LED strip lights for camping

I have a 5mtr roll of 5050 SMD led's. I want to make up a couple of light sticks to use. Just after some ideas on what to use for the backing. I'm thinking of making them around a metre each with something on either end so they can be hung up horizontally. I'll put in the wiring a little rocker switch so they can be turned on and off with ease too.
Plus what size wire would be good to use? I was thinking of 3mm twin core or maybe 4mm sheathed twin core for added strength as I would want to make the leads around 5 metres each, maybe longer...

Thanks.

Yo Mudski as mentioned before Jaycar sell track to suit these strip lights, plus disfusers and end caps to complete the job,
Also look at some of the alloy extrusions at Bunnings, might be something there suitable
Just waiting on the small white switch to arrive, good for inline applications

Thanks TD. Is that switch from Jaycar too? Looks like the perfect thing...

Nah just something I found on ebay, try these from ABR sidewinder,weatherproof
That verticle light was just something I was toying with. the wire two core I used is rubber
awg18 od6mm and $1.70 a metre pt no. wb-1754

Great. Thanks again. I just found and ordered one of those white switches to try out. Just gotta figure out what kind of strip I will use...

A bit of 10mm flat aluminium bar from burnings will work great, either that or angle so you can mount it to something aswell. I've done this plenty of times and never had a problem

This is just to let you now how far camp lighting has come.
gone are the days of noisey coleman pressure lamps with brittle mantles
hurricane lanterns just not bright enough' this was one of my first 12v jobs
you would be surprised how much light this gives out.
Even 12 v downlights work great

Quote:

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Originally Posted by threedogs

This is just to let you now how far camp lighting has come.
gone are the days of noisey coleman pressure lamps with brittle mantles
hurricane lanterns just not bright enough' this was one of my first 12v jobs
you would be surprised how much light this gives out.
Even 12 v downlights work great

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Awesome looking setup threedogs, where can i get one??? Do they come in other beer flaovours???? what about a bourbon can??? wow the sky is the limit!!! hahahahahahaa

Bourbons ones way too expensive, one a budget you know.
All made from stuff at camp one trip.
Sort of a frothy, friday idea.

Disco camping:)....:http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Waterproo...item19d44ef741

Got one of those RGB square 10watt flood Lights. most other colours are useless.
Going to test next camp to see what colour WILL NOT attract insects, not convinced its yellow.
Wouldn't recommend ,it not much chop out bush, just something I'm working on,
Remote controlled as well

What does SMD mean? I keep seeing 3528 and 5050 SMD

Thats the type of LED ,style if you like, ATM smd are the way to go, no working parts just a dot on a yellow background, got me beat how they even work

It's a case of waste nothing, especially when your on the road. Hehehe

5050 are the superbright LEDs. They are far better than older style LED. More light for less power and one of the 50s stands for the 50,000 theoretical hours of life you should be able to get out of them.

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Originally Posted by taslucas

What does SMD mean? I keep seeing 3528 and 5050 SMD

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It's to do with the size of the led.

3528 and 5050 are the dimensions of the actual diode. 3.5x2.8mm and 5x5mm so a 5050 LED is gonna put out a lot more light but you gotta be careful of how many LEDs are in the strip.

SMD LED means surface mounted LED, they lay directly on a flat surface (circuit)
SMD is brighter than LED most of the time.

5050 will be really bright in camp at night and will be too much i reckon. Good maybe for cooking but terrible for ambient light in camp. Fit a dimmer if you are running 5050 and going to make a portable stick light as it will drive you nuts.

I use 20mm electrical conduit as the backing and just stick the LED straight to the conduit. works a treat, is light weight and strong and readily available.

In terms of the best length?? Give a thought to how you will pack it in the back of the car?? i carry 3 umbrellas in teh back of my car and two are the right length to store down the side and between the back of the seat and the back door. the 3rd i have to stick down the side of the seat as its too long!

make it so you can pack it or you might as well make it 2m long and put it on the roof ;)

@ Lucas Jaycar sell mounting plates and end caps for strip lighting, make your work look neat

Sorry, my post thanks is being denied at the moment. I would have thanked you guys. Firstly for the info and also for the thread dig as I had forgotten about it. Lol.
Thanks:-)

FanTapstic!

I use aluminium right angle 1 mtr and have a strip on each of the two outer faces and use clips that just grap onto a tent pole and also have holes I can zip tie them anywhere these are the sort of clips I use

These look like a good bargain. Switch, cable, aluminium strip and led's. 60cm strip for $40-$50

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-60CM-...item4172f02280

Jaycar sell all that alloy extrusion and end caps for stip lighting, so easy to tailor make your own

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NP99

These look like a good bargain. Switch, cable, aluminium strip and led's. 60cm strip for $40-$50

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-60CM-...item4172f02280

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You can make three for that price mate.and at longer lengths too.
@ TD, the Jaycar end caps are rubbish. I went through all this when I was making my strips. I ended up using those square plastic plugs you get from Bunnings for a buck for two. Worked and looked better too.



I tapped that app...

Indeed, as I made my own, however for the non dyi guys, I think it's a good buy.

Yeah good call...

Thanks for the great ideas

Yes i agree the 5050's brighter but have found the 3528's to be more than adequate for the campsites we have been on.They are less in your face and provide more than enough light. I had the 5 metre lengths of 3528 led strip stringed out across the trailer and under the camper to see in the storage area. they could emit enough lighting for our need.