Frequently Asked Questions about LED Strips

The world of LED strips It is so big that it is often very difficult to know all the parameters and concepts that surround this world. In this section we are going to make a brief introduction to the world of strips and learn about the most important details so that we can size our facilities without fear of making mistakes.

Differences between Analog and Digital LED strips

The main difference between analog and digital strips is the channels they are made of. Analog RGB strips have 4 channels, these being power (12/24 V), red (R), green (G) and blue (B). On the other hand, digital strips are made up of 4 or 3 channels depending on the type of chip that the Digital RGB LED strip is made of. For example, the WS2811 and WS2812 strips are made up of only three channels, these being power (5 VDC or 12 VDC), ground (GND) and data. On the contrary, strips with UC1903 or SC6803 chip are made up of 4 channels, these being power (12 VDC), ground (GND, clock (CLK) and data (DATA).

Within the world of digital strips there are multiple chip models. Some of them are as follows: TM1803, TM1804, TM1809, TM1812, UCS1903, UCS1909, UCS1912, UCS2903, UCS2909, UCS2912.

How to choose the transformer for your LED strip?

Perhaps it is the million-dollar question and one that most customers ask themselves: What transformer should I choose? The question is quite simple, although it is often asked with fear and ignorance. To know which transformer we have to choose, we must look at three factors.

1. Working voltage (if we work with strips directly connected to the electrical grid, technically we will not have to use a transformer, although we will see this later).

2. Installation meters.

3. Type of strip (You must know the type of chip used and their density).

Knowing these three parameters before starting our sizing is essential so that the installation we carry out is not a total failure. The transformer is the most important element when designing a 12/24 VDC LED strip installation since, if we size the installation incorrectly, what we will achieve is damage the strip and not be able to carry out the installation correctly. When calculating the power that the transformer has to take into account, we have to know the consumption per meter of the LED strip.

The transformer is the most important element when designing a 12/24 VDC LED strip installation since, if we size the installation incorrectly, what we will achieve is damage the strip and not be able to carry out the installation correctly. When calculating the power that the transformer has to take into account, we have to know the consumption per meter of the LED strip. Next, we are going to present a small example of what the sizing of an 8-meter LED strip installation is like and the calculations that have been carried out to obtain the transformer we need:

The SMD 5050 LED strip with reference PL219009 has a consumption of 72W per 5 meters. This means that each meter has a consumption of 14.4 W/meter. Once we are clear about this information, the next step is to multiply by the installation meters. If we want to install 8 meters of this strip, the installation will have a consumption of 115.2 W. The transformer that we will have to choose will be 200W. When choosing the transformer, it is recommended to leave a margin of 10-20% so that the transformer does not work at 100% at any time.

RGB LED Strip assembly diagram

As we can see, the scheme is very similar to that of the single-color LED strips except for an element between the transformer and the LED strip. The connection of the transformer is the same, receiving the input in the form of alternating current and the output in the form of direct current. This output of the transformer is directed towards the controller, since it needs power to function. The controller output is made up of four ports corresponding to power (V+), red (R) and blue (B).  These four outputs connect directly to the RGB LED strip as shown in the image.

To install the LED strip we will need a transformer, a controller, an amplifier and an RGB LED strip. If we want a decorative use we will choose the 36 W RGB LED strip, while if we want something with more brightness we will choose the 72 W strip. As it is 12 V, we will need a transformer of this power according to the number of watts that we are going to install. In order to change color we will need a controller that will also be in accordance with the number of meters that we are going to install. If there are many continuous meters that we are going to install, we will need a power amplifier. The connection is simple, since the connection sequence is transformer, controller and LED strip. If we have made the connection correctly we will see how the LED strip turns on automatically. With the remote control we will control the different possibilities that the controller offers us.

Strip tension ranges

To begin, we are going to explain the different voltage ranges that exist within LED strips. Whether we choose one or the other will depend on the requirements of our installation. What this means is that when choosing a type of strip, a very important factor is the total meters installed. Below we are going to explain the types of strips that we can find on the market taking into account the voltage parameter. Within the LED strips we can find 4 voltage ranges that we are going to consider as the main ones. These are: 5VDC, 12 VDC, 24 VDC and 220 VAC.

- 5 VDC LED strips: Within this section we can include the strips that are directly connected to a USB port and some Digital strips. They are not the most common that we can find on the market, although it is good to mention them so that the user knows them.

- LED strips 12/24 VDC: These types of strips are common in the GreenIce catalog. As for the advantages that this type of strips offer us, it is that they can be cut every 5 cm at 12 VDC and 10 cm at 24 VDC. With this type of strips, more precise installations can be carried out than with direct network connection strips. Furthermore, by working in low voltage ranges, their handling is simpler and less dangerous. The main drawback of working with this type of strips is the length of the installations. At GreenIce we recommend not making installations of more than 10 meters to avoid voltage drops and therefore loss of lighting. In addition, it is necessary to install a transformer that converts the current supplied by the electrical network to the working voltage of the strips. This condition is a handicap in some installations where a transformer cannot be installed.

- LED strips 220 VAC: This type of strip is a “modified” version of the 12/24 VDC strips, so that they can be connected directly to the network through a power outlet. The main advantage, as we have mentioned previously, is that these LED strips connect directly to the electrical network so that we save the annoying transformer. Furthermore, with this type of strips the problem of voltage drop does not exist, so we can carry out installations of 50 linear meters without any problem. As for the drawbacks, we can find that with this type of strips, more precise installations cannot be made because cuts can only be made every meter, so the installations have to be multiples of 1 meter. Furthermore, when working in a high voltage range, more caution must be taken in its installation and handling.

As we have seen, whether we choose one type of strip or another will depend largely on the number of meters that we are going to install. Another factor to take into account and that will be very important is the installation location.

Necessary elements for the installation of Strips and Hoses at 220V

 Like the rest of the products that use LEDs as a lighting source, 220V strips and hoses have LEDs that work on direct current, therefore, they require a rectifier that converts alternating current into direct current in order to make the LEDs work correctly. Below is an example of a typical driver socket for 220V SMD2835 LED strips.

Strips that are connected directly to the electrical current (220 VAC 50/60 Hz) do not technically use a transformer like 12/24 VDC strips. What these types of strips have is a rectifier that passes the input current from 220 VAC to 220 VDC, which is how the strips work internally. This is easy to check since if we connect the strip directly without a rectifier, it will flash, an unequivocal sign that we are not connecting it properly. This rectifier supports a maximum of 500 W installed, which will be 50 meters if we use the maximum strip with the SMD 5050 chip and 100 meters if we use the strip with the SMD 3528 chip.

This plug would be connected directly to the electrical network (220VAC) and through the rectifier (White Box) it converts the electrical energy from alternating current to direct current. Finally, there is the connector for the strips and a skewer.

Monocolor LED Strip assembly diagram

In the image above we can see an assembly diagram of a single-color LED strip. We can distinguish two main elements. The first of them is the transformer in which we can see the input of the electrical network to ports L and N (brown and blue cables respectively). On the other hand, we can see the output of the transformer (from the COM or – and + ports). From the negative port the black cable comes out to the LED strip and from the + port the positive cable comes out to the LED strip.

How are the colors obtained on RGB strips?

 RGB strips are capable of providing the colors red, blue and green because they have an integrated chip of the aforementioned colors. In order to obtain more colors, it is necessary to install a driver that will manage when each of them will be activated, thus obtaining one color or another. Below is how different colors are obtained depending on how red, green and blue are mixed.

How to choose the right LED Strip?

As we have seen in the previous sections, choosing an LED strip is not a simple thing and requires following a series of steps for our installation to be successful. Just as we have said that the operating voltage was very important, at this point we are going to learn more in depth about two other new concepts such as the quantity/density of LEDs and the type of chip used.

In the first instance we are going to start with the quantity/density of LEDs that the strips themselves can have. Depending on the quantity, they will be used for one purpose or another. Next, we are going to explain the different types that we can find in the lighting market.

The number of LEDs in the meter directly affects the luminosity provided by the LED strips and their consumption. Depending on the lighting objective you need, you will have to use one type of strip or another. Below, we show a rule to properly choose the strip that best suits your needs depending on the LED's/meter that the strip has.

- 30 LED's/meter: In-person lighting. Widely used to faintly highlight selected elements.
- 60 LED's/meter: Used to provide standard lighting. Used for integration into moldings, hallways, bar counters, etc.
- 120 LED's/meter: For when lighting requirements are high. Widely used for signage, exterior lighting, etc.

Strip types depending on the type of LED

Going a little more into the matter of the chips used by LED strips, we are going to explain in more detail the most used chips on the market and their main uses.

- SMD strips 3528/2835 This type of chip is used for low power and low consumption strips. Since they have low consumption, they are usually used in installations where the light required is decorative. They are monochromatic strips and the most economical option.

- SMD 5050 strips This type of LED strips have a higher consumption and provide more power than SMD 3528. They are used for installations where the lighting requirements are greater than merely professional lighting. They are monochrome and multicolor (RGB) strips.

- SMD 3014 Strips This type of strip is most used when the purpose is decorative. They have a greater density of LEDs in the strip so that the lighting it provides is high intensity and continuous. They are strips with low consumption, but with exceptional lighting performance.

- SMD 5630 strips: This type of strips provide a greater amount of light with the same consumption as SMD 5050 strips. This type of strips is used for installations where high light output is required. These strips are monochromatic and used in professional installations where high power is required.

LED strip installation

How do RGB products work?

RGB strips are a variant within the “normal” or monocolor strips that allow us to obtain different colors based on the mixture of the three main colors, which are red, green and blue. In this type of strips, the chips are SMD type because each one is divided into three parts. In this type of strips, each third of the chip belongs to a color so that if we mix the three we would obtain the white tone. Within these strips we can differentiate two types of colors. These would be the primary and secondary ones. The primary colors are those that provide any RGB product that we have in the catalog, these being red, green and blue. The secondary colors are obtained from the mixture of the primary colors, so to perform this effect a controller is necessary. These colors are yellow, pink, turquoise blue, orange, purple and white.

RGB products are built with red, green and blue LEDs, in some cases located on the same chip and in others on three separate chips. Thanks to this configuration it is possible to mix colors by controlling the power in each color, thus obtaining a wide range of colors.

Primary Colors: Red (R), Green (G) and Blue (B).

Secondary Colors: Yellow, Pink, Turquoise Blue, Orange, Purple and “White”.

The primary colors are those provided by any RGB product that we have in the catalog. The secondary colors are obtained from the mixture of the primary colors, so a controller is necessary to achieve this effect.

The wavelengths of the colors are as follows:

Red: 625-740nm

Orange: 590-625nm

Yellow: 565-590nm

Green: 500-565nm

Cyan: 485-500nm

Blue: 440-485nm

Violet: 380-440nm

Parts of a transformer

As we can see in the image, the transformer is mainly divided into two parts. The first part is the input part, which would be the alternating current power supply (220 VAC 50/60 Hz). This part is made up of a port for phase, another for neutral and another for ground. The other part would be the output, which can be 12 or 24 VDC depending on the transformer we are using. In this case the output would be made up of two negatives (-) and two positives (+).

They also have a switch to regulate the output voltage that can be varied by a small % both up and down.

How LED strips are connected to amplifiers

Return to the blog

Related articles