How To Cut - RGB <<dumb>> Ribbon

[salighie]

Hello All,

 

I'm somewhat of a newbie when it comes to LOR. The RGB devices have peaked my interest, recently.

 

I was wondering whether the RGB ribbon can be cut and how it can be easily connected to the CMB24D controller.

 

LOR Help desk assures me that the ribbon can be cut every few inches... but they do not currently have any connectors... and that most people just solder the wires right on...

 

questions:

1. anyone try this before and found an easier way than to solder the wires on?

2. being that it's low voltage, can I use CAT3 or CAT5 wire to connect the "CUT" ribbon to the controller?

 

any experienced guidance will be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited October 24, 2014 by salighie

[PhilMassey]

I would suggest you solder your connections. There are snap on connectors around but they are in my experience EXTREMELY unreliable.

 

Not a fan of CAT5 for power myself. What gauge you need will in part be determined by how long your runs are.

 

See this post for some wire options.

http://forums.lightorama.com/index.php?/topic/33043-3-4-rgb-wire/

[tjflory]

Soldering is really not that tough, and as stated above, the snap-on connectors are not dependable.

 

I use CAT5. I solder a short cat5 pig tail to the strip. Since cat5 has 8 wires, you can do 2 RGB channels with one controller connector/ cable.

 

I have short runs, and have never had a problem.

 

tj

[derekb]

I have been soldering RGB dumb strips for weeks now. I put them all around my windows on custom frames I built. I messed up the first few solders, but once I got the hang of it, and a magnifying glass from Walmart, it was pretty easy. Just took some time.

[chandalen]

Cat5e and soldier the connections.  Make sure the wire is briaded core not solid core (esp if you live in an area where it gets COLD).

 

Make sure the ribbion is waterproof.  If you can actually touch the LED its not waterproof.  I use  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DTOAWZ2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and have only had 1 segment of 3 LEDs GREEN fail.

 

Most dumb strips can be cut shorter they usually have dashes where to cut.

[Ron Boyd]

http://blog.holidaycoro.com/2014/05/soldering-extension-wire-onto-strip.html

 

Look at this video and you'll see how easy it really is.

[mpageler]

Will be doing my first rgb strip soldering later this winter.  So I have be researching videos for trick and tips.  I never see any reference in using flux.  

I have tried tiningg wire and have to use flux for the solder to stick.   

So should I be able to tin wires w/o flue and do you definately not use it on rgb connecting pads?