LED strips lights finished

[mudski]

Took a while but they are finished. I made one using a c-channel and diffuser, the other using a piece of aluminum angle I found in my garage.
I also made a supply lead of around 8 metres with a waterproof on/off rocker switch, a ciggie socket on one end and a waterproof connector on the other. I also made a joining lead of around 6 metres so I can join the two strips together and have them say on either side of the covered area when camping. Now the test is to see if the diffused light is too diffused.
Parts used was

a 5mtre roll of waterproof 5050 smd led lights from Ebay
Water proof connectors : http://www.narva.com.au/products/browse/waterproof-connectors-2
Channel and diffuser bought from Jaycar : http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=HH8535
Narva twin core 4mm wire used.
Solder
More solder
heat shrink tubing
and plenty of beer in the process

[rkinsey]

Nice work Mudski. What was the overall cost of materials?

Would most of us be able to do the same thing?

Cheers,

Rob

[threedogs]

Thats what I'm talking about, cant wait now to hear how much light they throw.
great job Mudski gotta be happy with that, neat too,
Just gve me an idea, thanks buddy

[mudski]

Cheers mate. Was quite easy. You just need to know how to solder really. I destroyed a few sections on my first solder attempts. Costing wise?
Well...

LED strip lighting $25'ish for 5metre from Ebay
Solder, I had
Some heat shrink tubing for the ends, I had but is cheap to buy anyhow
30 metre roll of Narve twin core 4mm wire, is about $50. I only used about 18 metre of that roll.
Narva water proof connectors Around $5 for a pack of two female and two male connectors, I used three packs in total
Channel from Jaycar was $14???
Diffuser from Jaycar was around the same I think.

You don't need to use the Jaycar channel, you could use anything to support the flexible strip anyway.
As for the amount of light, the non diffused channel throws out way more in a dark garage but I want to see whats its like at a camp site. It may be too bright.

[mudski]

Nice work Mudski. What was the overall cost of materials?

Would most of us be able to do the same thing?

Cheers,

Rob
Rob as long as you can solder you should be fine. i use a 25w iron for this job, anything bigger would burn off the contact pads on the strip light as this did a few times so i had to work fast for it to not happen. Just remember to ask first for anything if your not sure.

[anthonyandbriana]

Hey where did u get the aluminum bar from? I went to bunnings but couldn't find it

[mudski]

Hey where did u get the aluminum bar from? I went to bunnings but couldn't find it

The u shaped channel is fron Jaycar and the right angled ally bar is left overs from a bathroom reno. :D it was a corner strip from a shower screen I didn't use.