 There is much more the LED strip lights add to the room than the light itself. These strips are well known for changing the lightscape completely with intelligent lighting.Â
Here’s a thorough guide on how to connect LED strip lights. And practically change the environment of your space.
Is it even Possible to Connect LED Strip Lights?
As a matter of fact, yes. The more recent LED strip lights come with proper connecting channels. The feature wasn’t available in the older models, but this is a pleasant change.
Also, there are multiple ways through which you can connect LED strip lights today.
Even if the strip lights you have don’t come with a connecting feature. In the end, guys, it is all about understanding the electronics behind strip lights and acting accordingly.
But do remember to take accurate measurements before buying strip lights.
Connecting more than one LED Strip Lights
If we talk about a connectable LED strip light, there is nothing much to do. The strip will already design to allow multiple connections. And yes, LED strip lights to come in a strip with a maximum length of 15ft per strip. Options like 10ft or lower are also available in the market.
To make a connection between two strips, you need a solid blade. Remove the plastic protective covering from the strip. That will expose the junction and connecting points on the light. Make the connections following the mentioned ends.
Does Branding have to be considered to connect LED strip lights?
This is one of the questions that is frequently asked of us. If we take a look at the bigger picture, then yes, you can connect LED strip lights from different brands. But remember, there is a good chance of still messing up the connections for multiple reasons.
First, there is a solid chance that one strip light’s connection and polarity dynamics may be different than the other. In this case, the connection will become quite messy. Second, you can get LED strip lights with the same model number, yet they can vary based on their voltage ratings.
Take Safety Precautions
There is a pretty solid chance you are thinking about connecting the LED strip lights in your room. It’s great, with no boundaries to imagination. But still, it is better if you take all the necessary precautions. You will be dealing with current and voltage coming directly from the line.
According to global line distribution criteria, the most common Voltage rating at the household level is 220V with a 50Hz frequency. In North America, the criteria are set to 120V and 60Hz frequency. A voltage of this rating can be hazardous if you do not work well with the adapter.
Electronics of LED Strip Lights
An LED strip light is connected to a collection of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs). The arrangement of this connection is series as all the LEDs in the strip are connected to one power source.
But the connection between subsequent LEDs in parallel to keep the voltage intact. This is done for 3 LEDs in a 12 V strip and 6 in a 24V strip, respectively.
Each LED has, in fact, two connection points. The first one is the positive or the power terminal, and the second is the negative or the ground terminal. To connect LED strip lights, both connecting points must be connected precisely.
Can you connect LED strip lights with LED RGB strip lights?
If we keep things precise, then no. You can’t practically connect LED strip lights with RGB strip lights. The reason behind this is the overall connection structure of both LED strips.
A simple LED strip light contains two connection pins only. These connection pins are responsible for the LED’s ground and positive terminal.
On the other hand, a standard LED RGB strip light comes with four pins connection. One pin for the input and the rest of the three pins for R, G, and B.
Best Connecting Options to try
Now you know which LED strip lights can be connected and which can’t. Knowing this helps you avoid making rookie mistakes when connecting LED strip lights is important.
Now that you are all set to make connections, here are three best ways through which you can connect LED strip lights,
- Connectors
Chances are that when you are buying a specific LED strip light, it will already contain connectors. The manufacturer provides these connectors for consumers who love customization. Multiple types of connectors are adaptable with standard LED strip lights.
To make a connection, you need to expose the connecting end of the ending LED by using a blade. Don’t worry; the plastic covering is a protective layer and can be cut off easily. Once the connecting site is exposed, you can use connectors to connect multiple strips.
- Soldering
Now this one is for the real geeks out there. The ones who have some sort of knowledge regarding the working of electronics. The soldering method is widely used in industrial and consumer electronics. The connection made by solder is quite permanent.
Again, you need to expose the connecting ends to connect multiple Led straps through soldering. Once the solder is complete, you can again cover the connecting junction through protective plastic. Don’t worry; solder is known for its amazing current conducting properties.
- Jumper clips
Last but not least, we have got jumper clips. While jumper clips are widely used in engineering and electronics projects throughout the globe, they can also be used to connect LED strip lights.
But you need to ensure that the jumper clips you have are compatible with the LED strip lights in the first place.
Final Note
This concludes our guide on connecting LED strip lights and making them work. We hope that now you have the knowledge and the confidence to connect the LED strips at your home and make your room glow. These beautiful lights are sure to give your home a wonderful look.
