Soft and unobtrusive illumination of two-level ceilings or furniture has now become very popular in Russia. Moreover, it is not difficult to perform it: you just need to purchase an LED strip and an adapter for it. However, at the installation stage, novice masters may have difficulties. If the kit comes with a connector - good. But what if it is not there or the long ribbon is cut into 2 parts of the right size? In today's article, we will talk about how to solder the wires to the LED strip to connect it to the power supply or connect it to another part of the strip.
Basic rules for the production of work, necessary materials
To solder the LED strip, as in any other case, you will need rosin, solder or flux. However, there are differences from the connection, for example, the usual twist. Here it is possible to use only a soldering iron of low power. Ideally, have a station withthe ability to adjust the temperature, but not everyone has such a device.
The temperature of the tip should be no higher than 320 ˚С, and the time of contact with the tape surface should be from 3 to 5 seconds. Otherwise, the tracks will start to burn and instead of benefit, such work will cause harm. It is better to fix the light strip itself on a hard surface with adhesive tape.
Getting started: tinning contacts
Before you solder the wires to the LED strip, preparatory work should be done. The main task on which the strength of the connection will depend is the correct tinning. Having carefully melted the rosin with a soldering iron, it is necessary to apply it to the sites with the thinnest layer. After that, solder is applied in the same way. In this case, you should be extremely careful not to overheat the LED strip. Similar actions must be performed with the stripped ends of the wires, which can be 2 or 4, depending on the type of strip.
Many people ask how to solder wires to LED strip without rosin. There are several options here. The most interesting way can be called the use of pine resin, which provides an excellent connection between the copper pad and tin. The option with thin solder is also very good, inside of which rosin is already contained. However, the best, although not always available, option is sulfuric acid. It is worth dwelling on this in a little more detail.
Features of the use of sulfuric acid
By itself, in its original form, it is unsuitable for soldering. First you need to turn it into a soldering one, which will not corrode the surface so much. Zinc tablets are used for this purpose. The algorithm of actions will be as follows.
Zinc is thrown into a glass vessel with concentrated sulfuric acid, which reacts with it. Tablets are added until the "boil" stops. Only after that the solution can be called soldering acid and used for its intended purpose. It is applied to the contact pad with a carnation or a thin screwdriver, after which you can immediately start tinning. The connections are extremely strong. Also, the ends of the wires are processed before tinning.
Now it's time to figure out how to properly solder the wires to the LED strip.
Soldering the ends to the pad
For a tight connection, you must be extremely careful. This work is not difficult, but it requires attentiveness and clarity of action: there is nothing to do with trembling hands. First, the tinned end of the wire is applied and pressed against the pad. After that, it is heated with a soldering iron tip for 3-5 s and cools down. This procedure is performed several times until a tight and high-quality connection becomes visually noticeable.
Important! Before soldering the wires to the LED strip, it makes sense to decide on the color markings of the wires. Preferablyso that it is red (plus) and black (minus). Otherwise, if several segments of the LED strip are switched to the power supply, the master may reverse the polarity. This is not dangerous, but it will be unpleasant if one of the several parts does not light up after laying under the ceiling.
The following video will show you how this work is done.
How to solder wires to LED strip in silicone
This work is practically the same as the previous version, with the exception of some points. To perform it, among other things, you will need a clerical knife and a heat shrink tube for subsequent waterproofing of the contacts.
First of all, the top layer of silicone is removed across the entire width for the length of the contact pads. This work should be done very carefully so as not to damage the LED strip. Then a piece of heat shrink 2-3 cm in size is put on it, which is pulled a little further so as not to interfere. Next, the usual soldering is performed, after which the tube is pulled back so that the contacts are exactly in the middle of the segment. It remains with the help of a hair dryer to “precipitate” the waterproofing material, which will tightly fit open areas and prevent moisture from getting inside.
RGB tape connection: nuances
Now it's time to figure out how to solder the wires to the 4 pin LED strip. If the home master has de alt with the previous options, then there will be no difficulties for him at all. The only nuanceit will be that wires of 4 colors are required (contact marking is indicated in brackets):
- red (R);
- green (G);
- blue (B);
- black (+V).
This eliminates the risk that the wires will be mixed up when switching with the controller. And here the point is not that the tape will not glow. It's just that when you turn on one color from the remote control, another will light up, and this is completely unacceptable.
In general, experienced craftsmen advise to always follow the color marking. After all, even if the fitter himself remembered the location of the wires and connected them correctly, where is the guarantee that tomorrow it will not be necessary to repair the backlight, and he will not be at home? Even a specialist will have to work hard to understand such switching.
Closing word
Know how to solder the wires to the LED strip, every self-respecting home master should know. After all, even if such an experience is not useful at home, someone else may always need help. For example, a pretty neighbor who lives in the same entrance.
