Splitting and re connecting LED string lighting

[Merton69]

Hello.
I just purchased some LED string lighting to go around the kitchen but it needs to split at a corner with one going way and another going another way.
With my old set up of LED you could cut, add a T-connector and carry it on.
But with these it's just wiring.
Can it be done please?

Note: these are not just constant or flashing but rolling, wavey and many other choices of illumination.

I have attached some images to help.
Thank you.

 

[Martaine2005]

There are so many ways that these lights can be connected, it’s almost impossible to say.
Your best bet would be to open the controller and see how they are wired.
If triac controlled, I doubt you can T off without running another wire the full length of the split. These types of lights typically use both phases of the mains supply.
Half the lights on the positive side of the sine wave and the other half on the negative side of the sine wave.
It’s just a guess, so you’ll need to open the controller and see.

Edit: does that controller say ‘input 5V’?
Is it a dedicated LED controller?
Are they RGB?

 

[Harald Kapp]

does that controller say ‘input 5V’?

Definitely.

Are they RGB?

Probably yes. Looks like it is this controller, although the controller shown on the website linked from there looks a tad different.
I assume, without having access to more details, that each "wire" is in fact a pair of wires and controls one color. If so, it should be technically feasible to T-split the led string. To do so would require some cutting, soldering and insulating on the op's side. There doesn't seem to be an off the shelf T-connector being offered.

 

[Martaine2005]

So a peek inside is still required?

 

[Harald Kapp]

Some more detail from @Merton69 sure will help.

 

[Merton69]

Thank you for all your comments and suggestions, eventhough most of your jargon has gone right over my head.
The controller is a bluetooth plug affair (daren't open that up) that is controlled by a mobile app.

Hope this helps.

 

[Harald Kapp]

most of your jargon has gone right over my head... (daren't open that up) ...

I'm afrait that in that case cutting and soldering is out of the question.

 

[Merton69]

I'm afrait that in that case cutting and soldering is out of the question.

A little confused by what you have quoted.
"cutting and soldering is out of the question" because....
a) most of your jargon has gone right over my head
or
b) Daren't open up the Bluetooth plug?

 

[Delta Prime]

I'm afrait that in that case cutting and soldering is out of the question.

A little confused by what you have quoted.
"cutting and soldering is out of the question" because....
a) most of your jargon has gone right over my head

That’s OK most of the time so are we.… He is from
Germany-Europe-Earth-Sol System-Milky Way-Laniakea.

or
b) Daren't open up the Bluetooth plug?

Open up the box those wires are coming out of…

 

[Delta Prime]

I just purchased some LED string lighting

Return them and get your money back.

 

[Harald Kapp]

A little confused by what you have quoted...

Both.

a) You will need some basic understanding of how electricity works to connect the correct wires and avoid a short circuit.
b) Without opening the box we can't really see how the wires are connected to the board. Thus all we state is guesswork and may be completely wrong. So any advice based on this guesswork may not be helpul at all.

We need to see the innards of this section



Both sides of the board and how the wires are connected. If possible a close-up view of the wires where the insulation is removed and the inner strands are visible.

 

[smithjones]

It can be done electrically by splicing the wires in parallel at the corner, but there’s a catch: because those effects (rolling, wave, chasing) are controlled by the controller timing and wiring layout, splitting the run can cause the patterns to look wrong or out of sync. You must keep polarity correct and make sure both branches are the same type and length, otherwise voltage drop and uneven effects can happen. Also note that cutting and splicing usually voids the manufacturer warranty, and some controllers simply aren’t designed to drive branched runs reliably.

 

[Harald Kapp]

It can be done electrically by splicing the wires in parallel at the corner

That depends on the type of LEDs. Pure RGB LEDs are controlled differently than addressable LEDs (aka WS2812). When you simply splice addressable LEDs in parallel, you'll see unexpected light effects.

 

[bannerman]

At a glance, there are three wires running along the LEDs. With the multitude of special effects you describe, this indicates a string of addressable LEDs. Two wires for power, one wire for data. Each LED has its own address in the system, and is individually controlled from the controller to create the pretty patterns.
UNLESS you are an electronic technician or a reasonably experienced digital electronics hobbyist, DON'T cut the wires !

 

[olivia_49]

Hello.
I just purchased some LED string lighting to go around the kitchen but it needs to split at a corner with one going way and another going another way.
With my old set up of LED you could cut, add a T-connector and carry it on.
But with these it's just wiring.
Can it be done please?

Note: these are not just constant or flashing but rolling, wavey and many other choices of illumination.

I have attached some images to help.
Thank you.

Not really, these types usually expect one continuous run, so a simple T-split can break the effects. Easiest option is separate strings or a controller made for branching.

 

[ahsrabrifat]

Hello.
I just purchased some LED string lighting to go around the kitchen but it needs to split at a corner with one going way and another going another way.
With my old set up of LED you could cut, add a T-connector and carry it on.
But with these it's just wiring.
Can it be done please?

Note: these are not just constant or flashing but rolling, wavey and many other choices of illumination.

I have attached some images to help.
Thank you.

Did you check this blog? https://www.novostella.net/blogs/ne...yw64b55fQ0j60I-6o0y_NeRF6CbSwxQRN_bLJDvcdDj2i

 

[Merton69]

Thank you All for your responses.
For your information, I merely cut the wires, stripped back the sleeving and soldered together the three wires on their own.
The lights are working just perfectly with all the features all working brilliantly.
Where the splice is, the lights work all like they should as if there was no cutting/splicing involved.
I have also added some on to extend the length the end of the string as well!
Really happy.

 

[Martaine2005]

I still don’t understand how you achieved this.
I’m glad it worked out well for you though.
Have you added more LEDs or simply lengthened the wires?.
Or did you cut two lengths off and parallel them, forming the’T’?.

Either way, luck was definitely on your side.