7 Key Points Before Buying and Installing 12V LED Strip Lights

LED Strip Lights

Flexible LED strips are widely used in industrial, commercial, and residential projects around the world. Their advantages in efficiency, color options, and brightness make them a favorite among architects and lighting designers. One of their greatest strengths is easy installation; their flexibility and understated design make them the top choice for DIY enthusiasts. With these LED strips, homeowners can achieve professional-quality lighting in just a couple of hours.

There are many types of LED strips available, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This “LED Strip Resource Guide” aims to help both novices and experts find the most suitable LED strips and provide usage tips to overcome common installation challenges.

What Makes LED Strip Lights so Special?

LED strip lights, also known as LED tape lights or LED ribbon lights, are renowned for their compact size and flexibility. High-efficiency LEDs are mounted on circuit boards that are 10 mm wide, with lengths ranging from 3 feet to 16.4 feet. Flexible LED strips feature several characteristics that make them suitable for various applications:

12V LED Strips: LED strips require a 12V DC power input to operate. When used in the home, an AC to DC transformer is necessary, allowing for safer wiring throughout the house. Additionally, batteries can provide DC power, making it easy to create battery-operated LED lights with these flexible strips.

Waterproof or Non-Waterproof: LED strips are not limited to indoor applications. Waterproof LED strips have an IP65 rating, with silicone material that protects the strip components from dust and moisture. While waterproof LED strips tend to be slightly more expensive, they are essential for any outdoor projects or areas near water.

Adhesive-backed flexible LED strips: The back of the LED strips is equipped with 3M adhesive for convenient installation. The flat flexible strips come with removable 3M tape, making installation as easy as peel-and-stick.

Cut-to-size: Cutting LED strips is straightforward thanks to designated cutting lines. Each cut point has a black line, with copper pads on either side, allowing the strips to remain addressable after cutting. This enables easy connection between strips or linking to different areas of the home.

7 Key Points Before Installing LED Strip Lights

LED flexible strips are suitable for various projects, but knowing where to start can be challenging. If you’re unsure, follow this 7-step guide, which covers the selection and planning of different LED strips to ensure your DIY lighting project is a success!

Density of LED Strip

The density of LED strips refers to the number of LEDs within a specific area, measured in “LEDs per meter.” Standard density strips contain 30 LEDs/m, while high-density strips feature 60 LEDs/m. Higher density strips generally offer better quality and increased brightness. The following table outlines the differences between standard and high-density strips, including lumen output, cutting lengths, and maximum run lengths.

Lumens measure the brightness perceived by the human eye. While many of us traditionally used watts to gauge light output due to the presence of incandescent bulbs, lumens have become the new standard for describing LED light output. Lumen output is one of the most crucial factors when selecting LED strips, as it determines the type of lighting you will receive.

When comparing the brightness of LED strips, pay attention to how lumens are tracked. In the table, the strips are labeled with lumens per meter. To calculate the total lumen output, simply multiply the number of meters you plan to use.

Different projects require varying brightness levels to achieve their intended purpose. My advice is to always choose higher lumen products and consider adding a dimmer. Here’s a useful guide for lumen requirements:

• Ambient or Accent Lighting: 100-300 lumens/foot
• Under-Cabinet Lighting: 175-360 lumens/foot
• Task Lighting (further from the light source):300-450 lumens/foot
• Bedroom or Cove Lighting:180-500 lumens/foot

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

The color of LED strips is largely a matter of personal preference. RGB LED strips are an excellent choice for those who enjoy a variety of color effects. These color-changing strips are ideal for accent lighting around the home, utilizing red, green, and blue diodes to mix and produce a wide range of colors. If you choose RGB strips, be sure to use a three-channel controller as mentioned in the dimming section of this guide.

There is also an option for ultraviolet (UV) strips, which are perfect for UV applications or creating DIY black lights!

For those who prefer monochromatic options, LED strips are available in red, green, blue, yellow, and white (with a correlated color temperature range of 3000K to 6500K).

CCT stands for Correlated Color Temperature, which measures the color temperature of light in Kelvin (K). The temperature rating of LED strips directly impacts the appearance of the light. For reference, warm white is typically around 3000K, emitting an orange or light yellow hue. As the Kelvin rating increases, the color transitions from yellow to pale white, then to natural white, and finally to cool white, which appears bluish.

How to choose the right color temperature? 

Warm White, Neutral White, and Cool White Strips are available, selecting the appropriate color temperature for your application depends on how it will affect the overall appearance of the room. This choice is largely a matter of personal preference, as well as the overall style and ambiance you want to create in the space:

Warm White creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it ideal for spaces where people gather to relax, such as living rooms, bedrooms, and dining areas.

Neutral White simulates the effect of daylight and is the best-selling type of strip, as it provides comfortable lighting for any area of the home. This is our most popular option for under-cabinet LED strips.

Cool White complements modern styles, emitting a bright and refreshing light. It is the best choice for task lighting due to its brighter and more focused illumination, commonly used in bathrooms, kitchens, and workspaces.

Length of LED Strip

It’s best to outline your entire project first to determine the total length of strips needed. This will help you understand what type of strips to purchase and the associated costs. LED strips come in lengths ranging from 3 feet to full rolls of 16.4 feet. It’s important to decide whether you want to buy a full roll to cut to size yourself or if you prefer smaller, pre-cut lengths.

At this stage, sketch your project layout. Plan where the strips will be installed, how they will connect, and whether they will all return to the same power source or require separate ones. This step will greatly assist you in the following phases.

Wattage and Powering of LED Strip

What type of power do LED strips require? LED strips always need a 12V DC input.

This is the simplest part, the next step is to determine the power needed. If you’ve already selected the strip density and total length, this should be straightforward.

Detailed Wattage Table for 12V LED Strips

If you plan to use multiple power supplies, simply record the length of the strips connected to each power source to determine the necessary specifications for each supply.

LED Power Supply Options:

• Plug-in Adapter: Plugs directly into the wall to power the LED strips.
• Hardwired Power Supply: Directly wired between the line voltage and the LED strips.
• Dimmable Power Supply: Ideal if you want to use standard household dimmers, like Lutron or Leviton, for dimming control.
• Battery: Look for a 12V battery pack or use a holder for 8 AA batteries.

Wiring and Connecting LED Strip Lights

Before starting the wiring, it’s helpful to sketch a layout and consider the connection points for all strips. Are you planning to connect all the strips in a single line? If the total length exceeds the maximum run length (32.8 feet for standard strips and 16.4 feet for high-density strips), you will need to parallel the power lines to different strips.

Wiring Accessories: LED Strip Connectors and Splitters

Connecting LED strips is essential for any project. We offer helpful accessories and guides to facilitate these connections.

How to Connect LED Strips Without Soldering?

Our strip connectors allow you to easily link strips end-to-end, create gaps between them, or connect at tight corners.

How to Connect Multiple LED Strips to a Single Power Supply?

LED splitters make it simple to connect multiple strips to one power source! Splitters are available with 2, 3, or 4 output channels.

Dimming LED Strip Lights

LED strip lights are typically dimmed using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) dimmers, which are installed on the 12V side of the system and connected between the strips.

PWM dimmers are popular because they can work with any transformer or battery source without needing a dimmable power supply. They provide smooth control from the dimmest to the brightest settings. Affordable and easy to set up, they are an excellent choice for dimming LED strips.

These simple dimmers come in two options: WiFi and remote control. WiFi-compatible dimmers can be controlled directly through a smartphone app and can also integrate with Google Home or Amazon Echo (Alexa) for voice control.

Some homeowners have installed central dimming systems in their spaces, wanting to use existing AC dimmers to control the lighting. If you wish to use such an AC dimmer, you will need a dimmable power supply.

RGB Controllers (WiFi/Remote/Bluetooth): If you are using color-changing RGB LED strips, a 3-channel RGB controller is necessary. These controllers manage the red, green, and blue channels to mix colors and create dynamic effects. Without this device, your RGB LED strips won’t function properly, so be sure to purchase one if you are using multicolor LED strips.

Mounting LED Strip Lights

Although the adhesive on LED strip lights is quite helpful for installation, it sometimes requires enhancement. Like most adhesives, it may not bond well with certain surfaces and might need additional reinforcement over time. In such cases, consider using one of the following options:

• Extra Adhesive Tape: 3M tape can be applied to the surface before attaching the strip, doubling the bonding effect.
• LED Strip Mounting Clips: These clips provide secure mounting for your strips.

Mounting Tracks are another excellent option for achieving a professional look. These aluminum profiles are designed to accommodate LED strips and provide everything needed for installation. The strips attach to the bottom of the track, while the UV-resistant lens above can slide to diffuse the light.