FAQ

How Can LEDs be recycled?

LEDs are usually part of a circuit. Our LED flexible strips are composed of a flexible circuit and our LED bulbs have a circuit board on the inside. LEDs are electronic components so in the configurations that we sell, they have to be in a circuit.

PCBs (Circuit Boards) and electronic components can be recycled. They are recycled in order to reclaim any precious metals. This would be one way of recycling the LEDs.

Another way of recycling LEDs is in reusing them for other applications. LEDs are rated to last approximately 50,000 hours. If the circuit board should fail or if the LED fails you can easily replace the LED or board. This would save having to throw away the complete circuit or fixture. Many times the circuit board is more expensive than the LEDs themselves.

Soldering Flexible LED Strip:

When soldering the copper pads on the strip, you should take note of some helpful tips:

1. Make sure you have a good soldering iron, with a good tip.
2. It is a good idea to secure your Flex Strip so that it doesn't move. We place pliers on the strip to hold it down.
3. Let the soldering iron get completely hot.
4. Once the iron is completely hot, hold the hot tip on the copper pads for a few seconds to preheat the surface of the pads.
5. Introduce the solder on to the tip of the iron. You will have to hold it there for a few seconds until the solder melts and starts to flow.
6. Once the melted solder has pooled on the pad, keep the iron on the melted solder to keep it liquid.
7. Take the tip of your lead wire and slide it into the melted solder.
8. Slowly remove the soldering iron from the LED Flex Strip and the solder should harden.
9. Test your connections to make sure your LED Flex Strip lights up.

Connect Positive and Negative leads correctly:

LEDs are diodes. That means that current flows in one direction. So polarity is very important. Always connect Positive and Negative correctly. This is not an issue if you are using LED MR16, GU10 or other bulbs.

Environmentally Safe!

LED Lights don't have Mercury in them and they can be recycled! Unlike flourescent bulbs which do have mercury and can be dangerous if broken. You also have to dispose of flourescent bulbs properly. They cannot be thrown away with the regular garbage. They must be taken to a hazardous waste facility. Flourescents are those bulbs that have a swirl to them.