Don't want to solder? DON'T

[BowieReefer84]

Someone just sent me this link -

 

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-121/Solderless-Connector-for-CREE/Detail

 

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-120/Solderless-Connector-for-CREE/Detail

 

No need to solder. . . These are kind of pricey imo, but the option is now there. Not saying they are good or bad, but are worth taking a look at.

 

 

[trockafella]

pROBLEM IS... Cant be used with lenses.

[Kevin Garrison]

with slight modification to the mounting, it may be possible to mount the optics properly. It is definitely worth playing with, I can solder and I still don't like doing it.

[BowieReefer84]

pROBLEM IS... Cant be used with lenses.

Yea, true. Helps the nanocube retro people, but not the other 99% of people doing LED builds.

[Guest thefishman65]

Some one on RC posted about those and said the worked well. Considering I fought to drive an LED for under $1 each I certainly don't want to add $1.50 per LED. But $1.50 is far cheaper than burning one up.

 

If you are about to order you might want to hold off. I am working on confirming this, but I think the group buy I am working on just had a significant drop in price. If so these folks should follow soon.

[BowieReefer84]

Since the drivers all come with "strand wire" would you still have to solder 4 LED's assuming you have two drivers? Is there a way to go from strand to solid core wire, like splicing them together?

[Integral9]

Since the drivers all come with "strand wire" would you still have to solder 4 LED's assuming you have two drivers? Is there a way to go from strand to solid core wire, like splicing them together?

 

A wire nut or mounting block should work just fine.

 

Also, unless it's just a personal preference for you (I do find solid core wire to be easier to work with), at the voltage and current LEDs use and draw, I don't think it matters between strand and solid core wires. The voltage and current shouldn't be high enough to generate magnetic fields around the strands strong enough to induce an impedious amount of voltage on the neighboring strands.

 

If you need to harden the tips of a stranded wire, for example to insert it into a connector then one option is to fill or coat the strand with solder. tip: heat the strands, then touch the solder to the strand and it will wick into the strands like a sponge.

[BowieReefer84]

Well. . . I bought them. Should have them next week, and all setup by the weekend. I'll report back.

[thewire]

Hi dude

 

You should solder the connecting wires together and use heatshrink, wire nut sucks!

[BowieReefer84]

Well, I just put the XP-G's together with these solder free connections and they do NOT light up . . .I double checked the +/- terminals and they are correct. I am going to shoot an email over to RAPIDLED to see what they say? Maybe I am missing something, but I do not think I am.

[BowieReefer84]

 

 

[BowieReefer84]

Well, I just went to radio shack and got a multimeter. Only to get home and find I need a 12v battery for it to work . . .FML. Back out I go.