Conversation with china - what is the third wire for ???

[Julian]

Paul ... that's exactly what I've bought ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130815596425&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:GB:3160

I'm currently in an amusing "best offer bidding war" with another supplier for cable and connectors ... we're down to haggling over a few pence!  I'm just being bloody minded, but I can't see it's worth the effort on the sellers part!

Once the strips arrive I'll probably try Jules's method of hard wiring using standard cable.  If that works ok, I'll not bother with the connectors.

I've assumed that cutting is exactly as Jules describes.  If, when I get them, I can add any further info I'll willingly share.

[Rotary-Motion]

Cutting the tape is easy Paul - there are sets of solder pads (copper) at every cut point.
Just cut through the tape at that point, scrape away the silicon covering (if you have the silicon covered IP65 tape, then solder wires onto the copper pads. For the normal white tape there are just two. For the RGB tape there are four.

A piece of heatshrink slid over the wires and the end of the tape and it's job done. I did loads like that in the caravan.

5050 chips (ie 5mm square) are very bright as you have seen. The smaller chips are nothing like as good.

I will shortly be buying a couple of reels to light the workshop.

The best bit is that with a 12V battery and float charger, you have an automatic battery backed up lighting system.

ok, wait for it, here comes the big question, what are the four wires for with the RGB strip?

[Rotary-Motion]

Paul ... that's exactly what I've bought ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130815596425&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:GB:3160

I'm currently in an amusing "best offer bidding war" with another supplier for cable and connectors ... we're down to haggling over a few pence!  I'm just being bloody minded, but I can't see it's worth the effort on the sellers part!

Once the strips arrive I'll probably try Jules's method of hard wiring using standard cable.  If that works ok, I'll not bother with the connectors.

I've assumed that cutting is exactly as Jules describes.  If, when I get them, I can add any further info I'll willingly share.

are you buying a certain cable?

[Bio Dervotee]

One for ground/negative, and one for each colour of led, red/green/blue

[Rotary-Motion]

One for ground/negative, and one for each colour of led, red/green/blue

jion all 3 to get white?

[julesandtash]

Close, in fact, if I remember right, it is one common 12v supply and three grounds, one for each colour (red green and blue).

As said joining all three will give white. The controller has some electronics that control the current through each colour to get the various colour combinations.

[Rotary-Motion]

Close, in fact, if I remember right, it is one common 12v supply and three grounds, one for each colour (red green and blue).

As said joining all three will give white. The controller has some electronics that control the current through each colour to get the various colour combinations.

and the controller is fitted in each 3 part cut section?

[julesandtash]

I cut my RGB tape into two lengths for the caravan then connected the two in parallel (ie common to common, red to red, green to green and blue to blue. Then I connected the output of the controller to the commoned tapes.

The controller is designed to handle the current demand of the whole strip so it doesn't matter whether the strip is all in one long length, lots of short lengths in series with wires between the lengths or a number of shorter strips in parallel.

Just dont try running more than one full (5 metre) tape from one controller though as the current will be far higher and probably more than the controller can handle.

[Julian]

Just dont try running more than one full (5 metre) tape from one controller though as the current will be far higher and probably more than the controller can handle.

Oops! Just did that last night but it seems fine, ran all evening without problem.

Very impressed with this kit, great value for money.

[Rotary-Motion]

Just dont try running more than one full (5 metre) tape from one controller though as the current will be far higher and probably more than the controller can handle.

Oops! Just did that last night but it seems fine, ran all evening without problem.

Very impressed with this kit, great value for money.

im off to buy one  for the van mood lighting

[Rotary-Motion]

Paul ... that's exactly what I've bought ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130815596425&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:GB:3160

I'm currently in an amusing "best offer bidding war" with another supplier for cable and connectors ... we're down to haggling over a few pence!  I'm just being bloody minded, but I can't see it's worth the effort on the sellers part!

Once the strips arrive I'll probably try Jules's method of hard wiring using standard cable.  If that works ok, I'll not bother with the connectors.

I've assumed that cutting is exactly as Jules describes.  If, when I get them, I can add any further info I'll willingly share.

can i not use the 240 adaptor and use 12volt only julian? and will the remote still work? as i cant work out the setup?

[Rotary-Motion]

make your house or passion wagon beat/flash to the music, disco styley

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Music-Audio-Sound-Driver-RGB-x3-Strip-Light-LED-Controller-12V-60W-IR-Remote-/350666231593?_trksid=p5713.m2061&_trkparms=aid%3D333005%26algo%3DRIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D25%26meid%3D4125255420902505538%26pid%3D100041%26prg%3D1010%26rk%3D4%26sd%3D110960420795%26

[Julian]

Paul ... that's exactly what I've bought ....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130815596425&ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:GB:3160

I'm currently in an amusing "best offer bidding war" with another supplier for cable and connectors ... we're down to haggling over a few pence!  I'm just being bloody minded, but I can't see it's worth the effort on the sellers part!

Once the strips arrive I'll probably try Jules's method of hard wiring using standard cable.  If that works ok, I'll not bother with the connectors.

I've assumed that cutting is exactly as Jules describes.  If, when I get them, I can add any further info I'll willingly share.

can i not use the 240 adaptor and use 12volt only julian? and will the remote still work? as i cant work out the setup?

[Julian]

Oh, I should have said, the IR sensor should ideally be in line of sight of the dudder, but they can work using reflected light.  Having the LEDs set on red seem to reduce the effectiveness of the dudder ... I guess because that colour contains more IR than the other colours.

I'll not go down the music route ... can't imagine it would produce much of an effect driven by Radio 4!  But if you want to fit that, it looks like it would replace the white controller in the description above.

[Julian]

If you are going to buy on ebay ... check the prices very carefully.  Most of the "UK" items seem to be drop shipped out of Manchester and set ups like the picture can range from about 16 quid up to 30 odd.

I'm now looking for 2 off 5m of 5050 white strip, that ranges from 12 to 24 quid.