INDESTRUCTIBLE (almost) LED Utility Strip lights encased in EPOXY RESIN

Hey everyone! Here I build what I think are the most indestructible and versatile LED strips. They are laid in an extruded aluminum c-channel and then fully encased in resin epoxy. This makes the LED lights themselves almost impervious to all outdoor and indoor abuse. Below is the product list from Amazon of all the parts that I have used. I have no affiliate links, I make no money from the products. They are just the ones that I have used before and know that they work. Enjoy!
Adjustable DC Power Voltage Converter AC 110V-220V to DC 0-48V Module Switching Power Supply Digital Display 480W Voltage Regulator Transformer Built in Cooling Fan
www.amazon.com...
HitLights Cool White LED Strip Lights, UL-Listed Premium High Density 16.4ft, 600LED, 5000K, 48W, CRI 91.5, 900Lumen/m 12V DC LED Tape Lights for Kitchen, Under Cabinet Decoration
www.amazon.com...
hunhun 10-Pack 3.3ft/1Meter U Shape LED Aluminum Channel System with Milky Cover, End Caps and Mounting Clips, Aluminum Profile for LED Strip Light Installations, Very Easy Installation
www.amazon.com...
(Real 18AWG 43x2pcs Copper Strands) 10 Pairs DC Power Pigtail Cable Wire, 12V 5A Male & Female Connectors for CCTV Security Camera and Lighting Power Adapter by MILAPEAK (2.1mm x 5.5mm, Ultra Thick)
www.amazon.com...
HitLights LED Strip Connector 2Pin 8mm LED Connector Kit Include Solderless Gapless Connector, 6Inch Jumper Connector, DC Female and Connector, DC Jack Splitter for 3528 5050 LED Strip
www.amazon.com...

[@JointerMark]

I used something like this for aquarium lighting except I used hot glue to seal up the clear lens...but epoxy would have worked so much better! Thank you for the idea!

[@fordboy4ever]

Love it! I feel like if you made little stoppers an inch or 2 from each end before pouring the resin you would have a safe, flat space to drill through to mount it to something (even just to mount magnets to the back). I have been thinking about some exterior lighting on my camper trailer and I think this would look great, but I would almost want to put a little wedge spacer so I can mount the strip flat on the roof but the led strip is still aiming down some. Super cool! Thanks for the idea.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

No prob!

[@jacobmarciniec]

This is GENIUS. I love you, man. This solution has literally everything: 1) The back of the LED strips are attached directly to the aluminum profile, so you presumably have better heat dissipation than e.g. strips which are fully encased in silicone. 2) The connections, be they soldered, clamped, or whatever, are solidified in the resin... ain't nobody gonna pull them loose. 3) The assembly is undeniably, totally waterproof. 4) The LED strip mounting tape doesn't have to been very good, the resin locks the strip in place. 5) You can waterproof your favorite LED strips, even if they don't come in a waterproof version. Absolutely fantastic. 💯

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

I made the same thing out of a bunch of light channels from the factory I used to work in. I put some led strips inside that are 5 volt. I use a cell charger brick to supply lights from a car battery ( 12v down to 5v ). Perfect in a blackout situation. I use mine full time and my electric bill is barely $40 a month. the whole apartment and all lights are run off the batteries that last more than a month! I only use electric to top off batteries. he biggest usage of electric is fridge, stove, micro, etc.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Awesome!

[@anwarjaffery8147]

Interesting! btw may I ask what’s the ‘Cell charger brick’ and how to use it? 🙏🏼

[@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt]

@@anwarjaffery8147 Hello. the cell phone charger brick is what your charger cable goes into to power your phone or tablet. The brick plugs into the wall or 12 volt cigarette lighter port in a car and supplies 5 volt power.

[@anwarjaffery8147]

@@NIGHTOWL-jf9zt Got it! Really appreciate the reply 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

You can get a diffuser piece for those channels to help throw that light around and prevent the diodes from being individual hot spots that burn your retina from the top of the engine when you are laying under...

[@Scrambler85]

Lots of potential uses for this, thanks for posting this and a thumbs up for the video 👍.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thanks for watching!

[@ebbcorepairs3253]

Love those resin led strips! Impermeable! Great job Code 💩 productions.

[@emmettboaz]

They do make marine grade UV resistant epoxy resin if yellowing becomes an issue later on.

[@spiritzweispirit1st638]

Great Video! (Idea) Put a 'Filed or Sanded' to the same level - Pre'drilled Top and Ends Regular Lego' Upside down, in the End caps space' with the Red and Black Wire going around the 'center barrels' before Epoxying, and they have 3 convenient barrels to mount the screws securely through.😶👍

[@thewitt76]

Thanks for the 💡 idea, I'm currently ordering the light strips and channel. Gonna make a world of difference in my truck bed and toolbox

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Awesome!

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

look up the diffuser face plates for those channels. Many other youtubes have them up now building DIY Govee like products for cheaper, doing custom house lighting and smart home automation. The diffusers will keep the led diode from burning your retinas out when facing you. Chris Maher and Fix This Build That are good places to start. They have many different comparisons too as not all strips are made equal. For a work light this may not matter much but if you want some sexy accent lighting in the bathroom to wow the old lady for example... you might want to look into it.

[@TheGigantium]

It seems that those epoxy-resin LED bars diffuse the light brighter and more evenly thanks to the epoxy. Maybe not a bad idea for the TV manufacturers to use it as backlights?

[@johnheywood9826]

I had this same idea, but I was a bit skiddish to know if it would work or not. thanks for the vid.

[@SkuStyle]

Add a little white epoxy pigment into the clear epoxy to hide the ugly light strip and also make the light diffused and more of one constant light bar.

[@falconhead2862]

Really cool project! Might try this in my truck topper

[@CodeBrownProductions]

You should!

[@domenicmaiani3795]

Wish I had come across your video a few weeks ago! I added some small "LED bolts" to my tractor to illuminate to the side which required drilling holes in the sheet metal. I was (and still am) concerned about the lighted head of the bolt getting scraped off by brush. This will be "Rev. 1" when the originals fail! Thanks for sharing this and I am a new subscriber! Dom

[@jdgrupp]

I was thinking about doing something like this for a concrete driveway, edge lighting

[@danlibby8366]

Hey this is a sweet build! The trailer/camper/jeep hauler/sun deck.........thingy! Just cool cool cool!

[@timcarroll7505]

Absolutely perfect! This was what I was looking for. Underwater led's for my cruiser. Excellent video.

[@Valkyrie1911]

Oh hey, nice Hornady scale haha. Loving the videos, giving me lots of ideas.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I'm glad! Go get to building lol

[@3r-enterprises611]

Looks like an excellent custom shower lighting setup!

[@da1emorgan]

A great, straight-talking video 👍 My plan is to create a penny bar, with LEDs around the three walls of it. I guess I'll use the 'diffuser', make that the same level as the pennies and then just pour the resin over it all in one pour? That's my big idea anyway 😂

[@RingZero]

Cool video! - Your eyes match that blue masking tape.

[@markfernandes2396]

You can add dip lenses and get real focus control 15, 25, 45, 60 and 80 degree

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Interesting

[@PandasFknRule]

Simple but useful, this is the stuff I really dig 🤙

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you!

[@tomcole4736]

Kind of funny you tested them after you poured the epoxy resin....I would have done that before hand

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I tested them before,off camera too. I wanted to make sure everything looked good for the video.

[@waynemassie898]

Can you post a quick video of where you mounted them on your Jeep? And how long the LED strips are on your Jeep? Such a great Idea!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I can try. I'll put that on a future video on my Jeep.

[@426superbee4]

I was going to make a bar for them! But i just went ahead unpeel them and stuck them! It was about the time to make the bars, and MONEY

[@bruce1816]

Dude, I light my whole wood shop that way. (40x30) Am off grid and have 300 watts coming in and only 2 deep cycle batteries.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Hell yeah.

[@Byrkster]

as soon as you said errrr Im too fat, I subscribed. :) Great video!!! Keep em real!!!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you lol

[@rhworth05]

John what’s up bro! What a great video. I didn’t even know you made videos on here so great job with the tutorial. I will have to try this for some future projects!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you......not to be blunt but do I know you?

[@krustythecarhauler]

I’ve been doin that for years for my house and my truck

[@makreacts3494]

Trying to make resin running boards for my truck

[@jimfryar1]

Awesome man!! I’d like to make some of these for my bouncer!!! BUT… what the difference between the led’s in your list, and the ones I’d use in my house? I’d like to make some of these for under cabinet lights… but those look a little too bright for a kitchen… any advice?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I don't think the LEDs are any different than the ones you have for your kitchen except for the fact that they are encased in resin. If they are to bright I would say you can either put a resistor inline with the power source or even better a dimmer control.

[@jimfryar1]

@@CodeBrownProductions Ty buddy… you’ll definitely be hearing from me again!

[@MON5TERMATT]

working on doing this for underglow. all the premade kits are cr*p and im tired of em.

[@MagentaRV]

Can you set them up with wires on both ends to be able to daisy chain them?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Yup, sure, could. Each strip has the connections on each end.

[@AaronAdventurez]

man I gotta say I have been trying and trying to think of a way to make some RBG underwater photography/videography lights that I can hardwire to a large battery pack.. I am totally going to do this! Thank you soo much and ill post an update when i make it!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Awesome!

[@daninwy2681]

Haven't watched the video all the way threw yet, but, it might be a good idea to test it out first (connect the wires to voltage source) before filling the channels with epoxy.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I did

[@dimplezdimples8451]

Is that a JD Squared bender with a pipe die in it, to the left of the screen?? :D

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Sure was

[@patlsmith404]

Thanks!

[@canamflaco]

Hey. Nice. Vide. I got and idea.. that will need ur advice... filling the housing of an led atv headlight to avoid getting water inside.. on deep water rides. Will u think the rising u. Using on ur video. Will handle sunlight without tur ING yellow?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I'm not sure the resin would hold up to that. The stuff I got was at a local big box store and it wad meant for table top applications.

[@canamflaco]

@@CodeBrownProductions thx for the advice. .. ir corect. Table top resin it's not uv resistant... I found and order one. Uv resistant.. that Cristal clear any tips. For mixing and poring will be appreciated.

[@mariomcallen]

Great job 👌

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you!

[@tatipalle]

Great video, do you think they will last long in a sauna?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Maybe?

[@1234ihooley1234]

Might be a dumb question I’m gonna do a project we’re I poor epoxy over LED strips. Do I need to get waterproof LED strips?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

No, the resin is no conductive by nature so encasing them makes them very waterproof and robust.

[@1234ihooley1234]

@@CodeBrownProductions ok thank you

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

If you are putting them in resin, no dont go get waterproof ones, you'll be paying extra for something you are already going to be adding better protection to. Once in place the epoxy will outlast the factory waterproofing ,10 to 1.

[@electroman1970]

So I guess you never heard of IP67 LED strips which are 100% waterproof while still being flexible.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I guess not. This is just a different application for different purposes I guess. Your mileage my vary.

[@TonyMontana-os8ri]

Will it work with milky instead transparent. I mean will it look like neon kind a light???

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I'm sure it would

[@fjelstednord3159]

You didn't show the part where you had to remove the paper that stuck to the bottom where the epoxy overflowed. I was wondering why you didn't elevate the strips to prevent that, Lol.

[@georgekenner6588]

Torch , resin & paper 🤔 but a good idea love your style!

[@JamesEggleston]

Cool that looks pretty good and easy, thanks for the video!!

[@rgamore]

You over looked one important thing to do before putting on the connectors, you need to scrap the positive and negative contacts on the led strip. There is a shellac coating on them, so they don't corrode. Those connectors don't do a very good job of penetrating the shellac, which can cause a loss of the connection. I've made these led strip lights up for a long time, experience is the advice.

[@derekweese2230]

F.y.i. folks if I'm not mistaken I believe what he meant was scrape the positive and negative contacts because of the shellac so that they get a better contact scrape them before you use that connector because the little points on the connector that stick into the wire don't connect well with a slack on there it was just missing the e on the end of that word I was kind of lost at first thing it scraped from what what do you replace it with if you scrap them but then it hit me he meant to say scrape anyway,,, juz for what is worth, I thought it might help if anybody else out there was confused .. 🤔🤪😎🔙🔛🔝🔜

[@timwegman5776]

Sweet video. Easy and useful thanks for sharing.

[@aleksandarpetrovic9382]

i have question for you, says that epoxy is going to 60 degrees celsius and that my led light can work to +40 degrees celsius, so should i use some plastic over led strip or?

[@leoncloete1441]

Awesome 👍

[@ScrapMetalJr]

This is a great idea for durability for my teardrop trailer project. Thank You.

[@brucemontgomery8136]

would there be any reason that led lights not be ok to simply slide into plastic tubing ( like for an aquarium but larger diameter) and use fasteners to put where wanted? tytyty

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be. Just as long as the LED strip lights you get are waterproof.

[@brucemontgomery8136]

@@CodeBrownProductions i’m planning on inside of a rv -

[@changchung]

Thanks for share. Very useful

[@emmahammond5088]

Holy s#!t batman.what an idea...mind....blown.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Yup lol

[@nickzhang4010]

It is so cool

[@426superbee4]

If i was going to put them on my vehicles? HELL MAKE THE BARS. Or like i did! take a old aluminum light bar and strip them out, and stick them in

[@genoory5090]

I wanna do something like this for my ip68 leds on the sides my kayak. So are these flexible in a way?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Very little

[@genoory5090]

@@CodeBrownProductions Okay. Cool . I'm gonna probably make 2 of 10ft aluminium channeled ones, and put resin inside like you've done and mount it on the sides of my kayak

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

The strips are actually Very flexible before you encase them in resin. IF you made your frame to the shape you needed before hand you could just use the 3m tape that most of these strips come with on their backside to hold it in place while you do your epoxy pour.

[@cowichecanyonranch]

Cool

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Yup lol

[@BayAreaHiker]

Looks cool...but have you had any issues with heat? The ones I use get fairly warm even with out the Epoxy...?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Not yet. The aluminum c-channel acts as a heatsink.

[@jeffklinger1164]

Love it - Thx! Do you have a link for the end caps - end of the meta channels?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

They come with the aluminum c-chnnel. The Amazon link is in the description. They work really well and look nice!

[@jeffklinger1164]

@@CodeBrownProductions Awesome - thx again

[@catherineharris4746]

Nice!👍 What brand resin is that?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I just got it from a store called Mernards

[@bajaoverland9286]

Love your content brother!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you!

[@neironasgautamas654]

wow sick @@

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you

[@thechancellor842]

This is awesome, doing this

[@luv2hike27]

great video! I have ordered the parts to make mine for my Ranger, I have some older led strips I never installed but they don't have cut marks so i will use them elsewhere. Can you recommend an inexpensive 110v to 12 v converter (plug in style) that i can plug a couple of strips into in the garage? They are both about 5 feet long.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Not one in particular no. But I just just go buy reviews on Amazon if I'm not familiar with a product.

[@sibujacob977]

its a shame you didn't put the link of the epoxy resin !!

[@oddball6969]

arnt the led strips already waterproof and durable enough?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

No and nope

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Some are waterproof, but tend to be much more expensive, and durable they are not. Even the waterproof ones really are not that durable.

[@MicBergsma]

😁👍🏼👍🏼

[@luv2hike27]

One last question before I build mine this weekend, what gauge wire do you use? I plan to mount these in the bed of my truck and tie them into the fob activated oem lights for the interior .

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I always over wire any electrical project. I by spools of 14g trailer wire from Menards and use that for most all small electronic projects.

[@carlstanoyevic3070]

John how do you attach the lights when there dry?

[@Tactical2Wheels]

you could probably use something like the 3m VHB tape or leave a bit of aluminum on both ends bare to run a screw through

[@derekweese2230]

Check at your local full scale building supply or maybe even on Amazon but check in the wall hanging or mirror hanging section where they have all the separate hardware for hanging various things on the wall and you should see some notch blocks with a hole in them and then it'll have like a l-shaped notch in it but you need to bear in mind the thickness of the channel that you put the lights in and make sure that the notches that size and that does a pretty pretty clean install it's just like what most mirrors in the bathroom are hung with except that you can get them in aluminum ,Some are Wood some are plastic some are clear plastic, or I have even made a lot of them myself just using aluminum angle metal and just cut them down you know half inch 3/8 quarter inch wide whatever drill a hole in it, then carefully bend the other end into a somewhat of a hook just to where it'll barely catch the edge of the channel & it works great!

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

@@derekweese2230 Or just Amazon. Amazon has tons of cheap mounting solutions for these channels, if a ziptie wont do it for you.

[@1748ducati]

What resin did you purchase?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

They were from Menards, the are for table tops. Any clear resin works.

[@barberclips4304]

Great job on the video👍👍. I bought some led lights from a company and they are really expensive if I can make it for half the price that would be great. Do you know where I can get led amber strobe lights strips?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Not sure, never looked for one. I would check Amazon first.

[@scottbrassington688]

Awsome. How do you mount them?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

The c- channel come with little tabs you can use to click in and hold them but for interior work I just use velcro.

[@scottmccown1558]

What do you use to mount them with? Thinking of adding something like this to my sxs.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

If you buy the c-channel from Amazon they come with with mounting hardware. But in my case I just use velcro.

[@scottmccown1558]

@@CodeBrownProductions thanks. I like this idea and especially dig the crawler hauler!!!

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Thank you!

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Depends on what you are mounting them to and for. Velcro or even a couple magnetic strips on it would work great for a work light, or If you are using this for some custom underglow on a car, maybe some Zipeties with eyelets for mounting. You could also carefully drill through the channel and hard mount it to a wall if that was your choice. They also sell a ton of different hardware for these channels on amazon. Liquid Nails also works wonders for some applications..

[@stephenpeterson4738]

What resin are you using? Is it potting resin?

[@kennmossman8701]

While the LEDS are waterproof the wiring connections would not be - how to waterproof the wiring connections?

[@EnzoGorlami5497]

You could find waterproof crimp connectors. Either that or make the wires longer and put the connection points in a watertight area or container.

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Bingo

[@eddiekytia]

What kind of resin or epoxy did you use

[@CodeBrownProductions]

I got it at Menards, it was a table top finish epoxy.

[@arthurchaney2434]

is it still working?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Yup!

[@gorak9000]

And when the epoxy goes all yellow and cloudy from the UV in the LEDs?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Then you make another one?

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

Or you use marine grade UV safe epoxy. That will never yellow. But for a cheap toss around work light.. might just be cheaper to build a few without it and throw them away when they get dingy.

[@charmkenpo]

I like the project. Nice work. Sorry for the dumb question, but what's the power source? What do you hook them up to?

[@CodeBrownProductions]

Any DC 12V power source

[@dhaavalchoksi6610]

I think the epoxy will melt as the light heats up.

[@kittysoftpaws3677]

I am 100% putting this under my mustang when i get it 😭😭😭

[@bigsamson3196]

Hello, thank you for the video, but what interests me is the led strip is waterproof or is it not waterproof!? important to know would like to try it myself, I would be very happy if you write me back ✍ I'm in a hurry to know I thank you in advance Mfg from Germany

[@crisnmaryfam7344]

You can get them either way, waterproof or not. However the Waterproof ones tend to be a bit more expensive, and the epoxy will encase and therefor, waterproof the strip. So, paying extra for waterproof, when you are going to be waterproofing it anyway, just seems like a waste of money. The epoxy (installed properly) will provide a much better water proof coating than the flexible strips factory waterproofing ever would.