How to choose led strip light connectors?

Quick answer

At SuperLightingLED we sell connectors for every strip we make, and “which connector do I need?” is one of the questions we get most. Start with the table, then read on for how connectors work and a six-step checklist.

LED strip connector types at a glance

3-pin vs 4-pin: the pin count follows the strip type, not the brand. An addressable strip is chosen by its signal line, so check whether it has data only (3-pin) or data plus clock (4-pin) before you buy.

LED strip connector diagrams

Drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team; click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.

Also see: connecting COB LED strips after cutting, connecting IP67 LED strips and wire-to-wire T-tap and lever connectors.

Are all LED light strip connectors the same?

Not all types of led strip lights have the same connector. On the contrary, different led strip lights have their own suitable connectors. It is important to choose a suitable connector for your light strip. It may cause your led strip lights to malfunction with a wrong connector. So, for the health of your light strip, please use the correct connector. In this article, we will introduce you different types of led connectors to ensure that you can choose the most perfect connector for your led strip lights.

*Everything you should know before buying LED strip lights:

What are led strip lights?

Is it worth getting led strip lights? 

Are led strip lights safe?

Flexible led strip lights VS rigid led strip lights

Top 6 Considerations Before Buying LED Strip Lights

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How do LED strip light connectors work?

Led strip connector is composed of a connector cover, a connector seat plate, two limit bars, and several metal sheets. The end of the metal sheets is fixed on the connector seat plate. By sliding the light strip into the open end of the metal sheet, and close the cover to fix the light strip, and the limit bars are inserted into the seat plate. We know that metal has very good conductivity, and the working principle of the led connector is to conduct electricity from one light strip to another through the metal sheet.

When the LED chip of your led strip light is damaged, cut out the damaged LED light chip, and connect the led light strip with led connectors. 

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What are the different kinds of LED connectors? What connectors do you need for LED strip lights?

There are many kinds of led connectors in market, including strip-to-strip, strip-to-wire, and wire-to-wire connectors.

*This picture is COB LED strips, know more about COB: What is COB led strip light?

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Strip-to-strip led light connectors

We mentioned briefly what kind of connector should be used for different led strip lights in the article How to know what your led strip light is.

►2-pin led connectors are for single color led strip lights. There are two copper pads on the circuit board, one is the positive and the other is negative. And the two copper pads are the connection points of the strip light. This is the origin of the name of 2-pin. If your led strip light is white, red, blue, green, or other single color, please look for 2-pin led strip connectors.

*Knowledge about LED color and white light color temperature:

The Color Difference Between Warm White 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, 6000K Pure White and 7000K Cool White

How to choose the right color for your led strip lights?

What is CT(LED white light color temperature)?

What is CRI(color rendering index)?

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►3-pin led strip connectors are for tunable white led strip lights and single signal addressable led strips.

Tunable white led strip lights are also known as dual white led strips or CCT light strips, which have two different white color, warm white and daylight color. You can decide which color to use in different scenes. And they have three copper pads, one positive and two negatives for warm white and daylight lines.

Single signal addressable led strips are three copper pads as well. But one for positive, one for negative, and one for digital signal line. Although tunable white led strip lights and single signal addressable led strips are all 3-pin, the effect of their use is different.

*Difference between single signal, dual signal, breakpoint resume, and DMX512 addressable LED strip lights: Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Addressable LED Strip & How to wire addressable led strips?

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►4-pin strip connectors are for RGB color changing led strip lights, dual signal addressable LED strip lights and breakpoint resume addressable LED.

RGB strips are the most familiar led light strips for people. We often see people asking question how to connect RGB led strips. RGB color changing has four copper pads, one positive and R, G, B color lines which are the negative.

Dual signal addressable strip lights and breakpoint resume addressable are four copper pads too. And one for positive, one for negative, one for clock line, and one digital signal line.

Note that addressable RGB led strip lights do not necessarily use 4-pin connectors. When selecting led connectors for addressable light strips, the basis for selection is not to have several connection points, but to look at its signal line.

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►5-pin light strip connectors are for RGBW led strip lights, which have five copper pads. One positive line, and four negative lines for R, G, B, W color.

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►6-pin led strip light connectors are for RGBCCT led strips. The copper pads are six, one for positive as the same, and others for R, G, B, W, WW color lines. You can understand that an RGBCCT led strip light is equivalent to RGB light strip plus tunable white led strip.

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There are other shape connectors for whom want to change the direction of the led strip light.

Strip-to-wire led strip connectors

The use of a strip to wire connector is like the strip-to-strip connectors. However, the strip-to-wire connector only uses one head to connect led strip light, and the other end is a wire. It is suitable for connecting light strips to power supply or led controller.

Wire-to-wire led connectors

During the installation process, you will encounter a situation where you need to connect two wires. At this time, it is obviously impossible to use strip to strip connectors. Since what needs to be connected is a wire and a wire, so when we choose the connector, we should choose a wire-to-wire connector. You can also use a nut cap to connect it. Strip the insulation layer of a section of wire, use a tool to wind the bare wires together, and then tighten them with a nut cap. But you should pay attention to that the positive pole needs to be connected to the positive pole, and the negative pole is the same when connecting polarity. This is a wrong way to connect the positive pole to the negative pole.

If you tend to connect one power supply to multiple led light strips, and you think the wiring is troublesome, you can try the cable splitter. And the light strips are connected in parallel. So the current of all the light strips can not exceed the maximum current carrying capacity of the cable splitter.

* Related knowledge about LED connector: How to connect led strip to the power supply?

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How to choose the right connector for your led strip lights?

Your led strip lights determines which connector you will use. Look for in our LED light strip accessories. 

Step 1. Know what your led strip light is 2-pin or other?

We talked about the different types of led strip lights. Determine your answer based on the knowledge mentioned above.

Step 2. Which two objects do you want to connect?

First you have to determine which two or several objects you want to connect. According that to choose the connector and to ensure that you won't choose the wrong connector. If you want to connect two led strip lights together, strip to strip connector is that you should choose instead of a strip to wire connector. And if there are two strip lights, you should use a strip to strip connector.

Step 3. Determine the width of your led strip light.

You can’t use a 12 mm connector to a 10mm led strip light. Only the corresponding width of the light strip and the connector can match perfectly.

Step 4. Is your led strip light waterproof or not waterproof?

Waterproof led strip lights should use waterproof connectors. If you choose a non-waterproof connector for waterproof led strip lights, The connector area is exposed and affected by rain or water, which may cause a short circuit or the light strip does not work.

When connecting the waterproof strip light, you need to peel off the waterproof layer of the connection, so that you can align the connector metal sheet with the copper pad, otherwise even if you connect it, the light strip will not work.

Step 5. Do you need to change the direction of your led strip light?

What should you do if you hit a corner when connecting the light strip? Fold your led strip light? We ‘re not recommended you to do that, although it has a certain feasibility. It may be harmful to led strip lights. You can use a L-sharp connector in this case, which no harm to the light strip.

If you want to bend led strip lights at right angles, but don't want to cut and don't want to use connectors, the S-shaped light strip will be more suitable for you. It can be bent at right angles without damaging the light strip. If you want to know the S-shaped light strip more clearly, open our website and search for the S-shaped light strip, you will get the products about it.

Step 6. Do you need to jump?

During the actual installation of the led strip lights, you may encounter various problems. Encountering obstacles such as pillars may make you puzzled. The led extension cable is used to solve the similar problems.

When choosing a led strip light connector for your light strip, please carefully consider the above factors, they are related to whether the LED connector you choose can bring you a perfect job. 

* How to install LED light strip:

Ultimate Guide on Aluminum Profile for LED Strip Lighting

How to install led strip lights? What accessories will be needed?

How to install LED motion sensor stair lights?

How to wire single color led strip lights?

How to wire tunable white/CCT led strip lights?

How to wire RGB color changing led strip lights?

How to wire RGBW color changing led strips?

How to wire RGBCCT led color changing strip lights?

LED strip connector FAQ

What are the different types of LED strip connectors?

By job: strip-to-strip, strip-to-wire and wire-to-wire. By pins: 2-pin (single color), 3-pin (tunable white or single-signal addressable), 4-pin (RGB or dual-signal addressable), 5-pin (RGBW) and 6-pin (RGBCCT).

What is the difference between a 3-pin and a 4-pin LED strip connector?

A 3-pin connector is for tunable white or single-signal addressable strips; a 4-pin connector is for RGB, dual-signal or breakpoint resume addressable strips.

Are all LED strip connectors the same?

No. Each type of LED strip needs its own connector, and the connector width must match the strip width.

Can I use a normal connector on a waterproof LED strip?

No. Waterproof LED strips should use waterproof connectors, and the waterproof layer must be peeled off the pads so the metal contacts touch the copper.

How do I go around a corner with an LED strip?

Use an L-shaped connector instead of folding the strip, or use an S-shaped LED strip that bends at right angles without cutting.

Shop LED strip connectors by pin count