Fitting LED strips?

[allantheboss]

YEAH boi, and what?

I iz got some LED strips to put under my tank, just a bit of fun. There are two strips:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270974287536?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

and a switch:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280812195880?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

How do I connect them up to my battery? The switch has two prongs as you can see in the link, but I don't know which bits I'd attach to each.

Am I correct in thinking:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/861480_10151259606380614_1935616520_o.jpg

Should I get an in-line fuse too?

[Sid Squid]

Yes, and yes.

Put the fuse in the live supply as close to the supply connection as possible.

As they're LEDs they will consume a very small current, therefore you could connect them to the lighting of your bike without straining anything. It would still be wise to use a fuse, (one of a low value), when connecting them, that way if they should suffer a fault they won't take your lights out with them.

[allantheboss]

Awesome! And I haven't been told I'm an idiot for wanting to do it (yet).

[dirtydog]

You're an idiot!


Do you feel better now? ;)

[allantheboss]

Y u messin blad, I'll shank u 4 dat. don't diss ma neonz i get bare gash cos of dem lites.

(Feels good to get that out of me)

[The Idle Biker]

Post of the day, for the drawing alone. Top marks from me!

[allantheboss]

That circuit didn't work! Any other ideas?

[andrewsmith]

Allan could be worth doing it through a relayed circuit to the lights off the battery. you sure you don't need a driver for the LED's?

[Sid Squid]

That circuit didn't work! Any other ideas?
There's nothing wrong with the circuit you scribbled out.
Are you sure they're for a 12V supply? Are you sure they work? Connect them directly to a suitable supply to check.
Being diodes, (the 'D' of LED), they only work when connected one way round, if the positive/negative connections are reversed they will not light.

[allantheboss]

Allan could be worth doing it through a relayed circuit to the lights off the battery. you sure you don't need a driver for the LED's?

Could you please tell me what do "relays" and "drivers" do, in a simple way?

There's nothing wrong with the circuit you scribbled out.
Are you sure they're for a 12V supply? Are you sure they work? Connect them directly to a suitable supply to check.
Being diodes, (the 'D' of LED), they only work when connected one way round, if the positive/negative connections are reversed they will not light.

Ad on eBay says they're 12V. I will try them the other way around. Good idea! I though that because both wires were the same colour it wouldn't matter.

[Mark_h]

Have you removed your belt and lowered your jeans by at least 12 inches? I suspect that even the cheapest LED strips will have some form of safety interlock preventing accidental non-Chav usage. May be worth splashing on some lynx too.

Apart from that it will almost certainly be a case of reversing the wires.

[Sir Trev]

Have you removed your belt and lowered your jeans by at least 12 inches? I suspect that even the cheapest LED strips will have some form of safety interlock preventing accidental non-Chav usage. May be worth splashing on some lynx too.



Good job there's only a couple of people in the office at this time of the morning - I am getting some funny looks after laughing out loud at that one.

[allantheboss]

Have you removed your belt and lowered your jeans by at least 12 inches? I suspect that even the cheapest LED strips will have some form of safety interlock preventing accidental non-Chav usage. May be worth splashing on some lynx too.

Apart from that it will almost certainly be a case of reversing the wires.

Dammit, I only lowered them by 10 inches. My mate Tyrone tole me that's the best height for the most horsepowers.