Unlike a monochrome LED strip, connecting an RGB LED strip is a little more complicated. The difficulty lies in the need to connect four pins instead of two and install a special RGB controller. Of course, you can do without a controller by connecting the RGB channels to the power supply via switches, but then you will miss the opportunity to obtain all available color shades.
An RGB controller is an electronic device that allows you to control the intensity and colors of a multi-color LED device.
The simplest connection diagram for a 12-volt RGB LED strip, designed for a length of up to 5 meters, is presented below. In addition to the RGB LED strip itself, you will need two more devices for connection: a power supply unit (PSU) and an RGB controller. The power of each should be at least 30% higher than the power consumption of the LED strip.
For example, a five-meter LED RGB SMD 5050-12V-60 reel will take 72 W from the network during operation. Therefore, the power supply and controller should be rated at approximately 100 W.
The terminals located on the functional blocks have a standard designation, and the wire insulation is painted in the corresponding colors. Therefore, the connection task comes down to performing operations with a screwdriver in accordance with the symbols:
- L – 220 V network phase;
- N – zero of the 220 V network;
- PE – grounding contact;
V, -V – positive and negative terminals from the 12 V DC power supply. The input terminals of the RGB controller have a similar designation. It also has 4 output contacts for powering the tape:
- B (blue) – for blue wire;
- G (green) – for green wire;
- R (red) – for the red wire;
- +V – yellow wire.
3 wires from a 220 volt network are connected to the input of the power supply: phase (L), zero (N) and ground contact (PE). The output from the power supply is connected to the input terminals of the controller, the output of which, in turn, is connected to the LED strip. All pins in the circuit must be connected strictly according to the markings on the contacts.
If during installation work you accidentally mix up the terminals, the LEDs will light, but will not match the color markings on the remote control (remote control).
To connect an RGB LED strip with a length of 5 to 10 meters, you should follow the diagram shown in the figure below. 
The RGB LED strip is divided into two sections with independent power supply. This forced measure is caused by the fact that the second segment cannot serve as a continuation of the first due to electrical losses in the printed conductors. As a result, at the end of the five-meter segment, the supply voltage will be slightly lower than at the beginning, which is reflected in the brightness of the LEDs. In practice, implementing the second option is not much more difficult than the first, since both segments are connected in parallel. The number of parallel sections is limited by the power of the RGB controller and power adapter.
Most controllers are designed to connect a load of up to 200 watts, that is, they are capable of working with an RGB LED strip approximately 10 meters long. Using a high-power controller is not always wise due to its high price. Therefore, if it is necessary to connect a lighting structure of more than 10 meters, signal amplifiers are usually used. 
An RGB signal amplifier is needed to maintain the same brightness of all segments, maintaining synchronicity in color management.
The signal amplifier can be connected from the same power supply (in this case, a device with high output power is required) as the color controller. But a more common and practical way is to use an additional power adapter.
Important! The signal amplifier must be connected to the R, G, B and +V pins opposite the connected ends of the RGB LED strip.
To obtain high-quality white color, it is not enough to combine the light from green, red and blue LEDs. The only way out is to embed an additional crystal with a white glow into the RGB LED chip or install an additional white LED on the strip. LED strips based on such light-emitting diodes have an additional fourth White contact and are designated as RGBW or RGB+White. The advantage of such products is the additional ability to emit pure white light or more subtle color tones. The connection diagram for the RGBW LED strip is carried out similarly to the above diagrams, the only difference is the connection of an additional White contact. 
In this article we will talk about the electrical circuit for connecting an RGB strip. The connection diagram for an RGB tape is similar to the connection diagram for a single-color tape, but there are differences.
To control the color of the RGB strip, you need to install a controller, which is installed between the power supply and the RGB strip. Also, unlike a single-color RGB tape, the tape has four wires instead of two switching wires.
Three wires are needed to control the brightness of red, green and blue, plus a common fourth power wire. Controllers vary in appearance, they can differ in power, size, and how they are controlled (remote control, buttons, mobile phone, another controller).
You need to understand that different controllers have different capabilities, some are simple and have a small set of functions (in most cases they are enough for interior lighting), while others have “sophisticated functions” that are only needed in show business, for stage lighting . For example, some controllers have a night light function, while others do not have such a function.
Connection diagram for RGB controller for LED strip
Whatever controller you choose for the backlight, it is always connected according to the same circuit. The controller is powered through the “V+” and “V-” connectors.
The power supply also has the designations “V+” and “V-”. To connect the controller to the power supply, you need to connect the wire “V+” of the controller to “V+” of the power supply and “V-” of the controller to “V-” of the power supply. The RGB tape is connected to the controller connectors, which are designated as follows:
- R (red) - red color control
- G (green) - green color control
- B (blue) - blue color control
- “V+” common wire. Be careful not to confuse the colors of the RGB tape and the colors of the RGB controller.
If you mix it up, the controller will not work correctly, for example, you press a button on the remote control to light up red, but it will light up, for example, green.
RGB strip control panel: The color of the button indicates what color the RGB strip will glow
How to connect more than 5 meters of tape?
Some installers make a mistake when connecting a tape longer than 5 m; they connect the beginning of the second piece to the end of the first piece of 5-meter tape.
This is strictly prohibited! In the case of such a connection, the LED strip will work in the wrong mode, a large current will flow through the first 5-meter section and heat it up, which will lead to degradation of the LEDs and their failure, and the second piece of strip connected to the end of the first will receive less current and weaker light. This design works, but not for long. There are two ways to extend the RGB strip.
Connection diagram for RGB strips with one power supply
For this circuit you will need a four-core wire with a cross-section of 0.75mm2 and a length of 5m or 2 two-core wires. It is also important to consider that the power of the controller outputs must be greater than the total power of the tapes connected to these outputs, otherwise the RGB controller outputs will fail.
Our experience shows that the excess power should be 1.5 times. Also, the power of the power supply must be 1.5 times greater than the total power of the connected RGB strips. An increase in the power of the controller and power supply entails an increase in their dimensions, and this, in turn, makes it difficult to install them in ceiling niches.
Since you need to provide a special place for them at the renovation stage, this is not very convenient. But there is another way, this is not to increase the size of the power supply and controller, but to increase their number while maintaining the same compact dimensions, and use an RGB amplifier.
Connection diagram of LED RGB strips using an RGB amplifier
In this circuit, an additional power supply and an RGB amplifier are used to connect an additional piece of 5-meter tape. From the output of the first section of the RGB LED strip, we send the signal through 4 wires to the input of the RGB amplifier, and connect the output of the RGB amplifier to the input of the second 5-meter section, also through 4 wires.
We also connect a second power supply to the RGB amplifier. The main thing here is not to confuse the wires responsible for controlling the color of the RGB strip. On the tape, for example, the wire responsible for the red color is marked with the letter “R”; it must be connected to the RGB connector of the amplifier, also marked with the letter “R”. Do the same with the remaining wires.
Connecting an RGB amplifier
- Power supplies are much smaller and require less space to hide them.
- With this circuit, you can use all the controllers that are on sale; you don’t need to look for controllers with powerful outputs.
- You can connect any amount of tape footage. To make it more clear, below is a picture of connecting two pieces of tape of 5 meters each.
Again. If we connect one piece of tape 5 meters long, then we use an RGB controller and a power supply; for an additional 5 meters we need to take another amplifier and a power supply.
When connecting a regular monochrome tape, you should adhere to three basic rules:
- connection is made in parallel in sections of no more than 5 meters
- the tape is mounted on an aluminum profile
- The power supply is always selected with a power reserve
The same rules are fully applicable for multi-color RGB tape. However, there are some peculiarities here. They are connected with the use of an RGB controller in the connection diagram.
RGB controller
In addition, be sure to remember that full-fledged rgb backlighting can be made using SMD 5050 LEDs. They are the ones that implement the ability to change colors in one light source.
This is achieved due to the fact that the LED is assembled from three crystals. In all other types of SMD 2835, SMD 3528, one LED can shine in only one color. 
Because of this, small dips in illumination may occur in the backlight, when neighboring LEDs simply will not light up and the strip of light will not look solid and continuous. Examples and disadvantages of such models can be found in the articles “” and “”.
The RGB controller is connected after the power supply. With its help, you can change not only colors, but also the brightness of lighting, different operating modes, the intensity of color changes, etc.
For the light-music mode, when colors run in different directions and replace each other, special controllers will be required. They are called DMX. 
A certain length of LED strip can be connected directly through the controller. The maximum is 5 meters or 10 meters when connecting two sections of five in parallel. 
What to do if you have multi-colored lighting more than 10 meters away? For the monochrome version, everything is solved by parallel connection of individual pieces. For example, you connect 3 sections of 5m each and have full illumination 15m long. 
For RGB strips, it is possible to solder and connect 5-meter sections in parallel, but there are some nuances with direct connection to one controller.
Connection diagram for RGB LED strip 5m or 10m long
First, let's consider the option when you have a total length of LED backlighting of only 5m or 10m, that is, two solid strips connected in parallel, 5m each. What is needed in this case?
- power supply that converts 220V from the network into 12 or 24V necessary for the backlight to operate
- RGB controller
Unlike the power supply, it can be selected without a power reserve, which is called back-to-back. The main thing is to correctly calculate the power of the tape itself.
For example, if 1m consumes 14.4W (data can be found on the packaging or from tables, according to the type of LED), then 10m will respectively “eat” 144W. This is the power you buy the controller for. 
How to connect all this correctly? Firstly, 220V must be supplied to the power supply itself. Usually on the left there are two terminals marked L (phase), N (zero) and ground. Here the polarity of L and N is not necessary. 
- Light with BGR V+ contacts
They are deciphered as:
B (blue) – blue
G (green) – green
R (red) – red
V is the common plus on the LED strip. Directly on the tape it can be signed as “+12” or simply “+”. All other three rgb pins are negative. 
- Power with “+” and “-” contacts
Unlike monochrome tape, the RGB version has not two contacts, but four. And sometimes all five!
The fifth is responsible for white light, since normal white natural light cannot be obtained from a combination of RGB colors. These LED strips are called RGBW or RGBWW. 
Therefore, check in advance how many contacts for soldering wires the tape has and buy the appropriate controller. This is especially true when shopping through online stores.
The Power contacts are supplied with 12 or 24V voltage from the power supply. 
Look for terminals on the block labeled “V+” and “V-“. Instead of “V-“ they sometimes write “COM”. 
If you mix up the order, connect red to green or vice versa, nothing bad will happen, the colors on the control panel will just get confused. 
By the way, in extreme cases, an RGB LED strip can be connected without a controller at all, directly to the unit.
To do this, you need to twist all three rgb wires into one and apply a minus wire to it, and a positive wire to the second wire. 
True, in this case, there can be no question of any multi-colored lighting. However, it can be considered as one of the lighting options if the controller fails.
If you correctly connect the RGB strip according to the first option, you should have the following sequence: 1 Power supply
2 Controller
3 RGB LED strip 
RGB tape 15-20 meters long
If you need to connect 15, 20 meters or more, this option with only one controller will no longer work. There are two options:
- use two controllers
- use RGB amplifier
The first option is inconvenient due to higher costs. And secondly, you will have two control panels, each of which is responsible for different sections of the tape. And how you synchronize them is another question. 
Therefore, the best option is when everything is controlled from one controller and one remote control. This can be easily achieved using an rgb amplifier. 
From the name it is clear that its purpose is to amplify the signal from the controller. True, some are mistaken in believing that it is needed for a brighter glow of the tape. And it can be used for this purpose even for 5-meter sections. This is wrong.
It is selected based on the power not of the entire length of the LED strip, but only of the section that is connected to it, in addition to the first 5 or 10 meters. 
Amplifier connection diagram
The amplifier has input-input and output-output terminals. The input and output have the same contacts as the controller - a common plus and colors. 
There are also power connection terminals:
- VDD or "+"
- GND or "-"
Voltage 12-24V can be supplied either from an additional unit or from a general one, if its power allows. 
To connect, place the common ends of the previous section of the LED strip into the input terminals of the amplifier.
After this, place the power conductors from the unit under the VDD and GND screws. 
As a result, you should get the sequence: 1 Power supply
2 Controller
3 LED strip No. 1
4 Amplifier
5 LED strip No. 2
The assembled lighting according to this scheme will work and be controlled from one remote control.
If you need to connect another 5-10 meters of tape, another amplifier is added to the circuit, and possibly an additional power supply (depending on the lighting power). 
Just keep in mind that the power supplies themselves cannot be paralleled directly with each other. This must be done through a diode bridge. Therefore, they must be separated from each other through separate sections of tapes. 
This way you can assemble multi-colored lights of any length to suit your needs. The main thing is to find a place to place all this equipment. 
When there is not enough space, a micro model can be used instead of a large amplifier. 
It resembles something like an adapter, and its size is appropriate. At the same time, it copes well with its task of signal amplification. 
In addition, it can be used if you lack the power of your controller. For example, the power of the entire LED strip is 110W, but the controller is only 70W.
In order not to change it, just buy such a mini amplifier, connect the two elements in series and enjoy the lighting.
By the way, the controller itself may be of the same miniature size. 
LED strips, which make it possible to obtain a variety of lighting effects, are widely used in creating various lighting and illumination options in everyday life, offices, cultural facilities and on the streets.
An LED strip is a bendable board on which LEDs are located.
The length of diode strips is usually five meters, width from eight to twenty millimeters.
They go on sale wound on plastic reels.
The LED strip is divided into separate sections consisting of several diodes. If there is a need to adjust the length of the RGB LED strip, it is possible to disconnect it along the strip passing through the contact connection points and marked with the image of scissors.
The number of elements on this fragment depends on the type of product, and after connecting it to a power source, it will remain operational.
The picture shows where you can cut the RGB tape You can combine pieces of tape using a connector. To do this, you need to place the ends with contacts in the connector and close the cover.
Combining pieces of tape using a connector In this case, polarity must be observed.
This connection can also be made using soldering. The wires need to be insulated.
Diagram of a working fragment of an RGB strip The most common use of diode strips is with SMD5050 diodes.
In order to connect an RGB strip, you need to provide a power supply, a controller and (if it is necessary to connect several diode strips) an amplifier.
To connect an RGB strip, you need to wisely select a power supply according to its power and voltage. Connecting this tape to a 220 V input voltage (without a power supply) will lead to its immediate failure.
LED strips are designed to operate from a 12 V or 24 V DC source. The strip labels contain information about operating parameters.
The power consumed by the tape is always indicated as that which falls on a completed fragment 1 meter long. The current consumed by each color circuit can always be found in reference books.
If no parameters of the tape (except the supply voltage) are known, everything can be calculated. You can understand the methodology for calculating current consumption and choosing a power supply using the example of a conventionally unknown standard size of a five-meter long color LED strip operating at a voltage of 12 V.
To determine all the unknown parameters, you first need to measure the length of the sides of the LED.
Let's say it is 5 by 5 millimeters. In LED reference books, these geometric dimensions correspond to the RGB SMD5050 LED. Next, you need to find out how many of them are located per 1 m. Let’s assume that there are 30 of them.
One of the three LED crystals accounts for a current of 0.02 A, which means that the entire LED, consisting of three crystals, consumes 0.06 A.
The number of LEDs on one calculated segment is 30 pieces. Therefore, multiplying the resulting current strength of 0.06 A by 30 pieces, you get 1.8 A (0.06 x 30 = 1.8).
But since a series connection is made between each three diodes, the current passing through 1 meter of tape is 3 times less and amounts to 0.06 A.
Accordingly, the current consumed by the entire tape is 3 A (0.06 A x 5 m = 3 A).
By carrying out simple calculations, it was found that in the case discussed above, a DC power supply with an output voltage of 12 V is required, supporting a load of more than 3 A (with a margin of about 30 percent). Therefore, the APO12-5075 UV adapter, rated for loads up to 5 A, turned out to be a suitable option.
If the voltage at the output of the power supply strictly corresponds to the calculated one, then the power source in this case will always work in extremely difficult conditions. Therefore, its service life will be significantly reduced.
The controller is necessary for connecting LED strips and is used to regulate the color and brightness of the device. It must be connected on one side to the power supply, on the other - to the LED circuit.
If necessary, a circuit for connecting the RGB strip directly to the power supply (without a controller) can be used. To do this, you need to connect the positive wire of the tape to the positive contact of the driver and attach three color wires at once to the negative contact, connecting them together.
But with this connection of the LED RGB strip, it will be possible to obtain only one color of LED glow without the possibility of adjusting it.
By calculation, it was found that the total current consumed by the entire tape is 3 A. But the current of each color track is three times less than this value.
Therefore, in order for the LED strip to operate in normal mode, it is necessary that the current at the output contacts of the controller (which are intended for connecting color strips R, G, B) should be a third of the current coming from the power supply.
It follows that in the case we are considering, it is necessary to use a controller with a voltage of 12 V and a load current of 1 A on channels R, G and B.
According to these parameters, you can select the LN-IR24B controller, which is equipped with a remote control operating in the radio frequency range.
The entire set (selected by calculation) of components that ensure the operation of the LED strip in normal mode Below is a diagram of connecting a 5 meter long LED RGB strip via a power supply and controller.
L – contact for supplying phase voltage of the 220 V network;
N – contact for connecting the neutral wire;
PE – contact for the ground wire.
The wires of the color channels R (red), G (green), B (blue) are connected to the terminals marked with the corresponding letters on the controller.
If this condition is not met, the LEDs will not lose their color glow ability, but when you try to adjust the desired color range, colors will be obtained that do not correspond to the markings on the control panel.
The input voltage of 220 V is supplied to contacts L and N of the power supply.
The rectified and converted 12 V voltage goes to the +V and –V contacts of the power supply, after which it is supplied through the connecting wires to the controller input contacts of the same name.
The output of this device has three lines marked R, G and B, which serve to connect the color channels of the LED strip to the controller.
Contact +V – for the common positive wire.
If the power of the power supply and controller allows you to connect an RGB strip up to ten meters long, this can be done by connecting two wires going to 2 different strips to the corresponding output terminals of the controller, thus connecting them in parallel at the controller contacts. That is, two wires are connected to one contact at once. But using such a scheme is not recommended. If there is an error in calculating the power of the power supply and controller, there may not be enough power for the additional tape.
Appearance of the controller and the wires connected to it from two RGB strips 
Serial connection of several tapes without the use of additional equipment is not used, because as a result of the voltage drop on the tape, the areas furthest from the control equipment will glow very weakly or not at all.
To connect an LED strip with a length of 5 meters or more, it is necessary to use an amplifier and an additional power supply at each section. An amplifier is a device that amplifies the controller signal.
If the power of the power supply and controller is not enough to connect two or more tapes, a connection diagram with amplifiers is used and additional power supplies are added that correspond to the parameters of each individual tape.
Connecting four RGB diode strips using its own amplifier and power supply for each strip. Here the amplifiers are connected to the controller in parallel If the controller has a power reserve (within 30 percent), it is possible to create a circuit that eliminates the use of amplifiers. Each tape is connected to the controller in parallel and a powerful power supply common to all components is installed. Therefore, forced ventilation is needed.
This creates discomfort due to the noise generated by the fan.
The attached diagram explains how to connect the LED strip in parallel and in series.
Here, only the first RGB strip is connected in parallel to the controller.
Any subsequent one is connected in series to the previous one through an amplifier.
Amplifying devices are connected to a 220 V network through individual power supplies.
The connection diagrams for RGBW tapes are similar to the connection diagrams for RGB tapes. The difference lies in the need to use an RGBW controller, which has an additional “white” color output. With this tape you can create the most interesting color schemes.
The RGB strip, the connection of which provides the generation of red, green and blue colors in the lamp, is a dynamic lighting system in which three primary colors create more than 16 million shades. The light that is visible to the human eye is called the spectrum. It has blue at one end and red at the other. The rest that we are able to see are in between. Outside these limits are short wavelengths of ultraviolet, x-ray and infrared radiation and radio waves that are not visible to humans.
Operating principle of LED strip
LED tape consists of a self-adhesive strip and a substrate on which LEDs are installed at certain intervals; they begin to glow after power is applied. LED lighting is a great addition to any home or office design.
Advantages of RGB strips: they are inexpensive to connect, easy to install, and can instantly change the mood of people and the appearance of a room. Various brightness levels and color types make LED strip lights versatile and the application options endless.
Installation locations:
- Kitchen and bathroom.
- Wall panels and skirting boards.
- In ceiling suspension as wall lights.
- In cabinets, display cases and bar counters.
- Around doorways, windows and stairs.
- Under the roof of the spotlights.
- In gardens, paths and signs.
- Lighting for Christmas or other special occasions.
- On the back of TVs and speaker systems.
Selecting a model for installation
Test the LED strip by temporarily installing it, turn it on to view the luminous flux, pattern and angle before finally fixing it. Integral stripes are manufactured to match quality color and pattern. LED must be installed by a qualified electrician.
The RGB tape has the following characteristics:
- Illumination. For local lighting, a soft glow of color will be enough; to illuminate a large project, you need a strip with maximum light output.
- Flexible or rigid design. Any rounded layer will require flexible tape, while rigid tape will be useful for straight surfaces.
- The color that some strips give off is different from the true white LED. If you need to use it for mass lighting, it is recommended to use a model with true white capabilities.
- The final effect of an RGB strip lighting connection will depend on a number of factors: ice size, number of units per meter, angle and position of the strip, color texture, reflectivity of surfaces and distance from the observer.
Main Applications
RGB connectivity strips are the industry standard for industrial and residential lighting, but have recently become increasingly popular in smart homes and enable people to precisely control the quality and quantity of light.
Technology scope of application:
- IR Remotes and Controllers: Use light to communicate between the remote and controller.
- Radio control (RF) is used to control remote objects using various radio signals.
- DMX Digital Multiplex (DMX) controllers are a great way to control multiple light sources simultaneously.
- RGB Dimmer creates custom colors on the strip using a control or dial.
Main characteristics of RGB tape
Integral low voltage LED strips are rated at 12V DC. They are supplied in 5 meter reels. The strip can be cut in several ways, but only in special cut areas. It is connected using an appropriate driver, the total power should be below 90% of its rated power.
LEDs can be dimmed using the appropriate driver and compatible dimmer switch. LED strips are installed on a clean and dry surface. The flow of illumination is adjusted by changing the size, quantity and color of the LED on the strip. The use of built-in strips indoors or outdoors, in dry or wet areas is determined by the IP number of the strip, for example, standard (IP33) or silicone coating (IP67).
- IP33 - not waterproof. Used for dry and dust-proof areas such as storefronts, bedrooms and living rooms.
- IP67 - waterproof. This tape is protected by silicone gel against temporary immersion in water between 0.15 and 1 m. Ideal for indoor and outdoor use. Typical interior in the bathroom or kitchen, under cabinets, near showers, sinks or other temporary splash areas. Typical outdoor use is on paths or walls for decorative purposes.
In addition to self-adhesive tape, IP67 comes with mounting clips. IP67 should not be permanently immersed in water. They have an operating temperature range from -25 to + 60 degrees Celsius.
Tapes are available in three versions:
- 30 LEDs/m - kitchen tables, furniture.
- 60 LEDs/m - staircase lighting, entrance doors.
- 120 LEDs/m - high ceilings, external lighting, signs.
The size of the Led affects the luminous flux power and pattern. Integral LED strips are available in two sizes:
- 35:28 - 3.5 mm X 2.8 mm LED. The thin beam is ideal for home or ambient lighting at close viewing distances.
- 50:50 - 5.0mm X 5.0mm LED - 40% more bright light than 35:28.
Fixtures with higher lumen output are suitable for commercial or domestic use over long distances, such as ceilings and outdoor plaza lighting.
RGB strip color stripes can have the following:
- Warm white is a traditional yellow light, ideal for living rooms, bedrooms and hallways.
- Cool white - a combination with blue, ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.
- Red, green or blue are stunning bold colors to add more impact to a space and make game rooms, clubs, bars and restaurants more exciting.
- RGB and RGBW are red, green and blue LEDs that are mixed using a remote control to produce a wide range of colors.
Selecting a Power Source
The RGB LED light uses 12 volts and 2.2 watts at 30cm, so if you want to install 4m color changing LED strips, you will need a power supply to handle 28.6 watts.
Calculation: 28.6 W / 12 volts = 2.38 amps.
It is necessary to use a source with a maximum load that is 20% higher than the working load. The example above will require a 4 amp power supply.
The following are the elements of the lighting scheme:
- RGB indicator for changing the color of the LED strip at the desired length.
- RGB LED remote control.
- RGB LED connectors.
- LED power indicator.
- In addition, the circuit must have a power supply for the LED strip.
- Amplifiers are used when the length of the light strip exceeds the maximum single run.
- Coaxial contactless DC connector.
They make it easier to install the tapes. Although soldering creates the most stable connection for LEDs, solderless connectors provide a quick and strong connection. When installed correctly, they should not be loose and must ensure reliable contact. They are designed to easily connect to any lighting design. Before choosing, you first need to determine which tape will be used and also know its width, usually 8 mm or 10 mm.
LED Strip Installation Guide:
- Cut it along the mark line.
- Pull the plastic lock out of the connector.
- Insert the strip into the solder connector, making sure the wider sides are facing up and the ends are fully touching the metal joint.
- Push the plastic lock back into the locking position, making sure the mounting tray is securely closed.
- When doing this, you need to double check the (+) and (-) markings to make sure which color wire corresponds to each one.
- For long-term use, use any bonding material to prevent the connector from becoming loose.
- Make sure the power is turned off when installing the driver. Once the connections have been double checked, turn on the power and the remote control to create a color composition.
RGB lamp controller
Depending on the complexity of the LED strip's built-in RGB controller, the light can produce over 16 million color variations where the same light can change instantly depending on the action being performed.
The most common controllers:
- The WS2812 is a programmable DC controller hidden under an RGB kit with a 5050. It does not use a standard communication protocol to drive LEDs, employing a single-pass interface along with power and ground to allow LEDs to be chained together, theoretically indefinitely. The WS2812 takes 24 bits of color information data for the green, red and blue LEDs and then passes the rest of the data string to the next WS2812 in the strip. Indirectly, this means that the LED database will be buffered in memory and then sent to the strip. Overall, the WS2812b RGB strip connector is a reliable and popular LED controller solely because it operates so simply, especially when using Adafruit's NeoPixel library.
- SK6812 appeared on the LED strip market in 2016, almost as a direct clone of WS6812. It does have some minor improvements between the two chips, however the "improvement" isn't enough time to make the chips incompatible with each other, so it's possible to connect the SK6812 to the WS2812b without any real issues. The most significant differences between the two chips is the increased refresh rate.
- APA102C is a comprehensive improvement of the WS2812b LED strip RGB controller. The LED data stream is processed using a standard SPI interface for strip control. The best part about using SPI is that it has the ability to use an LED strip completely independent of the timing that hampered the WS2812b. The module is powered by 12V, which is also used to power the LED strip. RGB models are advertised as 144W, RGBW as 192W.
IR keypad for light control
Control of the design light uses an IR receiver module and code to independently control the LED strip using an easily accessible keypad transmitter. Along with the 24-key RGB strip remote, there are also 44-key remotes available that make it easy to add IR control to any future project. Description of 24-remote control for 3528 5050 LED strips:
- RGB DC 12V.
- Connection mode: common anode (+).
- Input voltage: 12 V.
- Output voltage: 12 V.
- Maximum load current: 2A each color.
- Remote control size: 85mm x 52mm x 6mm.
It is available for 5050/3528 RGB SMD Strip Light Remote Controller Battery 3V: 1xCR2025.
Malfunctioning indicator lights
The user must know the main reasons for the lamp not working. Very often, after installing the circuit, the tape does not light up. The color of the wire when connecting LED does not always matter. Red/black can indicate (+) or (-) depending on which side of the LED strip the connector is connected to. Another common problem is that the solderless connector may be installed backwards. The power source must be connected strictly according to (+) and (-) and correctly selected for voltage, since 12-volt LED strips with a 24-volt power supply will not work.
Most common failures:
- Wrong wiring or reverse polarity, need to check it with a multimeter.
- Free wires. A very common mistake is the lack of a reliable connection in the connector.
- Wire flashing is another common wiring error. When working with it, you need to make sure that there are no exposed wires at the end of the module string and that they do not touch each other.
- Voltage drop is a problem with LED installations when the LED installation is connected in series rather than in parallel.
The ability to change the luminous flux of Led is made possible thanks to a lighting system where the combination of red, blue and green colors can have a different hue depending on the angle of the wavelength of the spectrum. This capability makes it useful in multi-color light applications used for various occasions and in the entertainment industry.