Wiring Bridgelux Strips

Sorry for the dumb question but this is my first LED build and I can't find the answer online. How do you connect the wires to the connectors on the strips?

You push them in to the connectors.what driver do you have?

Are those eb2 strips and are they from Digikey?

So I strip the wire back and just push it in? Seems loose and can just pull right out. Yes, they're EB strips and I have a Mean Well HLG-240H-20B driver. I'm following the 4x2 build below using the 1' strips

http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/#more-2416

owneal said:

So I strip the wire back and just push it in? Seems loose and can just pull right out. Yes, they're EB strips and I have a Mean Well HLG-240H-20B driver. I'm following the 4x2 build below using the 1' strips

http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/#more-2416

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What size wire are you using?

18AWG.

owneal said:

18AWG.

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Are you sure you are pushing it in all the way?

I thought I was. I'll try again. I realized it's not solid wire - its stranded. That matter?

Maybe I'm just retarded but I stripped the wire back enough to expose the strands and twisted the strands a little then insert into connector. It stays loose though. I can take my pinkey nail and pull the wire out. Shouldn't it be in there tight?

I just use 18awg solid bell cord-has sufficient insulation for the voltages it will see and is dirt cheap. Strip the insulation back 8mm/5/16" and insert firmly into the connector. You should feel the retainer offer some resistance when you first insert the wire and then it just slides in. Should stay attached when you tug on the wire.

owneal said:

I thought I was. I'll try again. I realized it's not solid wire - its stranded. That matter?

Click to expand...

Absolutely. You need to tin the ends of its stranded wire otherwise it just smushs and untwists. I'd personally just scrap it though and get SOLID CORE 18AWG

Stranded is fine you just have to open up the connector with a probe type deal like the end of a small finishing nail. Yep solid much better but I as you have stranded. So pry open the connector insert the wire and it should be a firm connection not loose. The little cover you have to pop off and yep it will break... no biggie just not made very well. You gonna love those lights.

owneal said:

I thought I was. I'll try again. I realized it's not solid wire - its stranded. That matter?

Click to expand...

It can be more difficult with stranded. Make sure the end is twisted tightly.

If I'm using stranded, I tin the wire with solder before hand, makes it 10x easier. If that's something that is available to you.

I'll buy solid wire today and see how that works out. Thanks. I'll post up after my later attempts.

The solid wire will make a much more stable connection. It took me a few tries, in my early builds to get the right size of the "strip" on the insulation to get a solid lock... I also overused those release levers on a few strips and busted some of the connectors, It can be tricky to get them to let go. I don't think they were intended to withstand multiple (like WAY too many in my case) releases.....

Got the solid wire in the mail from Amazon and that did the trick. Hopefully I can finish this light this week. Thanks for all the help.