Sharon the Cat]

The rule with LED lighting seems to be "If it doesn't work turn it round the other way."

 

[invalid]

Make sure they ALL work before fitting, one dead led brings on OCD. (it's a man thing.) :lol-053:

 

[Deleted member 27306]

Make sure they ALL work before fitting, one dead led brings on OCD. (it's a man thing.) :lol-053:

take the guts out of your 12v strip lights leaving only the on off switch and wire three lengths into the switch

 

[Robmac]

take the guts out of your 12v strip lights leaving only the on off switch and wire three lengths into the switch

I replaced the switches on mine as well as I couldn't remove the inverters without damaging them. (assuming you are talking about Fluorescents?).

Maplins do them very cheaply.

 

[Siimplyloco]

Hi, when we connected ours correctly they did not work , when we connected +tive to -tive they worked bloody Chinese

Just proves that we are poles apart....
John

 

[yeoblade]

I soldered wires on to the four contacts so that I could just run the lights where I wanted, you can buy connectors but you would still have to solder the wires to lengthen them so I prefered to solder direct to the contacts with shrink tubing to seal it


snip .....

Looks really good, which led strips did you buy?

 

[Tezza33]

Looks really good, which led strips did you buy?

I bought from here, I bought the 5mtr with IR remote for the van and I also bought a 10mtr one with 240v adaptor from the same company (click on LED Version) which I strung around the gazebo at home, bright enough to eat by on full and dim down when we are chilling out

 

[dots46]

I bought Wireless 12V Remote Dimmer Switch Controller Mini LED Dimmer Strip Light RF | eBay

remote for my setup, very cheap and works great but I keep losing it in the van!