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While I like to improvise I'd never want to use a cut-off cable anywhere near a toddler. Whatever the savings or practical benefits, they just can't outweigh th

While I like to improvise I'd never want to use a cut-off cable anywhere near a toddler. Whatever the savings or practical benefits, they just can't outweigh the risk of the toddler doing something that causes a shock, fire, ... Maybe for the best that you removed that light strip.

GJim 15d ago
If you are worried about 5 Volt electric shocks (!), I presume 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity' is also something you worry about?
- mitxela 15d ago
  Fire is more worrying. You can also make small sparks with 5 volts under certain conditions, which may frighten someone about as much as a small shock.
  - 1-more 15d ago
    There were no loose energized cable ends in this story, fyi. The light strip was your standard white LED tape cut in the middle of the copper pads [0]. I soldered the USB cable's power leads to the copper pads [1] and then covered the solder joint with heat shrink tubing filled with liquid electrical tape [2]. Then on the strip I connected to, it was the same procedure but with a female USB-A connector. There were no conductors with exposed ends to move apart and make a spark. [0] e.g. https://www.homedepot.com/p/32-8-ft-LED-Tape-Light-120-LEDs-m-Soft-White-2700K-133250/314214062 https://www.homedepot.com/p/32-8-ft-LED-Tape-Light-120-LEDs-... [1] https://www.homedepot.com/p/Star-brite-4-oz-Liquid-Electrical-Tape-Black-084104N/206513456 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Star-brite-4-oz-Liquid-Electrica... [2] hero image from https://us.govee.com/blogs/led-strip-lights/how-to-solder-led-strip-lights https://us.govee.com/blogs/led-strip-lights/how-to-solder-le...
1-more 15d ago
Yeah my plan was to anchor the loose cable ends under wood once we lowered the bed, but as I said, we pulled off the light strip very soon after. It now sits in, you guessed it, the big box of cables, in case I need a motion activated 5V DC power supply.

GJim 15d ago

If you are worried about 5 Volt electric shocks (!), I presume 'electromagnetic hypersensitivity' is also something you worry about?

mitxela 15d ago
Fire is more worrying. You can also make small sparks with 5 volts under certain conditions, which may frighten someone about as much as a small shock.
- 1-more 15d ago
  There were no loose energized cable ends in this story, fyi. The light strip was your standard white LED tape cut in the middle of the copper pads [0]. I soldered the USB cable's power leads to the copper pads [1] and then covered the solder joint with heat shrink tubing filled with liquid electrical tape [2]. Then on the strip I connected to, it was the same procedure but with a female USB-A connector. There were no conductors with exposed ends to move apart and make a spark. [0] e.g. https://www.homedepot.com/p/32-8-ft-LED-Tape-Light-120-LEDs-m-Soft-White-2700K-133250/314214062 https://www.homedepot.com/p/32-8-ft-LED-Tape-Light-120-LEDs-... [1] https://www.homedepot.com/p/Star-brite-4-oz-Liquid-Electrical-Tape-Black-084104N/206513456 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Star-brite-4-oz-Liquid-Electrica... [2] hero image from https://us.govee.com/blogs/led-strip-lights/how-to-solder-led-strip-lights https://us.govee.com/blogs/led-strip-lights/how-to-solder-le...

1-more 15d ago

Yeah my plan was to anchor the loose cable ends under wood once we lowered the bed, but as I said, we pulled off the light strip very soon after. It now sits in, you guessed it, the big box of cables, in case I need a motion activated 5V DC power supply.