Help with installing LED light strip

[unpaintedhuffhines]

Okay, I'm struggling with this apparently simple project, and would love some help.

I have some LED lights installed in the bathroom in my garage. It's three strips, and they have a very simple four prong connector. If I could find an exact replacement strip, this project is about 2 minutes, 3 if I have to take a break. Problem is, I can't find the direct replacement, despite all my research.

I've shown the current installation, a close up of the connector, my original packaging and what I bought to replace them (no idea if that will work).

The problem is the LED lights that I have are starting to yellow and fade in and out, so it's definitely time to replace them.

I can find tons of LED lighting out there, in fact, I bought some in the hopes that I could figure it out, but now that I have them, I have no idea how to connect since the connectors are all different, and the new LED lights say I need a Power Adapter. I have the original package with the description, but can't find any direct replacement. I do not have room for a Power Adapter.

It appears that the lights I have do not have a Power Adapter, however, wires go behind a wall, so I'm actually not sure about that.

So, I appeal to your good nature and help. I am looking to:
A. easily replace the LED light strips
B. Not die doing so
C. Not burn down my garage

Appreciate any help anyone can give me.

 

[Fasthotrod]

From looking at the original package, it likely has a power adapter... it says, "DC12V" which is probably twelve volts direct current. Odds are, the four pins are there because it's a RGB strip (Red, Green, Blue) that is capable of multiple colors, including white.

Look closely at the end of the strip... do you see some lettering on it that looks something like this one?

From what I can see, it looks a lot like the Lavolta SMD5050 LED kit from Parts Express:

https://www.parts-express.com/lavol...t-strip-with-12-vdc-6a-power-supply---073-086

Kinda hard to see the details in those pictures... so I'm just throwing darts here. Hope it helps.

Mark

 

[tboy]

FastHotrod has it right. Those strips of LED are really simple. You provide +12V to some little controller, and the controller switches ground on and off to change the colors.

The "Connector" is just a circuit board "header" with 0.1" pitch soldered on with some heat shrink.

Male:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3002

Female:
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2886

 

[tboy]

A question though, if the lights are yellowing, can you not just change the color mixing? Did it inadvertently get set to a warm white?

The strips I have had use small infrared remote to change a bunch of presets. The "controller" has a little infrared diode on it.

 

[unpaintedhuffhines]

Thanks everyone. FastHotrod - I looked at the end, and I don't see letters, but I do see three pluses and a negative.

No idea if this is capable of multiple colors - since it's just a wall switch, no way for me to tell. I have no remote.

And tboy - when I say it is yellowing, I mean the physical strip is yellowing, including the leds, which leads to different brightness by led, and it's very different than when originally installed.

Maybe I'll try buying the Lavolta SMD5050 LED to see if that works. Thanks, and appreciate all the ideas.

 

[Citation]

Bit of an old thread but I found it in a search. I have a strip of LEDs like that. The tape part is set up for color or white LEDs. I had to bridge the 3 +'s together to get the LEDs to light properly.

Anyway, if you check the voltage you should have 12v going to the strip. If so, there are lots of 12v LED tape options if you are ok soldering onto your current wires. You could also solder a pin header onto a new strip then use the existing plug.