LED Rope light power lead

[Rick Graves]

Hi All,
Some advice please ladies and gentlemen.
I recently purchased a 42M LED Rope light. It works fine with the cable that is hard wired. However when I make a cut in the correct area and follow the instructions to the letter adding the supplied power leads there is an audible pop, a puff of smoke and my fuse trips.

I have now taken one of the leads apart and it doesn't look right to me at the transformer, what do you think?
Thank you for your help.
Rick

 

[Rpa07]

On the photo it looks like brown to blue and blue to brown and as LED is a little dependant on polarity it may be the cause.

 

[The Ghost]

Wrong polarity

 

[davesparks]

There are a few things in those pictures which lead me to suspect you have bought a dodgy product, which likely doesn't comply with the relevant British standards.

Where did you get this from?

 

[Rpa07]

"Don't tell him Pike"!

 

[Marvo]

The rope itself is labeled as being 240 volts, are you sure it actually needs a driver and not just a direct power connection?

 

[Rick Graves]

View attachment 36697


The rope itself is labeled as being 240 volts, are you sure it actually needs a driver and not just a direct power connection?

I just tried to use the power supply lead that came in the box. There are 2 small pins that make a connection with the wires that run along the inside of the rope light casing. There is only one way that the connections can be made so it's pretty much fool proof! I have now ordered a new cable from a UK dealer so hopefully my problem will be solved.

 

[Marvo]

I've got a feeling that thing mid-length in the cable isn't a driver. Maybe a plug and socket or something...??

Those splice connectors are a pain in the --- at the best of times. I've seen some ropes that when you cut them there's actually 3 wires visible, only 2 of the wires are for power, the other one is just a strengthening wire.

 

[Rick Graves]

I've got a feeling that thing mid-length in the cable isn't a driver. Maybe a plug and socket or something...??

Those splice connectors are a pain in the --- at the best of times. I've seen some ropes that when you cut them there's actually 3 wires visible, only 2 of the wires are for power, the other one is just a strengthening wire.

Thanks Marvo, I will see how I get on with the new supply lead when it arrives.

 

[freddo]

If it is a rectifier under the cover and the ropes are really DC, connecting power into the wrong end of the rope would reverse the polarity, which the LEDs wouldn't like.