Why a 120V strip needs an end cap
A 120V strip is fed directly from the line, so the exposed copper at a cut end is not something to leave open. The end cap is the accessory designed for that spot: it covers the end and safeguards it from the 120V current, and it does so with a clean, aesthetic finish rather than a makeshift wrap of tape. On a long 120V LED strip installation, every run has at least one cut end, and every cut end deserves a cap. Buying them with the strip means the job is finished the day it is installed, without a return trip.
Made for the 118 LEDs/m strip only
LED density decides the fit. This cap is intended for the 118 LEDs/m 120V strip, the high density single colour strip, and it will not work with the 39 LEDs/m 120V strip, which uses its own accessory range. Before ordering, make sure the roll you are finishing is the 118 LEDs per metre version; the same rule applies to the clips, connectors and extensions of this family, which are all dedicated to the high density LED strip. Checked once, the question never comes up again.
How to install it
Cut the strip at one of its designated cut points, which come every 33 cm (13 inch), with the power off. Slide the end cap over the cut end so the opening is fully covered, then fix it with silicone or PVC glue as recommended, and let it set before the strip is powered up. Because this is a line voltage product, follow the usual precautions for 120V work and call on an electrician when the installation requires it. Once the glue has cured, the end is protected and the strip light can be mounted with its clips or double-sided tape.
Finishing touches for a professional run
Think of the cap as the last piece of a complete LED strip accessories kit: connectors join the sections, shrink tube protects the joints, the screw-on clips hold the strip where tape alone is not enough, and the end cap closes the line. Typical places where the cap becomes visible, and therefore matters, are the open end of a kitchen cove, the edge of a shelf in a boutique, the end of a bar front, or a strip that stops at a doorway in a corridor. A capped end reads as finished lighting, not as a loose cable.
Key points
Product: end cap for 120V single colour LED strip
Fits: 118 LEDs/m 120V LED strip only
Not compatible with: the 39 LEDs/m 120V LED strip
Function: closes and protects the cut end of the strip
Fixing: silicone or PVC glue, recommended
Strip cut interval: every 33 cm (13 inch)
