By Clarissa Allison | June 24th, 2016

Energy is the crux of many social, economic, and climate problems.  Renewable energy sources offer a brighter, more sustainable future.  International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that almost 1 billion people will still be without access to electricity in 2030, in part owing to rapid population growth, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. The number of people without access to clean cooking stoves and fuels is similarly projected to drop only slightly, from 2.6 billion to 2.5 billion.

Regardless of bends, twists, or turns, Example of a cut line on LED strip lights

2. You will now have two LED strip lights. Carefully peel back the end portion of the paper strip covering the strip’s adhesive backing, and then remove the 3M VHB adhesive from the solder pads on the bottom side of one of the strips. The strip with its adhesive peeled back will be the top strip when soldered.

5. Align the non-tinned strip segment (strip with adhesive removed) directly over the newly tinned pads, and apply heat. Hold the soldering iron in place until the solder remelts and begins to flow. To strengthen the bond and improve visual appeal, a small portion of solder can be added to the top pad.

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the strip.

The following steps demonstrate how to split and solder a run of non-weatherproof two-conductor or connecting wires. Peel away the blue wire so that only the positive (red), negative (black), and control (green) wires are left.

*No wires should be peeled away if you’re joining single-color or standard RGB light strips.

3. Properly heat your soldering iron. For best results, clean and tin the tip of the iron immediately before soldering. To tin the iron, touch solder to both sides of the iron’s tip.

4. Next you will need to tin the solder pads on both ends of the split strip light. When soldering, always apply heat to the target area on the strip and not directly to the solder. Once sufficient heat has been applied to the area, start introducing solder.

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the strip.

The following steps demonstrate how to split, solder, and reseal a

3. Follow steps two through five located at the top of this post for soldering a standard RGB strip light.

4. To reseal the strip light, apply

The LED strip lights are now connected, and power should flow through the entire length of the weatherproof strip.

As with any type of home repair service, the cost of a project or repair will vary depending on what type of work you need to have done. If you have an electrical repair, for example, the electrician will need to take out his tools and do some electrical troubleshooting in order to determine exactly what and where the problem is. If this is the case, it’s not possible to give an exact electrical estimate before starting, and the job will need to be done on a time an material basis. The electrician should give you an accurate quote of their hourly rates, and the cost of materials that they charge you for should be realistic. If the electrician is knowledgeable and competent and the repair is straight forward, they can usually fix the issue within a fairly short amount of time and at a reasonable cost.

If you need a panel upgrade, new lighting, smoke detectors or any other type of electrical installation, you’ll want to make sure that you know the exact price before the job is started. For your own protection, this is very important.

Electric Connection, a licensed Pasadena electrician, can give you a ballpark price over the phone for most types of electrical installations, and then schedule an appointment to go out to your house or business property to give you a detailed price in writing. Getting a price in writing for the work you need done means no surprises for you at the end of the job and less stress for you while the job is in progress, too.

If you need an electrical update or installation, you can call our office and let us know exactly what you’re looking for, and we’ll be able to give a ballpark figure and some free electrical advice. If you like the ballpark price, we can schedule an appointment to go out to your property and give you an exact electrical estimate in writing. We’re a licensed and bonded electrician Pasadena area residents can depend on. You can also visit our website at www.theelectricconnection.com/electrician-pasadena-ca to find out more.