Description
This LED Strip Switch adds an inline on/off button to a 12V strip light for $10.99, with no cutting and no soldering. It uses standard 5.5 x 2.1mm DC connectors, has a 32cm lead, and comes with both a male and a female jack so it drops straight into an existing setup.
The problem it solves is mundane and universal: a strip light plugged into a wall adapter has no switch, so the only way to turn it off is to pull the plug or reach behind the furniture for the powerpoint. This sits in the lead where your hand can reach it.
Specifications
| Input voltage |
DC 12V |
| DC connector size |
5.5mm x 2.1mm |
| Lead length |
32cm |
| Switch body |
6.1 x 1.9 x 1.9cm |
| Installation |
Plug in - no cutting or soldering |
| Compatible strip |
Single colour 3528 and 5050 |
What's in the Box
| Inline wire switch |
1 |
| DC jacks |
2 (one male, one female) |
| LED strip or power adapter |
Not included |
Why This Is the Easiest Upgrade to a Strip Install
-
No soldering - unplug the adapter, put this in between, plug back in
-
Standard 5.5 x 2.1mm - the size the overwhelming majority of 12V adapters use
-
Both jacks supplied - male and female, so it fits whichever way your setup is wired
-
32cm lead - long enough to bring the switch out from behind furniture
-
Reversible - nothing is cut, so it can be removed later without trace
Why Add a Switch to a Strip Light?
Because most 12V strip kits ship without one. The strip is on whenever the adapter is plugged in, so turning it off means either crawling behind a cabinet to the powerpoint, or pulling the barrel plug repeatedly - which wears out the socket on the adapter and eventually gives you an intermittent connection. A dedicated inline switch takes the wear instead, and puts control somewhere you can actually reach.
Will 5.5 x 2.1mm Fit My Adapter?
Most likely. 5.5mm outer by 2.1mm inner is the most common barrel size on 12V LED adapters by a wide margin. The main alternative you might meet is 5.5 x 2.5mm, which has a slightly thicker centre pin - a 2.1mm plug will push into a 2.5mm socket but sits loose and can arc, so it is not a good idea. If you are not sure, measure the centre pin on your existing adapter before ordering.
Does This Cut Standby Power?
Partly, and it is worth being precise. The switch sits on the DC side, between the adapter and the strip, so switching it off stops the strip drawing power - but the adapter itself is still plugged into the wall and still drawing a small standby load. That standby draw is genuinely tiny on a modern adapter, typically a fraction of a watt. If eliminating it entirely matters to you, a switched powerpoint or an inline mains switch is what you want instead.
Buyers are retrofitting a switch to under-cabinet lighting, caravan and boat installs, TV backlighting, and display cabinets.
Browse Tools & Hardware, Automotive, or Home & Garden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to solder?
No. It plugs in between your adapter and your strip.
What size are the connectors?
5.5mm outer, 2.1mm inner - the most common 12V barrel size.
Is a power adapter included?
No.
Will it work with RGB strip?
It switches power on and off, so it will kill an RGB strip too, but RGB colour control still needs an RGB controller.
How long is the lead?
32cm.
Can it handle a long run of strip?
It is a switch, not a controller. Match it to a sensible 12V load and do not use it on a very high current run.
Can I use it outdoors?
It is not weather rated. Keep it indoors or inside an enclosure.
Fast Australian Shipping
Dispatched from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, with regional and remote addresses served through the standard Australia Post network.
Measurements are approximate. Screen colours vary between devices. LOW VOLTAGE DC ONLY - never connect this to mains voltage. Not weather rated.
