help understanding rope lights

[crown]

 ok i see a lot of the hign end bus conversions use overhead rope lights i two would like to use them all of my lighting is 12 volt
are there 12 volt rope lights ? or 12 volt led strip lights ? and how do you cut them or make them longer ? i am totaly lost on this
need help thanks crown

[Busted Knuckle]

Yes Crown the 12 V rope lights are the most common (I think) and they come on a roll and the seller cuts them off at the length you ask for.

It might be in your case to acquire a roll and use want you need and even maybe use some around the house using 12V power supplies and then selling the left overs to friends and acquaintances who admire what you've done with yours!
  BK 

[luvrbus]

John, I believe 20 ft is the maximum run for 12v rope lighting it was when I installed mine maybe a little longer for the new LEDs


good luck

[robertglines1]

ck out side glow fiber optic..no material yet for buttons.. Bob

[cody]

Jack will probably enter the fray at some point, he's got a bunch of rope lighting in his bus, even the mud flaps are lit up lol.

[JackConrad]

John,
  I bought a 150' roll of 12 volt rope light.  It has marks on it where it can be cut.  I don't remember where I bought it, but it was on line after searching on Google for rope lighting. I also bought the neccessary accessories such as connectors, clips, etc.  The rope I bought has a maximum length of 35'.  
   My lighting is incadescent. LED is avaialable but much more expensive.  Jack

[luvrbus]

I bought my roll 150ft from Birddog Distributing I think the run depends on watts,size of the rope and the spacing of the lights


good luck

[crown]

 how do you known if there 12 volt ? or are all rope lights 12volt and use a transformer ? a store thats closing near me draged
a wooden spool of rope lights out of the warehouse but nobody knows anything about it ? and thats all they have . no conectors
ect . does anyone have a link to a place that sells them ? what about the ones they sell for christmas ?

[David Anderson]

I bought mine from JC Whitney

David

[DebDav]

www.1000bulbs.com

[JackConrad]

John,
   Rope lighting is available in different voltages. I would test the roll of lighting by trying 6 volt first, then 12, then 24 then 120.  Jack

[luvrbus]

Here you go John I found Birddogs site they have pictures of how to do it with a FAQ section

www.birddogdistributing.com  I see they have a 150 ft roll for 79 bucks also 



good luck

[Busted Knuckle]

how do you known if there 12 volt ? or are all rope lights 12volt and use a transformer ? a store thats closing near me draged
a wooden spool of rope lights out of the warehouse but nobody knows anything about it ? and thats all they have . no conectors
ect . does anyone have a link to a place that sells them ? what about the ones they sell for christmas ?

Give them $20 bucks for it and take it home and cut off a strip of 10'-20' and test it on various voltages.
As mentioned start with 6V and work your way up. I would leave them on or hooked up all night or so and see how warm they get and if any burn out.
  BK 

[crown]

 thanks again lots of great help  crown