How do you fix a bad pixel, or cut and splice to create a custom sized string of pixels? There’s been a few ways historically to splice pixels. You take the wires and separate them out, maybe strip them, then use Scotchlok-type connectors, solder, or heat shrink tubes. But more recently, a few products have come available that offer the ability to do all three wires at once, are waterproof, and overall much easier.

My favorite are the CLICKITS by Experience Lights, which just came out with version 2. To use the CLICKITS V2, you basically just insert the wires and use a pair of pliers to press the CLICKIT together. No need to strip – the only tools you need are wire cutters and pliers. This is much easier to do out in the cold, no need to take your gloves off!  

Whether you are fixing a pixel or extending your pixel row, you want to make sure you only need to do this once and it’s done right, so that you don’t have to go back later. In this tutorial, I’m going to walk you through my favorite approach to fixing a bad pixel using CLICKITS, and then a couple of other approaches in case you don’t have any CLICKITS on hand.

How Do You Use CLICKITS?

First off, always make sure there’s no power supplied to the wires. Take your wire from one pixel and insert it into the clear retainer holes (the clear part that can move). These should work with most sizes of pixel wire.

Be sure to push it all the way in, this is really key. It’s hard to see, but if you push it down as far as it will go, it will get into the dialectic grease that’s in there.

Then the other pixel wire will go in to the other side of the CLICKIT. One important thing to note here – look at your wires and the labeling on them closely, and make sure that all the wires line up. Data goes to data, which is typically in the middle so you can’t really screw that up, but positive and negative voltage you can mess up if you flip it upside down, so make sure they match up from side to side.

Once you check that the wires are lined up (and you may need to check the cut as well, a neat perpendicular cut will help it go into the CLICKIT properly), repeat the process to insert your second pixel wire into the other side of the CLICKIT.

Now that all wires are inserted into the CLICKIT correctly, we’re going to use pliers to apply firm, even pressure to close each side.

If something goes wrong and you need to redo it, or you want to reuse a CLICKIT, you can actually pry the sides with a tiny screwdriver or your fingers and undo it then redo it.

Benefits of these connectors?

There’s a few huge benefits to using a connector like this over the other options, it's essentially very simple and tool-free, something you can do with gloves on outside when it's cold because you don't have to strip the wire. All you have to do is cut the wire and push it down, no need to separate the wires or use time-consuming and potentially dangerous tools like soldering irons.

How expensive are they?

CLICKITS V2 are sold in a 100 pack for $75. They come in a handy belt-clip pouch for convenient storage. They may sound expensive, and I can’t argue about that, but I did some quick math comparing to Scotchloks (my preferred method of fixing bad pixels before CLICKITS). The Scotchlok UR2 is from 3M, and a container of those is around $90 for 500. This will splice 166 pixels, assuming you don’t mess any of them up, accidentally smash them down, etc. A bag of 100 CLICKITS is going to do 100 pixels.

Overall, the CLICKITS cost about 35-40% more, but for something that is so much easier, and saves you so much time (and time is money, as we all know!), you really can’t go wrong.

Ok, but what if you don’t have any CLICKITS (yet!)? Here’s a quick overview of other methods for repairing those bad pixels.

Alternate Method 1 – Soldering

The first step when working with a soldering iron is making sure you let the tool warm up completely first. The tools you would need for the soldering method are:

• Soldering Iron
• Solder
• Wire Strippers
• Heat Shrink
• Scissors

With your pixels laid out, you first want to make sure you know where the data input it and the data output is. Next, you want to separate the wires and then using the wire stripper, strip wires on the ends you want to connect.

Take each stripped wire and heat it up using the iron. You want the wires to be very warm before applying the soldering wire.

Next, you want to use heat shrink and cut the pieces that you need for the wires. If these are outdoor lights I would recommend using waterproof heat shrink.

If the wire is long enough, slip on the heat shrink piece before soldering the two wires together. Then, you can solder the wires together and have a strong connection. One thing that can go wrong with soldering is if the wires aren’t heated all the way it will make a poor connection.

Another note to add is that I do not recommend purchasing your pixels from Amazon or eBay because most of those products have shortened wires so that they can reach a specific price point. This makes it difficult when wanting to repair a pixel or add to it.

Soldering, when done properly, makes a great connection and if the wire is long enough you can do it right with no issues. The downfall is that this method does require the most tools and expertise and can take up a good chunk of your time just doing a repair.

Alternate Method 2 - Soldering Sleeves 

A soldering sleeve is a similar method requiring separating and stripping wires, but it's easier than having to use a soldering iron. You can purchase soldering sleeves like these off Amazon, and will also need a wire stripper and heat gun.

Just like the soldering instructions, you’ll need to first layout your connections and know which is the data input and the data output. Then, strip and separate your wires.

 Next, take your soldering sleeve and slip on the sleeve to one of the wires. With the stripped wires, you want to twist the two connections together so that they can hold their own.

This might take some practice to get the technique down, but you just want to twist them together so that they can hold when you slip the sleeve over the connection.

Slip the soldering sleeve over the connections so that the silver strip on the sleeve is centered on the connection of the two wires, this is where the actual soldering will happen. The red strips are the adhesive line heat shrink and will block the water from getting to the connections.

Once you have the sleeve in place, you will then use the heat gun to solidify the connection.

Using the heat gun, I would start with heating the silver strip so that it will liquefy and melt the connections. Be sure to spend time on this and make sure it does melt and solidify your connections. Then, move over to the red strips and this will activate your adhesive to seal the connections.

To make sure the sleeve is used properly I always go back to the center strip and make sure it melted properly.

Soldering sleeves are great when working with thicker wires or even in a tight space. It’s not my favorite method but it’s much quicker and easier than using a soldering iron. As long as it’s done right, it will work just fine.

Alternate Method 3 - Scotchloks

One last method to use for fixing a pixel would be the Scotchlok method, and this was actually my favorite method to use before I discovered CLICKITS.

With Scotchloks I only use the 3M brand and you only need one tool in addition to wire cutters to do this method:

• 3M Scotchloks
• Connector Crimping Plier

First, go ahead and spread your wires and be sure to know the data in and the data out just like the previous methods. Then, start with your first two wires and slip them into the Scotchlok all the way in. There are three holes but it does not matter which two slots you slide the wires into.

Using the pliers you can just gently squeeze the Scotchlok with some pressure until the sealant comes out of the Scotchlok. The sealant that does come out is what is used to waterproof your connection.

The third slot on the Scotchlok is used so that you can test the voltage on the connected wires.

One downfall to this method is that if the wires get yanked on, they can slip out of the Scotchlok and you would have to repair it again. And of course, you still have to separate the wires, and it’s just more fiddly than the CLICKITS.

Hopefully, as technology improves, newer pixels are more reliable than older ones on the market. But there are still times when you either have to repair one, or you just need to cut a string to a custom size, and having a quick and easy method to splice pixels is well worth it. I think the CLICKITS V2 are pretty awesome, and I hope you’ll give them a try and let me know what YOU think!