My biggest frustration with the last set is that there are two segments on one strand that periodically blink on & off. MEH refuses to replace it unless I can provide a picture of the failure within 90 days.
Since I don't have the capability to set up a 24/7 video to record the lights (installed at the top of a 12' cathedral ceiling on my screened-in porch), I'm pretty much stuck with a set that inevitably is going to be an obvious defect when the intermittent short becomes permanent.
Buying more now to have on hand for when these go bad (and a few other applications I've thought up since then). Definitely bend (reasonably) & test each set as soon as you get them... and have a video running of you doing it in case it proves to be difficult to recreate the blinking.
@mehdaf I had two with sections that were intermittently bad. I plugged them in, waited with camera, and they haven't misbehaved since. Very annoying. I have a theory that when I straightened them, the bad connections were forced together which solved my problem. The casing is still cracked in places, but since all mine are indoors, it's not a problem. I have a couple of spares; maybe it's the threat of being replaced that's making the bad sections behave.
@OldCatLady I guess we know why they are priced so cheap. They are.
You have me concerned in the opposite direction. I tested mine all rolled up... and left them plugged in for a bit. Wondering now whether issues might arise upon unfurling them.
Apparently when "professionals" install them, they have the specialized di-revquester unfurler-flattener tool that is unavailable to us mere amateurs.
I bought a few, unrolled them on the floor, plugged them in, and had a section that was quite intermittent on 2 of the cables. After approximately 10-15 minutes of warm up, the defect went away. After installing one string under the bed, and another behind the couch, there have been no problems. So yes, perhaps test them immediately, but I would give these a chance before you freak out and decide they are bad.
I did not intend to scare anyone away unnecessarily, these could still be worth it, especially if you buy extras and they are mounted in an easily accessible location. I am even considering buying a few more myself, but I'm on the fence. Caveat emptor is all, between myself and a coworker we bought $300 worth of these last time, all different lengths. About half are installed now, two boxes were bad out of around twenty. They started intermittent, then just went dead. He got creative and cut his open since the dead part was at the end, so he capped it and apparently it has worked since. Mine was at the start which made it less than ideal, however Meh was good about handling the refund eventually.
@mehdaf I guess if they were 100% reliable, we probably wouldn't be getting them for less than a buck a foot. As long as Meh makes good on the shortish warranty, it's probably still worth the gamble for us cheapskates.
@kuoh I generally would agree with you, however for this product having a one or two foot dead spot in the center of it makes it not so useful for most of the applications they pictured for example, especially if you have to go through a complicated mounting process. Due to the high failure rate I have personally seen, I am wondering if meh just bought all the ones that failed the factory end of line check. If someone else is considering buying these, I would think it would be a nice heads up to get.
@mehdaf I kinda wish I'd read your warning beforehand. The one that just arrived today has a segment that keeps randomly turning off for a few seconds and then back on again. =(
hahaha, great write up. I own these & am very pleased with the quality. I did use them for christmas lights & they were way too bright. I literally stuck them shiny side up between two landscaping rocks around the yard and got beautiful illumination.
@dgmshop My neighbor has an obnoxious exhaust on his car-- So this holiday season I went all Clark Griswold with my last purchase and it's almost blinding! Got to buy more!
@caffeineguy next mod to your lighting: incorporate sound-activation into your light ropes. Tuned to your neighbor's exhaust sound and pointed at their driveway.
@bruhaha I got one of those and it worked for these LED lights, but does not turn all the way off, even past the indent. It's kind of a nice nightlight for the kitchen so I left it.
Got some of these both previous times, very happy with them. They are definitely bright. If they're too bright for you, collect the extra lumens and donate them to charity.
Okay, I can't stop myself from buying these again. I second the "make sure you test" advice above. With my "orange-childish-squirrel" order, I now have a backup for after the snow and ice has its way with the rope lighting our walkway.
No dimmer in this photo, but I finally have parts to make one. These are so bright I have to be careful not to look at them if they're on when I pull into the driveway at night. Not overly bright during the day, but that's not when you actually need lights on your walkway.
@hanzov69 Surprisingly, no. I didn't try turning them on during our coldest day (1ºF) but they have worked well at 18ºF or so with the snow you see above. They also held steady during a few rainy days we had before winter finally arrived.
I wouldn't push it too far, though. I expect the covering is fairly brittle in the cold, so I haven't tried to move them around much. Also, I only had to shovel once so far. Time will tell if they last through the winter. Hence the backup purchase!
@givemeyoursoul I was confused by this comment, because the Amazon link does indeed indicate that the price is $189 for 45 feet. Upon further inspection, it seems that Amazon.com itself is selling the product for $189, but other sellers are selling it for much cheaper (the aforementioned $33) through the Fulfilled by Amazon program.
This does seem a little misleading, since Fulfilled by Amazon is (in my experience) basically as good as Amazon itself. It's not like you're buying used or buying something from a shady Ebay seller or something. $33 is how much this realistically costs.
@obxer I recommend Lightshot for a fast screenshot markup tool that's also free but still better than the built-in tools on Windows or Macs. http://app.prntscr.com/en/index.html
@claus Or Greenshot or ShareX. All great, free utilities. My job entails a lot of screenshottin' so I've tried 'em all. I currently use ShareX because it's the most customizable.
@moosetoga This is awesome. I too do a lot of screenshottin' for work and have been stuck with the "snipping tool" provided by MS. Never thought of using a different software.
I love these things. I discovered that not only are they wonderfully full spectrum, but waterproof as well! This isn't my main SW tank, this is a side project I set up around Christmas, but you get the idea. I can't grab a pic right now of my main but I use these on it as well.
Look how happy everything is and how cool the lights look!
I dunno how wise it is to put these into water with living things in it. From other comments it sounds like they out-gas stinky chemicals that sensitive creatures might find deadly.
@ozob No ill effects so far, you can't tell from the pic but there's a number of crested blennies in that tank, along with sponges, crabs, brittlestars, etc. All happy and healthy. Maybe I got a good batch because I haven't noticed any horrible smell from any of the ones I opened.
Ooh I came up with a project for my chicken coop and missed these last time. And they aren't smart enough to care if I have a dimmer switch. freezing-green-puma
The Space Station called a few times to complain about my Christmas lights but they were AWESOME on full bright! Unbelievable brightness for not a lot of electricity. Buying more!
Bought these on the first go around, installed under my bed on an Insteon dimmer. The effect works really well, but the Insteon dimmer never fully turns them off, BUT! This is a good thing. When the dimmer is "off" the faint glow isn't perceptible at all, until you wake up in the middle of the night, eyes fully adjusted to the dark, and you can just barely..faintly.. make out the outline of the bed. Less intrusive than a night light, but still handy for a return trip from the bathroom without stubbing your toe (or waking your girlfriend).
Also, yes, that is a sexy nude Skeletor reclining on a Cringer/Battlecat rug. Also not sure why it's rotated... (http://cl.ly/eHY6)
@dgmshop To be honest there was a bit of an off-smell the first week they were in there, but it disappeared. Fortunately this was during the unseasonably warm October we had, so we did air out the room one or two of the days.
If I were to do it again, I might just open the package and leave them on the porch for a day or so to air out, but otherwise NBD
@hanzov69 I tried airing them outside for 2 weeks before bringing them in again but after turning on they warmed up and stank again. Now that they've been on outside a while I hope they smell better indoors even lit. The smell makes me think of catching cancer or some sort of brain cloud.
Bought these for indoor use. ACK THE SMELL. T'would make a hungry maggot leave! So used them to Griswold the house instead. Blinded my neighbors Todd and Margo. The energy use is pretty up there. Cant recall how much, but higher total wattage than expected. Closer to a standard incandescent of the same brightness than a A17 Led equivalent low Watt bulb. Now where'd I put that non-osmotic cereal varnish? WHAOOOOOooooooooooooSH
WOO! I called it earlier this week that we needed more rope lights and BOOM here they are. Yes I ordered three more. I think I have an LED rope light problem.
I used the last set of lights around our office sign and it's great! I've had several customers talk about how great the lights work. I'll post a pic of the results.
@joe43wv over the past couple years I've noticed several nondescript shops installing LED strips to outline store front windows or signs. Definitely makes those previously unnoticed shops stand out.
But the install needs to be tight and straight (or hidden and indirect) to prevent an amateur/hokey look. And of course not so bright it blinds potential customers.
Thanks for buying all the 13ft bright whites, jerks :| Had to pay that 6.6ft premium price (still haven't used my previous ones but have tons of ideas, just lack the time)
Could I use, say a 13.2ft strand along a wall to replace a small floor lamp? I mean, in lumens that's a light bulb's worth of brightness but has someone actually tried them for more than just accent lighting?
@trisk even the 3ft length could replace a small lamp. My 3 foot strip is mounted above my desk, parallel to the desk surface, pointing down, and it works great as a lamp.
I don't know why people were complaining about them being too bright. I lined my driveway with them last time and now have a nice collection of airplanes.
Take at least three of these super bright light strings, hook them up in series, power them up with a twelve volt marine battery, equipped with the appropriate trsformer, ( pretty sure those will be on the calendar in the next 2 weeks). Then use a bunch of your electric bundleing straps to tie them to 464 mini quadcopters. (The correct amount to get this masterpiece off the ground) I don't have to tell you what to do from here. The permutations are endless. This kind of thinking is exactly what the Meh Masters are looking for. If you believe you will mehvitate into the inner demehntia. Remember no PayPal
@tmwest87 no need. Simply install the ropes under your bed like the dude above@hanzov69. Then your pee will glow with just the right level of lumens to illuminate the toilet.
I picked up 3 sets the first time they were offered. On each set a section of them will flicker on and off every so often. It's not annoying enough that I'd rip them out, but annoying enough that I'd not have purchased them in the first place if I had it to do over again.
It's also interesting people think they're too bright. I have them running 2 in parallel under my cabinets, and they're a hair dimmer than the previous halogen lights that were under them. I guess it depends on what you're using them for. Nowhere near as bright as the lights under the cabinet mounted microwave.
@Pufferfishy I put all mine atop plant shelving that runs through my 'open plan' living room/kitchen/DR, and on some 8' bookcases in another room. They reflect off the ceiling so aren't visible directly. I did order some of the jumper extension cords because I have a bizarre layout, and they work well.
awesome, i bought some of the 3' sections to put in my new sandblasting cabinet. SO much cheaper than buying lights for the cabinet. When it goes bad, rip it out and replace it with another $3 light. Thank Meh, now I can return that crappy LED light to Lowes.
@Ecriscit let us know how that works. Perhaps the a sand/whatever abraded clear PVC cover will simply diffuse the light more and more and you're still good to go?
@RedOak the lights that came with my cabinet are junk, so I bought a replacement LED light. Some people online are using automotive LED strips to light up their sandblasting cabinet (expensive) and replacing them when the abrasive compounds wear them out. At 3 bucks a piece I am not inclined to protect them with any plastic, just going to run them around the top of my cabinet and direct the light by aiming the ropes. That's my plan, I will see how it works. If the first batch get ruined quickly I will likely run them in some type of clear shielding (probably the tube the original light came in). I'm pleasantly surprised by this purchase today. I'm starting to think I should by more...
@Ecriscit I was referring to abrading the existing (included) clear PVC cover.
These LED light ropes are not bare like some cheap straight-from-the-Chinese plant-junk. The LED chips are already protected by that clear tubular cover.
Bought these the first time they came out for under my kitchen cabinets. Now I can cook without every light in the house on. Bought more the second time for the basement stairs and our master closet. They work great and yes, they are bright as all get out, do not look directly at them. None of mine had any problems, tested them as soon as they arrived, so I got lucky. Wish I could think of more ways to use them so I could buy more!
bought 5 last time they were around, @MEH, I just installed them on my roof and two of them have flickering sections... I had to buy to replacements in order to change those... is there any type of warranty on these?
@RedOak ahhh yes, the typical internet troll. I assumed that this forum was troll free, but ney, trolls sprout in forums like fungus on humid environments... Thanks read oak!
@RedOak the very pure fact that his user name is meh, makes him an instant troll, the sole answer he made to my comment which clearly was directed to MEH the company not the user is considered being a troll, so yeah, in my eyes he IS a troll
@jareza A few things from your neighborhood friendly moderator... - @meh had that username back when the only site from this company was mediocre.com. - she is most certainly not a troll - but a person with a username that turned out to be more on the nose than expected. - Calling people trolls for no reason tends to make you look dickish. - If you ever indeed need to reach the people at meh for customer support, help, or comment, meh.com/support is going to be your best bet. While the employees are active in the forums, they do their best work through their messaging system. (Should the need arise.)
Would you call a woman named Wendy eating in a Wendy's an "instant troll"? What about a man named Jesus worshiping at a Catholic church? Or John eating Papa John's? Jack at Jack in the Box? Frank eating a frankfurter? Ham (diminutive of Hamid) eating a hamburger?
If yes, well then I guess it is just who you are and how you deal with the ambiguities of reality (or would it be the realities of ambiguity?). Not my place to judge. But if you don't think that Jesus is an "instant troll," I think you've just proven to us that your logic is indeed flawed.
You clearly posted a comment to meh (the person) and not (as you claim) to meh (the company). We know this because a comment to meh (the company) would have been posted at https://meh.com/support. Had you posted a comment to meh (the company), most of us and certainly meh (the person) would not have even seen it.
Also, you should be aware that meh (the person) had the name years before meh (the company/website) did and that meh (the person) is a she. (Most of us are unsure about the gender of meh [the company].)
Finally, your replies about this clearly demonstrate little more than a rudimentary understanding of meh (the company). In addition, publicly stating "I assumed that this forum was troll free" demonstrates that you are relatively inexperienced with the Internet in general.
serious note. These things are bright. I didn't notice a smell issue. Also, they do NOT bend or curve very well. Work much better in a straight line. They aren't going to do well around a 90 degree corner.
I put these under the eave of my home. By the way, they are incredibly tedious to put up with the supplied clips. Two tiny pilot holes followed by two tiny screws every 4" or so. But I think it was worth it.
@bxm83 Did you use the stock "pot metal" screws or did you get stainless? I searched the local big-box retailers for SS and they were 1) hard to find in similar size (ended up getting slightly fatter and far shorter at #6x1/2") and 2) crazy expensive... Debating on the value as my install will only be exposed to humidity -vs- actual rainfall..... but it's FL humidity....
And was the 4" spacing really required for anything not directly in view? I was planning to go 6" - maybe even 8"....
@Pufferfishy Using them inside, running them flat overhead, I wound up putting one every 8-10", and I only used one of the screws, so the clips swivel to hold the strip flat. Works for me.
@Pufferfishy that stainless screw choice for outside install is smart no matter where you live if there is any chance they will be visible. The cheapo plated screws that come in these sets (or any) rust in presence of moisture.
And even if the screws will not be directly visible who wants to look at rust stain runs. (Even under a soffit condensation can cause runs.)
@Pufferfishy I used the ones in the kit. I live in a high humidity area too and they haven't rusted yet. Maybe I'll get a can of some sort of sealant and spray over them. Also, I found the 4" spacing to be better. They didn't sag that much at 8", but they certainly did a little and I didn't like how it looked. I used warm white by the way.
Has anyone tried with double stick tape (the foam kind) or some kind of Velcro attachment... I want to put it on the back of my TV, but there are no vents to run zip ties through, where I want to run it.
@sohmageek I ran a flexible neon light (about $6 for 9ft) around the back of the TV. It's probably easier for diffuse lighting (and dimmer than this stuff). Really thin, like wire, so just held up with scotch tape.
@sohmageek Have not done it - but I'd bet it would work fine based on the relatively flat back on these. I would go only with 3M brand myself as their shit will glue on car emblems and not come off once the adhesive "cures". Lesser brands not likely to be as reliable.
Now you got me thinking - the stainless screws to do my install are gonna be megabucks - perhaps the gluefoam is something for me to consider as well....
@sohmageek I used hot glue with the plastic holders that came with the strips. it worked well, but it took a lot of time! Please ignore the mess in my office here.. Really need to clean it up.. This is a 6' string on a 25" monitor.
Yes, the backs are smooth and stick to double sided foam tape really well. In fact, that's how I installed them under my cabinets, easier and quicker than using all those clips and screws. I used small strips every 8 to 10 inches, but they need to be closer to the edges of any bends.
@kuoh NOW you tell me. Why couldn't somebody have mentioned this BEFORE I installed over 50 feet of these things while standing on a ladder and using a tack hammer? I hate ladders, and even using a gadget to hold the nails while I pounded them, I was shaky. I replaced the screws with the nails that I cannibalized from some coax baseboard clips, of which I have about a thousand. Actually I used a comb to hold the nails in place while I tapped them, because manicure. I claim the MacGyver Award of the day.
@billchase2 No dimmer as I wanted full brightness in the kitchen area.
@OldCatLady I installed a 13' section in an overhead canopy for my mom's deck and it was a pain using those clips and screws. The clips don't hold the long screws straight, so they wobbled all over or go in at an angle if I didn't drill pilot holes. I still have my 50' boxes and dread just thinking about putting them up in my garage, as double sided tape won't work well there.
@kuoh I did think about mounting the lights to a narrow board (think yardstick), then simply shoving the board in place and perhaps screwing it down. This occurred after everything was finished, of course. Just when I was about to go to sleep. No reason a 1x2 wouldn't work as well.
@OldCatLady If you already had the materials around then perhaps, otherwise it's another added expense. Also, it would probably only be suitable for the shorter 13' lengths or sections of the longer lengths, as you couldn't pre-mount the entire 50' then hold it all up in the air at the same time. I think the included clips or even the generic hammer in staples they use for electrical wiring would be easier then, though it would tiring to mount so many overhead if you went with one every 6".
bought these last time and lined my ceiling with them. They are very, very bright and illuminate my otherwise dark room almost as good as overhead lighting fixtures would.
There is a slight flicker that frustrates me. Not sure if i will keep them up.
I posted this in the last thread, so why not here. Both runs attached to the same dimmer (Lutron DVCL-153P-WH).
Very pleased with these so far. I bought the 32 footers. Had some length left over once I got to the end of the house. FYI- you can cut these. There is a line every 4 feet or so. Cut there and goop some silicone on the end to seal it.
What was up with the logon process last night? It said I had a bad username and password, to which I got "roped" in to being a dummy, promised I wouldn't forget again, and it gave me a video of Irk saying he was fixing things on his end.
Just saying Meh.com is living up to all their promises. I bought one thing so far regretted it the minute it was delivered. But they warned me I have not been decieved. I think the problem is you have to check in exactly at 9pm. If it is one of the rare good deals, they are gone within a couple of hours at best. Those who buy all the time are leading troubled lives.
Just a funnier version of QVC.
The best thing about Meh is the forum. Some funny people hang out here. Another thing who says "Meh"? Am I wrong? Isn't it "eh" which means, "whatever" or "who cares". Is Meh the Yiddish version?
I just strung a 45 footer along the side of the house and above the garage doors. It looks great by the garage doors because I "hid" it behind a little lip on the roof overhang. Oh the side of the house, however, there was a stretch where there was no place to hide it. It looks bad. Can these be mounted upside-down to hide the light in certain spots or is that bad for heat dissipation?
Super blinded and thrilled with my purchase! I now see absolutely everything in my living room. Going from a dark cave to the gates of heaven! Thank you! Now I know just how awful my carpets really look even after I Rug Doctored the hell out of it! I would invest in a dimmer switch but it's too damn late now! I've already seen the hideousness. Could not be happier with my lights!!!!!!!
Does anyone have any ideas on how to "focus" the lights? I put the lights around our business sign and it works great! People have really been talking about it. The only problem is the light is spread out so much it lights up my front yard which isn't a problem, but there is a strip right down the middle of the sign that light isn't showing up. I can post pictures if that helps.
@joe43wv A couple of cross strips in the middle shining up and down might help, but you should also add some shielding to keep the light on the sign and cut down the glare from the LEDs.
I finally got around to installing some of these as under cabinet lights and indirect above the cabinets. Overall, I would say that it is good considering what I paid for them. The color is consistent from one string to the next, but it is a little off. There is a barely perceptible green hue in them that shouldn't be there, but I can live with it. The other issue is that there is fuse protection built into the ac plug. You will lose that important piece of safety if you cut the plug off to hard wire it to a lighting circuit. Since the power supply is a critical component that can overheat if it fails, adding an appropriate inline fuse is a necessity.
@imaaron goto your orders page, find the order in question and click on the "I need help with this" button under it. Please allow a few days for reply.
There might be another section where it would be better to post this question. Where can I buy cheap controllers for these? Plugs and maybe other stuff. I got a few feet in the unlucky box and seem to remember someoen saying you can simply cut these and...I don't remember the rest. I'd like to cut this roll into maybe a few sections and put three feet in a 1950's china closet. Thanks, and if this post is even read, thanks!
Oohhhhhh.. ok. But there's got to be a way to make these shorter? Thanks for the warning. o.k. I'm not going to jump into this. It might not even be do-able.
Finally got around to installing mine. I used a pair of the 19.7s to add some indirect lighting to a social space my fiancee and I are making in an old barn on our property: (taken with my shitty shitty tablet camera)
As you can see, even at full strength, it doesn't really affect the overall light level in there. I really like the effect, though.
(And because I just have to show off, here's what it looks like from the outside. You can't tell, but all the lights have LED Edison bulbs in them, and the one outside it made out of an antique shade and plumbing supplies. I imagine this makes us look like insufferable hipsters, but I don't care. It's been a fun project.)
Anyone remember these obnoxiously bright rope lights with ridiculous failure rates? My neighbor put up their Christmas decorations just after inauguration, so I felt compelled to do this…
@caffeineguy I dug mine out of the garage last month to light up some Halloween decorations…after I colored the whole thing with a black sharpie to try and dim it a little.
Specs
Condition: New
Warranty: 90 Day Mediocre
Estimated Delivery: 1/18 - 1/21
Shipping: $5 or free with VMP
What’s in the Box?
1x LED Tape-rope hybrid
1x Power cord
1x Bundle of mounting clips and screws
Pictures
Two color temperatures
Bright white
Warm white
3.3ft Bright White
6.6ft Bright White
6.6ft Warm White
13.2ft Warm White
13.2ft Bright White
32.8ft Warm White
19.7ft Warm White
45.9ft Warm White
Magic frog
Price Comparison
Find a relevant price comparison? Please share it in a comment in this thread
Estimated Delivery
Monday, January 28th - Monday, February 4th
Don't let them rope you into buying these!
@lichme or choke you out lol
@lichme they're trying to lasso us again with these
@lichme What "LED" you to believe others might get roped in?
Another bright idea deal
@AttyVette
Be wary of bad sections. Test the ones you get immediately. This was an issue for a few buyers last time, myself included.
@mehdaf
My biggest frustration with the last set is that there are two segments on one strand that periodically blink on & off. MEH refuses to replace it unless I can provide a picture of the failure within 90 days.
Since I don't have the capability to set up a 24/7 video to record the lights (installed at the top of a 12' cathedral ceiling on my screened-in porch), I'm pretty much stuck with a set that inevitably is going to be an obvious defect when the intermittent short becomes permanent.
Buying more now to have on hand for when these go bad (and a few other applications I've thought up since then). Definitely bend (reasonably) & test each set as soon as you get them... and have a video running of you doing it in case it proves to be difficult to recreate the blinking.
@mehdaf ah shit - mine are still sitting in a box....
(whew) They all (8) tested fine. But now I have temporary blindness..... wow
@mehdaf I had two with sections that were intermittently bad. I plugged them in, waited with camera, and they haven't misbehaved since. Very annoying. I have a theory that when I straightened them, the bad connections were forced together which solved my problem. The casing is still cracked in places, but since all mine are indoors, it's not a problem. I have a couple of spares; maybe it's the threat of being replaced that's making the bad sections behave.
@OldCatLady I guess we know why they are priced so cheap. They are.
You have me concerned in the opposite direction. I tested mine all rolled up... and left them plugged in for a bit. Wondering now whether issues might arise upon unfurling them.
Apparently when "professionals" install them, they have the specialized di-revquester unfurler-flattener tool that is unavailable to us mere amateurs.
I bought a few, unrolled them on the floor, plugged them in, and had a section that was quite intermittent on 2 of the cables. After approximately 10-15 minutes of warm up, the defect went away. After installing one string under the bed, and another behind the couch, there have been no problems. So yes, perhaps test them immediately, but I would give these a chance before you freak out and decide they are bad.
I did not intend to scare anyone away unnecessarily, these could still be worth it, especially if you buy extras and they are mounted in an easily accessible location. I am even considering buying a few more myself, but I'm on the fence. Caveat emptor is all, between myself and a coworker we bought $300 worth of these last time, all different lengths. About half are installed now, two boxes were bad out of around twenty. They started intermittent, then just went dead. He got creative and cut his open since the dead part was at the end, so he capped it and apparently it has worked since. Mine was at the start which made it less than ideal, however Meh was good about handling the refund eventually.
I just opened one of the 13' units I had in the basement and 2 feet of it are out, that makes 3 bad ones. They are nice and bright though...
@mehdaf I guess if they were 100% reliable, we probably wouldn't be getting them for less than a buck a foot. As long as Meh makes good on the shortish warranty, it's probably still worth the gamble for us cheapskates.
KuoH
@kuoh I generally would agree with you, however for this product having a one or two foot dead spot in the center of it makes it not so useful for most of the applications they pictured for example, especially if you have to go through a complicated mounting process. Due to the high failure rate I have personally seen, I am wondering if meh just bought all the ones that failed the factory end of line check. If someone else is considering buying these, I would think it would be a nice heads up to get.
@mehdaf I kinda wish I'd read your warning beforehand. The one that just arrived today has a segment that keeps randomly turning off for a few seconds and then back on again. =(
@mehdaf I have 2 out of 7 that are randomly turning off so far.
Maybe 3rd time is the charm for these. Last 2 times I bought these LED ropes on here they were cracked.
@dynamiklol you know what they say "Fool me once..."
(Actually, I've had good luck both times I've bought these.)
hahaha, great write up. I own these & am very pleased with the quality. I did use them for christmas lights & they were way too bright. I literally stuck them shiny side up between two landscaping rocks around the yard and got beautiful illumination.
@march5th00
@dgmshop My neighbor has an obnoxious exhaust on his car-- So this holiday season I went all Clark Griswold with my last purchase and it's almost blinding! Got to buy more!
@caffeineguy next mod to your lighting: incorporate sound-activation into your light ropes. Tuned to your neighbor's exhaust sound and pointed at their driveway.
@caffeineguy Buy a couple of exhaust whistles and shove them in there when he's not looking. That should suitably annoy him for the time being.
@cinoclav
previously on meh
https://meh.com/deals/american-lighting-led-rope-lights-1
2015-11-09 American Lighting LED Rope/Tape Hybrid Lights $3 - 22
https://meh.com/deals/american-lighting-led-rope-lights
2015-10-19 American Lighting LED Rope/Tape Hybrid Lights $3 - 22
and with that im going to bed
@communist same prices with a smaller selection! Let's do this!
Excellent timing! The light in my microwave recently went out and I have been looking to replace it. In for one.
@KevinKevin huh?
"Lights" make a deal
@AttyVette
@cinoclav well since I got laid off and have no job...
@AttyVette Go into practice for yourself!
ohsonofabitch
I have NO IDEA why bigger-blase-bagel led to this pic, but it is somehow fucking awesome:
I guess I'll have to rewatch The Prisoner now.
@baqui63 Thanks for the idea! I loved that show.
@baqui63 INFORMATION!
Love the, "what happens without a dimmer these damn things are SOOOOOO bright" gif from Indiana Jones. Nice touch.
It says no limit on amount you can buy but it won't let me buy more than 3?!
@catiedesch put in another order?
@catiedesch Same :( It also prevents multiple orders, saying I already ordered max of 3
@catiedesch same here. I would love 4!
@catiedesch I was sorry that I could only get 3 with my royal-warlike-lemur, but at least I got those.
@catiedesch yep, same issue for me.
@Roadie multiple orders are working now, I just ordered more.
@catiedesch it's fixed! You can get more than three now :D
@catiedesch @SkyyPunk @Aquaman @yeppers @Roadie Try now. If it is still saying "no way!" then reply here and tag me and I'll escalate it.
@alexthegirl perfect. My second order just went through as well. :)
Everything is going to have lights on it.
Anyone have a handy link to a dimmer switch?
@jinglejangle this one works for me
@bruhaha I got one of those and it worked for these LED lights, but does not turn all the way off, even past the indent. It's kind of a nice nightlight for the kitchen so I left it.
Got some of these both previous times, very happy with them. They are definitely bright. If they're too bright for you, collect the extra lumens and donate them to charity.
Oh, good. I was wishing I'd gotten a couple of the short ones last time. Just bought 2 of the 3.3' ones. I'll keep them in a martian-narcoleptic-coil.
We never tested the three long sets we bought... I guess we should get around to that. Derp.
@Pony Me too, and I bought some really long ones. Now, I have to go find where I put the boxes.
@KenC the boxes are right next to the 4 sets of backup headphones and 3 x just-in-case folding knives.
These look like they would be to bright for me to use. I just wish there was a way that I could variably dim them.
@SegamanXero I feel like someone should make that product. We'd call it... hmmm... a un-brighter button. Sell it on Meh, make millions.
Okay, I can't stop myself from buying these again. I second the "make sure you test" advice above. With my "orange-childish-squirrel" order, I now have a backup for after the snow and ice has its way with the rope lighting our walkway.
@mhuyck Said walkway:
No dimmer in this photo, but I finally have parts to make one. These are so bright I have to be careful not to look at them if they're on when I pull into the driveway at night. Not overly bright during the day, but that's not when you actually need lights on your walkway.
@mhuyck
I hate to tell you this, but the gates of hell are opening underneath your walkway.
@mctrev Maybe that explains why I keep having to buy new boots. :-)
@mhuyck I see you also live in a snowy area... any issue with them in the cold so far?
@hanzov69 Surprisingly, no. I didn't try turning them on during our coldest day (1ºF) but they have worked well at 18ºF or so with the snow you see above. They also held steady during a few rainy days we had before winter finally arrived.
I wouldn't push it too far, though. I expect the covering is fairly brittle in the cold, so I haven't tried to move them around much. Also, I only had to shovel once so far. Time will tell if they last through the winter. Hence the backup purchase!
@mhuyck After the last snow one strand disappeared. The chute of my snowblower now lights up like 1000 headlights.
Scrolling on phone, the write up made me snort. Good job.
@thismyusername - Of course! You're a goat!
Okay deal, but $156 on Amazon? Plz. $33 with PRIME.
$22 is obviously cheaper than $33, but why this fallacious $156?
@givemeyoursoul I was confused by this comment, because the Amazon link does indeed indicate that the price is $189 for 45 feet. Upon further inspection, it seems that Amazon.com itself is selling the product for $189, but other sellers are selling it for much cheaper (the aforementioned $33) through the Fulfilled by Amazon program.
This does seem a little misleading, since Fulfilled by Amazon is (in my experience) basically as good as Amazon itself. It's not like you're buying used or buying something from a shady Ebay seller or something. $33 is how much this realistically costs.
@cutroil Fulfilled by Amazon in some measure is better than Sold by Amazon for our state. It usually means no sales tax!
@cutroil What extension or program do you use to add your red boxes? I want to add lots of red boxes.
@obxer I recommend Lightshot for a fast screenshot markup tool that's also free but still better than the built-in tools on Windows or Macs. http://app.prntscr.com/en/index.html
@claus Or Greenshot or ShareX. All great, free utilities. My job entails a lot of screenshottin' so I've tried 'em all. I currently use ShareX because it's the most customizable.
@obxer I use paint.net on Windows.
@moosetoga This is awesome. I too do a lot of screenshottin' for work and have been stuck with the "snipping tool" provided by MS. Never thought of using a different software.
I love these things. I discovered that not only are they wonderfully full spectrum, but waterproof as well! This isn't my main SW tank, this is a side project I set up around Christmas, but you get the idea. I can't grab a pic right now of my main but I use these on it as well.
Look how happy everything is and how cool the lights look!
@SHOVAR good show! I've got a 150 paludarium I want to try these out on. I'm very excited now after seeing your picture! Thanks!
@Aquaman Dude, you're Aquaman! Isn't your tank like 352 quintillion gallons?!
@Aquaman paludarium- my new word for the day. Can we see it?
I dunno how wise it is to put these into water with living things in it. From other comments it sounds like they out-gas stinky chemicals that sensitive creatures might find deadly.
@cinoclav that's my home, still need to decorate!
@sammydog01 if you still care tomorrow, I'll post a picture. Just got done with a 10 hour overnight shift.
@ozob No ill effects so far, you can't tell from the pic but there's a number of crested blennies in that tank, along with sponges, crabs, brittlestars, etc. All happy and healthy. Maybe I got a good batch because I haven't noticed any horrible smell from any of the ones I opened.
@Aquaman If you get a chance I would love to see it.
Why can't I buy more than 3???
@PopsQ Try now. If it is still saying "no way!" then reply here and tag me and I'll escalate it.
Ooh I came up with a project for my chicken coop and missed these last time. And they aren't smart enough to care if I have a dimmer switch.
freezing-green-puma
@metageist be careful. We tried these rope lights without a dimmer in our chicken coop and the eggs came out hard-boiled!
I can't even log in to the site to order. :(
The Space Station called a few times to complain about my Christmas lights but they were AWESOME on full bright! Unbelievable brightness for not a lot of electricity. Buying more!
@slappymartin
@slappymartin Today's "who's buying this crap" map shows how these lights appear from the space station.
Bought these on the first go around, installed under my bed on an Insteon dimmer. The effect works really well, but the Insteon dimmer never fully turns them off, BUT! This is a good thing. When the dimmer is "off" the faint glow isn't perceptible at all, until you wake up in the middle of the night, eyes fully adjusted to the dark, and you can just barely..faintly.. make out the outline of the bed. Less intrusive than a night light, but still handy for a return trip from the bathroom without stubbing your toe (or waking your girlfriend).
Also, yes, that is a sexy nude Skeletor reclining on a Cringer/Battlecat rug. Also not sure why it's rotated... (http://cl.ly/eHY6)
@hanzov69 How do they smell in your bed room now that you've had them a while?
@dgmshop To be honest there was a bit of an off-smell the first week they were in there, but it disappeared. Fortunately this was during the unseasonably warm October we had, so we did air out the room one or two of the days.
If I were to do it again, I might just open the package and leave them on the porch for a day or so to air out, but otherwise NBD
@hanzov69 For reference, that's a king size bed and I used two 13.2 strands, which was pretty spot on for the full perimeter. YMMV
@hanzov69 I tried airing them outside for 2 weeks before bringing them in again but after turning on they warmed up and stank again. Now that they've been on outside a while I hope they smell better indoors even lit. The smell makes me think of catching cancer or some sort of brain cloud.
@hanzov69
@hanzov69 Thanks. Bought some warm white to copy your idea.
Bought these for indoor use. ACK THE SMELL. T'would make a hungry maggot leave! So used them to Griswold the house instead. Blinded my neighbors Todd and Margo. The energy use is pretty up there. Cant recall how much, but higher total wattage than expected. Closer to a standard incandescent of the same brightness than a A17 Led equivalent low Watt bulb. Now where'd I put that non-osmotic cereal varnish? WHAOOOOOooooooooooooSH
I buy these everytime they come up too. The wife (AKA the Project Assigner) keeps coming up with new ways to use these.
weak-surprised-crumpet
WOO! I called it earlier this week that we needed more rope lights and BOOM here they are. Yes I ordered three more. I think I have an LED rope light problem.
I used the last set of lights around our office sign and it's great! I've had several customers talk about how great the lights work. I'll post a pic of the results.
@joe43wv over the past couple years I've noticed several nondescript shops installing LED strips to outline store front windows or signs. Definitely makes those previously unnoticed shops stand out.
But the install needs to be tight and straight (or hidden and indirect) to prevent an amateur/hokey look. And of course not so bright it blinds potential customers.
I already own enough strands of these to start my own Meh page -- please don't make me by more!!!
Oboy! I'm In! Again! OK Meh, for tomorrow, you have to do dimmer switch! I mean really! A dimmer switch!
I bought some back in October. They were almost bright enough. Reckon I need some more.
Again? How many of these do you have Meh?
Hope we see some more remote controlled power outlets.
@quaxie - This is my favorite meh purchase right now.
rousing-giant-crayon
Thanks for buying all the 13ft bright whites, jerks :|
Had to pay that 6.6ft premium price (still haven't used my previous ones but have tons of ideas, just lack the time)
Things nobody cares about and has seen before for 600
Show me rope lights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@kperkins1982 I'm sorry, that wasn't phrased in the form of the question. -$600
It's a Jeopardy/Family Feud/$100K Pyramid mashup!
Meh - can you buy like 10 pallets of these at a discount (then flip 'em): http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-TBL03-10E-300-watt-Tabletop-Control/dp/B00A80756O
by tomorrow please?
brightness-whiner-chump
I bought a 3ft bright white as a test a while back and have loved it. So now I ordered a few more. These are great!
Could I use, say a 13.2ft strand along a wall to replace a small floor lamp? I mean, in lumens that's a light bulb's worth of brightness but has someone actually tried them for more than just accent lighting?
@trisk even the 3ft length could replace a small lamp. My 3 foot strip is mounted above my desk, parallel to the desk surface, pointing down, and it works great as a lamp.
Does anyone get a whiff of B.O. when they open these things? Do they run these through the jockstrap pre-soak cycle before packaging them up?
@nfi it's the rare kind of BO that smells better as time passes. Mine smell kind of sexy now.
@nfi I could smell myself getting dumber from the fumes
I don't know why people were complaining about them being too bright. I lined my driveway with them last time and now have a nice collection of airplanes.
I don't know what I'm going to do it my 40 feet of this, but I bought it anyways
Take at least three of these super bright light strings, hook them up in series, power them up with a twelve volt marine battery, equipped with the appropriate trsformer, ( pretty sure those will be on the calendar in the next 2 weeks). Then use a bunch of your electric bundleing straps to tie them to 464 mini quadcopters. (The correct amount to get this masterpiece off the ground) I don't have to tell you what to do from here. The permutations are endless. This kind of thinking is exactly what the Meh Masters are looking for. If you believe you will mehvitate into the inner demehntia. Remember no PayPal
@Bkmack What ?
@jmbunkin Im assuming flying dickbutt
@whtthfgg what?
@Bkmack Dickbutt. Flying. Made of lights. NSFW.
@Thumperchick so a flying string of lights is bad? It's a dream. Sometimes a dream comes true. Sometime it's indigestion.
@Bkmack this one is indigestion
@Bkmack dickbutt?
@Bkmack if by 'bad' you mean glorious, then yes.
Bought a 20' one and put it on a timer,each time it kicks on I turn and say "Hello Lumens"
meh: Get a Dimmer.
Q: Any ideas on what style/kind (where to buy) to dimmerize ropes?
@rrpprr www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004DE5ONC Nice and easy to use..
@caffeineguy
thanks!
Can't wait to light up my toilet at night.
@tmwest87 everyone complaining of the smell must have gotten your return from the last order.
@tmwest87 no need. Simply install the ropes under your bed like the dude above @hanzov69. Then your pee will glow with just the right level of lumens to illuminate the toilet.
I picked up 3 sets the first time they were offered. On each set a section of them will flicker on and off every so often. It's not annoying enough that I'd rip them out, but annoying enough that I'd not have purchased them in the first place if I had it to do over again.
It's also interesting people think they're too bright. I have them running 2 in parallel under my cabinets, and they're a hair dimmer than the previous halogen lights that were under them. I guess it depends on what you're using them for. Nowhere near as bright as the lights under the cabinet mounted microwave.
@markgm Indirect they are not so bad - if they are in line of sight they are pretty damn bright - even the warm whites....
@Pufferfishy I put all mine atop plant shelving that runs through my 'open plan' living room/kitchen/DR, and on some 8' bookcases in another room. They reflect off the ceiling so aren't visible directly. I did order some of the jumper extension cords because I have a bizarre layout, and they work well.
Are these bright? Should I get a dimmer switch for them?
@irishbyblood you should be okay without one... evil laugh
awesome, i bought some of the 3' sections to put in my new sandblasting cabinet. SO much cheaper than buying lights for the cabinet. When it goes bad, rip it out and replace it with another $3 light. Thank Meh, now I can return that crappy LED light to Lowes.
@Ecriscit let us know how that works. Perhaps the a sand/whatever abraded clear PVC cover will simply diffuse the light more and more and you're still good to go?
@RedOak the lights that came with my cabinet are junk, so I bought a replacement LED light. Some people online are using automotive LED strips to light up their sandblasting cabinet (expensive) and replacing them when the abrasive compounds wear them out. At 3 bucks a piece I am not inclined to protect them with any plastic, just going to run them around the top of my cabinet and direct the light by aiming the ropes. That's my plan, I will see how it works. If the first batch get ruined quickly I will likely run them in some type of clear shielding (probably the tube the original light came in). I'm pleasantly surprised by this purchase today. I'm starting to think I should by more...
@Ecriscit I was referring to abrading the existing (included) clear PVC cover.
These LED light ropes are not bare like some cheap straight-from-the-Chinese plant-junk. The LED chips are already protected by that clear tubular cover.
Bought these the first time they came out for under my kitchen cabinets. Now I can cook without every light in the house on. Bought more the second time for the basement stairs and our master closet. They work great and yes, they are bright as all get out, do not look directly at them. None of mine had any problems, tested them as soon as they arrived, so I got lucky. Wish I could think of more ways to use them so I could buy more!
bought 5 last time they were around, @MEH, I just installed them on my roof and two of them have flickering sections... I had to buy to replacements in order to change those... is there any type of warranty on these?
@jareza dont ask me
@meh well, you sold them right? who am I going to ask? Jeeves Perhaps?
@jareza I made the same error early in in my mehventure. @meh is simply another schmo just like the rest of us hoard-suckers.
Try the official support form at the link on the bottom of the front page. Others have hinted be ready with photographic evidence.
@RedOak ahhh yes, the typical internet troll. I assumed that this forum was troll free, but ney, trolls sprout in forums like fungus on humid environments...
Thanks read oak!
@jareza I didn't say troll. Just another meh'r like the rest of us. No official Mehness.
@RedOak the very pure fact that his user name is meh, makes him an instant troll, the sole answer he made to my comment which clearly was directed to MEH the company not the user is considered being a troll, so yeah, in my eyes he IS a troll
@jareza lol
@jareza It might be time to get a thicker skin and immerse one's self in Meh. Sarcasm and disrespectful (often faux-intelligent) wit rules here.
The place is also thick with inside sarcasm. Witness the stars to @meh's response.
Sometimes mixed with moments of overtly friendly banter.
I recommend starting with at least one beer. Or some Jack Daniels over ice.
Lacking the above understanding this place isn't for everyone...
@jareza A few things from your neighborhood friendly moderator...
- @meh had that username back when the only site from this company was mediocre.com.
- she is most certainly not a troll - but a person with a username that turned out to be more on the nose than expected.
- Calling people trolls for no reason tends to make you look dickish.
- If you ever indeed need to reach the people at meh for customer support, help, or comment, meh.com/support is going to be your best bet. While the employees are active in the forums, they do their best work through their messaging system. (Should the need arise.)
@jareza ... Several points:
Your logic may be flawed.
Would you call a woman named Wendy eating in a Wendy's an "instant troll"? What about a man named Jesus worshiping at a Catholic church? Or John eating Papa John's? Jack at Jack in the Box? Frank eating a frankfurter? Ham (diminutive of Hamid) eating a hamburger?
If yes, well then I guess it is just who you are and how you deal with the ambiguities of reality (or would it be the realities of ambiguity?). Not my place to judge. But if you don't think that Jesus is an "instant troll," I think you've just proven to us that your logic is indeed flawed.
You clearly posted a comment to meh (the person) and not (as you claim) to meh (the company). We know this because a comment to meh (the company) would have been posted at https://meh.com/support. Had you posted a comment to meh (the company), most of us and certainly meh (the person) would not have even seen it.
Also, you should be aware that meh (the person) had the name years before meh (the company/website) did and that meh (the person) is a she. (Most of us are unsure about the gender of meh [the company].)
Finally, your replies about this clearly demonstrate little more than a rudimentary understanding of meh (the company). In addition, publicly stating "I assumed that this forum was troll free" demonstrates that you are relatively inexperienced with the Internet in general.
< /troll >
@Thumperchick dammit, tc... you beat me.
@baqui63 you like it when I do, though.
@Thumperchick @baqui63 oh, you guys
No Georgia Red. . . for that alone, meh.
serious note. These things are bright. I didn't notice a smell issue. Also, they do NOT bend or curve very well. Work much better in a straight line. They aren't going to do well around a 90 degree corner.
I put these under the eave of my home. By the way, they are incredibly tedious to put up with the supplied clips. Two tiny pilot holes followed by two tiny screws every 4" or so. But I think it was worth it.
@bxm83 Did you use the stock "pot metal" screws or did you get stainless? I searched the local big-box retailers for SS and they were 1) hard to find in similar size (ended up getting slightly fatter and far shorter at #6x1/2") and 2) crazy expensive... Debating on the value as my install will only be exposed to humidity -vs- actual rainfall..... but it's FL humidity....
And was the 4" spacing really required for anything not directly in view? I was planning to go 6" - maybe even 8"....
@Pufferfishy Using them inside, running them flat overhead, I wound up putting one every 8-10", and I only used one of the screws, so the clips swivel to hold the strip flat. Works for me.
@OldCatLady
@Pufferfishy that stainless screw choice for outside install is smart no matter where you live if there is any chance they will be visible. The cheapo plated screws that come in these sets (or any) rust in presence of moisture.
And even if the screws will not be directly visible who wants to look at rust stain runs. (Even under a soffit condensation can cause runs.)
@Pufferfishy
I replaced all of the screws that came with lights with these.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#90184a058/=10kwny1
6 bucks for a pack of 100 in Stainless. Not bad.
@Pufferfishy I used the ones in the kit. I live in a high humidity area too and they haven't rusted yet. Maybe I'll get a can of some sort of sealant and spray over them. Also, I found the 4" spacing to be better. They didn't sag that much at 8", but they certainly did a little and I didn't like how it looked. I used warm white by the way.
@xPTCx That's perfect - thanks.
@bxm83 - clear nail polish
My unfinished basement was not worthy of stainless steel. I used drywall screws. They went in so much faster than the screws provided with lights.
BURN WITH ME.
you'd think they could box these with a dimmer switch for not a lot more money.
@vicka not for me. Keep 'em raw.
Would much rather run them wide open in some of my applications. And for other situations, the install scenario dictates the type of dimmer.
Note, depending on the type of dimmer, you might be throwing away watts in the form of heat (admittedly more of an issue in principle than practice).
Has anyone tried with double stick tape (the foam kind) or some kind of Velcro attachment... I want to put it on the back of my TV, but there are no vents to run zip ties through, where I want to run it.
@sohmageek I ran a flexible neon light (about $6 for 9ft) around the back of the TV. It's probably easier for diffuse lighting (and dimmer than this stuff). Really thin, like wire, so just held up with scotch tape.
@sohmageek Have not done it - but I'd bet it would work fine based on the relatively flat back on these. I would go only with 3M brand myself as their shit will glue on car emblems and not come off once the adhesive "cures". Lesser brands not likely to be as reliable.
Now you got me thinking - the stainless screws to do my install are gonna be megabucks - perhaps the gluefoam is something for me to consider as well....
@sohmageek I used hot glue with the plastic holders that came with the strips. it worked well, but it took a lot of time!
Please ignore the mess in my office here.. Really need to clean it up..
This is a 6' string on a 25" monitor.
@kadagan clever. Hot glue is kinda like WD40 and packing tape. Just gotta remember it when the scenario might fit.
Yes, the backs are smooth and stick to double sided foam tape really well. In fact, that's how I installed them under my cabinets, easier and quicker than using all those clips and screws. I used small strips every 8 to 10 inches, but they need to be closer to the edges of any bends.
KuoH
@kuoh Thanks for the photo. Looks great! Did you use a dimmer?
@kuoh NOW you tell me. Why couldn't somebody have mentioned this BEFORE I installed over 50 feet of these things while standing on a ladder and using a tack hammer? I hate ladders, and even using a gadget to hold the nails while I pounded them, I was shaky. I replaced the screws with the nails that I cannibalized from some coax baseboard clips, of which I have about a thousand. Actually I used a comb to hold the nails in place while I tapped them, because manicure. I claim the MacGyver Award of the day.
@billchase2 No dimmer as I wanted full brightness in the kitchen area.
@OldCatLady I installed a 13' section in an overhead canopy for my mom's deck and it was a pain using those clips and screws. The clips don't hold the long screws straight, so they wobbled all over or go in at an angle if I didn't drill pilot holes. I still have my 50' boxes and dread just thinking about putting them up in my garage, as double sided tape won't work well there.
KuoH
@kuoh I did think about mounting the lights to a narrow board (think yardstick), then simply shoving the board in place and perhaps screwing it down. This occurred after everything was finished, of course. Just when I was about to go to sleep. No reason a 1x2 wouldn't work as well.
@OldCatLady If you already had the materials around then perhaps, otherwise it's another added expense. Also, it would probably only be suitable for the shorter 13' lengths or sections of the longer lengths, as you couldn't pre-mount the entire 50' then hold it all up in the air at the same time. I think the included clips or even the generic hammer in staples they use for electrical wiring would be easier then, though it would tiring to mount so many overhead if you went with one every 6".
KuoH
@kuoh I was thinking of plywood furring strips, but metal ones would work even better. They're dirt cheap.
bought these last time and lined my ceiling with them. They are very, very bright and illuminate my otherwise dark room almost as good as overhead lighting fixtures would.
There is a slight flicker that frustrates me. Not sure if i will keep them up.
@betaRepeating May be the quality of your source power (or other things). Google for things to eliminate LED flicker....
While I don't really have a plan for all of them, at this price, I'm in for 3 in three difference sizes. Let's see how it goes!
I posted this in the last thread, so why not here.
Both runs attached to the same dimmer (Lutron DVCL-153P-WH).
Very pleased with these so far. I bought the 32 footers. Had some length left over once I got to the end of the house. FYI- you can cut these. There is a line every 4 feet or so. Cut there and goop some silicone on the end to seal it.
What was up with the logon process last night? It said I had a bad username and password, to which I got "roped" in to being a dummy, promised I wouldn't forget again, and it gave me a video of Irk saying he was fixing things on his end.
@zahgrim wouldn't know. I keep all my devices logged in all the time. Not even sure I remember my password!
@RedOak Doesn't everyone?
@zahgrim I saw it reject a known good password last night as well... you are not alone. :)
Looking forward to delivery.
Of course the last of the bright white ones sell out as I'm entering my updated credit card info.
Glad to see it back. Made an X-Wing light up with mine from last Meh.
@mattkieffer NICE!
I did get some more. I always do. My pretentious-affordable-glass looks like this:
Are these Dimmable?
@Woody1 They are.
Got mine just in time. Laborious-lifted-seed:
Damn, I missed out again. Bought 46' warm white last year and wanted another 19' to add on.
Just saying Meh.com is living up to all their promises. I bought one thing so far regretted it the minute it was delivered. But they warned me I have not been decieved. I think the problem is you have to check in exactly at 9pm. If it is one of the rare good deals, they are gone within a couple of hours at best. Those who buy all the time are leading troubled lives.
Just a funnier version of QVC.
The best thing about Meh is the forum. Some funny people hang out here. Another thing who says "Meh"? Am I wrong? Isn't it "eh" which means, "whatever" or "who cares". Is Meh the Yiddish version?
@Bkmack 9pm? I have to check in at exactly 11pm! That's the nature of the site. IIWII.
@Aquama I am bored. It is Friday night, single sitting home. I think bkmack is correct.
In for 3 bright white. abandoned-jerky-leek!
abandoned-jerky-leek
I just strung a 45 footer along the side of the house and above the garage doors. It looks great by the garage doors because I "hid" it behind a little lip on the roof overhang. Oh the side of the house, however, there was a stretch where there was no place to hide it. It looks bad.
Can these be mounted upside-down to hide the light in certain spots or is that bad for heat dissipation?
Super blinded and thrilled with my purchase! I now see absolutely everything in my living room. Going from a dark cave to the gates of heaven! Thank you! Now I know just how awful my carpets really look even after I Rug Doctored the hell out of it! I would invest in a dimmer switch but it's too damn late now! I've already seen the hideousness. Could not be happier with my lights!!!!!!!
Bring them back I need more!!!
@jmillican this one is on you.
How I put the rope light to work, Thanks Meh!
Does anyone have any ideas on how to "focus" the lights? I put the lights around our business sign and it works great! People have really been talking about it. The only problem is the light is spread out so much it lights up my front yard which isn't a problem, but there is a strip right down the middle of the sign that light isn't showing up. I can post pictures if that helps.
@joe43wv Yeah, we'll need pics. Any "focusing" will be from something other than these lighting strips.
@narfcake Here it is. I have a clearer one of the other side if that helps.
@joe43wv I actually can't quite picture these strips being able to evenly light up such signage now. They will always be brighter at the edges.
I'm thinking a simple spot lamp pointing at the middle would yield more satisfactory results. The light would be more diffused from several feet away.
@joe43wv A couple of cross strips in the middle shining up and down might help, but you should also add some shielding to keep the light on the sign and cut down the glare from the LEDs.
KuoH
Sometimes a meh comes along where you wish you could go back in time and then buy 3 times as many...
@Dengue fear not, if their original comments about purchase size was correct... they most likely still have cases of these.
I finally got around to installing some of these as under cabinet lights and indirect above the cabinets. Overall, I would say that it is good considering what I paid for them. The color is consistent from one string to the next, but it is a little off. There is a barely perceptible green hue in them that shouldn't be there, but I can live with it. The other issue is that there is fuse protection built into the ac plug. You will lose that important piece of safety if you cut the plug off to hard wire it to a lighting circuit. Since the power supply is a critical component that can overheat if it fails, adding an appropriate inline fuse is a necessity.
How do I get in on the Warranty?! The 3 footer is only good at pretending to work.
@imaaron goto your orders page, find the order in question and click on the "I need help with this" button under it. Please allow a few days for reply.
@thismyusername It almost seems too easy now that you point it out. Thanks!
There might be another section where it would be better to post this question. Where can I buy cheap controllers for these? Plugs and maybe other stuff. I got a few feet in the unlucky box and seem to remember someoen saying you can simply cut these and...I don't remember the rest. I'd like to cut this roll into maybe a few sections and put three feet in a 1950's china closet. Thanks, and if this post is even read, thanks!
@wew These are line voltage, so DO NOT cut them unless you like 110v exposed.
Oohhhhhh.. ok. But there's got to be a way to make these shorter? Thanks for the warning. o.k. I'm not going to jump into this. It might not even be do-able.
dag nabbit. that was the only decent think in the bad luck box.
Finally got around to installing mine. I used a pair of the 19.7s to add some indirect lighting to a social space my fiancee and I are making in an old barn on our property:
(taken with my shitty shitty tablet camera)
As you can see, even at full strength, it doesn't really affect the overall light level in there. I really like the effect, though.
(And because I just have to show off, here's what it looks like from the outside. You can't tell, but all the lights have LED Edison bulbs in them, and the one outside it made out of an antique shade and plumbing supplies. I imagine this makes us look like insufferable hipsters, but I don't care. It's been a fun project.)
Anyone remember these obnoxiously bright rope lights with ridiculous failure rates? My neighbor put up their Christmas decorations just after inauguration, so I felt compelled to do this…
@caffeineguy I dug mine out of the garage last month to light up some Halloween decorations…after I colored the whole thing with a black sharpie to try and dim it a little.
https://smile.amazon.com/Lutron-Credenza-Halogen-Incandescent-TT-300H-WH/dp/B0000BYEF6/ These work fairly well
@Ignorant