How to Make a Color Changing LED Rope
Light emitting diode (LED) rope lights can make an outdoor patio area more attractive. If you make so that the rope color change, it gives an even more striking effect. Rope lights are contained inside clear plastic tubing, which enhances the light effect. The tube also protects the LEDs from water, so they are good for outdoor use. LEDs operate on low-voltage electricity from a battery or transformer, which makes them a safe choice if children are nearby. Save yourself some money and take a few hours to make your own color changing LED rope.
Things You'll Need
- Clear plastic tubing
- Multicolored LED string light set
- Clear plastic tape
- Thin wooden or metal pole
Instructions
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Choose the length you want your LED color changing rope light to be. Use a tape measure to work out the distance between the positions you want to place the rope.
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Purchase the desired length of clear plastic tube from a hardware store. Get tubing that's got an internal diameter of ½ to ¾ of an inch. Large diameter tubes get heavy and are hard to manipulate.
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Purchase a set of multi-colored LED string lights from an electrical store. They are widely available and inexpensive. You need the length of the LED string lights to be equal, or similar, to the length of the tube. Purchase a set that's got a built-in controller so you can make the lights color-changing.
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Unravel the LED string lights and lay them in a line on a work surface. Your floor area may be a good choice.
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Get a thin wooden or metal pole that's slightly longer than the length of the tube. A wooden pole that is used to keep plants or shrubs upright works well. It must be thin enough to easily go inside the tube.
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Attach the end of the LED string lights to the end of the pole. Use tape to hold the end of the lights onto the pole. Carefully insert the pole and LED lights into one end of the tube. Feed the pole and lights gently through the tube, until they come out of the opposite end of the tube.
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Detach the lights from the pole. Hold the end of the LED lights while you carefully pull the pole back through the tube. Don't let the end of the lights disappear into the tube, as you will have to start over. Secure the end of the LED lights on the end of the tube once the pole is removed. Wrap clear plastic tape around the end of the tube, so it secures the LED lights inside the tube and holds them firmly in place. The tape also stops water or moisture from entering the tube.
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Check the opposite end of the tube to ensure all the LED lights are inside. You only need plain wire that goes to the power source exposed. Wrap clear tape around the end of the tube where the plain wire comes out. This keeps the lights securely in place.
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Connect the LED lights to the power source. You can either connect them to battery, or it's likely the LED lights included a transformer in the pack. Turn on the lights. Set the controller to the setting for color changing.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
