How To Install LED Light Strips – Expert Guide

Last updated on October 21st, 2020 at 04:24 am

LEDs are incredibly popular nowadays and found in just about everything from remote controls and small electronic devices to domestic and commercial room lighting fixtures. They are favored over traditional lights because they are durable, use less energy and are extremely environmentally-friendly.

Strip lights are a great way to utilize LEDs for a more focused and crisp lighting, particularly in tight and hard-to-reach areas where there is poor lighting, like the countertops in your kitchen. These areas are often a lot darker because if there are cupboards above them, these block the illumination from the main lighting in the room or from natural light.

One of the great things about LED strip lights is the fact that you don’t need to be a qualified electrician to install them. Unless you are looking for a more integrated, hard-wired lighting system for your countertops, you won’t even have to carry out any work on your main electricity supply.

So, if you are interested in getting the best garage lighting or lighting up those darker areas in your kitchen and have a passion for DIY, you’ve come to the right place. In the following post of our website, we will outline some of the equipment and tools you need and the steps you need to follow to complete the job.

 

Although the basics are the same for strip lights, there will always be some differences. Please keep in mind that there may be some differences in the equipment and tools and even the steps you need to follow, based on the type of strip lights you are installing and only use the following as a guide for general reference and information to get an idea.

What You Need to install LED Light Strips

How To Install LED Light Strips

Step 1: Prepping the power adaptor
Take the double-sided tape and place some onto the back of the power adaptor. You need to ensure that the whole of the back is covered. Use the scissors to cut away at any excess tape and ensure that the exposed side of the tape is covered with the protective paper.

Step 2: Prepping the toggle switch
Repeat Step 1 for the strip light toggle switchbacking.

Step 3: Finding a suitable location for the power adaptor
Find a suitable place under the cabinets in your kitchen (or wherever you are installing your strip lights) to install the toggle switch and power adaptor. This should be in a corner of the room or close to a wall main switch so that it can be reached easily to turn the lights on when anyone goes into the kitchen.

Step 4: Fixing the power adaptor to the underside of the kitchen cabinet
Take off the protective paper from the tape on the back of the adaptor and press the adaptor firmly into the bottom of the cabinet. By doing it this way, you are allowing for more space to fit the actual lights themselves.

Step 5: Fixing the toggle switch to the underside of the kitchen cabinet
Repeat Step 4, but this time for the toggle switch. Remember to place the toggle switch facing outwards into the kitchen, so it is easy to see and reach to switch on when someone enters the room.

Step 6: Measuring out and cutting the correct length of double-sided tape
Use the measuring tape to measure the length of the underside of the kitchen cabinet. Now cut a piece of the double-sided tape that is a little longer than this measurement.

Step 7: Fixing the double-sided tape to the underside of the kitchen cabinet
Take the protective paper off one side of the double-sided tape and press it into the kitchen cabinet’s underside. To guarantee the best lighting, aim to place the double-sided tape along the middle of the underside of the cabinet. You can now ensure that it fits perfectly by cutting any excess off.

Step 8: Remove the protective paper
You can now remove the other piece of protective paper from the double-sided tape.

Step 9: Connecting the toggle switch
Connect the toggle switch via its connector to your LED strip light.

Step 10: Fixing the LED Strip lights to the underside of the kitchen cabinet onto the tape
Now take the strip light and press it into the exposed tape, ensuring it runs along the length of the tape on the underside of the cabinet.

Step 11: Connecting the 2-pin wire connector
Take the 2-pin connecting wire and insert it carefully into the strip light’s open end. If you are intending on creating a long line of strip lights, you can then plug the connecting wire into another strip of lighting. Follow Step 10 again to complete this process.

Step 12 – Connect the power adaptor and check it works properly
Now take the plug for the power cord that runs from the power adaptor and inserts it into a wall mains outlet. Watch the strip lights and check that they are working properly. You can check out best LED under cabinet lighting reviews to buy the best one.

 

The toggle switch should function as an on and off selector. With the set-up, you should have enough power running to the lighting, without it being a safety hazard.

Although the above steps are very easy to follow, if you are unfamiliar with electrics or just don’t feel confident, we would always recommend that you hire an electrician or get help by someone that knows how to do it. Even if you just ask someone to give you some initial advice and recommendations before you undertake the work yourself, this will help you to carry the work out hassle and error-free.

The great thing about LED strip lights is that they are incredibly versatile, so if you have a different setup in mind, you can still follow the basic steps above and alter them where necessary to fit the application you have in mind. Strips are ideal for use in various areas and rooms around the home, not just the kitchen, and can also be used in the garage, your car and even in more commercial and business settings.