Cutting and connecting LED Strips: a simple task

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LED STRIPS

Discover our entire range of LED Strips. The decorative possibilities offered by this type of strips are very extensive.

LED Strips are a very interesting lighting alternative because they can be used on various fronts. Generally their use is decorative, although they are increasingly used as supplementary lighting or main light points. Flexible, rigid, single-color or RGB, there are many types of strips available on the market.

  1. Cutting and connecting LED strips: a simple task
  2. Procedure for cutting and joining 12V LED strips
  3. Are you going to join several sections of 12V LED strips?
  4. 220v LED strips: a more special case
  5. What number of LEDs per meter are necessary?

1 Cutting and connecting LED strips: a simple task

Before making more in-depth descriptions, it is necessary to know the four main voltage ranges at which an LED strip can operate:

  • 5 VDC LED strips: They are not very common. They are digital or analog strips that generally connect to USB ports.
  • LED strips 12/24 VDC: without a doubt, the most used. They require knowing the process of cutting and joining different sections of strip, but the great advantage is that precise and somewhat more elaborate installations can be made, tailored to what each project needs. The big drawback, if it can be classified as that, is that they require a transformer to convert the current supplied by the electrical network to the working voltage of the strips.
  • LED strips 220 VAC: Due to their IP65 protection, they are more intended for outdoor lighting. They are perfect for highlighting specific points in a garden, for example. They do not require a transformer, so it is easier to install them.

2 Procedure for cutting and joining 12V LED strips

The steps to follow to cut and join 12/24 VDC LED strips are not complex and, as we have already mentioned, they are also safer to undertake than those of other installations. But it is necessary to execute them with attention and care:

  1. Calculate and cut the section (only if you need to cut) of LED strips you need. If you are going to make a cut, remember that, as a general rule, 12 VDC strips can be cut every 5 cm and every 10 cm if they are 24 VDC. Generally, it is clearly indicated where the separation can be made.
  2. It is necessary to ensure that the profile where the LED strip will be installed is clean before gluing them. Although it is not mandatory to do so on profiles, it is highly recommended that the LED strips be installed on this type of pieces, eliminating the temptation to place them directly on wood or plaster.
  3. Connect the strip to the corresponding transformer following the relevant instructions. You will need two cables (red and black) that you will connect with the + (+V) or - (-V) sign respectively. Subsequently, the power supply must be connected to the electrical network.

3 Are you going to join several sections of 12V LED strips?

  • The cut You must respect the sections indicated for each type of LED strip.
  • The joining of the different sections can be managed through rigid connectors or connecting cables. The rigid are safer and allow splices to generate a straight line, a right angle or even more complex T-shaped installations.
  • Paste the LED strips in the corresponding profile and connect it to the transformer and, later, to the electric light.

Although 12V and 24V LED strips can be cut and joined without problems, always following the relevant instructions, it is recommended that any type of installation of this type does not exceed 10 and 15 meters respectively in order to avoid unexpected voltage drops.

4 220v LED strips: a more special case

These strips are a "modified" version of the previous ones. Their main virtue is that they can be connected directly to the network, making installation much easier, since it avoids having to depend on transformers (a key part in 12/24V LED strips). This type of strip can be extended up to 50 meters without fear of voltage drops. More details about the installation of 220v LED strips:

  • They are available in coils of 50 or 100 meters. Another big difference with respect to other similar lighting systems is that you can only make cuts of exactly 1 meter. If this measurement is not respected, the strip will not work.
  • The sections can be joined together and continued to be used by simply soldering the connecting wires to the split end.
  • The steps to install strips LED at 200V They are even simpler. It always starts with the introduction of the 4-pin connector spike into the LED strip. These skewers have two distinct parts: pointed skewers and rounded skewers. The first are the ones that must match the aluminum sheets, while the second will be the ones that are inserted into the connector plug. Once all the elements are connected, you just have to plug the strip into the electrical network.
  • If the strip does not start to illuminate, we advise you to carry out the check proposed in this post.
  • Finally, it should be noted that the protection index of LED strips 220v is IP65, so they are usually used to illuminate exteriors and for decorative purposes.

5 What number of LEDs per meter are necessary?

It may seem like a trivial detail, but the number of LEDs per meter directly affects luminosity and electricity consumption. For this reason, before undertaking the installation it is important to plan the lighting objective to opt for one type of strip or another. These tips help you choose appropriately:

  • 30 LED's/meter: intended for face-to-face lighting and to faintly highlight very specific elements (a table, a tree, the profile of a mirror on the back...)
  • 60 LED's/meter: for standard lighting. It is the perfect amount to integrate into moldings, hallways or bar counters.
  • 120 LED's/meter: for very high lighting requirements. Especially useful in outdoor lighting.
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