As long as the total wattage of yourLED strip lightsdoesnt exceed that of the LED transformer, you can wire as many separate strips as you wish. The differences between high-quality and low-quality LED power suppliesare found in the internal components used in their manufacture. Meanwell transformers are renowned for quality and reliability in the lightingsector. If the kit doesnt come with either one, you can buy them separately from most hardware stores. For stationery kits, try to find an area where the power supply can be hidden or secured without interfering with the operation of your lights. A good name-brand companys quality components and rigorous testing will mean youll get an LED strip driver with excellent reliability and a very long life so you wont have to go back to projects youve already completed to swap their power supplies. Please see the articles conclusion for a more detailed explanation. On longer runs, keep a watch out for voltage dips, but otherwise, all you have to do is connect the positive/negative copper pads of one LED strip piece to the positive/negative copper pads of another. Place your led lights securely wherever you want to install them. You dont need to worry about maintenance costs and they are more energy-efficient than traditional sources of lighting. You can receive them the next day and as long as you return them within 14 days, we can fully refund for the goods. So, red connects to red, green to green and so on. Manytransformer manufacturers actually recommend running at no more than 80% of the transformers capacity. Usea connector block to join the cables together, or use push-on clips that you can squeeze tight. When people discuss wiring LED strips in series, they nearly usually refer to connecting LED strip pieces end-to-end. Less Repairs Needed: If a single light stops working, you have to repair that fixture instead of the whole strand! The kit should come with wire connectors that make this step more straightforward, but you can also use wire nuts if those arent included. Long wire lengths may not only be an extra expenditure in these instances, but they must also be of suitable gauge. Batteries: You can use batteries to power your LED ribbon lights. for this. A switch is an electrical component that allows a user to control a light or other electrical device. For example, if you are connecting strips that will be mounted using aluminum frames, you cant use clips to connect them. However, it does require some specialized machinery and has a bit of a learning curve. If youre paying good money for an LED tape lighting system to last for the next 10 years, then surely you want your LED driverto last as well? This is important so that the essential LED components on the tapes dont get damaged. So carefully remove the plastic casing of the tapes right next to the copper connections. All of our LED driversare supplied with a 2-year warranty as standard. This may seem like a daunting task but it is fairly simple if you follow some basic steps. This is because its not running efficiently compared to the transformers size. For example. When we compare lumens per watt, a constant-voltage LED power supply may be slightly less efficient. However, it does require some specialized machinery and has a bit of a learning curve. Harrowing isnt it? Otherwise, voltage loss in the cables may occur before you even reach the LED strip portion. Each can be used to power different lengths of LED strip, depending on its specification (output wattage). LED strips are long and come in a series (in the non-engineering meaning of one after the other), but they are really made up of numerous parallel branches, each with three LEDs for LED strips rated at 12V, or six LEDs for LED strips rated at 24V). if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'brightlighthub_com-box-2','ezslot_13',101,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-brightlighthub_com-box-2-0')};LED lights are an excellent alternative to standard incandescent bulbs. : Your project might require your LED light strips to go around a corner or an unusual shape. They leave a very small carbon footprint and dont emit a lot of heat. We've got a plan for you. c). Next, test all of your led lights to ensure they are working correctly and meeting your expectations. That means you must wire multiple LED strips in parallel. This can considerably reduce the risk of voltage drop. This step is not needed when using hippo connectors. And they are often called LED power supplies simply because they supply power to your LED tape lights. This is an effective way to power your tape lights, especially if youre lighting an industrial or commercial space. A transformer will be able to power several light strips from one location-which is excellent if you dont have enough wall outlets in the room that youre looking to add led lighting into! Keep in mind that its best to run all of them at full brightness when running multiple lights off one switch. Consider it as hooking one end of an LED strip to the next. Every light has two wires: one connects to the next light in line, and the other goes back to the beginning of the line where its attached to the negative side of your battery or power source. Reliable high-grade components cost more to make than poor quality ones, so LED power suppliescan look identical to one another even though theyre dramatically different in price and quality. InStyle LED work with trade customers in mind. No matter what way you choose to connect your LED lights to the power supply, there are certain steps you have to take beforehand to ensure youre making the right decision. Copyright 2022 Elstar. You can attach as many strips as you like in parallel, but be sure to use the same number of batteries to avoid overloading your power source. While clipping and soldering are two different methods of connecting LED strips, both have certain requirements to work. Other than the output, theres no difference. You simply have to install one end of your strip to the hippo buckle connector to connect two strips together. For soldering and clipping, LED tapes need to be exposed. Easy Upkeep: When you have multiple led lights in one area, you only need to check up on them once. Alternatively, you might choose from our selection of ready-to-use tapes. Sidenote: From an electrical standpoint, the names series and parallel are actually wrong! But now you have to install them. If not, double-check your connections. Another consideration when calculating strip wattage is the voltage requirement for the strip. That saves our trade customers 1000's of pounds over the years, in replacements and labour costs. The second type has a hardwired input cable that you can either wire directly to the mains or attach to a plug. Whether youre a lighting specialist, interior designer, electrician, builder, architect, event organiser or supplier, InStyle will support you in every way possible. It has enough space to connect multiple LED strips with each other. Remove the tapes sticky backing and push it firmly onto the desired surface, such as your ceiling, wall, or behind a counter. In this article, you will learn how to connect multiple LED lights to one switch. But you will have much greater flexibility with a constant-voltage LED power supply, as it will ensure a consistent current across multiple LED stripswhen they are installed in parallel. This is a quick and simple approach since it does not necessitate the creation of a separate wire connection to the power source. The reason for this is that connecting the LED strips in series permits the electrical current to travel just one direction. This type of circuit is typically used when connecting the lights to a power supply. b). If a supplier has great reviews, many projects and a range of quality products on their website, then its likely they will deliver top-quality LED drivers unlike many eBay, Amazon or other internet sellers with no technical know-how. Some companies call them LED drivers, because they drive other lighting products. Because weve been supplying LEDs for 12 years and in the lighting industry for more than a quarter of a century! If you have any questions or need more information, feel free to reach out! It is also compatible with dimmable LED strip lights. If each led light and the power supply consists of its circuit with its own switch, they will most likely not share a wire and therefore cannot be turned on simultaneously. Your transformer(s) should be connected between the mains supply and the LED strip lights to be powered, as shown in this wiring diagram. Because the UKs mains-electricity grid supplies a voltage in the range 220V-240V, any installation of LED strip lights will need one or more electrical transformers to step its input voltage down to the right power. It is important to choose one that will meet your needs and suit your purpose. To work out how much LED tape you can run off an LED power supply, simply divide the wattage of your LED strip driver(for example, 100w) by the wattage per metre of your LED tape (e.g. Most of the transformers supplied by InStyle LED are constant voltage. Powering LEDs how to drive InStyles LED tape lights. Our power suppliesare used in commercial applications every day and last 5 years and more. In conclusion, it is possible to connect multiple led lights to one switch. But when considering optimum running conditions that may reduce the life and may increase your transformers active life, its worth bearing in mind. That is where this larger solder-free LED strips lights connector comes in to play. We use these terms in this text to keep things simple, but we put them in quote marks for accuracy. InStyle LED stocks a wide range of LED power supplies, from 30 watts up to 320 watts. Sockets or Plug-Ins: You can choose to power your LEDs by connecting them to the power sockets in your space. The number of led lights that can be run off with one switch is unlimited, but there are some things to take into consideration. Hardwiring: You can connect your LED light strips directly to the power wiring in your space. use the catch-all term LED transformers, all power supplies (drivers) that are designed for use with LEDs aremore than just that. When deciding which kit to buy, consider where you want to install the lights, how much voltage you need for power, what kind of switch youll use, and if its mobile or stationary. White LEDs all shades from warm-white to pure-white light in stock, Wiring LED Tapes connecting transformers, receivers & controllers, available in a choice of 12V or 24V models, our how to connect LED strip lights support page. 5. But now you have to install them. This is important for the longevity of both your power supply and LED strips. Surely you dont want to be replacing it every year or two because you chose a poor-quality LED power supply? In that case, you will have to, is not a very difficult process. You can extend thelengthby adding extra2-core cable (see How far can I install my LED tape from its LED power supply? How to Replace Neon Lights With LED Neon Rope Lights? 1. For example, if you are connecting strips that will be mounted using aluminum frames, you cant use clips to connect them. Flexibility & Curves will twisting / bending LED tapes damage them? You can help your LED power supply to keep functioning longer by giving it time to cool down. When the button is set in one position, the current can flow through and activate the device. UK mainsinput is 240v (mains), which is high voltage and would be dangerous to touch, whereas the transformed output from your12v or 24v power supply will be low voltage. : While hippo clips are great for connecting individual LED light strips with each other, they dont have enough space to connect parallel LED tapes to each other. While clipping is an easy and convenient way to connect LED light strips with each other, there are some cases where clipping isnt an option. Read on how to do that easily. Plastic clips keep the LED strips in place and the connection secure. If youre installing a 12V LED power supply, please give us a call. Although many people (even electricians!) 10+ Best Gaming Lamps in 2022 for Pro Gaming Experience. Youre just allowing for a jump between two sections of LED strip. New Design Ideas: Using most of your outlets opens up new design possibilities for your home! The alternative to connecting multiple LED strip sections together is to wire them in parallel. This method involves creating independent runs of LED strip sections, each of which is wired directly to the power source. Connecting multiple LED lights to one switch can be easy if you follow these steps. This clip may take many forms: a). Ideally, you want the circuit to be capable of supporting the number of watts your new strip will draw. Most LED lighting strips to have a voltage between 5 and 12 volts. Colour-Change LEDs RGB, RGBW, dual-white lights in stock. Solder-Free LED Strip Lights Connector: While hippo clips are great for connecting individual LED light strips with each other, they dont have enough space to connect parallel LED tapes to each other. The biggest downside of this strategy is that it will necessitate a bit of extra wiring. The second is to connect parallel LED ribbon lights together using a wire clip and connecting the wire clip to the socket. How long you run yourtransformer each day has another significant impact as well. Or you can hardwire your LEDs directly to the main power source of your home or building. 1. To close the clasp, press firmly on the rear of the connection clip. Check the label on your kit or the end of each strip where it says how many volts it needs to operate correctly. That way, you can see the whites and colours, and test brightness, colour temperatures and shades in real life. Cords Dont Get in the Way: One switch is much more convenient than separate ones for each light strand since they are often in different places within the same room. This doesnt mean that the most expensive LED driversare always the best though. Make sure to expose the lettering as well. This will give you the power capacity of your power source. This is an effective way to power your tape lights, especially if youre lighting an industrial or commercial space. Youre done! This is a good option if you want to power a small accent piece or take your LED lights with you on the go. To wire your led strip lights together to one switch, youll need either the transformer or a plug adapter. When you cut an LED strip, you are just lowering the number of parallel branches. He has published hundreds of blogs used in optics and smart home. There are many ways to connect your light strips to power. This may seem like a daunting task but it is fairly simple if you follow some basic steps. Imagine working on a DIY accent lighting project in your home with traditional sources of light. If your kit doesnt come with an adapter plug, you may need to use an extension cord, so you have more reach. Should you have decided to apply LED strip lights for your next project, or youre almost ready to wire everything together? You should choose your transformers output depending on the type of LED tape youre using: all of InStyles LED strip lightsspecify either a 12v or 24v power supply, so all of our transformers provide those outputs. Another issue is that certain LED strip portions may be placed a long distance from the power supply. Find a wall outlet or other places where you can plug everything in. You can use these connectors to connect two strips together or even connect your LED strip to the power supply. Yeelight is his favorite brand. Solder-Free LED Wire Connector: Your project might require your LED light strips to go around a corner or an unusual shape. Whether you need bespoke brightness-levels or a specific Kelvin rating for your colour temperature, its no problem. Thats why InStyle LED supply LED transformers that do not demand a minimum load to work at, so this factor may not affect the life expectancy by very much (or at all). A parallel circuit is a little harder to wrap your head around at first, but it makes connecting multiple lights to one battery much easier. Both of these ways will help you light your space without worrying about. Because theyre built to last, our products are as close to fit-and-forget as they can be. Brightness & Illumination how powerful should my LED strips be? Choosing LED Strips how to find the right LEDs for your project. Our LED drivers/transformers come in many shapes and sizes, all available in a choice of 12V or 24V models. we have seen and solved almost every LED issue and scenario. Harrowing isnt it? By varying its output voltage across an electronic circuit, a constant-current transformer will supply a constant electric current. If youre using different types of LED ribbon lights then calculate the wattage requirement for each of them and add it all. You can expect all LED driversof the same model to have roughly similar working lifespans when running in identical conditions, as they all use components of the same quality. Avoid Meanwell imitations if an LED driver looks identical to a Meanwell power supplybut does not have the Meanwell brand logo, then it is a poor-quality Chinese copy transformer. And they allow you to be as creative as you want with your lighting projects. Each light strip has its own wire thats tied to the positive end of the battery and can attach to the negative end of any number of strips. When youre choosing your LED transformer, keep these tips in mind: The short answer is, yourLED power supply should work for years. There are two ways to connect LED tapes with each other: The easiest way to connect two LED strips together is to use a LED light strip connecting clip. In practice, theres no difference at all. So, calculate the overall wattage required to power your flexible LED light strips again. Connectors For LED Tape using solderless clips to join striplights, Controllers For LEDs control options for RGB/RGBW strip lights. These are top-class power supply units: the Meanwell brandhas been a leader in the LED strip driver market for years. Energy Efficiency how economical is LED strip lighting? These light strips include a pre-attached jack that connects to the appropriate driver. For further assistance, comment in the section below to know. This same calculation also works for other LED products, not just LED tape. This is a good option for using LED ribbon lights in homes, smaller spaces, and for task or accent lighting. For example, if you want to see our RGBW LEDs in action before you commit, well send 5m of RGBW LED tape, a controller and a power supply. So the best measure of an LED drivers life is in hours. InStyle LED are manufacturers, so we can make / match any LED spec you require. Dont just research LED transformers research the supplier too. Feature Lighting how to create accent lights & highlights with LEDs. In other words, the three LEDs are linked in series, while the three LED groups are interconnected in parallel. These wire connectors have clips on both ends so you can use them to connect two LED light strips with each other. You simply have to install one end of your strip to the hippo buckle connector to connect two strips together. If you just need to cover a short distance, solderless connections may be beneficial, or you can span a longer distance with copper wires cut to the exact length you want. You can find the power draw information for each LED strip on its packaging or on the manufacturers website. You can connect multiple strips together to light larger spaces and unusual nooks and crannies. and well design bespoke LED light tapes that are just the right length for your project.