For example, if you’re putting the light strip along the perimeter of a room that has 4 walls that are 12 ft (3. 7 m) in width, you would need a strip of lights that’s at least 48 ft (15 m) long. It’s best to purchase a light strip that’s a little bit longer than you need instead of one that ends up being a little too short.
You’ll likely need to spread the light strip out to measure it accurately if you’re not using the entire strand.
If your desired measurement doesn’t perfectly line up with marked cutting spots, you’ll still need to cut along the designated lines to ensure your lights work. The distance between the cut points will differ depending on the length of your light strip that you purchased. If your LED lights are super close together on the strip, you’ll likely have many more cut points available, while LED lights that are spread farther apart will have fewer cut points.
Be careful to only cut along the cut point, as cutting too close to the LED lights will prevent them from working.
If your LED lights are super close together, you won’t be able to use a fold-over connector because it won’t have enough space to close. If you’re not sure which strip connector to choose, look at the recommended strip connectors for the specific brand and type of strip light you’re using. A clip-on connector will slide right into the strip, while a fold-over connector will be a bit bulkier and have a flap that attaches over the strip.
For example, if your connector had 4 wires in blue, red, green, and black, you would align them with the connection dots labeled B, R, G, and 12V. If you only have two wires that connect to your strip, the strip will likely have a + and - sign on each side.
Make sure your connector isn’t inhibiting an LED light so that your strip will work correctly. With your strip lights connected to the wiring, you’re ready to plug in your lights.
Choose a room that has a fan that can turn on, or even opt to do your soldering outside.
Wash your hands after you finish to remove any lead left from the solder.
It doesn’t take a lot of solder—it should barely be visible on the wire.
Keep the small dot of solder on each separate contact point, being careful not to add too much solder where it all blends together. [13] X Expert Source Marvin WooLicensed Electrician Expert Interview. 31 January 2022.
Line the wires up so that the colors are matched correctly according to the labels on the light strip. It only takes a small dot of solder to attach the wires securely to the strip. Avoid heating the wires for too long, or you might ruin the LED lights. With your wires connected to the light strip, your lights are ready to be lit.
