Gusodor Led Strip Lights Cutting? The 68 Latest Answer

Short answer:

No, you cannot lengthen or shorten standard series connected incandescent and LED Christmas tree string lights that are manufactured with 2 or 3 wire harnesses. Even if they work initially, they won’t last long. However, if you install C7/C9 18 AWG Christmas light cords with sockets and screw in bulbs connected in parallel, you can trim them.

Long answer:

For a full explanation of series and parallel wiring, see the post: Are Christmas Lights Wired in Series or in Parallel?

Mini Christmas tree lights and pre-wired LED string lights

These fairy lights have smaller bases, are made of thinner wire and are connected in series.

Incandescent mini fairy lights are like this one.

LED strings are like this.

We know you’ve seen those videos on the web showing how to lengthen or shorten these strings of lights, but the fact of the matter is that either more or less current is flowing through a different number of bulbs than the lights are specified for, and which means you’ll encounter one of the following two scenarios:

Fairy lights either burn too brightly and burn out in a short time

Fairy lights are dim, mismatched with other lights in the installation, and generally disappointing

Especially with ultra-low current LED sets, the investment is not worth the risk.

What should I do?

Unfortunately, not too much can be done at the end of a run when there are still a few inches of Christmas lights left. Wind them up, secure the coil with electrical tape, and tuck the rest of the string of lights out of the way. Zip ties can come in handy at times like these.

Jump between the windows?

Visually disguise the lightbulbs messing up your perfect rectangular window vibe, but hide them with a few quick turns of electrical tape.

18 AWG wire and bulbs

Cables and bulbs wired in parallel have the advantage of being able to be tailored to fit due to their constant voltage and varying current configuration.

These are light cords and bulbs as shown in these categories.

Work with a master electrician and trim your string to fit with the correct termination.

Ordinary termination may include:

Attaching a female Gilbert connector to the end of the cable

Dipping the end into a type of product known in the trade as “liquid electrical steel”.

Wrap the end of the cable with electrical tape

The best help you can find with this is the professional assistance of an electrician.

How to use a tape to starter lead connector

1: This is the tape-to-starter cable connector for one color. The RGB connector looks the same, although it has 4 colored wires.

2: Cut the LED tape along the cutting line with scissors. The cutting line is indicated by a small scissors icon on most LED strips. If it isn’t, you can easily find the intersection as it’s a line between 4 solder pads (or 8 for RGB). The intersection points vary for LED tape, they are every 3 LEDs for 12V and every 6 LEDs for 24V.

3: Now take your starter wire connector tape and your new piece of cut LED tape

4: Open the connector

5: Slide the connector over the LED tape, making sure the 3m self-adhesive tape has been removed and that the wires match the + and – printed on the LED tape. Red goes to + and black goes to –

6: Close the connector cover, making sure the LED strip is tight to the end

7: Wire the starter cable connector to a transformer or simply extend it with a terminal block. Your LED strip should now work

Q: Can I cut LED light bars? Where do I cut LED light bars?

A: As an LED strip light has a fixed length and it is not always possible to always buy strip lights in a suitable length, users have often asked if a strip light can be cut to a fixed length. In fact, there are many brands and products of LED strip lights, so whether a strip light can still be used normally after cutting is not a question that can be answered in general. It really depends on the specific product. In general, if the light strip has a cutting line, it can be cut; If it doesn’t, it’s best not to cut it.

Part 1. How to Cut LED Strip Lights

Part 2. How to Fix LED Strips After Cutting

Part 3. Using LED Strips After Cutting

Part 1. How to Cut LED Strip Lights

Before you cut light strips, please make sure the strip you bought can be cut; otherwise the light strip may become unusable due to cutting; At the same time, you must remember to disconnect the power supply. Directly cutting a light bar connected to a power supply is extremely dangerous.

Step 1. Measure the length

If the LED strip light you bought is too long, you need to cut off the excess part. The first thing you should do is measure the right length. If you accidentally cut the strip too short, your effort will be for nothing.

Step 2. Look for the scissors logo on the light strip

For the convenience of users, manufacturers have placed a scissor logo on the cuttable portion of their LED light bars. To avoid damage, you need to find the scissors logo before cutting.

Step 3. Cut with scissors

The last step is to use your scissors and cut off the excess strip along the spot marked by the scissors logo. Accidentally cutting diagonally can cause the light to stop working, so be sure to cut straight.

Part 2. How to Fix LED Strips After Cutting

Q: I bought a LED strip and used part of it, but I want to use the remaining part as well. Is that possible?

A: If the LED strip light you bought can be cut, the remaining part you cut off can no longer be used. If you want to reconnect them after cutting, you need to use an extra 4-pin connector to reconnect. However, if the operation is not correct when cutting and connecting, it may also cause the light strip to stop working properly. We therefore advise you to check the length of the strip before cutting it and avoid having to rejoin it after cutting.

If you need to reconnect LED light strips after cutting, you will need an extra 4-pin connector. In general, this product is not included in a LED strip light kit and must be purchased separately.

Step 1. Buy Lepro 4 pin LED strip light connector

There are many types of light bar connectors, so you need to choose the right one based on the type of light bar. If your light strip is 10mm wide, the 4 pin connector you choose must be suitable for 10mm. If your lightstrip is 8mm wide and you buy a 10mm plug it won’t work. However, the 4-pin connectors are the most commonly used. The Lepro 4 pin light bar connector pack includes 5 pieces of L-shaped and 5 pieces of line-shaped connectors, which are suitable for connecting 90° corners as well as extending along a straight line, which can be used in almost all occasions.

Step 2. Open the connector

If the connector has a cover, you need to open the connector on the side.

Step 3. Insert the light strip into the connector

Insert the two cut ends of the LED light strip into the connector’s mounting clips. At this point you should check that they are not swapped by following the picture instruction.

Step 4. Cover the connector

After placing the light strip, close the connector cover and try to see if the light strip lights up normally after the power is connected. If the connected parts do not light up normally, try adjusting the connection point between the connector and the light strip.

In general, it’s a bit of a hassle to reconnect the strip after cutting. Not only do you have to buy additional plugs, but any improper operation can also render the strip unusable. So it is best to pay attention to the right length and avoid waste.

Part 3. Using LED Strips After Cutting

Q: Will a cut LED light strip still work?

A: Some light strips can be cut to a specific length and will continue to work. However, they must be cut according to the cutting mark. There are some tiny and precise parts on LED light strips. Accidentally cutting in the wrong place may cause the light to stop working normally.

After you cut the light strip, you can put the necessary parts in the right position and turn on the lights by following these steps. The following steps use Lepro LED light bars as an example:

Step 1. Make sure the wall is dry and clean

If you need to install the light strip on a wall, please clean the wall first. If the wall is dusty or wet, you cannot install the LED light strip properly.

Step 2. Paste the LED light strip

After cleaning the wall, you can tear off the cover of the 3M super glue behind the light bar and stick it where you want.

Step 3. Connect the LED light strip

If you bought a LED strip light kit, it should come with a connector and a controller. You should use the connector to connect the light strip and the controller. Pay attention to the front and back when connecting the light bar and connector. If the light strip is inserted the wrong way round, it will not work properly.

Step 4. Plug in the power and turn on the LED light strip

The final step is to connect the controller to power and you should see the LED light strips are on.

If after performing the above steps you find that the LED light strip still does not light up, please check if there is no connection problem. If the setup is normal, it means the light strip may have been damaged during the cutting process. So be careful and always cut according to the logo on the strip.

If your LED light strips aren’t working, this guide may be what you need. Light strips will not work if there is a faulty connection or wiring between two sections of the strips. These faulty connections can impede the flow of electricity and disable other workbars that are connected to the faulty bar.

The best way to fix this problem is to replace the bad section with a new working strip. This guide will walk you through the steps to replacing your broken light strips. You will learn how to identify which strip needs to be replaced and how to remove that strip from the working strip. You will also see how to replace and reconnect the two working strips so they are attached and working properly.

The rejoining of the strips is completed by soldering the two working strips together through their respective joints.

If you are unfamiliar with soldering, you should read another guide on soldering basics first. It’s called “How to Solder and Desolder Connections”.

Before beginning this guide, remember to turn off the power to the strips you are processing.

PROBLEM: MY LEDS ARE VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH – ALMOST LIT

Reason:

This problem has two possible causes. Either (A) you have a 24V power supply connected to 12V LED strips. Or (B) there is a “short” along the strip – in other words, the solder has gone across the board somewhere and +ve and -ve are touching, shorting the circuit. Or if you have an output cable, the +ve and -ve outputs can touch.

If option A is true and 24 volts go to a 12v strip, the strips will still work. They will indeed be brighter than they should be since you are going through twice the power. The problem, however, is that this will damage the LEDs very quickly (usually within hours) and can pose a fire hazard.

The same goes for option B: if +ve and -ve and touch somewhere, the strips will fail within hours and LEDs will be damaged. You can even smell burning and this could pose a fire hazard.

Solution:

If you have a 24v power supply for 12v strips you can fix this by purchasing a 12v power supply or you can find a converter that will convert 24v down to 12v (this would be between the power supply and the strip switched).

If you have a “short” you need to thoroughly inspect each individual part of the strip up close and see if solder goes across the connections. If this is the case you can either resolder or just split the solder with a Stanley knife so that +ve and -ve are no longer touching.

Video guide:

Whether you want to illuminate your kitchen cabinets or backlight your TV, there is a solution for everything with LED strips. Popular for their versatility, LED strips consist of a series of LED emitters installed on a narrow, flexible circuit board.

There is only one reason for concern. Most LED strips come in long rolls ranging in length from 3 feet to 16 feet. Do they continue to work if they are shortened?

Yes, LED strips will continue to work after cutting as long as you cut along the intended lines. LED strips are made up of multiple individual circuits, so each cut line marks the end of one circuit and the beginning of a new one. If you cut somewhere else on the LED strip, that circuit and possibly the entire strip will no longer work.

Cutting along a straight line sounds easy enough, right? You’d be surprised how many people get it wrong and destroy perfectly good lights in the process.

Read on for an easy-to-follow guide on how to cut LED strips, rejoin two separate pieces, and what to do when things go wrong.

Can you cut LED strips?

When it comes to LED strips, there is no one size fits all, but whether you need flexible or rigid, monochromatic or RGB, waterproof or non-waterproof lights, most LED strips have one thing in common… they can be cut to custom lengths.

There are straight or dotted black lines at regular intervals above each LED strip.

Circuits are completely closed at these locations, so these are the safest spots to cut your LEDs without causing damage.

These cutting lines are different on each LED strip. As a rule of thumb they are usually present every 3 LEDs. So if there are, for example, 30 LEDs per meter, the cutting lines will usually be every 10 cm.

There should be copper solder pads on either side of the black cut line, forming a symmetrical looking pattern. Finding these copper pads is a handy tip to ensure you’ve correctly identified the cutting line.

Will both sides still work after you cut them?

The short answer is yes, both sides of your LED strips will work once you cut them.

The reason lies in the intersections. As I said earlier, the intersection represents the safe place to break the circuit without permanently damaging it.

Each section between the cut points is its own circuit, so it doesn’t matter which cut point you choose as long as that’s the only place you make the cut.

This is definitely good news as you no longer create waste and can still reuse your second half.

How to safely cut strips of light

Adjusting the length of your LED strip lights is relatively easy. Here is my step-by-step guide.

Start by testing your lights to make sure they work. This may seem obvious, but in most cases cutting or soldering bulbs will void your warranty, so it’s better to double-check.

Next you need to determine how long your LED strip needs to be. To do this, you should measure where you want the lights to go. Do this as accurately as possible. Then choose the cutting line on your LED strip that is closest to this dimension length.

Using a sharp knife or scissors, cut precisely along the cutting line. Take your time and remember that LED strips are designed to be cut so you don’t get a shock.

You also need to decide how to connect the strip to the power source. Most reels come with a socket pre-fitted, but shortening the LED strip eliminates this, requiring you to fit a new one.

You can choose to solder a new socket onto the strip or use a strip power source connector (Amazon).

Can you reconnect a cut LED strip?

What happens if you cut the strip too short? Can the two parts be reconnected or do you have to buy a new strip?

Provided you cut along the intended cutting line, LED strips can be reconnected, but more on that later. There are many approaches you can take to reconnect the two strip lights.

The easiest way is to use a plug. Connectors are available from retailers, as is this set on Amazon, and they come in a variety of shapes, namely right angle and T-tap.

How to reconnect cut strip lights

Here is the very short guide, but I have an in-depth article that answers everything about connecting LED strips, so be sure to check it out.

Strip connectors are generally the easiest solution as they do not require tools. Start with a knife to cut off the translucent plastic covering the copper pads.

Then simply insert the strip into the connector, making sure the components match.

The second method is to solder directly onto the strip with a soldering iron and use old wires. Melt the solder directly onto the copper dots to form a small puddle and align the polarity.

The black wire should line up with the negative mark, and the red line should line up with the positive mark.

Use wire strippers to strip about half an inch of casing from the end of your wires. Twist the end of the wire to connect any frayed ends and attach the wires to the solder puddles.

Once connected you can plug your strip lights into a power source and check that they work. Voila! As simple as that.

Troubleshooting: LED strip not working after cutting

Adjusting the length of your LED strips may sound straightforward, but mistakes can happen.

If your LEDs don’t work after cutting, check if your lights are rated for cutting.

If they weren’t but you cut them anyway, then unfortunately the damage is done. With these lights, the electrical circuit is continuous the entire length, so cutting it would have caused permanent damage.

If your strip should be cut, the second action is to check that you cut in the right place.

If you cut outside the cut line, that single circuit will be destroyed, requiring you to cut back to the next cut line.

There are also some other issues you may notice, but they’re not directly related to the cut, but rather when you’re connecting strips together.

If your LED strip setup works but has a different shade of brightness at each end, you will experience a voltage drop.

In general, 12V LED strips should be no longer than 10 feet and 24V LED strips should be no longer than 15 feet. Voltage dips can be prevented by reducing the stripping length per power supply.

Alternatively, if your RGB LED strips are not changing color, this suggests that you misaligned the polarities when connecting them. To improve this, simply flip your strip over and plug it back in.

last words

There you have it! LED strips can be customized to meet the needs of any installation, no matter how big or small.

No wonder, then, that they are quickly becoming the most popular form of LED lighting.

If you’re still unsure, it’s possible to have LED strips cut by a professional, but if you follow my guide I promise you have nothing to fear.

Have you ever tried cutting LED strips? Do you prefer to use a soldering iron or connectors? I’m curious which solution is more popular, so please leave a comment below.

LEDs or “Light Emitting Diodes” are becoming increasingly popular for lighting purposes in homes and businesses. Compared to conventionally used incandescent and halogen lamps, LEDs are clearly superior in that they require little electricity, have a very long service life, generate hardly any heat and are easy to control and program.

Buying LED strip lights may seem easy at first, but in fact there are many different factors that buyers need to consider to ensure they are getting the right lights for their needs.

Reasons to choose LED strips

You’re obviously interested in LED strips (who wouldn’t be?), but do you know how awesome they are? Before we get into the gist of the types you can choose from, let’s examine why so many people choose to use them for lighting in the first place.

energy efficiency

LEDs are incredibly energy efficient compared to all other forms of lighting. In fact, on average, they require only 10% of the power of a similarly bright traditional incandescent bulb. This can and will mean significant savings on your electricity bill and a quick return on your initial investment.

longevity

LEDs have incredibly long expected lifespans compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting. With an average life expectancy of around 50,000 hours, LED strips will still burn brightly 17 years from now, long after their traditional counterparts have become obsolete.

With strip lights, it is important to ensure their longevity. Installing with aluminum LED profiles helps them achieve their maximum lifespan as they act as a sink to dissipate potentially harmful heat.

Profiles also allow you to optimize the wide 120° beam angle of your LED strips, ensuring you achieve just the right light placement for your installation. In addition, a properly chosen diffuser allows you to have a perfect quality of light for the eye.

Convenience

For your convenience, each type of LED strip is available as part of an LED strip light kit. Each comes complete with a roll of LED strips ranging from 1 meter to 5 meters in length, a dedicated 12 volt plug and play power supply and, in the case of the addressable LED strips, a compatible remote control.

Should your installation require a shorter length of LED strip, or you need to join different lengths together, you can cut them at clearly marked intervals using nothing more complicated than household scissors.

If you don’t want to go through this process yourself, remember that Wholesale LED Lights are the only company in the whole of the UK to offer their customers a free bespoke cutting service, so simply request one before completing your purchase.

LED strip lights require no soldering at all and instead rely on nifty little connectors. Not only do they ensure a secure and solid connection, but they also complete your installation and give it a professional, aesthetically pleasing look.

Factors that determine your choice

The first factor to consider when planning to buy LED strips is how exactly you are going to use them. This very much determines the type of LED strip you will buy.

ingress protection ratings

For example, LED strips with a high IP (ingress protection) rating are best suited for use in areas such as the bathroom, as they are much more waterproof than those with lower ratings.

Our highly IP-rated LED strips are protected by a silicone coating that effectively prevents dust and water ingress, but for a more in-depth look at the IP ratings and their individual specialty applications, take a look at the table below:

User guide for IP protection class IP20 Protected against solid objects larger than 12mm, but has no protection against water at all. It is mainly used under plinths and as cabinet lighting, as well as for general backlighting. IP44 IP44 rated LED strip light is fully protected against solid objects larger than 1mm and against light omnidirectional water splashes. It can be used for all indoor applications and also for certain outdoor applications. IP65 This is a splash proof LED strip, best suited for bathroom installation where it might be exposed to water and steam. Strips with this level of protection can also be used in the kitchen and for outdoor applications such as garden and patio lighting. IP67 This is a fully dustproof strip that can also be fully submerged in 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. This makes it the ideal level of protection for all outdoor applications. IP68/IP68 Nano This is commonly used for swimming pool installations as well as ponds and large aquariums. Ideal for unlimited water immersion up to a depth of 1.5 meters.

brightness

LED technology has advanced significantly in recent years, so that the small light-emitting diodes now produce a much brighter light than ever before. For certain applications, such as accent lighting, you may not even need particularly brilliant light.

Contrary to popular belief, light brightness is measured in lumens and not watts, so you need to consider the number of lumens each type of LED strip light can produce. This choice also depends a lot on how you intend to use your LED strips. As a general rule of thumb, you should therefore refer to the table below:

General Use Required Lumens per Meter Accent Lighting 150 – 250 Under Cabinet Lighting 175 – 450 Task Lighting (near source) 250 – 450 Task Lighting (distance from source) 350 – 700 Indirect Lighting 375 – 575 Signage 500 – 750

color requirements

Directly following the lumen count of each LED strip length is the color or choice of colors you need for your installation. This is where the diversity and versatility of LED strip lights really shows.

They come in many different varieties so you can find the type that perfectly suits your specific lighting needs.

Single Color – This comes in two voltages so you can opt for either 12v or 24v depending on the length you need, which are available in red, green, blue, pink and also warm (3000k), cool (6000k) . and daylight (4000K) white color temperatures, this LED strip light is ideal for all general lighting applications. From 4.8 W to 14.4 W, the light intensity of the band is determined by its power requirements.

Dual Tone – Equipped with sequential warm and cool white LEDs, this 4W strip light can be used in all domestic applications as well as a variety of commercial settings. At 1020 lumens, its light is equivalent to that of a traditional 80W incandescent bulb and uses only a fraction of the energy.

RGB Color 12V – This LED strip is available in 2W and 14.4W versions. Its color changing abilities have been used extensively in both domestic and commercial settings.

RGBW – This type of LED strip produces similar effects to the RGB mentioned above, only with the addition of cool or warm white options, allowing you to achieve a wider range of colors. Its amazing lighting effects are controlled by the RGBW LED remote control.

RGB Pixel Tape – The perfect product for use in any commercial application, it was used in the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Tablet & Gear in 2013. LED pixel tape has so many spectacular color-changing lighting features that it requires the dedicated 16-button LED pixel tape remote control to ensure you get the most out of them all.

The color temperature of your LED strips is an important consideration as it allows you to fine tune the ambiance of your space according to its function. This is particularly relevant with the non-addressable single color LED strip lights as they only come in single colors so getting it right the first time is a priority.

This table is intended to give you a basic overview of the different applications for each color temperature:

Color Temperature Application Warm White (3000K) Most people’s first choice for family and living areas like the living room and bedroom, has a soft, sociable quality that’s ideal for relaxing and socializing. Daylight White (4000K) The most natural color temperature, traditionally used for offices and study rooms but now finding its way into many living spaces. Cool White (6000K) Best suited to functional spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, it has a crisp, bright quality that’s great for task-oriented activities.

Should you require further assistance with the selection of your LED light strips, please contact one of our excellent Customer Service Advisors on 0116 321 4120. They will be happy to discuss your requirements with you and answer any questions you may have.

Visit our website at: https://www.wholesaleledlights.co.uk/ to see our full range of LED strips and also browse our hundreds of other LED products.

You are also welcome to email us at [email protected] at any time.