I’ve worked with standard lengths of rope lighting before, but the kitchen I’m installing right now has a need for some odd lengths. I know rope light is sometimes sold on a spool, but how is it cut to length and capped off?
This will be 120v, by the way, not 12v.
Anybody done this? Sparkies?
Justin Fink – FHB Editorial
“Everybody wants to know what I’m on…
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
…What are you on?”
– Lance Armstrong
Replies
There are marks on the cover that show where it can be cut. Might be every 15". Then you push on a plastic cap to cover the exposed conductors. If you cut other than where it shows, you break the circuit and the bastard section won't light.
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I've been told that UL came out with a new standard for rope lights due to installation problems. If you search for UL 2388 and find the standard, it does say no field cutting.
This is a manufacturer that was recommended to us. Used their lights once and everything worked the way you'd hope it would. http://www.nslusa.com/lightrope.html
Great article on deck lighting BTW.
very cool...did you buy your lights online? I'm not seeing that as an option from thsi company.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
The electrician went through his supply house - Wolfers I think. I'm sure you can find them at any supply house - and they probably have more than one manufacturer available.
(lightinguniverse.com says they can special order NSL fixtures).
Edited 8/6/2007 1:37 pm ET by tek
Another source for rope lighting is Creative Displays at creativedisplays.com. They'll sell spools of rope lighting (plus connector kits) online.Glen
Used to. Not anymore. I did find a source online that sells LED ropes precut to specified lengths, but it was a bit pricey. If you need the link, give a shout & I'll look it up.
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA
I did find a source online that sells LED ropes precut to specified lengths
The last LED rope lighting that I used I was able to cut it to length - predetermined spaces like FastEd mentioned, finish with end caps.
Doug
"The last LED rope lighting that I used I was able to cut it to length"
Yeah, but as another poster mentioned, the code has changed and now field cutting is not permitted.
Here's a link to a site that carries LEDs in all sorts of lenghts and configurations. I think they will cut to length, but I didn't check it in detail.
http://www.budgetlighting.com/flexbrite-led-rope-light.html
Mike Hennessy
Thanks for the link Mike
Doug
Thanks for the feedback everybody...I knew I saw the ropes sold by the spool, but didn't recall any sort of caps sold alogn with them. I will do my best to buy the length I need for each situation and make it work.
thanks again.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
http://www.actionlighting.com
is where I get mine. Great selection and super fast shipping.
$66 for a 150 ft. (18 in. segment) roll seems like a pretty good deal...thanks for the link.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
you might think about buying some splice kits at the same time. I just finished about 250' of the stuff in my buddys driveway curbs and there were several sections that had to be cut out ...... they wouldn't stay lit. .-----------------------------oops I miscounted actually it was more like 600+ feet .
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., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
Edited 8/7/2007 5:46 pm by maddog3
Technically... If it can be spliced, it can be cut to length.The question is... can we do so legally ? The answer to that seems to be, no.
Yeh... That'll work.
technically if the mfr supplies all the components, it should still be compliant. IMHObut I doubt the Chinese give a rats azz about UL and "cut to length" is not quite accurate
it can only be cut at the marks on the rope.so cut to length was, in my case within 18".
.
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., wer ist jetzt der Idiot ?
Agreed.
Yeh... That'll work.
Were are you going to be using the rope lighting?
Personally I'm not a fan of the stuff and chances are there is a better alternative, albeit probably more expensive
It will be on top of some wall cabinets, hidden behind the crown molding. For price and effect, I think it's tops. Why do you dislike?Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
"Everybody wants to know what I’m on...
What am I on? I’m on my bike, busting my ass 6 hours a day…
...What are you on?"
- Lance Armstrong
It just looks cheesy (for under-cabinet lights, not your situation) and do not through off much light, just my personal opinion.
If they're covered have you considered low-profile flourecents?
I've done this in a bathroom behind a dropped crown, with two christmas light strings, and 7w clear bulbs. Bulbs are placed exactly on top of each 7" wide vertical stripes on the lower wall. Looks cool, precise, and was really inexpensive.
It's in our house, and it's over ten years old now - works fine. Can post a pic if it's helpful.
Forrest
Some brands can be cut every 18". The stuff Home Depot and Lowes sells in this area cannot be cut.
When I redid my kitchen about 7 years ago, HD sold the cuttable type. I used it for my under-counter lighting. For a couple of years, I could buy replacement "ropes", but then they changed to their pet brand - Harbor Freight. That can't be cut and is thicker. So I went with mail order. For example -
http://www.noveltylights.com/Rope_light2.htm
George Patterson
Edited 8/6/2007 11:46 pm ET by grpphoto
Used to be able to cut and site fabricate ends andconnections but too man DIY problems so they have pulled that off the market and you now have to buy according to length. That is tooo bad!
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