Typically, the "tape" lights

Typically, the "tape" lights can be trimmed to the length desired between every group of 3 LEDs. They will probably have a little scissors icon at the point you should cut them.

There _should_ be some end pieces available, so that you can cut one long strip into several short ones, and put the connectors on the cut ends of the new strips. Check with the folks where you buy them..  they should know. (another reasin to spend a few bucks more for quality strips from a reliabkle retailer over ordering online....)

I'd be VERY cautious cutting the kinds of tube you're talking about. It's highly unlikely they're designed to do it safely, and you might end up with something very dangerous to have plugged in.

If you only need to adjust for a little bit....

I have staggered mine to I can over lap a couple of inches on each side.  3" on each one on one side and then again on the other will let you run a foot over without having to shorten  a light

Steve

Missing Photos

120 of these LEDs per 4 foot strip.

No good way to get to the backside of this LED strip without really damaging the unit.

Staggered and Overlapped

I was reviewing my possibilities, and I believe this is the route I am going to pursue.  That 4 foot length of the commercial units seem to be ideal.

If I need more overlap I can likely make up a few extra longer length cables to interconnect them. And they don't all HAVE TO BE aligned with the outer edges of the upper deck(s).

2 foot long LED lights

I had been looking for ideas as to how I might shorten those 4 ft long LED lights ?

NO longer necessary, they now have some 2 foot long versions,...just ordered some yesterday

Brian - 3' and 1' lengths are also out there, same supplier;

I noted these popped up a short while ago.  Haven't ordered any, but they're on my watch list.  Unfortunately, the ones I've seen in the 1', 2', 3' lengths are all 6000 or 6500 Kelvin, whereas I had been aiming for 5000K as those were more plentiful two years ago (they seem to be disappearing from the marketplace).  Guess I'll have to try some 6000K units to see.  The way things come and go, I'll guess I'll have to jump on these fairly soon, as I need 20 of the 3' units - they're a good match for my end-of-peninsula valence diameter.  The 1' and 2' are only suited to a few locations on my layout, so I'll likely buy a package of 1' units and put 2 1' units in where I need 2' units.

It's funny - I've seen several comments about these being horrid RFI generators, here and in the Amazon feedback, but I've got quite a few in operation now, and my wifi, phones and Simplex throttles don't seem to notice at all.  Of course, I don't listen to AM or FM radio.  At some point, I'll test out my Duplex throttle, but it's yet to bubble to the top of my priority list.

Keep in mind that the 4' units draw 0.25 Amperes each; around here, with 15A circuits derated to 12 Amperes continuous loading, I can only put 48 4' lamps on a single circuit.  I doubt you're going that far though, in your small space.

Cheers

Blair

No the pre made one's can be

No the pre made one's can be cut that.  The tape ones usually can though and they have indicators where the cuts can happen.  I specify these at work all the time, specific lengths can be ordered by the foot but you'll pay extra for them.   On my layout I'm just going to use the tape lights and cut them, even if they're more expensive than4 ft lights i can get what i want.

2 foot long LED lights

Got my 2 foot lights in yesterday,...and was pleasantly surprised that there were 8 lights in the pkg rather then 6.

Got Some New Lights

Just in the past few days I got two packages in from Amazon,...another batch of 4 foot long LEDs and the batch of 2 footers. Both batches are a brighter sunlight color, but I as I supposed they do NOT show that much of a difference when photographed with a digital camera.

I think I will mount the new brighter lights on the underside of the top deck to lite up the lower deck. That will keep their brightness from shinning directly into ones eyes.

Wanted to go ahead and get them ordered in before the Chinese source possible got delayed/cancelled.