How to connect LED strips to each other

LED strips are an excellent addition to any house because of their adaptability, economical nature, and visual appeal. LED strips offer a simple and affordable solution for any lighting needs, including accentuating architectural details, adding ambient lighting to your living room, and establishing a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere in your bedroom. When working with LED strips, one frequently asked question is how to connect them to one another smoothly. We’ll take you step-by-step through the procedure in this guide so you can expand and personalize your lighting arrangement with confidence.

Understanding the fundamentals of LED strips is crucial before beginning the connection process. These thin, flexible circuit board-mounted light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are attached to a flexible adhesive backing. They are usually supplied in reels and can be customized to your exact specifications by cutting them to size at predetermined intervals. For power and data transmission, solder pads or connectors are present in every segment of the LED strip.

Soldering and using connectors are the two main ways to join LED strips together. In order to permanently join the copper pads on the LED strips, soldering entails melting a low-melting-point metal alloy. Conversely, connectors provide a reversible and tool-free solution that makes it simple to make changes and reconfigure without the need for specialized tools.

In order to prevent harming the LED strip, it is essential that you use the proper soldering iron and soldering technique if you decide to solder. To avoid electrical hazards or short circuits, make sure the solder joints are insulated and secure. On the other hand, connectors offer a more straightforward method that requires no technical knowledge or soldering—you can just plug the LED strips together.

Choose the kind of LED strips you’re using before moving further with the connection, as different kinds may have different compatibility and voltage requirements. To avoid electric shock or component damage, also make sure to turn off the LED strips and unplug them from any power source. You can expand your lighting setup and improve the ambience of your home by safely and effectively connecting LED strips to one another with the right tools and safety measures in place.

Step	Description
1	Ensure all LED strips have the same voltage and current requirements.
2	Identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on each strip.
3	Cut the end of one LED strip and expose the copper pads.
4	Strip the insulation off the wires of another LED strip.
5	Twist together the exposed wires of both strips, matching positive to positive and negative to negative.
6	Solder the twisted wires together, ensuring a secure connection.
7	Insulate the soldered connection with heat shrink tubing or electrical tape.
8	Test the connection by powering on the LED strips.

For what it is necessary to connect LED strips?

The flexible strip that serves as the foundation for the LED strip has light diodes spaced at regular intervals along its length. A unique serial circuit that operates on electric flexible tracks connects them. They permit the tape to be divided into equal segments based on the number of diodes, which is divisible by three. Every diode tape has a cutting marking and little pads called "nickels" next to it for attaching wires.

Lovely LED strip enclosed in a coil

Adhesive tape with a protective film is glued to the back of the diode strip so that it can be fixed to nearly any surface.

As of right now, there are a plethora of distinct kinds of LED tape, each with a unique glow type, color characteristics, and quantity of LEDs per meter.

However, because LED tapes are sold in reels of five meters, this length is frequently insufficient to cut the tape into the required shape and apply it continuously as decoration on the storefront or other object. As a result, you must build it up, or extend it by the required number of centimeters or meters. LED tape can be used to decorate arches, aquariums, suspended ceilings, and other structures. There are one or two rows of LEDs on the tape; they can have or not have a special coating to protect them from moisture.

Two rows of diodes in an LED strip

Because LED tapes are powered by 12 or 24 V mains, you will need to purchase a transformer to lower the voltage when purchasing them.

Connection methods: soldering and connectors

Soldering and plastic removable connectors are the two methods known for making connections.

Soldering the tape is cheaper and more reliable than any other method. On the tape prepared in advance, cut in a certain place and cleaned in places of solder, two contacts are exposed, to which the wires will be soldered or two tapes will be connected directly.

LED tape with a line cut for soldering

There will be 4 contacts if the RGB tape is multicolored. It is advised to use multi-core, multicolored, flexible wires with a diameter of approximately 0.75-0,8 mm when soldering. It is required to use a wire with the same insulation color for each color, and any unused color can be selected for the common output.

Wires of two colors are required for colorless LED tape; however, each plus and minus are presumed to have their own color. To avoid inadvertently confusing the poles (+ and -), this must be done.

LED strip boards are very compact, so everything is located next to each other. The LEDs and tracks themselves have a high degree of sensitivity to high temperature: tracks can simply peel off, and diodes lose most of their "life energy". At high soldering temperatures, the crystal structure of the diodes is disturbed, as a result of which the LEDs will quickly fail. Therefore, soldering should be carried out only with a thin soldering iron with a power of 25 to 60 W and not more than a couple of seconds. For soldering it is necessary to remove only 5 mm of the sheath on the tips of the wires, and in order to solder them more firmly to the contacts on the tape, it is necessary to tin these tips well. We will also need rosin and thin solder.

Because the cross-section of the tracks on the tape is relatively small and the voltage on the longer tapes will decrease, it is advised to splice the tape only up to 5 meters. The LEDs at the very end of the LED strip won’t be able to shine at 100% brightness, but otherwise, nothing bad should happen.

Connecting LED tapes with connectors is also one of the ways in which there is no need to solder the contacts. Connectors are small plastic clips and are available for ordinary and multicolored ribbons with two and four contacts.

Plastic connectors to enable fast LED strip connections

Sometimes there are cases when LED-tape has to be connected in awkward positions, when it is simply impossible to solder it, and then it is connectors that come to the rescue. The contacts are clamped securely by means of a latch on the body and the ribbon is mechanically connected. It is the most accessible, simple and easy. But for this type of connection, as well as for all such connections, transient resistance is assumed, and also the possibility of oxidation process is not excluded. Thus, it can be said that soldering is the best type of connection, although more complex, and also requires a person to have some experience working with miniature elements.

Instructions on how to solder LED strips together

We’ll go over each of the various methods of connecting the tape in more detail now.

Soldering tape with soldering iron without wires

1. Prepare a soldering iron with adjustable temperature from 250 to 350 ° C. When using a powerful soldering iron, it is necessary to control the temperature, because too high a temperature can damage the elements of the tape. It is recommended to use thin solder with rosin. Before work, we clean the thin "stinger" of the soldering iron from excess elements with a metal brush and wipe it with a wet sponge.

A thin stinger on a low-power soldering iron for LED strips

Get ready to join two segments of the tape.

Sliced tape with unplugged connections

LED strip cut and soldered at the contacts

LED strip soldered

20-meter soldered LED tape

Connection with wires

1. In order for soldering to be qualitative it is necessary to cut the tape carefully as we told above and prepare the surfaces for soldering by covering them with a small layer of thin solder.

Make sure the LED strip is cut correctly.

Two-colored wires for soldering LED strip segments

To solder, bend the wires at an angle.

Soldered to the wires of the LED strip

Heat-shrink tube for the wire and LED strip soldering location

Two LED tape pieces soldered together with two wires

The secret to connecting LED strips is to keep things simple and safe. Determine the type of LED strip you have first, as the connection method varies depending on whether it is single color, RGB, or RGBW. Make sure you have wire cutters, a soldering iron, and solder next. Use solderless connectors for a basic connection; soldering is advised for a more permanent and secure connection. It’s important to keep in mind that positive should match positive and negative should match negative. Finally, test your connections before confirming them to make sure there are no problems later. You can connect LED strips for your desired lighting setup in an efficient and secure manner by following these steps.

Video: How to solder an LED strip

Connecting LED strips with plastic connectors

The quickest and easiest way to connect LED strips is with plastic connectors, which also come in handy when soldering soldering iron contacts isn’t an option.

Types of connectors

A connector is a tiny plastic device with contacts that allows for an easy and rapid way to combine LED tapes. They are available in the following varieties:

• Without bend. Such devices are designed for quick connection of diode strips of any type on straight lines. Allow you to make the connection points almost invisible.
• With a bend. These are connectors that consist of 2 elements with wires. They are designed to connect ribbons with diodes in different directions. Thanks to this feature of the connector structure, any shape can be created from LED strips.
• Angle connectors. They allow you to connect the ribbons only at a right angle of 90 °.

Connector types used to join LED strips

Step-by-step instructions for connection

1. Connecting ribbon with connectors does not require any tools, except for sharp scissors.

Slice the LED strip in half.

A six-diode LED strip segment

All set to attach the connector and two pieces of tape together

Joining two LED tape segments

A standard straight connector with no bend connects two pieces of LED strip.

LED strips that glow and are connected via connectors

Connector for RGB multicolored tape connections

A unique multicore connector connects two multicolored ribbons.

Installing a diode strip in a quick wire connector

Additionally, wire-connected quick connectors are available for joining diode tapes.

We take two ribbons that we will connect, as well as the connector with wires and turn it wide strip of white color upwards.

How to connect tapes correctly using the connector

Wire-connected LED strip connector

Connector attachment to the cables

Two single-color LED strips connected together

Tips for using and installing the tape

• Since the tape with light diodes – not quite a reliable device, it is recommended to perform the installation taking into account the subsequent possible dismantling in case of its complete failure and the impossibility of repairing it.
• On the back side of the tape has an adhesive layer with a removable protective film. To secure the tape to the selected area, simply peel off the tape and press the tape firmly against the tape mounting location. If the surface is rough, the tape will stick poorly and may fall off after a while. Therefore, for reliability, you can simply stick a strip of double-sided tape on the place where the tape is installed in advance, and then attach the tape itself on it.
• There are also special profiles made of aluminum, which are attached to the surface with self-tapping screws, and then the tape is glued to it. Such profiles are accompanied by a diffuser made of plastic, which allows you to hide the LEDs and create a more even flow of light. Such profiles can cost much more than the tape itself, so you can use an inexpensive plastic corner, which is attached to the surface with ordinary liquid nails.

LED strip mounting profiles

Installing a single-color LED tape beneath the ceiling

Interior LED stripping in the bar

Energy source to connect the LED strips

Pros and cons of different connections

To determine which of the two methods above is still the best for connecting these lighting devices, let’s examine some of the benefits and drawbacks of doing so.

Connecting with connectors

Advantages	Disadvantages
Easy to install and remove	Fear of rooms with a high level of humidity
Have many different types	Quick oxidation of contacts
Ribbons can be connected into different shapes	Poor quality connectors (if you buy bad connectors, the contact will simply not be and the tape will not even light up)
Do not need additional insulation	Visible place of connection of two pieces of tape
Available on sale
Inexpensive

Solder connection

Advantages	Disadvantages
Soldering allows you to make strips that can then be bent in any direction	Complexity of soldering without experience
Reliability of connection	Fear of high temperatures
Do not oxidize contacts	It is necessary to have a soldering iron with a thin stinger, rosin and solder thin
Free connection
Invisible ribbon connection

Video: Connecting LED strips soldering

Video: What is LED strip

A straightforward but necessary task for anyone wishing to improve the functionality or atmosphere of their home is connecting LED strips together. You can easily link multiple LED strips to create the desired lighting effects by following a few simple steps.

First things first, make sure you have the supplies you’ll need: power, connectors or solderless clips, LED strips, and soldering equipment (if needed). Selecting LED strips with voltage ratings that are compatible is essential to prevent damage to your components.

Choose the best way to connect your LED strips after that. Although it takes some expertise and equipment, soldering provides a strong and dependable connection. On the other hand, solderless connectors offer a hassle-free way to connect strips without the need for specialized tools.

To guarantee correct operation, be mindful of the polarity when connecting LED strips. Positive (+) and negative (-) terminals are typically marked on LED strips; these must be properly aligned to prevent short circuits. Before tightening the connections, confirm the polarity once more.

Before completing the installation, test the configuration after the LED strips are connected. Make sure the strips light up as expected and that all connections are tight. This stage expedites the troubleshooting process by assisting in the early detection of any issues.

Ultimately, take into account the positioning and configuration of your LED strips in order to attain the intended lighting outcome. Careful placement can significantly alter the atmosphere of your space, whether it is for task areas, mood lighting, or architectural feature accentuation.

In conclusion, attaching LED strips is a simple procedure that anybody can learn with some practice and careful attention to detail. You can improve the comfort and functionality of your home’s lighting while customizing it to your tastes by using these guidelines and experimenting with different setups.

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