Best way to connect multiple wires in parallel for LED lights

KingCong · 25-06-2025 02:23PM #1

I'm hooking up 24V LED strips to my media unit, there's 9 of them than I need to connect to the single positive & negative terminals on a PWM dimmer. What's the best way to connect these 9 together in parallel to a single wire that can then connect to the dimmer? Got a 12 way terminal block (like this https://www.diy.ie/departments/12-way-15a-plastic-white-earth-terminal-block-pack-of-5/178057_BQ.prd?storeId=1326&gStoreCode=1326&gQT=1) but only realised afterwards that each terminal on it is isolated from each other, had thought they were all connected together.

10-10-20 · 25-06-2025 02:43PM

Hi, I did similar at a job, ended up with a branch where about 4 LED units were looped together and then running home, then another 4 like that, then 2 and then a few singles. So for the 14 or so LED's I had about 5 leads coming back. These were all connected up using Wago connectors, but you might need to terminate the bare ends in a crimp (bootlace) so that the bare copper doesn't all break away.

My local wholesaler is Eurosales, hence these links:

Bootlace: https://www.eurosales.ie/categories.html?name=BOOTLACE&type=simple

https://www.eurosales.ie/products/wago_compact_splicing_connectors_5_conductor_connector_with_operating_levers.html?name=wago&type=simple

KingCong · 25-06-2025 04:39PM

Thanks, interesting to hear how others have done it. I was looking at those Wago connectors but each of my 9 strips are individually wired back and so would need a few connectors to join all 9 together. Thinking of going with these terminal blocks with jumpers, one each should work for the positive and negative, assume I should put these then some in sort of junction box.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B076CNTB76?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

Does the LED power driver itself also need to be in some sort of enclosure or could it be left safely at the top of the units (behind a cornice)? It looks like it'd need good airflow for heat but may be vulnerable to dust over time if not covered somehow.

10-10-20 · 25-06-2025 05:35PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123578960#Comment_123578960

That wiring block is overkill, but should do fine.

Well what driver is it? Any exposed electronics should be covered, I use electrical boxes such as this one:

https://www.eurosales.ie/products/92126.html?name=enclosure&type=simple

KingCong · 26-06-2025 12:41PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123579121#Comment_123579121

This is the driver https://lumeno.ie/index.php/categories/product/1518-24v-100w-4-16a-power-supply-ip20-metal-terminals . I have an electrical box the same as what you've linked, will put the wire joins in that, the driver itself is too big though not sure it should be fully sealed in a box, looks like it'd need good airflow to get rid of heat, the spec says "air cooled"

10-10-20 · 26-06-2025 02:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123580886#Comment_123580886

That driver has partially open terminals and no strain-relief or a location to secure the wire to. Strictly speaking it's designed to be located in an enclosure or in a location where fingers can't get to. If it's up and out of the way (and not somewhere that would be subject to damp) then you should be ok as long as it's not somewhere that's going to have 'blind hands' going in to search for something.

That company also supply Wago equivalent connections, so that's the way to go (pardon the pun), but I think that the wiring block linked earlier will be fine (with around 390A to spare). 😆

Best way to connect multiple wires in parallel for LED lights

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