Description
These LED Strip Connectors are solderless 4 pin clips for 10mm 5050 RGB strip, from $11.99 in packs of 5 or 10. The contacts are copper, and they join two lengths of strip or a strip to a controller lead without a soldering iron.
Soldering onto LED strip is genuinely fiddly - the pads are small, the flexible PCB lifts if you dwell too long, and getting four joints right in a row while the strip is already mounted overhead is not most people's idea of an evening. A clip does the same job in a few seconds with no heat.
Specifications
| Type |
4 pin end connector clip |
| Strip width |
10mm |
| Contact material |
Copper |
| Colour |
White |
| Compatible strip |
5050 SMD 4 pin RGB |
| Waterproofing |
The clip itself is NOT waterproof |
| Pack sizes |
5 or 10 |
What's in the Box
| 4 pin clips |
5 or 10, depending on the pack |
| LED strip |
Not included |
| Blade or knife for IP65 strip |
Not included |
Why Solderless Clips Are Worth Having
-
No heat - nothing to melt the flexible PCB or lift a pad
-
Seconds per joint - open the clip, seat the strip, close it
-
Reversible - open the clip and the strip comes out undamaged
-
Copper contacts - lower resistance and less heating than plated steel
-
Buy a few spare - clips are the part that goes wrong on a long install, so 10 is sensible
When Should You Use a Clip Instead of Soldering?
Use a clip for temporary installs, for anything you may want to reconfigure, for repairs where you cannot get a soldering iron to the strip, and any time the run is indoors and undisturbed. Solder is still the better long-term joint for a permanent install, especially in a hot roof space, in a vehicle where vibration works contacts loose, or anywhere the strip carries high current. If a run must never fail, solder it. If you want it working in five minutes, clip it.
Why Do Solderless Clips Sometimes Fail?
Almost always because the four pins are not making clean contact with the copper pads. Cut the strip exactly on the marked cut line so the full pad is exposed, make sure the strip is pushed all the way in and sitting square, and check the pins land on copper rather than on the solder mask between pads. Oxidised or dirty pads are the other cause - a light rub with a rubber eraser cleans them. A joint that works when you press it but flickers when you let go is a seating problem, not a faulty clip.
Do These Work on Waterproof Strip?
They work with both IP65 waterproof and IP20 non-waterproof strip, but with an important caveat: on IP65 strip you have to cut the silicone coating back with a sharp blade first so the pins can reach the copper. And the clip itself is not waterproof, so once fitted, that joint is no longer sealed. For a genuinely wet location you need a waterproof joint or a sealed connector, not this - use these on IP65 strip only where the join sits somewhere dry.
Buyers are installing strip lighting under cabinets and shelves, repairing a cut or damaged run, and building gaming and TV backlighting.
See Tools & Hardware, Gaming, or Home & Garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What strip width do these fit?
10mm 4 pin RGB strip.
Do I need to solder?
No, that is the point of them.
Will they work on single colour strip?
These are 4 pin RGB clips. Single colour strip uses 2 pin connectors.
Are they waterproof?
No. The clip is not sealed, even when used on IP65 strip.
Can I use them on IP65 strip?
Yes, but you must trim the silicone back with a blade first so the pins reach the copper.
Can I reuse a clip?
Yes, they open and release the strip undamaged.
How many should I buy?
Buy more than you think - clips are the usual failure point, and having spares saves a second order.
Fast Australian Shipping
Dispatched from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, with regional and remote addresses handled through the standard Australia Post network.
Measurements are approximate. Screen colours vary between devices. LOW VOLTAGE DC ONLY. Take care when trimming silicone from waterproof strip - cut away from your hands.
