DIY duralight repair

In detail: do-it-yourself duralight repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

The illumination of buildings and festive decoration have long been performed with the help of garlands. Recently, most of them are LED. Such lighting is done in the form of ribbons or cords. The LED cord is correctly called duralight, in this article we will look at how it works and how to connect it.

What is duralight, features of LED - duralight

The word "duralight" can be literally translated as "durable light" (from the English durable light). Indeed, duralight, upon close examination, turns out to be a transparent polymer flexible cord, inside which lamps or light-emitting diodes (LED Duralight) are located, in fact - a strong tubular garland. The PVC tube as a frame provides the duralight with moisture resistance, flexibility, UV resistance and physical strength.

A typical LED duralight can operate at ambient temperatures from −50 ° C to + 60 ° C, and the operating time is limited only by the capabilities of LEDs - tens of thousands of hours.

Device and types

Duralight is a LED garland in a PVC sheath. It connects to a 220V network, there are several types of it.

1. Fixing. A cord that has a constant glow over time. That is, you turned it on, and it just glows.

2. Chasing. This is the name of the duralight operating mode when it flickers. In order for the LED cord to work in chasing mode, you need to additionally purchase a controller.

3. Chameleon. Essentially the same chasing, but with different colors.

There are various types of duralight. The number of lines can be from 2 to 7 cores, respectively, the number of LED strings increases, which allows you to obtain various lighting effects and color combinations.

Video (click to play).

Round and flat LED duralight are distinguished in shape. The shape determines the ease of installation for a particular lighting configuration.

Since the duralight is a PVC cord, it is sealed, which ensures normal operation on the street.

The duralight cord can be cut, for this there are special marks on its surface either in the form of a strip or in the form of scissors. The multiplicity of a cut is usually 2 meters.

You can see an approximate diagram in the figure below. The duralight cord consists of conductive cores, LEDs and a sheath. The number of cores and LEDs can be different, as well as their color.

Inside, the cord is by no means hollow, the gaps between the LEDs are also filled with PVC to give the duralight extra strength. So, duralight can be safely used in outdoor and indoor advertising structures, in a variety of architectural lighting, for decorating trees and for interior design.

The tube is simply attached to clips or glue wherever needed, and is held securely due to its lightness. The flexibility of PVC allows you to bend the tube at the discretion of the designer, make letters, inscriptions, shapes from duralight, or simply distribute the luminous LED tube along the facade of the building. Round and flat duralights, constant glow or with different blinking modes - provide truly the broadest possibilities for lighting design.

Monochromatic and multicolored, shimmering and iridescent - modern LED controllers will allow you to realize any design idea.

Pressed into a round tube or flat tape, the LEDs are spaced from each other at a distance of 1.25 to 27.7 mm, and the power consumption is about 1.5 watts per meter, which is incomparable with the duralights on incandescent lamps.

In comparison with incandescent lamps, LEDs give an even saturated color, bright glow, while there is almost no heating, which makes LED duralight much safer than ordinary lamp duralight, more economical and more durable.

Connection and installation of LED - duralight

The LED duralight is connected to the network from one end of the cord segment using a special adapter sleeve, while the other end is closed with a plug. A conventional bridge rectifier serves as an adapter. It is possible to combine several sections using couplings.

In order to build up a garland cord or connect in case of repair, pin connectors are used, the junction is sealed and protected with heat shrinkage, we will tell you more about this below.

What you need to connect

To turn on the duralight cord, you need to use a special adapter designed for a certain length. It is a conventional rectifier - diode bridge. The length for connecting the cord depends on its power. Typical lengths for connecting to most adapters are from 50 to 100 meters.

In addition to the adapter, connectors are needed, both for connecting power to the cord, and for connecting several pieces or for connecting branches. Typical types of connectors are shown below.

In addition, you will need mounting brackets and duralight plugs. They are shown at the bottom of the previous figure.

Make sure that both the adapter and the connectors are suitable for your duralight, both in shape (flat and round) and in the number of cores, for example, below is the connector from the power adapter for a 5-core cord.

As already mentioned - to connect the duralight in flickering mode (chasing) you will need a controller. They differ in the number of channels, respectively, there are so many channels in the controller and there can be wires in the duralayite which it can supply.

Controllers for a two-wire duralight provide simple blinking, blinking and smooth switching on, followed by switching off the entire garland.

Models for three-core cords already allow you to alternately connect the cores, thus simulating the effect of rain or overflowing colors. The figure below shows that such a controller has three pins in the connector.

You will get a great visual effect by using a five-wire cord with a controller like the one shown below.

Connection diagram

Depending on the number of cores, each of them has a certain polarity of connection. Since the duralight garland is powered by a rectified pulsating voltage, it must be remembered that the polarity of the connection is important - plus and minus.

If you plug in the cord and it is off, unplug it immediately to avoid damage, and flip the connector 180 degrees.

In the picture below, you can see the pinouts 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the conductor duralight, both flat and round.

It is desirable to connect pieces of equal power. A special plug is put on the end free of connection. In the manufacture of decorative frame structures, wire or metal tape is used. Special guides will enhance the brightness of the duralight.

Installation rules

Before you start working with the duralight, read the rules for its installation. Remember that it is powered by rectified 220 volts. This means that the peak voltage reaches 310 volts. Therefore, we have made for you a selection of tips or an algorithm for installing a 220V LED cord.

1. Cut the cord only when unplugged - otherwise you may create a short circuit.

2. Make a cut only at the specially designated marks, otherwise the section will not work.

3. Fill the connecting connectors and power supply connectors with sealant, silicone or glue; you can also additionally protect the joint with a heat-shrinkable tube. This is especially important if the backlight will be used outdoors.

4.Avoid mechanical stress on the connectors, remember they can come loose.

5. Put a plug on the end of the garland - this will save you from electric shock if you suddenly touch it. Also seal it as described above.

6. It is advisable to place the backlight out of the reach of children and animals.

Nuances when working with duralight

The coiled coil of duralight cannot be connected to the network for a long time, as this will cause excessive heating. However, before starting installation, the entire cord is checked by plugging it into the network. The contacts must be dry.

Duralight can be cut only by marks, by multiples of lengths. Mount - only in the off state, turn on - only after the installation is completed. Unused contacts must be protected with plugs. The joints with couplings must not be strongly deformed, bent.

The use of heat shrink tubing to improve insulation is encouraged. It is allowed to combine pieces of equal size in terms of specific power, designed for the same voltage. Observe polarity!

Ensure normal heat exchange, do not cover the duralight with metal objects. The supply voltage must correspond to the nameplate for this duralight. Damaged pieces must be removed from the chain. Power supply - only with rectified voltage.

The LED cord can be used both indoors and outdoors. This is a convenient solution for lighting or festive illumination. The advantage of the LED strip is that it works from a conventional diode bridge, that is, from a rectified voltage from a 220V network.

At the same time, there are tips on the Internet that using duralight you can organize lighting for the pool. Of course, if all safety measures are followed, this can be done, but remember - the power from the high voltage has not gone anywhere, and this is extremely dangerous. For such purposes, a 12V LED strip with dust and moisture protection is ideal.

2-core, round section
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3-core, round section
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3-core, rectangular section
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4-core, rectangular section
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5-core, rectangular section
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7-core, rectangular section
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1. How to determine the location of the cut.
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As a rule, it is depicted in the form of scissors and must be cut off exactly at the mark. Displacement to the left or right of the label will result in damage to the underlying connection (from label to label).

2. How to cut duralight.
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(1) Cut the duralight exactly according to the mark as shown in the figure
(2) Make sure the cut is straight
(3) Use a pruner or sharp cutter to cut.
(4) Make sure there are no split ends in the wires that could cause a short circuit.

3.How to connect the power cord.
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(1) Insert the connector needles into the duralight.
(2) The needles should fit exactly into the holes with live wires in the duralite.
(3) Apply sealant and firmly press the connector to the duralight. Let dry.
(4) Put the thermal sleeve on the duralight.
(5) Insert the mating part of the connector into the power cord, also treating it with silicone.
(6) Slide the thermal sleeve so that it covers the entire joint and heat with a blow dryer until it is completely shrink and sealed.

By the same principle, the duralight is connected to each other using various types of connectors, which can be seen from the photos below.

4. Installation of the "cross" connector.
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5. Installing the plug on the free end of the duralight.
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6. Connection of a power cord to a rectangular duralight.
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The PROsvet company has been selling LED products for more than 10 years in cities such as Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Stavropol and Astrakhan. You can buy LED strips, duralight, flexible neon, LED spotlights and garlands from us at the best price. The specialists of our online store will be happy to help you with the choice of LED products.Moreover, you do not have to wait, all the assortment presented in our online store is always available in a warehouse in Krasnodar.

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If you have any questions, you can send them to us using this form.

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Duralight is one of the most popular lighting materials. It is used in various fields, and the question of how to work properly with duralight is of interest to an ever wider circle of people.

The good news is that you can cut duralight! The bad thing is that you can do it in strictly designated places. Usually the frequency of cutting duralight is 2 meters. Examine the cord carefully and find the "scissors" icon, it means that you can cut the duralight in this place. You should not neglect the icon, otherwise the LED cord will simply stop working.

Read the same - connection and installation of duralight.

To make it clear why it is necessary to adhere to the cutting ratio, get acquainted with the duralight device.

As can be seen from the diagram, the LEDs are placed in groups in a transparent PVC cord. It is important not to damage the LED group during cutting. You can cut duralight between groups.

Examine carefully the duralight in the area of ​​the "scissors" icon. Twist the cord until you can see the tips of the pins on both sides. You can make an incision with ordinary scissors, but this must be done strictly along the line of contacts. Make sure there are no pieces of wiring left inside the cable. Such pieces can lead to short circuits.

After the cut, attach one end of the duralight to the controller or power supply, and gently solder the other end. In your hands is a working section of duralight of the length you need.

In recent years, LED duralight has almost equaled in its prevalence with LED strips. This model is actively used today to create decorative lighting. Despite the fact that it has a certain similarity to LED strip, there are significant differences in connection.

Our article will help you figure out how you can connect this cord to the power supply with your own hands and not spoil it with inept handling.

Duralay is a kind of analogue of the LED strip, in which the diodes are placed inside a PVC cord. It is a silicone shell that provides a high degree of protection against moisture and dirt for the LEDs.

Note! To connect LED duralight, know that here the circuit does not need a power supply. This is the main difference from LED strips. A possible connection diagram is shown below.

LED light cord is often used for street lighting today. With the help of duralight, they create figures of fairy-tale characters, geometric shapes and various inscriptions of the advertising plan. You can learn how to make figures out of it in a special video tutorial.
To create a shape, you can use the following types of LED light cords:

  • duralight chasing. It has multiple channels for LED placement. Therefore, by connecting a controller to it, you can create various lighting effects. Duralight chasing is often used for festive or themed lighting;
  • duralight fisting. Has only one channel. Therefore, he is capable of simultaneously illuminating all of his light sources. If you make figures out of it, then they can only blink. But this requires a controller.

In addition, the LED light cord can be of the following types:

  • duralight round. It has a circular cross-section. Using round duralight, you can make various shapes. It should be remembered that round duralight can sometimes slide off the frame. Therefore, it must be properly attached to the base of the figure;
  • duralight flat.It is more suitable for creating a luminous figure due to the fact that it can most closely adjoin the frame of the product.

Duralight incision mark

For whatever purpose you use this glowing cable, you need to be able to properly connect it to a 220 V power supply. But in order to do this, you need to know the technical characteristics of the lighting product.

A light cable made on the basis of LEDs has the following technical characteristics and features:

  • increased resistance to moisture;
  • can function in a fairly wide temperature range: from -20 to +50 degrees;
  • easy installation;
  • working from a mains voltage of 220 volts;
  • may have one or more channels (depending on the model).

Note! To connect to the network, it is important to know how many channels the light cable has.

When connecting such LED products, you need to know that it, like the tape, can be cut into separate pieces. But you only need to cut where the cable is marked accordingly.

In order to install everything yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:

  • the LED cord itself;
  • adapters (connectors). They are necessary to fasten the cut segments together;
  • a network cable with a special connector and a 220 volt adapter. It should be purchased at the same time as duralight;
  • protective caps. They are put on cuts, from the side that does not need to be attached anywhere after cutting the lighting product;
  • knife and scissors;
  • fasteners, a screwdriver and a hammer in order to secure the glowing cable in the right place.

After all the materials and tools have been collected, you can start connecting the duralight with your own hands.

It is recommended to connect the LED light cable not to an outlet, but through a permanent connection. This will avoid the need to call a professional electrician for electrical work.
The adapter plays an important role in the installation process. It is a bridge diode rectifier that converts the alternating voltage of the network into a pulsating unipolar voltage necessary for the operation of the light cord.

The step-by-step instructions for connecting the LED light cable look like this:

  • take duralight and cut it according to the marks. Remember that you need to cut only according to such marks, otherwise you will simply ruin an expensive product;

Note! The cutting step is one or two meters!

  • you need to cut the cord with scissors or a sharp knife. When cutting it, you need to be very careful. If you make an oblique cut, then the product may not work correctly in the future. If you do not want to risk it, you can buy a ready-made kit with a length of 10 meters and an already installed controller;
  • The power cord with the adapter must be connected to the duralight using a special adapter in the form of a metal pin located in the case. The same adapter must be used when it is necessary to dock together for a piece of light cable;

Note! This adapter will be different for different models. For a single-row product, it will have two pins, for a two-digit product, three.

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Duralight connection for a network adapter

  • now it remains only to connect all the lighting elements. To do this, insert the plug (adapter) of the power cord into the cable. Moreover, it must be inserted in such a way that the location of the pins coincides with the wires running inside the light cable;
  • after that, you need to fix the connection with a snap-on cover. It is located in the network cable.

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Ready-made duralight that can be connected to the network

Now you can connect the product to the power supply and check its functionality.
After all the backlighting elements have been assembled into a single circuit, you need to install the luminous LED cord on the surface.To do this, you need to use transparent special plastic staples.

When using different types of duralight, the process of connecting them may undergo some changes. But the connection principle itself, described above, will remain unchanged.
So that your work is not in vain and you ultimately get the desired result, you must adhere to several recommendations:

  • before connecting, it is imperative to make sure that the connected product is operational;
  • unwind the cord carefully to avoid possible overheating. Only an unwound product can be connected;
  • the incision must be made strictly along the line. Due to the fact that the product has a sufficiently powerful silicone protection in the form of a tube, it is not always possible to make an even and clear cut;
  • the connection points of the light tube must be positioned in such a way that they have maximum protection against adverse external influences. This is especially true of mechanical stress;
  • to increase the tightness of the sections, the cuts after connection should be additionally treated with silicone sealant or waterproof glue;

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Connector and cap for cord light

  • to avoid the risk of a short circuit, this lighting product must be checked for any damage of various kinds in the contacts.

It should also be remembered that, despite the high protection, the light cord is, first of all, a rather complex electrical device. Therefore, it must be placed out of reach of pets and small children. Otherwise, it is possible both a breakdown of the lighting device and the risk of electric shock to children and animals.

Connecting LED duralight may seem complicated only at first glance. In fact, it is enough to follow a simple instruction to create an excellent backlight. The main thing is to be careful when working with this LED cord.

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I. Connecting the duralight to the AC mains.

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1. Any duralight has a minimum section marked with symbols (if you did not find such a mark on the cord itself, see the instructions in the product passport or contact the supplier)
2. The cut of the flexible cord of the LED duralight is allowed only according to special marks (or according to the frequency of cutting). Use a cutting knife or sharp scissors to cut.
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3. Bend the duralight first in one direction and then in the other. The protruding sections of the wire should be carefully cut off with a pair of wire cutters to the level of the cord sheath. This is done so that a short circuit does not occur during the installation work of the light cord.
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4. To avoid electric shock or moisture ingress, be sure to close the free ends of the duralight with special plugs.
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5. If it is necessary to connect two equivalent types of duralight, use the “connecting connector”.
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6. If you use mounting system No. 1, then the finished connection of the two sections of the duralight must be fixed with screwed plastic nuts.
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7. In order to make constructions of free design, the duralight is fixed on a metal base - it can be a stiff thick wire, a small metal tape, etc.
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8. To enhance the brightness of the duralight glow, special “guides” are used.


II. Duralight connection to the controller.

In addition to constant glow LED duralight, you can also purchase LED duralight chasing, the glow of which can be controlled using special controllers.

How to connect LED duralight chasing? What duralight connection diagram is used in this case?

To connect the duralight chasing to the LED controller, you need the following components: contact, cord and plug.Duralight connection is carried out directly with the controller. At the same time, the LED duralight is also powered through this controller (which, in turn, is connected to a 220V network).

There are several options for LED controllers for duralight. Depending on the type of duralight light cord (round, flat) and size, duralight can be equipped with various controllers. There are two main types of LED controllers - 100 meters and 20 meters, which are connected to a 220V network. To connect two pieces of duralight, use a coupling, a cord with a plug and a plug on the free end of the duralight for additional protection against moisture ingress. Care must be taken to ensure that the clutch and duralight contacts are correctly aligned and connected. All duralight connections begin only from the point where the cord is cut. In the future, after putting the plug on the free end of the duralight cord, the final installation of the duralight is performed using staples, clips or a special plastic guide.

To connect a duralight bay and a 100-meter controller, the following action scheme is required:

1. Checking the performance of the duralight light cord. To do this, the duralight is connected to a standard electrical network using the power cord included in the kit.
2. Connecting the power wire of the duralight: it must be cut off from the side where the connector is located, immediately after the square or oval rectifier.
3. Stripping three multi-colored duralight wires - blue, yellow, brown.
4. Determination of the common current-carrying wire among these three and its connection to the controller (white terminal).
5. Other contacts are connected to red terminals, the connection sequence is not important.
6. Final connection of the dyuralayt to the network, adjustment of special effects programs using the power switch.

Standard duralight is a flexible light cord made in the form of a flat tape or solid tube. The material is transparent plastic, into which a one-piece garland consisting of LEDs is poured or pressed. In some designs, miniature incandescent bulbs are used. Such garlands are widely used, therefore, quite often the question arises of how to connect duralight. They are mainly used in outdoor advertising, contour lighting of buildings and structures, as well as in interior design and room decoration.

To install and connect duralight, special knowledge of electrical engineering and electrical installation skills are not required at all. In the simplest version, installation is carried out even without the use of tools. The garland is simply plugged into the socket and the duralight starts working. As a rule, this is a garland for Christmas trees, intended for temporary use.

A more serious installation, for example, for highlighting interior details, will require some tool and little skills in working with it. Most importantly, strictly follow all the recommendations described in the instructions for use of the product.

In addition to the duralight itself, you need to purchase a power cord, where there is a connector for connection and a 220 volt adapter. The adapter is a common diode bridge rectifier. It serves to convert the alternating voltage of the mains into a pulsating unipolar voltage.

The power cord and adapter are connected to the duralight using a special adapter. It is manufactured in the form of metal pins enclosed in a housing.

With a single-row duralay, there will be only two pins in the connector, and for a double-row daisy, a connector with three pins is used. The same connector is used when joining two pieces of duralight. The structure is fastened to the surface using special transparent plastic brackets.Bare wires remaining on the cut of the garland are closed with caps included in the duralight kit.

When deciding how to connect duralight, a number of prerequisites must be observed:

  • Duralight cannot be included in the network if it is coiled or somehow comes into contact with surfaces. This can cause heating and subsequent deterioration of the product.
  • Before installation, it is necessary to check through the electrical network all tapes intended for connection. This will allow early identification of possible defects.
  • To avoid a short circuit, you need to check the cleanliness and integrity of the contacts at the connection points.
  • The cut of the duralight must be done only in the marked places so as not to spoil the cut piece.
  • It is forbidden to carry out installation work with the duralite turned on.

1 COMMENT

  1. The article is interesting. I learned a lot, but did not find how to repair an incorrectly cut 4-meter section of a round three-core duralight (cutting step d. 4 m).