The role of the end cap
A 120V strip is cut on site to the exact length of the wall, cove or shelf it follows, and the cut leaves the strip's contacts exposed at the very end of the run. The end cap covers that end completely, keeping it sheltered and giving the installation a finished edge instead of a raw cut. It is the counterpart of the connector: where the two pin connector joins two sections into one line, the cap closes the line where it stops. Both belong in the toolbox of anyone installing 120V strip lighting at scale.
Compatibility: the 39 LEDs/m strip
This cap is dedicated to the 25 m 39 LEDs/m 120V strip. The 118 LEDs/m strips, sold in 25 m and 50 m rolls, have a different LED density and therefore a different accessory range, so a cap from one family will not fit the other. If you are unsure which strip you have, count the LEDs over a short length of strip before cutting anything: at 39 per metre, the LEDs are visibly spaced apart, while the high density strip packs them much closer together.
Fitting the cap
Work with the power off. Cut the strip at the designated cut point so the end is clean and square, then seat the end cap on the trimmed end until the opening is hidden. Apply silicone or PVC glue to secure it, as recommended, and allow it to set before the strip is energized. Where your project calls for it, have a qualified electrician carry out the connection in accordance with the Canadian Electrical Code and local requirements. The same precautions apply to the two pin connector and the heat shrink tube used elsewhere on the run.
Projects that call for it
Every long run of 39 LEDs/m strip has a beginning and an end, and the end needs this cap: the far corner of a living room cove, the last metre of a toe-kick line, the end of a display shelf in a boutique, a soffit accent on a commercial building, the tail of a signage outline, or the end of a corridor or parking level run. Keep a few caps on hand for repairs and re-terminations: when a run is shortened later, the new end needs a fresh cap, and having one ready keeps the strip light installation looking the way it did on day one.
Summary
Accessory: cap for the 120V single colour strip at 39 LEDs/m
Strip: 25 m roll, 39 LEDs/m
Not for: the 25 m and 50 m 118 LEDs/m strips
Purpose: covers the trimmed end of the strip and keeps it sheltered
Attachment: silicone or PVC glue
Companion parts: strip-to-strip two pin connector, heat shrink tube
