Extend Hue lightstrip plus

Smeeble

Hi.

Just got myself a selection of Hue lights, among which I bought 4*2m lightstrip plus.
I looked around online and found the extension cables before I bought them, but didn't realise these were only for the 1m strips.

Is it possible to extend the 2m strips so that I can link four together for an 8m total run?
Or has anyone cut away the plastic at the start of the strips to see what's there (photo attached for reference)?

                                                                               

Thanks.

limegreenzx

The 2M lightstrip includes the PSU and controller and are more than double the price per meter than the 1M extension. DO NOT cut the connector off in your picture you'd be throwing away half the cost of the item.
However, you do have a number of options.

1. A single 2M lightstrip can be extended to 10M with the 1M extensions you already mentioned. So you could use the other lightstrips somewhere else and buy 6 X 1M extensions. Simple plug and play.

2. You will see a cut marker on the strip every 33cm, DO NOT cut there but along the solder pad that joins the strips. If you are handy with a soldering iron it is possible to remove the solder and cut the strips at the solder pad. This will allow you to solder a connector or cables to either end of the cut pieces as you should have left just enough solder pad on either end. This will leave 1 X 2M strip, 3 X 33cm strips (plus power connector etc) and 3 X 167cm strips requiring connectors to be soldered. Requiring a 1M extension, but more importantly 3 X 167cm strips that can be used somewhere else.

You can find the connectors at RS-Online look for items 7020629 and 7019865.
I shortened a 2M strip used under a cupboard and used what was left over to extend another run.

Smeeble

Have you cut away the bit underneath the bit in the photo? Wondering if there are those 6 pins already there and I can adapt to plug together.
I've done a bit of soldering, but wary of doing on such an expensive bit of kit.

Have thought of buying 6*1m strips, but I've already got these and not got anywhere really to use half of them.

I bought these to specifically run together in one link, so if I can cut away the plastic coating and slot them together I'm sorted.

Cheers.

limegreenzx

I haven't cut under the plastic jacket covering the ribbon cable. It's worth cutting the jacket off to have a look, if you look on Amazon some of the pictures make it look like it used to have a connector. In which case you're sorted.
You should also be able to sell the PSU and controller.

Smeeble

Cheers, didn't even think of selling the psu, why would anyone need it?
I'll wait and see if anyone else has cut it away, would rather not if it's to no use.

limegreenzx

The LED strips are expensive, which puts many off using them for short runs. But a secondhand PSU and controller using a 1M extension and the price is more acceptable.
I expect they could also be used to drive a cheap Chinese led strip. It can be difficult to buy a decent PSU for LED strips let alone one that includes a hue controller/receiver.

Smeeble

How would they link to the psu/controller though as it's a different connection?
Or if that's the case it sounds like the right pins might be underneath that plastic covering.

Smeeble

Well I have news, stripped the end off and found the below...sorted.
                                                                       

limegreenzx

That's good Easy job to fit now.
Let me know if you decide to sell any of the PSU/controllers.

Evostance

Resurrecting an old thread I know, but did you manage to sort this?  I assume you just removed the rubber plastic under the heat shrink tube and bought an extension cable like this? https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01M7XDZ5V/ref=crt_ewc_title_huc_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2URKA4TU6FBCN