The strip LED genre has taken over the world in recent years. Why? Well, according to the majority of the users, it is all about aesthetics. Especially when someone cut LED lights to customize them.
The Instagram and TikTok influence also plays a crucial role in this trend. Every day, people from all over the world share their ideas on using LED strip lights.
This has led us to this article today. Most of you still don’t know how to precisely cut LED lights. Here’s a guide to answer all your questions and guide you through the process.
Cut LED Lights through the designated lines
When we talk about ‘cut LED lights, it doesn’t mean that you have to cut standard LEDs for customization. The standard LEDs usually operate on 2.2V fixed and require special care.
Plus, there is no way you can decorate your room using standard LEDs. It will take a good amount of such LEDs to cover up one strip.
That’s why the most convenient and renowned way of doing something like this is using strip LEDs. These LEDs are designed to cover a large span of the area with a prominent glow.
Also, you can easily cut the LEDs through the designated lines on the strip.
No need to seek Professional help to cut LED lights
We admit that strip led are in trend these days. Especially the younger individuals in society are quite fond of them. This has marked some solid increase in the global strip lights selling. The number of professionals who install such strips is also increasing.
But asking for professional help can make you spend a lot on such services. Don’t worry; here are a few steps you can follow to cut LED lights and place them yourself. This will add the touch of customization to your room or space just the way you want to.
Make sure that both sides are working.
The very first step is to take a good look at the LED strips. Remember to buy only sealed products that don’t have any prior cutting or damage marks. Also, it is crucial to check whether or not the LEDs are in working condition or not.
Once you have gone through the inspection, it is time to decide the color scheme and length of the strips. RGB LED strips, in particular, come in multiple lengths. Always get a foot/meter extra just in case there are chances for a last-minute change in plans.
Take a good look at the power rating before you cut LED lights
Unlike standard LEDs, the RGB LEDs are quite different in terms of power rating. The majority of the standard LEDs can work on a fixed 2.2V rating. These LEDs can also withstand higher voltage ratings if proper resistance is used with the individual LED. But using such LEDs is not usually advised.
Conversely, the RGB strip LEDs have a much higher working voltage rating. Most strip LEDs work at a 12V rating which is significantly higher than standard LEDs. But in terms of performance, these LEDs easily beat the standard LEDs in terms of performance and overall efficiency. Can’t forget to mention customization as well.
Clean and precise is the way to cut LED lights.
It’s that simple. All you need to do is to make a precise and clean cut. We get it if you believe you can still mess it up somehow. Well, the majority of strip LEDs available today come with markings. Markings that allow you to cut at the exact spot.
We will advise you to use a sharp cutter or scissors to make the incision precisely. Don’t worry about deviating from the marked area when cutting the LED strip. You can always adjust the errors during the final length calculation of the strip.
Is Reconnecting Possible?
By this point, you can now perfectly cut LED lights on your own. We are talking about the strips of LED RGB lights in particular. But considering that you are not yet professional, there are chances of messing up the cutting process.
Don’t worry if you accidentally cut the strip LEDs while looking to keep them intact. Another prominent property of these strip LEDs is that they are reconnectable. You can reconnect them, and they will start working perfectly again.
Here are two ways through which you can do that.
Align the copper pads after cutting LED light strips
Most of the strip LEDs available today are made of copper pads. Copper, an excellent conductor of electricity, is used commercially throughout the globe. From regular transmission wires to electronic components, copper is everywhere.
Also, copper has the property of reconducting electricity through it once aligned back. That is why the copper pads, when aligned together, can make the strip lights work once again. You can use plastic pads or even connecting models to achieve this feat. Yes, this solution is a solid one and will work marvelously.
Soldering the two segments
But let’s just say you are looking for a more solid solution. A solution that doesn’t require you to re-align Copper pads from time to time. Well, then you should get the mastery over soldering electronic components. When you accidentally cut an LED strip, it breaks the conduction between two pads.
In electronics, soldering is rendered the safest and cleanest possible way to reconnect two segments. And make them work wonders in terms of connectivity. However, you must be very good at soldering to achieve spot-on results. It is important as the soldered connections are quite permanent.
Final Note
If you have reached this part of the article, you are a semi-professional already. You can now cut LED strips and assemble them just the way you like. But remember, practice before any such attempt is a must.
