LED lights strips on your track diagram?

Side light fiber optic cable would really be cool, and probably easier to build into the panel.

John,

I researched the LED light strips.  They come in white, and multi-color.   When you buy one, say 48 inches long, it comes with one long strip, which you can cut to any length.  BUT, it only comes with one wire and plug to attach to it. Once you cut the strip, and attach the power plug to it, there is not way to hook up the remainder of the  strip.  Since one strip, with and wire set and plug, is about $15 bucks, it would take a good deal of money to buy enough sets for 8 or 9 power districts.   Plus, you would end of with 50 feet or so of unusable light strips.

M annyrock

You can add your own LED's to the side-glow fiber, you don't have to go the turnkey route.  You just join the LED to the fiber inside of heatshrink tubing.

Mannyrock, connectors w/wire leads, can be purchased that fit into the cut strip. I've done it numerous times for vehicle lighting projects. allows you to get the most from a LED strip. Know that the strip must be cut in groups of 3. 3, 6, 9 ,12, etc.

I just solder to the LED strips, no reason to buy special connectors that just add bulk and cost money.

GRJ: agreed for indoors.....

I'm not sure why outdoors would be different Pete.  You are going to have to seal whatever connection there is, it's not that hard to seal a soldered wire connection.

Liquid Electrical Tape, Waterproof Seal, All Indoor/Outdoor Uses

Also, if you're only using one color,  you only need to solder 2 wires - the common plus the lead to the color you want R,G or B.

If you get white LEDS decide if you want warm white (like a regular light bulb) or cool white (bluish white)... also only 2 wires to solder to each length.

Some LEDs can be cut at each one... the strips are marked at the points where they can be cut (where you see tabs connecting each segment)

They also make aluminum strips that you can put the LEDs into.  They have a frosted snap on cover and give a less harsh light than a strip of bare LEDs.

The RGB or white LED strips are commonly 12V DC or 5V DC.

And finally.....  they don't dim well by lowering the voltage.  You use a cheap (about $5) LED pwm dimmer to adjust the brightness.  One dimmer can control the whole panel's brightness.   Link here: https://www.amazon.com/Hiletgo...03568379&sr=8-29

I prefer 12V and the dimmers are readily available.

GRJ: Liquid Tape is great stuff and I use it all the time. The cost of connector is minor. Connector is epoxied to the strip and double heat shrink. My projects all live in harsh environments. (Saltwater boats, swamp buggies, motorcycles, wheel wells). drifting off topic.

Mannyrock: you could also install a single LED so it lights when toggle is turned on.

Wow!  You guys are the Masters!

So much to learn.

Mannyrock