How To Solder Led Strip Lights - How To Cut and Solder RGB LED Strip Lights

[@handover2528]

Just found this video. Thanks for making it. After soldering a couple of strips, I used a small Popsicle stick under the strip. Using the alligator clip to clamp both the stick and the strip together really stabilized it. Now I can put some real pressure on wire and strip and it won’t move away. I hope this helps somebody else.

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Great Idea, Thanks for Sharing!

[@axg275]

Thanks for sharing this top!

[@ryry7886]

I ended up taping the end of the LED strip to the edge of the unfinished back part of the mdf kick panel that i made for the speakers and leds I'm installing. It was not a part that i was worried about burning or anything like that. Sure wish i didn't waste 2 hours of my life burning up the edge of the LED strips tgough. I tried over and over...and over and over trying to put the soldering iron on the contacts of the strips. I put solder on the end of the wires first( I was half way there but had the exposed part of the wires stripped too far back) but not on the contacts. Its way way way easier to just dab a little solder on each contact and then marry the pre soldered connections together. I burnt like 4 led sections because the tin comes off the led connection as soon as it gets heat for an extended period of time. Way easier this way

[@galaxophone]

My family doesn't eat popsicles and I'm always finding a reason I want popsicle sticks around

[@agb123456]

The focus dude!

[@davidblah-7215]

OMG! LoL

[@Chris-kw6fs]

I concur!!!

[@galaxophone]

After wasting about 20 pixels and 5 connectors, this is the video I needed ^.^ Thanks for making it! Will report back after I try this technique.

[@kivenwalters7507]

Straight to the point and no extra unneeded vobab. Thanks for confirming it is possible to do, brother man.

[@rodhopkins1]

Man, I have been struggling with soldering the led lights. Thank you for making this video.

[@derekthomasgriffin]

Tip: I usually have my heat shrink already on there before connecting wires, especially if I’m going to have a long strip I won’t have to pull the shrink all the way to the solder job. Also, you can always put Heat shrink on your swan’s mouth, it will soften her teeth so she doesn’t damage your LED strip. Happy soldering, god bless my friends

[@JuanFernan-fm4ef]

Ya Ya, Ya f❤19

[@orangetracktvhotwheels6635]

Your a life saver, my soldering is now sticking and not falling off lol, thanks for the video!!!

[@isuckatgaming7225]

I want to take the time to say thank you, i check a lot of video and yours was by far the most helpful to me. I order some angle connectors and the seller send me wrong one.. so i decided to do it myself by soldering wires... never practice since i was kid.. better to tell that i am really bad at it, after watching your video its helped me a lot. For protection i did not use what i think you called heat and shrink, i only use glue gun for make sure that it goes between solder, because they were so horrible that i scare it touch each other and malfunction.. ok i finish writing my book.. so just thank you for this video.

[@ryry7886]

I sure as hell should have watched this video before i wasted 2 hours trying to wire those damn things up. Awesome time and headache saving video. Thank you sir.

[@egrstga255tga255]

Great video bro! Helped a lot!

[@delilahcrigger5927]

Really liked your video, I'm going to be trying to solder some led lights soon, so far most videos are full of useless info, yours seems to be to the point, never soldered anything before, I'll update after. Thanks again for the video.

[@guymross]

I’ve experimented with many different types of solder and soldering irons, and surprisingly, what works best for me is hiring an electrician.

[@pennytowner728]

You can test 2-3' of lights off of a 9v battery. Once my connections are tugged and tested for current I use liquid electrical tape to insure resistance remains between each, then I heat shrink. Another thing I found is that sometimes the silicone covering doesn't come off clean. A simple scrape with the flat of a razor blade tends to correct that. FYI, max length for 5050 wire is 30' to a line.

[@Default_089]

Ima need some glasses after this... Thanks for the tips

[@quentinrawlins4876]

Thank you,thank you soo much for explaining instead of just music and very vague if any communication...

[@Vendemiair]

Thanks for the video. Just a comment though, the alligator clip mount isn't helping too much because the strip is moving around while soldering, making precise soldering difficult. It's better to have weighed down the base of the DIY helping hands with a weight (like a heavy book), or better yet, just taped down the strip to the table. The flat shape of the strip makes it very easy to secure with just tape. One of the important things I learned during years of soldering is that soldering a moving piece is such a pain and the simple step of making it immovable/fixed helps greatly.

[@lukewarbey6102]

useful video, i suggest you, have a mic attached to you when u speak for clear audio, I also suggest you have your auto focus on the camera.

[@yamlcase230]

this youtuber needs more lav

[@ParkerHale06]

Thank's Wire Guy, very helpful

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Your Welcome Parker 🤙

[@RicardoMartinez-ne1re]

Thanks helped a whole lot I appreciate people like you

[@djlykaen]

Just did a few myself, quick tip to make sure nothings shorted out with a multimeter on continuity before putting on the heat shrink

[@jespero94]

What temperature do you use? I find it easier to tape the led strip to the table so it Will lie completely still and not move

[@BrianJohnston-z4k]

Just a quick thing I've found... soldering from the inside out is easier than across. If you solder the inside wires first (red and green), then you won't have to crossover the other wires to solder the other two.

[@jk12428]

Good stuff Dude! Thanks🌟

[@skepticalgenious]

😂 I have 6 rabbit's. So yeah they chewed my rgb led strip. Plus other pets in the past. I save so much by learning. Thank you sir

[@Mark1Mach2]

You seem like a cool dude man. I gotta explore your channel.

[@bikersoncall]

2:40 This is the part I came here for, separating the clear off of the copper, an entire video would be in order for this part, looks easy, but is far from it, lol. Still looking for someone to show us how to do this part the right way , whatever that might be.

[@PacoOtis]

Dude! Thanks for the video! We owe you a beer!

[@XInfinity2024]

Good video. What gauge of wire did you use?

[@hondatuner83]

Nice video. I like the way you did this. Super helpful vid bro. I'm going to try this technique today on an LED project I'm working on.

[@dontriskett8098]

Thanks man, great advice on the technique. This made my project so much easier!

[@EmpoIeon]

Thanks for the tutorial, Chad

[@billjones7608]

what temp is your iron set at?

[@shaquilletownsend5928]

Thanks for the help! It was easy to follow.

[@alanroyal8406]

Hi thank you for that information I am about to start wiring my Enterprise but haveing trouble finding a on of switch

[@robbiedukes3455]

Dude...I'm learning a lot from this video, so thanks. One thing tho...don't blow on the solder joint. Just like happen to you. The wire you had just soldered fell off. Cold joints....

[@OFCIFR]

I did, but they ended up shortcuiting each other, I threw the strip in the trash and bought others to practice, my biggest issue being that I need to make a u turn

[@misadventuresintechnology8940]

5:20 "Everyone needs a swan" Nice DIY helping hand bru. Very well done, some flux might help the solder flow better. I use a bit of kapton tape to mask off the spot is am soldering which eliminates solder bridges

[@misadventuresintechnology8940]

hey Elliott, I was able to fix my LED and make them go around the back of the TV in style using your technique . I cut an old VGA cable and repurposed the wires inside, perfect gauge for the LED solder pad Everyone does need a swan, that's for sure.

[@makmusikchi]

Question; The exposed wiring on the strip and under the heat shrink won’t short out if they make contact?

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Yes they will short if contact is made. Best to use glue-filled heat shrink to cover the contacts or silicon if the LED will be moving.

[@shawntittle2045]

Thanks much, I watched your video and did it. Success! Thanks much.

[@nicholashanson7795]

Can you fix a chewed up wire from led underglow lights? Wasn't sure If I can snip wires put back together an put black electric tape around them an put back together? Hope I can!!

[@christianrobinson9231]

Cheers man!! Great tip.

[@oxonomy2372]

How are these not shorting? It seems like you get the solder covering both the green and yellow pins at 5:03

[@AnthonyGoodley]

I would have first slid up pieces of heat shrink up each wire before soldering. Then slid them down over the solder joints to ensure each wire never shorted out with its neighbor. Not much more work and the odds of a short are greatly reduced.

[@frankreilly1956]

Great video, but for us who dont know was that battery a standard 12 volt like a car battery? Can a 9 volt work too?

[@neila9251]

probably but not as bright

[@SkipRoGlo]

What about the plastic coating over the copper connectors? Does the iron melt through it?

[@Pablo453]

It did on mine.

[@theodoreweidman]

Thanks for the video! I don’t solder much so it will help a lot. One thing I noticed in your video is the order of soldering when you did the second connection you had to go over the first one and inadvertently unsoldered the first. Wouldn’t it be better to start on the far side of the light strip so that you wouldn’t do this?

[@WireGuyGlobal]

That is a good observation. Yes I would agree with you. They can be temperamental, so sometimes the order doesn’t work out as planned .

[@sm8moto136]

Awesome Buddy!!

[@boomer8659]

Thanks bro! I’ve been looking for a simple how to solder rgb led strip tutorial. It was my first time using a soldering iron and this helped a lot. I feel your pain. I was going nuts with the led strips also haha. Good to go now. Take it easy.

[@MrPhantom302]

Hi Elliott , just So you video very kool . I know its been a while you made it . Where can I get that 4 wire you used or do you have something better now . Thanks

[@threeelancer]

What mm heat shrink gets around 10mm led strip with less give? Also get a little better mic? The audio mix is nice in the close up hands shots but the longer shots a bit tough to hear.

[@Snowaxe3D]

another way is to just tape the LED strip on the table or platform and then tape the wires on the opposite in a set position, and then all we need to do is solder both, by taping we remove the shaking part, This works best for me mostly because I don't have steady hands.

[@CyrusEpion]

Flux is your best friend. Grab some RMA and go nuts. Also the flux included in the core of some solder is not enough. The Flux core's only purpose is to get the solder flowing once heat is applied.

[@hardcorecopper4120]

If you don’t have heat shrink can you use electrical tape?

[@ruanvantonder2712]

Thanks. This was really helpful.

[@justarhum1320]

the start of the video looked like a workout vid

[@obe22099]

I see you love Ikea Lack tables so does the entire 3D printing community. You need to get a printing farm going and use each one as an enclosure. You can pimp it out with LED galore. Nice video btw.

[@WireGuyGlobal]

You’re on it! That’s a fantastic idea! I’ll look into doing something like that 👌

[@JuanLopez-du8ln]

Is it okay if there is solder already on it? Am I able to melt it away and put new solder?

[@mjmjersey]

Love your video just bought a Weller soldering station to do LED strip tape light I'm having a hard time with the four strips

[@islerenner]

Nice Swan bro. Cheers.

[@johnericksonvergara6676]

Can I ask a question, where did u connect the black wire?

[@neila9251]

'B' on the strip

[@ThatBartsim23]

The solder is not sticking to my let's pad. Any suggestions? I'm very new to this

[@Evermysticdesigns]

what temperature on soldering tool ? it heats through the wire instantly , something i cant get :(

[@alexbabcha]

Can you post a link to where I can get that 4 conductor wire? I've been looking for one for a while, all I see on Amazon is standard RGB 4 wire but it doesn't have that white cover over it.

[@mohitmorris]

love the focus of the camera!

[@AntcPanda]

I need help with a project. I need to convert a led with 4 wires to 3 wire connector. I got an electric scooter that had leds that had 3 wires. I want to install a led with controller but it has 4 wires.

[@albertwebber1153]

Oh - and here I thought my monitor needed glasses. :0)

[@possabilitiesunited648]

3:08 that looked like a pretty decent wood coffee table that you dripped your solder onto. I'm wondering, will that come back off okay, or is it pretty much going to leave a booger?

[@Aaravgaming298]

Sir can we use only one type of wire

[@drrrw]

I'm did all the steps and ideas you said but my led just turns into ball blobs and doesn't stick to the strip copper pads neither with the soldering iron.

[@Polarcaine]

What can I do if my solder keeps undoing itself when I slightly bend it.

[@NativeManDan]

Hey man. Nice video but my question is my RGB strip broke off from a weak solder point, instead of on the cut line. Could i just use solder to re attach the points back together without using wires so that my strip is solid and looks clean?

[@austinvanness19]

Native Man Dan same thing happened to me just last night im just trying to figure out if the colored wires matter on the connector piece

[@pennytowner728]

They can only be spliced at the contact points of the cut lines.

[@bentstrider]

Completely forgot about getting solder on the tips of the wires before putting them on. This'll be useful for those strips that need a little repair after getting banged up or ripped during transport.

[@alexbabcha]

Is that security 24/4 wire?

[@zeejay_grant]

İ like it .....whats the recommended voltage for such circuit

[@DustyBaker4390]

If you have too much solder on the strip contacts and the solder is "jumping" more than one wire, can it short out a controller?

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Correct , make sure the solder joints are not touch at all or you will have problems.

[@Boombomb]

Yes, you will. I have and now I need a new one.

[@jebronlames5697]

Can I use a red black wire for a 4pin ?

[@paintremedies4216]

Thank you so much

[@queenjazaire]

can you use glue and then heat shrink?

[@jonathansearles9997]

How precise do you have to be? If your solders spill over onto each other will it short it out?

[@droidzhunterz6861]

Each individual blob of solder must not touch the other contacts. Otherwise you will have problems controlling the colors.

[@kmbewe1]

The Swan is very unstable, it probably wants to shoot off for a swim, a walk or something. I suggest holding the strip down with a paper clamp on the edge of a thin worktop or MDF off cut, you will have better control. Good effort though.

[@shandon1227]

Where can I buys these strips at ty

[@gaymergrill]

Have an led strip project coming up and was curious how one should solder the contacts under the layer of silicone. Thanks! Sometimes it really is as simple as just take it off 😅 don't solder too often myself, liked how you tinned your wires & took some mental notes. Mine are just + or - contacts so this video makes me a lot more comfortable with the upcoming work.

[@sm8moto136]

Hey Elliot! would you be interested in trying that with a solderm8? I can send you 1 so you can see how easy it will make this process...

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Loaf ster Looks Awesome! Absolutely! Did u make this?

[@sm8moto136]

Elliott Exclusive - Car Audio yes!it has been in the making for the past 3years so I just got the finished product a couple of days ago and just trying to get the work out there. If you send your mailing address to [e-mail] I’ll send one your way 👍

[@WireGuyGlobal]

Loaf ster Great work, they look awesome! I’ll send you an email shortly!

[@zeus7323]

This way worked so well but when I tried connecting the other LED onto the wires the light connected to the battery but it won’t light up the second LED strip I connected 😭

[@punisher6001]

These strips doesn't need an adapter? Or it goes straight to the power?

[@Tom_Goss]

They are rated for 12v DC

[@SG-kp2ql]

At least 6v to make it work and more volts up to 12 for brighter

[@gamerxlive12527]

It's really helpful

[@snailtale6558]

Wire Guy should talk to Camera Guy about how to macro focus.

[@majamboi921]

Tnx I cuted the rgb control box and you got me out tnx

[@newlinedetails]

Great job!!

[@gemblersk2519]

Dude, how does it stick to your wires so quickly? I tried so many attempts to coat that wires but always end up doing it wrong Do I need higher temperature?

[@Pablo453]

Get an adjustable good quality iron that goes to 600 degrees. I solder these at 500.

[@professor_meowington]

Is this even doable on a 10 mm RGBW strip (5 wires)? It's miniscule, but on the other hand I'm not sure how to do it otherwise.

[@pennytowner728]

Yes but I recommend good light and reading glasses. I also bought 5 wire tape to simplify life. You may also want 2 gator clips to hold each side for you.

[@gameingwithsalay3911]

Where did u get the battery from

[@neila9251]

its just a 18v drill battery

[@Evan.]

How do you connect the bare wires to a war outlet

[@neila9251]

transformer

[@dallaskouril9187]

Where do you get your supplies from?? Trying to find good place that is not going to break the bank. Thanks

[@jafar5112]

AliExpress I found a Alexa/Google compatible solution for 16 dollars. You get 5 meters of LED light but can buy more LED strips. Just type LED 5050 wifi in AliExpress =) I bought one from Ebay but it cost like 50 bucks.

[@pennytowner728]

Amazon or ebay $9 for 16 + ft. Multip color and those that come with controllers cost a bit more but not much. One thing to look for is how many diodes per inch and diodes per cut line or distance between cut lines. The other thing to look for indoor vs outdoor. Some of these are indoor only.

[@jafar5112]

@@pennytowner728 there is a new version where you can control each diode separately. Aka you can have different colors on the same strip. It's more expensive and need some programming skills but it is open source stuff lol

[@pennytowner728]

​@@jafar5112RGB 5050, over 32 ft $27 on Amazon, waterproof and came with controller. When I do multi-color I prefer RGBW but that isn't much more expensive.

[@SebastianPaz6569]

If I have same color wire does it matter where I solder it?

[@neila9251]

as long as it is the same to same every time otherwise you will select different colours than you thought

[@thomashernandez4027]

The rgbw is even harder. An extra conductor or wire to solder. I use a jigs up to hold them. Practice makes perfect. Just got to do a lot of them.

[@fallingawake2092]

What happens if any of the 4 solder connections touch each other?

[@lkbrent]

How about clamping the strip so it would not move while you solder?

[@blikvisz]

How many current/voltage do these leds need?

[@neila9251]

some 12v some 24v should say when you buy