PAGE 054 OF 150 · WIRING LEDS
Cutting and Joining LED Strips
Only cut on the marked lines.
LED SYMBOLTriangle points from anode to cathode; the arrows show light leaving the part.
Where to cut
Cut only at the marked lines, usually with copper pads and a scissor symbol, every three LEDs on common 12 V strips. Cutting elsewhere leaves LEDs without a resistor or breaks a circuit.
Joining
- Solder wire to the copper pads, matching plus to plus and minus to minus.
- Solderless clip connectors are quicker but can be loose.
- Seal cut ends on waterproof strips with silicone or heat shrink.
Length
Long runs lose voltage along the strip, so the far end looks dimmer. Feed power at both ends or from several points on strips over about 5 metres.
REMEMBER
In series the same current flows through every LED.Try it yourself
Sketch the circuit on paper first, calculate the values, then build it on a solderless breadboard using a low-voltage supply. Measure with a multimeter before you make anything permanent.
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