How this lead works
This RGB connector lead is a short set of wires with a 4-pin connector on the end. Each wire corresponds to a pin, and each pin to a line of the RGB LED strip. You solder the free ends to the pads of a freshly cut strip, then plug the connector into its counterpart. The result is a connection that is permanent on the strip side and removable on the plug side, which is exactly what you want when sections must come apart later for cleaning, service or a change of layout. On long installations split into several sections, it also lets you test or replace each section on its own.
Male or female, your choice
The included 4-pin extension lets you use the connector as a male or a female connector. In practice, you are never stuck with the wrong gender: if the part facing you has pins, set the lead up as female; if it has sockets, set it up as male. The same 4-pin connector can therefore meet another lead, a strip that already carries a connector, or the output of an RGB controller, and you keep fewer specialty parts on hand for future jobs. If you do not need the extension right away, keep it with your spare parts for the next change.
Soldering tips for a clean joint
Cut the strip at a marked cut point, clean the pads and tin them lightly. Tin the wire ends as well, then join each wire to its pad with a quick touch of the iron, keeping the same pad order on every section you connect. Follow the markings printed next to the pads so that each line lands on the matching pin at the other end. A temperature-controlled iron and fine solder make the work easier on small pads. Slide heat-shrink tubing over the joint for a neat finish, then test all colours with the controller before you mount the strip for good. If you prefer to avoid soldering, choose a solderless connector made for your strip type instead.
Projects and compatibility
This lead works with RGB LED strips and with controllers or leads that use a matching 4-pin connection. It shines wherever a strip has to be removable: lit cabinets that may come down during a renovation, a trade-show booth that is assembled and taken apart, boutique displays that change with the seasons, a desk or a bed frame with colour accents, or a bar with access panels. Contractors across Canada appreciate a connection they can build once and service easily, on residential and commercial jobs of every size.
Technical specifications
Product: RGB LED strip wires with connector
Connector: 4-pin
For: RGB LED strips