Keeping cheap LED lights connected?

[MushCreek]

Several years ago, I put up 24 cheap 4' LED strip lights in my shop. They work great, with one problem. They keep breaking contact between fixtures. They're designed to be plugged directly together, end-to-end. I think because of the heating and cooling of the shop, things shrink and expand until half or more of the lights stop working. If I push on them hard enough, they remake contact and work. All 24 still work fine- when I can keep them in contact. Anyone have any experience with this, or clever ideas? Maybe some kind of clamp to keep them working together? One problem is that they are 12' off of the ground, with lots of machines and stuff in the way of easy access. They also came with short cords with plugs on each end. I suppose if I had used those, with a loop hanging down a few inches they would be allowed to move a bit without losing contact. Of course, I threw away most of the little cords a long time ago. Are they a standard item?

 

[dcg9381]

Solder and heat shrink? Are these DC powered or are the AC?

 

[Zeke]

Pics and make/model will help with specific ideas to approach the problem. Meanwhile, you think mechanically connecting them with sheet metal screws will help?

 

[MushCreek]

That's what I'm hoping; there's some way I can hold them together as a single unit. The lights are called 'T8 integrated tube light'. Ebay is full of 'em, and the connectors. They sell short wire connectors that I could form a loop with the compensate for movement. https://www.ebay.com/itm/3032402985...FDhDwRUs2+/WWc5BnBBN4Acbv2|tkp:Bk9SR5y4jq-5YQ

 

[u2slow]

I suspect you have the locations figured out by now. Can you open them up enough to hardwire them together?

 

[MushCreek]

Hmmm... I suppose I could. I'll have to open one up. One problem is that they all eventually have to come down when I insulate and cover the ceiling. Could be this year, could be 5 years, could be never.

 

[nadogail]

Put this job on your “to do” list and get both tasks done at once.

 

[cdestuck]

Can you post a pic of the end of one of those cords. Are they like three holes in a triangle? I had your exact same problem with losing connections btwn lights. I called the company and they sent me out like 6" patch cords and no all is perfect. Place I got mine was ledshoplights or something like that.

 

[tfi racing]

Try a small L bracket at each end of the row, you can also glue or silicone them together but will be a pita when comes time to replace one.

 

[MushCreek]

Yes, they are three holes in a triangle. They came with the patch cords, but of course, I tossed them. I can get more of them on ebay. If they work good, that might be my easiest solution.

 

[J_E_F_F]

some electrical tape around the outside of the joint, might be just enough resistance to stop them from separating over time. I have 60+ of those same style lights, and all but 3 are run with cords between, but of those 3 with the solid joint connector between I have also had it come apart. The ones ran with cord are very secure. The 3 with the solid joint connector are only a few feet high over my grill area, so it's a quick fix, but I think a wrap or two of electrical tape would probably cure it. If you used white tape, you'd never even see it from 12 feet up, and it would still come apart pretty easy when you need it to.

If you can deal with the adjustment and look of the small gap for those 1' cords you linked above, that's probably be the best long term, once and done no fuss solution.

 

[Noltz]

Are they on chains? We have these in the shop and the wind swings them. Row of 10 and another of 8. I put zip ties around the chains between each lamp to put a little together-tension on them.

 

[The Cobbler]

maybe an easy squeeze on the socket ends to make the pins fit tighter?

 

[MushCreek]

They're mounted with clips, which are screwed to the ceiling joists. I think the problem has to do with temperature change, which ranges from 30-100 F. The barn is a big wooden structure, which I'm sure moves differently than the lights. I either need connectors with some give, such as the short cords, or figure out a way to make each strip of 6 lights into one big light that can't move.

 

[Youngandfree]

Just squirt super glue on the connections. I have some at my church that would come just loose enough to break the link. Super glue on the joints and no more issues.

 

[Dig Doug]

Get some self tappers and some flat strap to marry the 2 lights together. 2 screw per light (4 screw per connection)

they are probably expanding w/ heat / cold

i have the same type of set up and haven’t had a problem

 

[MushCreek]

They seem to be unusually sensitive. They look close enough, but need a bump to make contact. Oddly enough, the string closest to my man door always works; all six of them. The others often only the first one in line works. Super glue might be a solution, until I want to take them apart to finish my ceiling. I've ordered connectors, and we'll see how they work.

 

[dave*99]

They're mounted with clips, which are screwed to the ceiling joists. I think the problem has to do with temperature change, which ranges from 30-100 F. The barn is a big wooden structure, which I'm sure moves differently than the lights. I either need connectors with some give, such as the short cords, or figure out a way to make each strip of 6 lights into one big light that can't move.

The short cords should solve the problem. Your joists are likely moving around a bit. You could also either add a string of 2x4 above the joists right over the line of lights to tie them together mechanically, Or mount the lights on a string of 2x4 again, attached to the joists.

 

[Blackbyrd]

Im actually having a similar issue with a set of Barrina Lights from Amazon.

I have 8 of them together in a row on one side of the shop and they keep flexing apart. Im considering taking them down and putting a set screw at the end of the first one. then attaching them all back together and doing a set screw at the other end.

My problem seems to be vibration from foot traffic on the floor above rather then expansion and contraction.

 

[txvwnut]

Super glue or a toothpick wedged in between the connector and the socket.

 

[inphx]

Me too.. The purlins must flex with temperature or wind loads..

I don't easily have the space to not use the **** connectors - all the clips are drilled into the steel already.. i suppose one more time i can get up there and perhaps replace all the **** connectors with hopefully better quality.

 

[Blackbyrd]

I'd love to find those with a 90 degree bend in them!

 

[tester19]

I found it's one of those things that are not advertised or talked concerning LED lights. Are they brighter? Yes.
Do they flicker and fail? Yes mine do when it gets cold. They also stop working until I climb up and move the tubes a bit. Stangley I have problems with low temperatures sorta like I had with florescence lights.

I also have heat failures even though we are constantly told these will last decades. Well they don't! The LED lasts a long time BUT the driver boards that adjust the incoming voltage and current run hot and then fail. I now keep driver boards for several types of LED tubes in stock because of this. 4' and 8' tubes. It's a fairly tight and fiddly repair but is possible and cheaper than replacing the entire tube which is a GIANT waste!

The last foul up is when an LED bulb in the house fails they have now moved on to ever changing designs and you simply can't match what was in there. So the house has mis-matched LED bulbs all over. Look around most people's house are the same way. Kind of sad really.
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[dave*99]

I found it's one of those things that are not advertised or talked concerning LED lights. Are they brighter? Yes.
Do they flicker and fail? Yes mine do when it gets cold. They also stop working until I climb up and move the tubes a bit. Stangley I have problems with low temperatures sorta like I had with florescence lights.

I also have heat failures even though we are constantly told these will last decades. Well they don't! The LED lasts a long time BUT the driver boards that adjust the incoming voltage and current run hot and then fail. I now keep driver boards for several types of LED tubes in stock because of this. 4' and 8' tubes. It's a fairly tight and fiddly repair but is possible and cheaper than replacing the entire tube which is a GIANT waste!

The last foul up is when an LED bulb in the house fails they have now moved on to ever changing designs and you simply can't match what was in there. So the house has mis-matched LED bulbs all over. Look around most people's house are the same way. Kind of sad really.
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I feel your pain.

I have the same thoughts. At the moment I have 51 Sylvania 4" puck lights in my house. I've had over a 10% failure rate in the last 18 months since they were installed. Flickering, spring clips that snap off with out being touched and the light pops out of the ceiling. I get warranty replacements from the manufacturer and also currently have 5 spares on the shelf.

Cheap LED's are here to stay and so are the problems you mention.

 

[inphx]

I replaced a few today. The old ones easily come out and are shorter. New ones are guttentight , i hope my problem is solved.