Soldering cable tails onto LED strip lights

Soldering cable tails onto LED strip lights is our recommended option, offering a neat, secure connection.  We can solder cable tails onto your LED strip for you however below is a brief example on how best to do this if you are a technically competent person and intend on soldering yourself. 

Tools needed: 

• Heat shrink tubing - correct width for specified LED strip 
• Heat gun
• Soldering Iron 
• Lead free solder with flux 
• Helping hands tool 
• Wire cutters/sharp scissors 
• Cable - based on LED strip specification 
• Correct size 12 or 24 volt power supply based on LED strip specification.

Soldering cable onto LED strip:

• Firstly, determine the designated cut points on the LED strip which are usually every 100mm, 50mm or 25mm all depending on which LED strip you are using - cut points are specified by the scissor symbol.  Only cut along the designated cut points, if the strip is cut anywhere else, this will result in some of the LEDS not working. 
• Cut using wire cutters or sharp scissors where needed.  
• Using the soldering iron, apply heat to the wires and pre-tin by adding  solder, this ensures an easier connection onto the LED strip. 
• Add some flux to the solder pads on the LED strip.
• Using the soldering iron, tin the solder pads on the LED strip. 
• Solder the cable to the LED strip, ensuring the wire is attached to the correct positive and negative points.
• Slide the heat shrink tubing over the connection area and apply gentle heat - do not use excess heat this could cause damage to the LED chips. 
• Using the correct power supply,  wire up you LED strip to test the connection. Important: Never allow the positive and negative connections to touch as this will short circuit and damage the first array of LEDS.  

    

Soldering cable tails onto LED strip lights should be carried out by a technically competent person.