Here is a quick and easy tutorial for the DIY folks, on how to build LED light fixtures. The soldering also applies to anyone installed LED strip without fixtures.
I used the following parts from our catalog:
- 12″ Micro Housing w/ Clear Lens
- 12″ Warm White 5630 LED strip (Warm White for the yellow-ish light output)
- 2 Amp Power Supply
- Rocker On/Off Switch
- Female Pigtail Connector
In addition to these parts, you’ll need two tools:
- Soldering iron
- Phillips scredriver
Step 1: Insert
Insert the pigtail connector through the opening of one end cap.
Step 2: Tin
“Tin” the terminals on one end of the LED strip with solder.
Tinning the LED strip with solder
Step 3: Solder
Solder your pigtail connector onto the LED strip. The side with the dashed line is (+) Positive
Note: Dashed line = Positive wire!
Step 4: Install
Before moving on, verify your LED strip lights up by briefly plugging it into the power supply (don’t look directly into the light!). Once verified, you’re now going to install the LED strip into the fixture.
Be careful to position the LED strip in the center of the channel. Begin removing the adhesive backing (not all at once), push the strip into the channel, working your way from one end to the other (removing the adhesive backing as you go).
Work carefully, being sure to seat the LED strip fully into the fixture to optimize heat dissipation.
Step 5: Lens & End Caps
Slide the lens into position in the channel. Some of our fixtures (in particular the Corners) have tight fitting lenses which require they are pushed into place from the outside. With these, start at one side and work your way across, pushing the lens firmly into place using your thumbs.
Once the lens is in place, screw the end caps on (if applicable).
All of our fixtures use end caps, but not all of them use screws to hold the end caps in place.
Step 6: Done!
At this point, all that is left is to test the light one more time and voila, you’re done!
Completed fixture using our Micro housings.
This is the complete system, with rocker switch mounted between the fixture and the power supply.
I see how to do this but my question is about the result. Is this about 800 lumens per foot with the 5630 chip? It appears to be 18 chips per foot. Is that correct? I am changing out floursent bulbs, F8t5 and F13T5 (4100K). They output about 400 lm per foot, I think, and I want match that.
Hi Jay – this tutorial was made using our prior generation LED strips. Using our current 5630 LED strips, a 12″ fixture would yield between 480-540 lumens. And yes they use 18 led chips per foot. Thanks for your interest and sorry it took so long to get back with you
You done a great job about this category, I got the best and useful information and suggestions from this category. You made a good site and it’s very interesting one. Thanks for sharing the best information. Regards
Just looking at the above… I cannot identify which of the two wires coming from the power source is +? Is there some sort of marker on the wire? Thanks. Jim
Hi Jim, one of the wires has a dashed line along the length of it. That is positive