A Simple Guide to Connect LED Strip Lights Without a Connector
LED lighting strips offer an array of opportunities for placement and design in the home.
These lights are traditionally powered by a connecter. However, that can sometimes limit creativity or seem daunting for DIYers.
Today, Light Supplier will guide you through the process of connecting your LED strip lights without a connector. This will lead to flexible LED lighting and limitless customisation ideas for your space.
What You Will Need
Before you begin, collect the following tools and materials:
- Scissors
- Soldering iron
- Wire strippers
- Heat gun or lighter
- LED strip lights
- Electrical wire
- Solder wire
- Heat shrinking tube
- Electrical tape (optional)
PPE: When using tools or electrical equipment, it’s important to wear heat-resistant safety gloves and goggles to prevent injury and electric shock.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Connecting Strip Lights Without a Connector
Once you have gathered the necessary materials and put on PPE, follow the steps below to connect your LED strips:
1. Measure and Cut
Plan out the placement of your LED lights. Determine how long they need to be and what cuts need to be made. Use a tape measure to measure the area of placement.
LED strips have designated cutting points every few centimetres on the strip. Use a pair of sharp scissors to cut the strip cleanly on this line to ensure a perfect fit.
2. Prepare the LED Strip
To access the copper pads, cut off any silicone layers with scissors, being careful not to cut into the strip itself. Clean the copper pads with rubbing alcohol to remove any residue or oxidation.
The copper pads must be exposed to ensure a good solder. Carefully peel back any silicone coating or adhesive backing from the end of the strip you've cut to reveal these pads.
If necessary, cut extra adhesive backing off to make sure it will stick to your chosen surface.
3. Strip and Tin the Wires
Remove the insulation with a wire stripper. Strip about 3-5 mm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of insulation from the end of each wire.
To do this, grasp the wire with the wire stripper. Squeezing gently, twist the strippers to cut the insulation. Pull toward the end of the wire to completely remove the insulation.
To prevent fraying, heat your soldering iron and bring it to the tip of the wire. Then, feed a small amount of solder onto the wire. The solder will melt and cover the exposed wire completely.
4. Solder the Wires to the LED Strip
Find a stable and heat-resistant surface to work on, such as a soldering mat.
Ensure the positive wire is connected to the positive pad on the strip and the negative wire to the negative pad. Secure the wire and LED strip in place with tape, overlapping the tinned wire end with the copper pad on the stip.
Heat the wire and the pad by holding up the soldering iron to them, melting the solder to form a solid connection. Once the solder looks shiny and the objects are connected, remove the heat and allow it to cool. Don’t move them during this process.
5. Test the Connection
Check for loose strands or solder blobs once the wire and pad have cooled.
If everything appears stable, test the connection using a power supply that matches the voltage of the strip. Then, turn on the power. If everything is connected, all of the LED bulbs should light up.
Gently flex the strip to see if the bulbs flicker or change in brightness. This will indicate any loose connections.
6. Secure and Insulate the Connection
Place electrical tape over the soldered connection. Wrap it tightly around the wire and connection.
To ensure complete coverage, overlap each layer of the tape slightly. Ensure it extends the soldered connection on each side and press firmly for a secure fit.
Invest in Durable LED Strip Lights with Light Supplier
At Light Supplier, we stock a wide range of LED strip lights for various applications.
Whether you’re looking to uplift your living room with warm-coloured bulbs or add a pop of fun to your bedroom display with multi-coloured bulbs, our LED strip lights are guaranteed to uplift your space.
Our flexible string lights offer plenty of opportunities for customisation and secure placements. Browse our LED lights today for fixtures you can rely on.