How To Install LED Strip Lights

LED strips have become one of the most sought-after and attractive parts of decoration for many occasions. It is very easy to find the right LED strip for your needs, as they are available in a variety of sizes, colors, and lengths. LED strips can also create an amazing lighting effect when the light is reflected off a flat surface. This makes them a great choice for decorative applications.

It is very simple to handle LED strip lights, and you don’t need any professional assistance. We will walk you through the entire process of installing a new LED strip. We will include additional information such as splitting a single strip of LED light, merging multiple strips of LED light, and using an RGB controller to control the LED lights.

How to power the LED strip lights

You will have to install the wiring yourself if you only purchased an LED strip reel. This can be done easily with some basic wiring and the right driver. To power your LED strips, follow the instructions below.

1. Unpack the entire package, including the LED light strip reel.
2. You will then need to connect the LED strip with the connector. You will see a red cable and a black one inside the connector.
3. Connect the black wire with the “-” terminal and the red cable to the “+” of the LED strip.
4. To secure the connection, push the connector’s rear end inwards once the wires have been properly connected.
5. Connect the other end of the connector to an appropriate driver for powering the LED strip.

Connecting multiple LED strip lights to

Single-power source

You will most likely need a longer strip of LEDs to cover an area. You might not be able to find one LED strip that is long and wide enough to cover a large wall or desk. You will need to connect several LED strips in such a situation. Here’s how you can connect them all to one power source.

1. One power adaptor can power two or more light strips at the same time. To connect multiple LED strips to a single power adapter, a two-way splitter is required.
2. When you have a good power splitter in your possession, ensure that the wattage of the light strips does not exceed the output capacity of the adapter.
3. Connect the LED strips directly to the splitter once you’ve confirmed compatibility between the adapter/splitter.
4. Connect one end of the splitter directly to the AC wall outlet power adaptor.

How to install LED strip lights?

Comparing LED strip lights to other lighting products, they are compact and linear. Due to their versatility, LED strip lights are the best option for installation. Installing an LED strip over any flat surface is easy.

The LED strips are lightweight. The LED light strips can be stuck to any surface. Install LED light strips under drop-down ceilings or behind TVs. You can also install the below furniture over your kitchen table.

The back of most LED strip lights has an adhesive that is pre-applied and covered by a protective sheet. You can stick the LED strips directly by removing the protective film. You can also use 3M double-sided adhesive tape to secure the LED light strip on its rear. You should not use tape to cover the front of the LED light strip as this can ruin the lighting effects by covering many LED lights.

Can LED strip lights be broken?

You will need to cut the LED strip light if you bought a much longer strip than you needed and you could not fit it all. It is easy to cut an LED light strip. It is important to be careful not to damage the LEDs.

You will see dedicated markings on the strip if you pay attention to the LED lights. These markings are usually found every 3 to 6 LEDs on a strip. After cutting the LED strip, you will see exposed copper pads at both ends. These will allow you to connect the strip to a different or the same power source. The LED strip can be broken into pieces to allow for installation at an angle or sharp turns in the ceiling or wall.

How to connect LED light strips together

By connecting different LED strips, you can install LED lights at difficult angles and corners. Connecting different LED strips allows you to make 90-degree turns, which are most often needed when installing LED lights on walls and ceilings. Here’s how you can connect multiple LED light strips:

1. You can connect LED light strips quickly by using the solderless connectors that are available on the market. These connectors allow you to easily connect LED light strips.
2. Remove the lock pad on your LED connector if it is a solderless connector.
3. Peel a small amount of the section covered on the LED strip in order to reveal the adhesive surface of the strip.
4. Then, insert the strip directly into the connector. You should align the copper pads of the strip with the conductor’s pins on the connector.
5. Close the lock pad on the connector once it has been perfectly aligned.

If you don’t want to use a solderless connection, you can manually solder the LED strips together. The soldering process should be done with precision and extreme care, as the wrong soldering could damage the LED strips.

RGB connection & RGB control for LED strip lights

RGB LED light strips are the most popular because they offer a wide range of color options. RGB LED light strip comes with RGB controllers that have predefined lighting effects. These modes are perfect for special occasions when you want to add additional lighting effects.

The RGB connectors come with the RGB LED light strips. How to connect the controller and LED light strip.

1. The RGB LED strips are more terminals than regular strips. They are identified by the “+”, symbols “G”, “R”, or “B”.
2. The RGB controller that comes with the RGB LED strip has terminals similar to those on your RGB LED light strips.
3. Connect the RGB connector to the LED strip using the same terminals.
4. Connect the RGB connector to the power supply using power cables or DC connectors.
5. You can insert the 4 pin connector into the strip if your RGB controller already has one.

Connecting LED strip lights in series

LED light strips can be connected together to form a single lighting strip that meets your needs. If you want to connect several LED light strips, you will need to do so in series. So, you can protect the LED light strip from voltage drops and sudden voltage surges.

1. You will need to add an LED amplifier in your circuit if you want to connect LED strips in series.
2. Consider that multiple RGB LED strips are connected in series and controlled by one RGB controller. You will need an LED amplifier to power each LED strip except for the first.
3. Follow the instructions in the previous section to connect the RGB controller and the first strip with the power supply.
4. The LED amplifiers for RGB LED strips have the same terminals as the LED strips. The terminals on the LED amplifiers are identical to those available on the RGB LED strips.
5. After all strips and LED amplifiers have been connected, connect the terminals of the RGB controller to the terminals on the amplifier. You can do this by routing an additional wire off the RGB controller’s connecting wire and connecting it to the amplifier port simultaneously.
6. Additional power adaptors are required if you want to power LED strips using different power sources. You can use this configuration to connect the LED amplifier’s power cables to the ports of the designated power supply units instead of using the cables that were originally connected to the first power supply. Connect the positive terminal to the red cable, and the negative terminal to the black cable.

Conclusion

Once properly installed, LED strip lights are very attractive. To led light installation service strips properly, you must follow a tedious process. If you choose RGB LED strips rather than a single-color option, the process becomes a little more complex. There are many components that can be used to install these LED lights without the need for manual labor.