Scotch tape for LED strip
The commercially available tapes are a printed circuit board with LEDs attached to double-sided tape. Its free side, used for mounting, is protected by a smooth transport foil. High-quality models have 3M markings on it.
How to glue the LED strip:
- Marking is applied to a previously prepared surface.
- Soldered to the backlight contacts or using a connector connect wires, power supply; install a switch.
- Using a sharp object, separate the beginning of the tape from the protective film, release a 15-20 cm long section.
- Apply the LED strip to the surface and press firmly.
- Gradually freeing sections of the tape from the film, completely stick the tape along the marked trajectory. When making connections in the corners, they do not bend it, but use corner connectors or solder.
- Install the power supply in a convenient place protected from moisture.
If, when removing the protective film, the conductive paths are exposed, it is necessary to apply a substrate made of electrical tape to this place. Otherwise, there will be a short circuit when connecting.
The tape should be precisely applied to the markings. If it is incorrectly positioned, the adhesive tape loses its properties after disconnecting. Reattaching it firmly will be problematic.
To consolidate the information presented, we recommend watching the video, the author of which shows by example how to mount an LED strip on a plasterboard ceiling (GKL). By the way, with this method, the power supply can be hidden under the ceiling.
Where to hide the LED strip
Depending on the type and shape of the base on which the LED strip is attached, it can be hidden in several ways.
- Ceiling. LEDs are mounted in the ceiling plinth or plasterboard cornice. So that the tape is not visible, it is laid to a depth of at least 2 cm.If stretch ceilings are installed, first fix the backlight and lay the wires, and then stretch the canvas.
- Walls. To hide the tape in the wall, make a niche in the form of a drywall box. Low-power models are attached directly to the surface of a niche, for powerful ones, an aluminum profile should be used.
- Furniture. LED lighting can be attached to any cabinet furniture in the living room or bedroom, kitchen set. It is glued to the base of hanging cabinets, inside sideboards or cabinets with glass doors, highlighting their contents. To organize decorative lighting, it is glued to the top of the furniture.
- Ladders. You can focus on the stairs in a multi-storey building with the help of LED lighting. It is laid under the steps or in the recesses in the railing.
A hidden ribbon with diffused light complements the main lighting, creates backlighting in the dark, focuses on decorative elements or is used for zoning a space.
What to do if the LED strip comes off
Depending on the length of the unsticked area, you can apply one of the following methods:
- If the length of the sagging section is insignificant, without violating the general structure, it is fixed with superglue.
- If a significant piece of tape is detached, the entire structure must be re-glued. To do this, it is better to use durable 3M adhesive tape.
The tape is re-glued in the following sequence:
- neatly dismantle the LED backlight;
- the base is cleaned of the remnants of old glue;
- a new double-sided tape is glued to the surface of the cleaned area;
- release the tape from the protective film and secure the tape in place.
With the correct implementation of the procedure and the use of high-quality tape, a stable and durable fastening of the LED strip is ensured.
Installation of LED strip does not require special skills. It is easily attached to its own tape base. The use of additional techniques and inexpensive materials will ensure high reliability of fixation. Effectively glue the backlight using an aluminum profile, using adhesive tape and superglue together.
Installation of LED backlighting often becomes a problem. the surfaces on which you want to install the tape are not suitable for regular fastening using their own sticky layer. Some types do not have it at all, requiring other methods of fixation. In such situations, many users do not know how to glue the LED strip, what means can be used for this, and what it is better to refuse. Let’s try to figure it out together.
220V tape sticker
Models rated for 220 V are produced without an adhesive backing and are placed in a sealed enclosure. They heat up during operation, so they are not recommended for indoor use. Used to organize outdoor lighting of buildings in well-ventilated areas.
You can attach such a model in one of three ways:
- mounting on an aluminum profile using clamps;
- fixing with fastening pads, clips, studs;
- gluing on double-sided tape.
For attachment to adhesive tape, it is cut into strips 3-5 cm long.One side is glued to the canvas after 5-7 cm.Then, the structure, separating the free surface of the adhesive tape from the protective film, is fixed in the required place.
When using a 220 V LED strip outdoors, the most reliable option is clip fastening.
What to do if the LED strip comes off
Replace the peeled LED strip. Usually they act according to the following scheme:
- Determine the size of the detached area.
- A suitable bonding method is selected. Consideration should be given to the possibility of subsequently disconnecting the backlight in other places so as not to carry out the same work several times. It may be easier to immediately re-glue it along its entire length.
- The supporting surface is inspected, cleaned of dust, if necessary, covered with a primer or paint.
- A strip of double-sided tape (or dotted adhesive composition) is applied to the prepared area. Stick the tape and press it to the surface for a strong bond.
- The process is repeated in other problem areas, achieving a reliable and durable fixation of the backlight.
The choice of the connecting material is made based on the conditions for mounting the backlight, the state and material of the supporting structures.
Installation safety
Work safety plays an important role. It is worth remembering that working with electricity requires certain skills and knowledge! If the LED strip is powered by a power supply or driver, then the risk of electric shock is minimized.
It is also worth remembering about fire safety. Do not attach the LED strip to the wallpaper, use a profile for installation. Why is this necessary, I explain. The LED strip heats up during operation, depending on the power. Some specimens heat up to 70 degrees. Paper exposed to this temperature may break down and burst into flames. A metal profile or at least a plastic one will already take over most of the temperature and dissipate it into heat.
It is worth remembering that the LED profile protects the tape from possible mechanical damage.
Most tapes used for home mounting are fragile. It is worth taking good care of it at the time of installation, especially on the ceiling. The best solution is to have a second person help you. mounting under the ceiling is a difficult task and second hands, and even third hands will not interfere.
LED strip 220 volts
LED strips for 220 volts are made from SMD 3528, 2835, 3014, 5050, 5630 LEDs and are of several types, differing in the chip installation scheme. The main difference from 220 V products is the cutting rate of 0.5, 1 or 2 meters. The number of diodes in one segment varies between 30-120 pieces. You can cut a piece from such a tape with scissors along the dotted lines.
VLUU L100, M100 / Samsung L100, M100
How to properly cut an LED strip: regular, unmarked, with waterproofing
The LED board is made of pieces that can be used as independent light sources. When connecting, it is important to know how to cut the LED strip if the entire product does not fit the installation site. For this, there are most often marks on the board, the length of the segments depends on the model. You can cut the source to the required length with scissors or a sharp knife.
How to cut correctly
Each Led strip has many short blocks on which the number of chips and resistors is set, depending on the model. LEDs are transparent or white, current limiters are black. There is usually a mark between the blocks (dashed line and the image of scissors) along which the strip can be cut.
How To Cut and Connect the RGB LED strip(12v) | cut and connect SMD 5050 LED Strip 2020
Attention! If there are no marks on the front side, inspect the wrong side.
On a thin strip, it is more convenient to make a cut with sharp scissors. An exception is boards installed in a silicone tube. You need to cut off between the two contact pads. When offset, it is difficult to solder wires to connect to other lengths or power supply.
On the LED strip, every 50 cm there are joints in which the individual blocks are overlapped. It is not advisable to cut the tape in these places (the contact pads are too small). If it is nevertheless necessary to cut off, the scissors must be replaced with a soldering iron (unsolder the joint).
Conventional 12V LED strip
The 12 V LED strip consists of blocks on which 3 diodes are installed (in 24 V products. 6 diodes). This means that they can be cut into very short pieces. The product is cut strictly along the dotted lines with sharp scissors.
Important! If this condition is not met, individual units will not burn, and it will be impossible to connect them. The damaged area will have to be cut off and thrown away.
You can cut off from the board from SMD 335 and DIP into pieces consisting of 3 diodes.
If there is no marking
Visually, the contact pad looks like an extension of the strip along the edge of the board. It is located across the tape and is found on all products. You need to cut in these places, focusing on the middle of the contact pads.
Sometimes there are LED strips on which the contact pads are located on the side of the substrate.
In a silicone tube
Products with an IP68 degree of protection are placed in a silicone tube. Before cutting one or more blocks, the silicone is removed. A cut is made with a knife (scissors stretch the material unevenly), the tube peels off from the ends. Sharp scissors are used to cut the strip, ring-shaped silicone connectors are used to connect.
How to connect pieces of LED strip
LED strips with various designs are increasingly used in lighting and backlighting systems. In addition to the problem of how to cut off, self-assembly requires a solution to the connection problem. The most reliable way is soldering, but not everyone has a soldering iron, not everyone knows how to handle it. Most are looking for a more affordable and simpler method. Most commonly used 2, 4 and 5 pin connectors.
Important! Models for 12 and 24 V strips are not suitable for 220 V products.
Advantages of using connectors (compared to soldering):
- low cost;
- easy installation;
- eliminating the need to buy a soldering iron, solder and flux.
The disadvantages include:
- the inability to use if necessary in a large current for LED chips;
- instability to oxidation;
- use for the manufacture of non-heat-resistant plastic.
The main criterion for choosing connecting elements is the width of the flexible board. For example, SMD 5050 models will not fit SMD 3528 products.
According to the connection method, the connectors are divided into:
- hold-down
- with a latch;
- piercing.
When connecting, slide the plate into the clamping connector and insert the strip until it stops. Contact is made after the plate is slid into place. The advantages of such a connector are small dimensions in height and width. The disadvantage is the inability to see the density and reliability of the contact.
Models with a latch solve this problem, although they also have disadvantages:
- connector pads do not always fit snugly enough to the board contacts;
- at high power, the contacts melt;
- for products with high current cannot be used.
The most advanced piercing connectors, on one side of which there are contacts for tape (for connecting to power), on the other for wires. Models available for open and insulated boards. When connecting the segments, the end of the segment is inserted into the connector; there is a cover or transparent plastic for pressing. The pins pierce the board to form a secure contact. You cannot pull out the strip, the state of the contacts is visible through the cover.
Important! Regardless of the type of connector, the board contacts must be cleaned to a shine. When connecting the segments, it is important not to mix up the polarity.
Common mistakes when using connectors:
- varnish on contact pads;
- bent connector leg;
- wrong bandwidth;
- tape is not pushed in all the way.
If the product is waterproofed, you need to remove the silicone above the contact pads and the tape from the back.
Such a tape enters the connector hard, since the silicone on the sides and glue on the reverse side interfere.
The connector cannot be closed if the contact pad is too close to the chips. In such a situation, individual blocks from the tape can be cut off not along the dotted mowing line, but leaving 2 contacts. But one segment will have to be thrown away.
If there is no marking
Visually, the contact pad looks like an extension of the strip along the edge of the board. It is located across the tape and is found on all products. You need to cut in these places, focusing on the middle of the contact pads.
Sometimes there are LED strips on which the contact pads are located on the side of the substrate.
Conventional 12V LED strip
The 12 V LED strip consists of blocks on which 3 diodes are installed (in 24 V products. 6 diodes). This means that they can be cut into very short pieces. The product is cut strictly along the dotted lines with sharp scissors.
Important! If this condition is not met, individual units will not burn, and it will be impossible to connect them. The damaged area will have to be cut off and thrown away.
You can cut off from the board from SMD 335 and DIP into pieces consisting of 3 diodes.
Coated with silicone
Silicone coated strips may not be marked on the front surface. Installation diagram of LED chips and tracks is located on the back side.
Silicone can be applied to one or both sides of the board. Since the design of the LED strip is the same as the standard one, after removing the silicone, the blocks can be cut with a knife (scissors can damage the contact pads).
- outline the place of the cut;
- remove silicone;
- cut off the required number of blocks;
- prepare the ends for installing the connector or soldering.
After connecting the segments, it is necessary to isolate the areas of the contact pads.
How to properly cut a diode tape with waterproofing
To shorten the LED board with waterproofing, the silicone must be peeled off with a knife. This must be done carefully so as not to damage diodes and other circuit elements.
RGB color tape
The device of RGB and RGBW LED boards differs little from the design of a single-color LED strip. The difference lies in the number of paths that carry current (there are four or five on the multicolor strip). On the contact pads, the markings are “R”, “G”, “B” and “-” (on the RGBW strip “R”, “G”, “B”, “W” and “-“). You can cut a piece from such a strip in the same way as from a monochrome one. along the dotted lines.
When connecting to a power source and connecting stubs, it is important to connect each channel to a matching color pad. If this condition is violated, the light source will fail due to the difference in the power parameters of each color.
How to Install, Cut & Connect LED Strip Lights
How to connect a cut LED strip?
If you have two segments, you can connect together without much effort. There are two ways to splice led backlight:
- Soldering.
- Applications of led connector.
In the first case, you can connect individual segments to each other through additional wires, or by directly soldering the contact pads of each of the segments. Consider a wireless splice.
Before applying rosin to the contacts, make sure that they are not oxidized.
Rosin can be applied to contact pads that have not been oxidized. In this case, both the platform on which the LEDs are located and the surface under the protective film applied to the back of the tape must be able to process. For high-quality splicing of segments, the thickness of the solder should be at least 3 mm on each segment of the backlight.
The total length of the spliced tape should not exceed 5 meters.
The input voltage is calculated by the manufacturer only for the illumination of limited parameters. Its value will decrease with the formation of printed paths of greater length towards the end of the tape.
This will result in the LEDs at the end of the backlight being less bright than those closer to the power source.
The simplest connection method is to use a special connector. To attach an additional segment, the following sequence of actions should be performed:
- Open the cover of the device.
- Connect the backlight contacts, observing the polarity.
- Close the cover of the junction box.
The Basics of Correct Installation
In order not to face situations when the LED strip does not burn completely, you need to consider the basic installation rules:
- The minimum bending radius is 5cm. When you wrap the tape around thin tubes or corners, be prepared for damage. Thin conductors at its base do not withstand such deformations.
- Do not mount near high temperature areas. Partial failure of the LED strip can occur because there is a heating battery or other source of heat nearby.
- Dense installation of tape with a power of more than 10W per meter is prohibited! Although LEDs have a high efficiency, more than half of their power is converted into heat.
It must be remembered that when you assemble a lamp with powerful tapes, for example, white 5050 60 led / m, which has 14.4 W per meter, you should not glue its strip to the strip or wind the coil to the coil. Make a gap of at least one strip thickness.
After installation, turn it on and let it run for at least a couple of hours, periodically checking the temperature. If the hand starts to burn, i.e. has risen above 50 degrees. make the structure less frequent. For higher brightness, use 5730 (5630) rigid strip on aluminum base or other high-power LEDs.
Use connectors
If the power supply is in good order, you need to go on to inspect the connections. Once upon a time, the masters made all the connections of the LEDs using a soldering iron. Soldering is a high-quality and reliable contact. But as tapes spread, connectors for them began to spread too.
This is a convenient and quick way to mount LED backlighting. It is necessary to attach the contact pads of the tape to the elastic contacts of the connector and close the plastic case. Another advantage is the ability to quickly eliminate breakdowns.
But there are also disadvantages. These connectors are not watertight. This means that oxides can form at the point of contact, and they prevent the flow of current. Often this is why the LED strip does not work.
Protect all connections with electrical tape or heat shrink.