Can you cut LED strip lights? Can we cut LED strip lights? Both questions are among the most frequently asked by our customers. Yes, most of them can be cut to your desired length, but you need to cut them from the cut points marked on the LED strips. If you cut from the wrong place will damage the circuit and the lights will not work. Below are everything you need to know.
Where You Can Cut Them?
Not everywhere on the LED tapes is safe to cut; the correct cutting points are scissor icons or copper points, usually where you can safely separate the strips.
For some mini size LED strips, you will need to take off the protector paper of doube-sided adhesive tape to reveal the copper points.
Why Cutting Points Matte
- Cutting from the wrong place will sever the circuit, making the rest of strip lights unusable.
- Each cutting point aligns with the tape’s electrical design, ensuring the rest LEDs work normal.
How To Cut LED Tape Lights Properly
Step 1: Locate the cutting points: Look for scissor symbols or copper dots indicating safe cut points. If you are still not sure about it, please ask your seller to confirm.
Step 2: Use the right tools: You can use sharp scissors or a utility knife to cut them down.
Step 3: Test both parts after cutting: Connect both parts to LED power suppy to ensure them work normal.
Step 4: Seal The Ends: For the waterproof versions, you can use silicone glue to seal the ends for waterproofing and protect exposed wires.
The Ways To Reconnect Cut Strip Lights
- Solder Wires On Them: You can solder wires on them, need to pay attention to + and – terminals.
- Use the Solderless LED Connectors: This is the easiest way to reconnect them. They are allowed to connect cut strip lights together or connect to wires. There are straight, L-shaped, and T-shaped ones available.
Frequency Questions:
- Can You Cut Any LED Strips? A: Yes, most LED strips can be cut. If you are unsure, please contact your seller or us to confirm. For the waterproof or mini size ones, you need to be careful.
- What Can I Do If I Cut In The Wrong Place? A: Many small sections connect together to form one long piece of LED strips. If you cut from the wrong place, you need to remove the small section. And others will work normal.
- Can You Reconnect LED Strips After Cutting? A: Yes, you can solder wires on the copper dots or use our solderless LED connectors to reconnect them together or connect to a power supply or controller.
- Will Cutting Lose Brightness? A: No, it will not. If you find the brightness weak at the end of the LED tapes compared to the beginning. You got the voltage drop issue. Check our article to fix it here: How To Fix Voltage Drop Issue For LED Strips?
Conclusion
Cutting LED strips is simple if you know how to do it. Whether you’re customizing lighting in your space or for DIYs, knowing where you can cut and use the sharp tools will help you finish in seconds.
Have you tried to cut flexible LED strips? Share your questions in the comments!