How To Cut Led Strip Lights?

How To Cut Led Strip Lights?

LED strip lights have become a popular choice in modern lighting solutions due to their energy-saving, durability, flexibility and easy installation. Whether it is home decoration, commercial lighting or car decoration, LED light strips can provide a variety of possibilities. In the process of using LED light strips, many people will have a question: Can LED light strips be cut? and how to cut it? Certainly it can be cut.  but the correct method and precautions need to be mastered during the cutting process. This article will explore in depth why LED light strips need to be cut, how to cut them correctly, and what to pay attention to during the cutting process.

1. Why do LED light strips need to be cut?

LED light strips are usually sold in long strips, with each roll ranging from a few meters to tens of meters in length. However, different application scenarios have different requirements for the length of the light strip, so it needs to be cut in actual use. Specifically, the following situations may require cutting of LED light strips:

1) Space adaptation: In home decoration, the size and layout of different rooms vary, and the light strips need to be cut to adapt to the specific installation location.

2) Design requirements: In commercial displays or stage designs, light strips are cut to achieve specific visual effects and lighting designs.

3) Repair and replacement: When some leds fail, it is more economical to cut and replace specific sections of the light strip than to replace the entire light strip.

2. How to cut LED light strips

Cutting LED light strips is not complicated, but it needs to be done in the correct way to ensure that the light strips can still work properly after cutting. The following are detailed cutting steps:

1)Determine the cutting position: There is usually a marking line (Cutting Line) every few centimeters on the LED light strip, which is the designed cutting point. Only by cutting at these positions can the circuit integrity and the normal operation of the leds be guaranteed.

2) Prepare tools: Prepare a pair of sharp scissors or cutting tools to ensure neat cutting without damaging the circuit.

3) Cut the light strip: Carefully cut the light strip at the cutting line to ensure that the cut is smooth and does not damage the surrounding circuits and leds. Be careful when cutting, do not cut crooked, and leave solder pads on the left and right for easy welding

Usually, for 12V light strips, every 3leds can be cut, and for 24v led strip lights, every 6leds can be cut, as shown in the below picture.

For COB light strips, the number of leds can not be seen, so they must be cut strictly according to the cutting line.

But sometimes you will find that you can't see the cutting line on the front PCB, so how should you cut it? For example, the following light strip has no cutting line on the front.  Then you can look at the back, the cutting line is on the back of PCB.

Now there is another new hot COB led strip light  that does not show the cutting line. Please see the picture below. How should this be cut?There is no cutting line on the front and back of it. Does this light strip can not  be cut?

Of course not. This is the latest hot-selling cob led strips that can be cut at anywhere. It means that unlike other light strips, you must cut according to the cutting line .This light strip means that you can cut it at any position.

3. Precautions when cutting LED light strips

Although cutting LED light strips is not complicated, the following points should be noted during the operation to avoid damaging the light strips or causing safety hazards:

1) Follow the cutting lines: Be sure to cut at the marked line and avoid cutting at will, otherwise the circuit may be damaged and the leds may not work properly.

2)Power-off operation: During the cutting and installation process, ensure that the light strip is in a power-off state to avoid the risk of electric shock.

3) Correctly handle the incision: After cutting, use professional joints or insulating materials to close the incision in time to prevent short circuits and leakage.

4) Waterproof treatment: If it is an LED light strip used outdoors or in a humid environment, special attention should be paid to waterproof treatment after cutting to ensure that the joint part is well sealed.

In addition to the above basic steps and precautions, there are some additional information and suggestions about cutting LED light strips that are worth knowing:

1) Use a suitable power supply and controller: The light strip may need to be reconnected to the power supply or controller after cutting. Make sure to use a power supply and controller that matches the specifications of the light strip to avoid damage to the light strip due to insufficient power or overload.

2)Test the connection: After cutting and reconnecting, it is best to test before installation to ensure that each section of the light strip works properly.

3) Follow the manufacturer's instructions: LED light strips from different manufacturers may differ in design and production. It is best to consult the relevant instructions or consult the manufacturer before cutting to ensure correct operation.

4) Consider future maintenance: During the cutting and installation process, try to consider possible future maintenance needs and reserve sufficient wiring length for future maintenance and replacement.

In short, cutting LED light strips is a common and necessary operation. As long as you master the correct methods and precautions, you can use LED light strips flexibly to meet various lighting and decoration needs. I hope this article can help you better understand and operate LED light strips and bring more possibilities to your lighting design.

If you have more questions about the use and installation of LED light strips, please feel free to contact us  and we will be happy to help you.