Understanding Strip Light Connectors
Strip light connectors are used to make electrical connections in a strip light system, which eliminates the need for soldering. Connectors were created to make the installation of strip lights more efficient and easy. Common applications of strip light connectors include connecting multiple strips, turning corners, adding wire leads, and jumping gaps and obstructions. It is important to select the correct strip light connector that matches the strip light, accessory specifications, and installation needs.
3 Types of Strip Connectors
Our solderless bite connectors pierce the strip light on the copper pills and create a permanent connection between the strip light and another strip light or system accessory. This makes them the premium option above the old style, door connectors. Door connectors are connectors with a hinged door that makes a connection when closed. This is not preferred as it creates an unreliable connection. The most expensive option for strip light connectors are Terminal Block connectors which give a reusable connection that can be changed.
Solderless Pigtail Bite Connector
Pigtail Bite Connectors are used for connecting strip lights and extension wires to power supplies, controllers, and other system accessories. This is the most popular type of connector that is used.
Flexibility and connectivity of the Pigtail Connector:
- Speed and cleanliness of installation
- Secureness of connection
- Lengthen strip lights
- Allows branching out multiple strip lights in different directions
- Allows connectivity between strip lights, power supplies, and controllers.
Solderless Jumper Bite Connector
Jumper Bite Connectors can be used for connecting two strips, jumping cabinet ledges, and rounding corners. They come standard with a 6” wire length.
Flexibility and Connectivity of Jumper Connectors:
- Bridge/jump gaps and obstacles between cabinets (for example, Jumpers are perfect for under cabinet installations)
- Allows for changing of directions and orientation of your strip light
- Speed and cleanliness of installation
- Secureness of connection
Solderless Splice Bite Connector
Spice Bite connectors are used to connect two strips directly together. The most common use for these is to repair a broken section of a strip or to connect two pieces of strip back together when an accidental cut is made. There are three different types that each have their own specific applications. The general Spice Connector, T Spice Bite connector, and Angle Spice Connectors.
Flexibility and Connectivity of Splice Connectors:
- Fix/mend existing systems
- Use remnants to build a new system
- Speed and cleanliness of installation
- Secureness of connection
Installation Process
- Safety first. Turn off the power to the strip light by unplugging or disconnecting it from its power source.
- After you turn off your lights, the first thing you do is cut your strip light in a straight line, through the middle of the copper pads.
- After you have cut your strip lights align the two sections and slide the first section of strip lights into the connector.
- Now the polarity and installation processes are different for the types of connectors:
- Use a Pigtail Connector to add wire leads to the end of your strip light and Jumper Connector to add a wire jump between strip lights. For the Pigtail and the Jumper connectors, the single color version of strip lights has red wire leads that correspond to the V positive and black wire leads that correspond to the V negative. For the RGB, RGBW, and CCT strip lights, black corresponds to V positive and the other colors correspond to V negative.
- Use a Splice Connector for connecting two strip light ends. Make sure to match the polarity on the strips match up (ensure that + is equal to +, and – is equal to -).
To install the basic splice connector, insert each end of the strip lights into the ‘mouth’ sides of the connector and use pliers to compress the connector until it “bites” the strip. Note: You can still only run the strip at the same maximum run length. Make sure that all of the teeth are compressed fully, this ensures a tight and secure electrical connection.
The proper installation of the T Splice connector is to insert the L series strip all the way through the vertical section of the T connector. Then feed the additional strip through the horizontal part of the T connector. Be mindful that copper pads on the horizontal strip light cannot be in the gap in which the vertical strip light will be fed. They cannot touch, if the copper pad and the vertical strip light touch, then it will cause an electrical short.
Required Tools:
- A sharp pair of scissors: For precisely cutting the strip.
- Parallel jaw pliers: While other pliers can work, parallel jaw pliers are recommended for the best grip and minimal damage to the parts.
- Connectors: These are designed for easy attachment to the LED strips. The bite connector "bites" into the strip light, making a sturdy and permanent connection. You can find these connectors here on our website. Make sure you choose the connector that correlates with the strip light you are fixing.
Practical Examples of Strip Light Connector Use
Jumper connectors are most commonly used in cabinet strip light installations. One thing to consider during this type of application is the limitation of the wire length on this connector.
Pigtail connectors are mostly used in applications in which you need to split one strip light into varying lengths to use in one or multiple projects. For example, a pigtail connector is perfect for a stair strip light installation when a lot of short-length strip lights need to be connected together.
Splice connectors are most commonly used in applications in which you mis-cut a strip light, and need to mend it back together. Splice connectors are very common to allow you to use your strip light ruminates from past projects. For an angel splice connector, a common application for it is when you have to cut a 90-degree corner during an installation. The T Splice connector is most commonly used for outlying objects, such as windows, doors, and walls.
Choosing the Right Connector for Your Needs
Mending or joining strip light sections
Splice bite connectors are commonly used to mend strip lights together.
Connecting controllers and accessories
Pigtail bite connectors are commonly used to connect controllers and accessories.
Straight connections for lighting runs
Common applications for the jumper bite connectors are undercabinet lighting, stairway lighting, and deck lighting.
T-shaped connections
T-Splice Connectors allow you to join two sections of LED strip lights to create a clean, T-shaped junction without soldering.
90-degree corners and perimeter lighting
90 Degree Strip Light Connectors make it easy to create clean, professional corners without bending or damaging your LED strip lights. These connectors are commonly used for perimeter lighting or corner lighting.
Bite connectors provide a simpler and safer alternative than soldering, especially for non-waterproof and standard LED strip lights. These connectors, pigtail, jumper, and splice, are ideal various applications such as cabinet installs, stairs, and corners. By understanding the different connectors and their functionalities, you can choose the right solution for your specific needs, ensuring a secure and efficient installation of your LED strip light system.
