I was trying to explain what the IP rating on LED strips is to my daughter and how the reels I received today have a sleeve on them for waterproofing. I was making a point that waterproofing does not mean you can install these under water, but they will survive outside in light moisture. While she was looking at the strips, she pointed this out to me … (see picture)
I dug into the end cap and sure enough, there’s a seal on the outside edges, but inside of this slit there is nothing. So any moisture getting in there could potentially ruin the connection. Interestingly enough, about 1/4" into the sleeve, there’s a glob of sealant (possibly silicone) that’s covering the top of the strip and holding it against the sleeve, effectively sealing it in place, but there’s nothing protecting the bottom. So again, any moisture getting into the end cap could potentially travel down the strip on the back side.
This is a very easy fix! A glob of silicone covering the end cap will solve the problem. I just wanted to make others aware of the sleeve kinds: check the end caps for a complete seal if you do plan on using these outside.
