12 volt splice

[Dan S]

I want to run a LED strip over my refrigerator area but there is not a power source nearby. Is it as easy as finding the closest source (over the twin bed) and splice into it and run the wire in the overhead bins and drop it in?do I need to consider distance and wire size etc?

Thx

Dan

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I want to run a LED strip over my refrigerator area but there is not a power source nearby. Is it as easy as finding the closest source (over the twin bed) and splice into it and run the wire in the overhead bins and drop it in?do I need to consider distance and wire size etc?

Thx

Dan

For an LED strip all you really have to consider is making the splice clean, tight and well-insulated when you're done. The draw for LEDs is so low that you'd have to work to find wire small enough to overload it. Since it's easiest to splice wires of similar gauge, get wire to roughly match what you're splicing into and it should be fine. For a semi-permanent connection, pros recommend the crimp-and-solder connectors.

[idroba]

Yes, as DKB said, LED lights take very little power to operate so that is not the real issue of concern. You do need to use a wire which will handle at least 15 amps which is most likely the fuse size for the original circuits in the AS. The wire needs to be able to cary enough current to blow the fuse in case of a short between where you splice it into an existing circuit and the LED's you want to operate. Given that, I suggest #14 wire, although #16 would probably cary enough current for a short time to pop the fuse in the event of a short.

[truckasaurus]

And in wall rated.

[J. Morgan]

I prefer two or three layers of shrink tube on a long splice using cross link wire.

[garry]

You also have to pay attention to polarity LED's can be hooked up backwards and self destruct.