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These LED string lights are a great way to add light to any project with little to no soldering required. The insulated strings come in 10m lengths with one blue LED every 10cm for a total of 100 LED's, all you have to do is add 3-3.4V and they are ready to shine.
Note: 3-3.4V is the the working voltage of these strings. Please do not use 12V.
If it requires power, you need to know how much, what all the pins do, and how to hook it up. You may need to reference datasheets, schematics, and know the ins and outs of electronics.
Skill Level: Rookie - You may be required to know a bit more about the component, such as orientation, or how to hook it up, in addition to power requirements. You will need to understand polarized components.
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I just plugged these into 12 volt and the resistor went into smoke. Very cheaply made
well then dont use a 12 volt
Good advice - but for those who missed it, the original description actually stated these did run on 12V, which was later corrected ( hence the specific warning against using 12V being where it is :) )
Sorry to hear that happen! Please email techsupport@sparkfun.com if you haven't already and they can help you out!
try 3-4.5V
any chance to return this one in stock?
Aaaah! I needed this. Now it's gone....
Is this string waterproof? Would like to illuminate our pool with this under the deck above the water.
Yep! Just make sure you put the connections into some kind of enclosure to protect it. Otherwise, the whole string has a nice coating over it.
what is at the other end of the string.. can i connect another in series? i have to cover about 20-30 meters. may be three strings in series??
Using 5V without a resistor, these are pretty bright. Either an Arduino, or a splice & soldered a USB cable.
How strong are these? If I hook them to a backpack will they be destroyed very easily?
By virtue of being on a backpack alone.. no, not too easily. But given the situations in which backpacks are typically used, and knowing how easily things get snagged on other things that are attached to backpacks, I don't think they would survive very long. If you look at the close-up picture, you'll see that it's not much more than coated thin leads with SMD LEDs soldered directly to them. Flex those leads too much and they'll snap, get something caught between the leads and jammed up against the glob protecting the LED against weather and the solder junction will probably break, etc. The datasheet optimistically even included tensile strength data "Longitudinal tensile 8KG,Transverse tensile 5KG" - figures you can easily exceed.
Could you explain more of what you're trying to do with the backpack?
So you can not make these lights blink slow or fast?
I want to buy one of these for the bottom of my Dalek costume and toss it underneath the rim. What is the mcd brightness of the LEDs? Im worried it wont show. I know that SMD LEDs are generally pretty bright but I wanted to make sure. Thanks!
They light brightly at 12V, but the resistor/shrink wrap is definitely not rated properly for the amperage that 100 lights draws. I recommend a beefier resistor or to rate the string at a lower voltage.
Had similar incident to Member #278726, plugged into 12v, resistor got incredibly hot and melted the shrink wrap around it. Tried 5v and it works beautifully so far.
Sorry to hear that! If you do run into any other problems with it, please contact techsupport@sparkfun.com.