7 Things to Know Before Buying and Installing 12V LED ...

Flexible LED strip lights are utilized globally across various industrial, commercial, and residential projects. The popularity of LED strip lighting among architects and lighting designers is attributed to its efficiency, diverse color options, and brightness levels. One of its most appealing features is its straightforward installation process. With flexibility, a low-profile design, and useful accessories, these LED strips are favored by DIY enthusiasts. Homeowners can achieve professional-looking designs using the right materials in just a few hours.

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The marketplace offers a plethora of options for LED strip lights, making it clear that there is no universal solution. This LED Strip Resource Guide aims to educate both newcomers and seasoned experts on selecting the right LED strip lights for their needs while addressing common installation challenges.

This Guide will educate newcomers and experts alike on finding the best LED strip lights for the job and how to use them while overcoming common installation hold-ups.

LED Light Strips: What Makes them so Special?

LED strip lights, also referred to as LED tape lights or ribbon lights, are celebrated for their compact size and versatility. Efficient LEDs are mounted on a 10mm wide circuit board and come in lengths ranging from 3ft to 16.4ft. These flexible LED strips have numerous features that enhance their usability in various applications:

Cut-to-size: Cutting LED strips is hassle-free due to cut lines provided along the strips. Each cut point is marked with a black line and copper solder pads on either side. These pads ensure that each segment remains addressable even post-cutting, allowing for easy connections between strip pieces or different locations in your home.

Flexible LED strip with Adhesive: The LED strips come equipped with a durable 3M adhesive backing, facilitating simple mounting options. The flexible, low-profile strips are designed for a straightforward peel-and-stick installation.

Waterproof or Non-Waterproof: LED strip lights are suitable for both indoor and outdoor projects. The waterproof LED strips have an IP65 rating, protected by a silicone resin that safeguards the strip components from dust and moisture, making them indispensable for outdoor projects or locations exposed to water.

12 Volt LED lights: The strips require a 12VDC power supply to operate effectively. This necessitates an AC/DC transformer for in-home use, enhancing the safety of wiring these strips throughout your space. Additionally, batteries can provide DC power, making it feasible to create battery powered LED lights using these flexible strips.

7 Things to Know Before Installing LED Strip Lights

While LED flex strips are versatile for various projects, determining where to start can be overwhelming. Follow this comprehensive 7-step guide to bridge any gaps in knowledge, showcasing various LED Strip options and what to consider to ensure your at-home LED strip lighting project is a total success!

LED Strip Density = Brightness

The density of an LED light strip refers to the number of LEDs within a specified area. For LED flex strips, this density is expressed in "LEDs per Meter." Standard density strips feature 30 LEDs/meter, while high-density strips have 60 LEDs/meter. Higher density equates to superior quality and increased brightness. The table below outlines the differences in lumen outputs, cut lengths, and maximum run lengths for each type:

Density# of LEDsLumensWattage
(per Reel)CuttableMax. RunStand. (SD)30/Meter540/Meter27 WattsEvery 4'32.8 Ft.High (HD)60/Meter/M40 WattsEvery 2'16.4 Ft.

Lumens measure brightness as perceived by the human eye. In the realm of incandescent lighting, many still rely on watts to gauge brightness. However, with LEDs, lumens have become the standard measurement to convey light output. Understanding lumen output is crucial when selecting LED strip lights as it greatly influences the type of illumination you will receive.

When comparing the brightness of LED strips, make a note of how lumens are calculated. The above table designates strips in terms of Lumens per Meter. To derive the total lumen output, simply ascertain how many meters of strip you will be employing.

Lumen output is one of the most important parts of choosing LED strip lights as it will determine the type of light you will receive.

Different lighting projects necessitate varying degrees of brightness to fulfill their purpose. As a rule of thumb, it's often advisable to lean towards the brighter option and incorporate a dimmer switch. Here’s a useful guide for lumen requirements:

• Accent or Mood Lighting: 100-300 Lumens/ft.
• Under Cabinet Lighting: 175-360 Lumens/ft.
• Task lighting with a greater distance from the source: 300-450 Lumens/ft.
• Bedroom and Cove Lighting: 180-500 Lumens/ft.

Color: RGB Multicolor, UV, Colors, White CCT Range

Your preference will ultimately dictate the color of the LED strip. RGB LED strips are perfect for individuals who appreciate versatility and color-changing effects, utilizing red, green, and blue diodes to create a spectrum of colors. If you intend to use RGB strips, ensure the compatibility of a 3-channel controller from the dimming section of this guide.

Additionally, an Ultra Violet (UV) version of these strips is available for those seeking applications related to UV lighting or DIY black lights.

Single color options include Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, and White with a specified CCT range.

CCT stands for Correlated Color Temperature, indicating the color temperature of light measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The temperature rating of an LED strip profoundly influences its appearance; warmer white hues exude a cozy ambiance, while higher Kelvin numbers depict cooler, more bluish light.

So, which color should I prefer? The choice of color depends on your desired aesthetic for the room. For instance:

Warm White fosters a welcoming atmosphere, ideal for communal areas like living rooms.

Neutral or Natural White mimics daylight, making it the most popular choice for under cabinet lighting.

Cool White offers a brighter and fresher glow, suitable for modern spaces, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens.

Length of Strip

It's critical to outline your project to gauge how many feet of strip light are required. This assessment provides insight into materials needed and their associated costs. LED strip lights are available in 3ft increments up to a full reel of 16.4ft. Deciding whether to buy reel lengths and tailor them to size or to acquire pre-cut lengths will impact your purchase strategy.

At this stage, sketch out your project layout. Determine where strip lights are essential, their connection method, and whether you wish for a single power supply or separate ones. This blueprint is invaluable as you progress through subsequent steps.

LED Strip Wattage and Powering

Determining the power needs of LED strips is essential, as they require 12 volts of DC input.

A key consideration is wattage. The following table illustrates the wattage needs based on strip density and total length:

Detailed Wattage Table for 12V LED Strips

Length (Ft.)Length (Meters)30 LEDs/M
Wattage60 LEDs/M
Wattage
10 0.4< 0.2 1 1< 0.89 3 0.21 1.46...89< 2 0.127.616.4 (full reel)

If multiple power supplies are employed, note the strip length connected to each supply to calculate your required power supply size.

LED Power Supply Options:

• Plug-in Adapter: Directly connects to a wall outlet to power your strip lights.
• Hardwire Power Supplies: Installed directly between line voltage wiring and LED Strips.
• Dimmable Power Supply: Integrated with standard residential dimmers such as Lutron or Leviton for dimming capabilities.
• Batteries: Use a 12V battery pack or an 8-cell battery holder for powering strips.

Wiring and Connecting LED Strips

Referring back to your project sketch, consider how the strips will be wired. If the total length exceeds the maximum run length for certain strips (32.8 ft. for standard density and 16.4 ft. for high density), parallel connections will be necessary from the power source to individual strips.

For wiring scenarios that involve strips from various angles feeding into one common power supply, the previously drawn sketch proves handy.

Connecting LED strips may pose challenges, especially when combining multiple reels. Our powering and wiring guide outlines how to effectively plan your LED strip setup.

Wiring Accessories: LED Strip connectors and splitters

Creating connections between LED strips may be essential for your project. Several accessories and guides are available to successfully complete any strip connection.

Soldering wire for customized connections? Refer to our soldering guide for using the proper wire.

How to Connect LED Strips without soldering? Our EZ Click Strip Connectors facilitate seamless connections between strips, bridging gaps or navigating around tight corners. Our complete LED strip connector guide details the use of these connectors for any strip project.

How to connect multiple LED strips to one power supply? LED strip splitters simplify the integration of multiple strips into a single power supply. Splitters are available with 2, 3, or 4 output channels.

Dimming LED Strip Lights

To dim LED strip lights, in-line Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) dimmers are the standard choice, installed on the 12 volt side between the strips.

PWM dimmers are favored for their compatibility with any transformer or battery system, as there’s no need for a specifically dimmable power supply. They offer smooth adjustments from dim to bright settings and are affordable and straightforward to set up, making them the preferred option for dimming LED strip lights.

These convenient dimmers provide both WiFi and remote control options. WiFi-enabled dimmers are manageable through smartphone apps and compatible with voice controls from Google Home or Amazon Echo (Alexa) devices.

If you have an existing central dimming system, the homeowner can use their AC dimmers for controlling the LEDs. In such cases, a dimmable power supply is required, as detailed earlier.

For RGB controllers (WiFi / Remote / Bluetooth), note that operating RGB LED strips mandates a 3-channel RGB controller to manage the individual red, green, and blue channels. Always remember this essential component if using multicolor LED strips.

Mounting LED Strips

While the adhesive backing simplifies mounting, it may not be sufficient for all surfaces without reinforcement. To address this, consider:

• Extra Adhesive Tape: Use 3M tape on surfaces beforehand to enhance the bond.
• LED Strip Mounting Clips: Utilize brackets specifically designed for strips.

Mounting tracks can offer a polished finish, as these aluminum extrusions accommodate light strips and come complete with mounting provisions. The LED strips stick to the underside of the track, topped with a UV-protected lens to diffuse light.

Rely on this guide for successfully mounting your LED strips!

Check out our Newest LED Strip Light

Since this article was composed, we've introduced innovative LED strip technology known as COB LED Strip lights. These strips resemble the LED strip lights discussed earlier but come with key enhancements. The new strips eliminate visible hotspots, producing a smooth line of light and operate at 24V, delivering more brightness than even the high-density 12V strips. Explore the link to determine if these strips align more with your needs!

Looking Where to Begin?

This represents a wealth of information. If you're a novice regarding LED strips, you may feel inundated with details and questions. In that case, consider asking yourself the following straightforward questions to streamline the process of identifying the optimal LED strip lights and components for your project. If additional help is required, our LED Project Tool, along with our supportive Strip Tech Team, is available to find the most suitable LED Strips for your requirements!

1. What will you be lighting?
2. Where will they be installed?
3. Do you want to dim your lights?
   1. With a remote?
   2. With a wall switch?
4. What overall look do you want to achieve?
5. What color is preferred?
6. What materials am I lighting?
7. What other lights are in the area, and what colors do they emit?

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