LED Light plugs

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

All I have purchased a 5m strand of LED lights that I am going to cut up to use for lighting in my camper trailer. I know how I am going to cut them up and what wire I am going to use, but what I cannot work out at the moment is how I am going to plug them into power.
I have planned to have 4 strings of lights that are removable so I need to plug them into power somewhere.
I had thought about getting a 4 way cig adapter and mounting that in the kitchen tailgate and just use cig lighter points on the end of each string.
I would however like something that is a little smaller and provides a more stable connection. Anyone have any ideas? I have limited room to mount the receiving end on the kitchen.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Mate I am doing the exact same thing. Bought a 5m roll of Cool White Waterproof 3528 SMD LedStrip Light 600Led. I will be soldering the wire when it comes and will run long leads. Haven't applied my mind as to how I will connect it yet. Given its very low draw of power I expect I will run this wire on a separate circuit direct to the battery and hard wire them.

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

yep sounds the same.
I'll be hardwiring the ones in the main tent/sleeping area, however the annexe ones where the kitchen is I can't as it all gets folded up and packed away so they can't stay attached.

[travis.luke Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close travis.luke]

anderson plugs?, did a setup using magnetic connectors from hella for trucks that require constant charging due to little use, didn't matter if truck just drove off connectors just dropped off ready to connect again. easy to connect and durable as they were from the mining department of hella. great if you are going to move lights around.

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Andersons? OK let me clarify my set up. I have an onboard battery and inverter in the camper as well as a dual battery system in the rig.

The LED lights couldn't flatten a 9 volt over a week so not quite sure where the Andersons come into it?. I do recharge the camper battery off 50amp andersons through a projector isolator, but the LEDS are very low volt wiring direct to the camper battery surely.

Anway, Matty of Matty & Loz fame will e giving the all clear before the wiring and once its done it work will become part of my rig build.

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

I was thinking the same thing, Anderson plugs are way over kill. Probably just going to use something like speaker wire to power the LED's from the battery in the camper

[travis.luke Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close travis.luke]

true, not saying use the plugs due to the amps and current draw, just as a more stable/durable connector than the ciggy.
check out the magnetic units.... used them would recommend them.

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

just had a look at those magnetic units. Very impressive, but super expensive and waay more than I am looking at spending for the camper.

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

The ciggy plug will do, all you need to do then is cut the wire about 100mm up the original cable, and make a connector so that all 4 lights plug into it, that way you can just have 1 or up to the 4 lights running off the one plug, the ciggy plug will handle more power than what the LED's can draw.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

Sorry to upset you but may not be the simple excersize you think.

A LED requires about 1.2V to light properly, the leds in the string are therefore
wired in series/parallel combinations to get the required operating voltage.

You will need to detemine how this has been done and if it is possible to cut
them into strips.

Regarding plugs, any mini DC power plugs/sockets available from Jaycar for
example can be used as the current draw will be very little.

Cheers
LeighW

[xlr8_87 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close xlr8_87]

I saw some plugs the other day that I reckon would suit exactly what you need. Saw them at Bursons but I'm sure a few of those places (maybe Repco, Autobarn) should stock. They were suited for indicator lights so had 4 sockets for wires into a plug (looked like they suited upto 3mm wiring). Came with both male and female ends and was waterproof.
Was similar to this eBay item but a lot cheaper (was about $20)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Kit-1-5mm...item1c1d6f75d1

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

I am thinking a dedicated line from the battery to the main tent area where two line will run off, both for l.5 metres of lights that will be fixed to two different cross bars. one will be permanently stuck to a bar and one will need to demount with each pack up. I need to install 2 small inline black switches and a plug/unplug point for the temp one. (any recommendations?) xlr8's plug looks fine but I will probably get 2 x 2 wire plugs from Jaycar.

The power source will continue through to the annex area where the lights will run in two further sets at 1 metre long each. These 2x 1 meter stretches need to be demountable each time I pack up but will go up in the same places each time. They both need small inline switches and plugs as mentioned to connect into the desired supply line.

So shopping list is:
10 meters of wire (red and Black)
4 x inline waterproof on-off switches (recommendations required)
3 x plugs

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

still undecided on what plugs I am going to use.

My lights in the main tent area are going to be fixed, so I think I have decided on this switch to stay wired up http://www.4x4equip.com.au/showProduct/IDH-36-2.

May even get the single ones for the other lights after.

[blackvx Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close blackvx]

I did see these for the plugs and these are under consideration

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12-Volt-A...item43a6cf8832

[MidLifeCrisis Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MidLifeCrisis]

Love the switch VX, wish we could see the internals and size better though. As for the connectors, I'm inclined to use the other ones and wire them long enough to store back in the trailer rather than have to cut in those cigarette type plugs and then seal and cover for dust control. Ie. one will store inside my side access door and one near the rear door. When needed I can roll out and close the doors with them sticking out as the dust seals will just seal around the thin protruding wire. Hop that gives you some ideas. Thanks for yours