Step-By-Step Guide To Purchasing And Setting Up LED Lights

November 3, 2022 Post Vines Vines

LED strip lights may provide a bright source of illumination for surfaces such as a desk or countertop, as well as an outstanding and colorful source of illumination for spaces such as a recreational room, boat, or camper. You may purchase LED strips that are already pre-cut and ready to attach from an electronics retailer; however, these strips are rather expensive and cannot be linked together. Buying the components independently offers you the freedom to arrange them in whatever configuration you choose. The most difficult aspect is determining which components are required for the project.

If you choose not to go with time-saving ease of an all-inclusive LED light kit, there are certain items to buy and some things to think about in terms of how you want the lights to appear. These are the products and the things to think about:

What Equipment Is Required For The Installation Of LED Lights?

The lights are powered by a transformer that converts the 120 volts that come from an outlet to 12 volts so that the transformer may be plugged into the source of electricity.
Controller: This component gives you the ability to adjust the hue as well as the intensity of the lighting using either a remote or an app on your smartphone. Set screws are typically used to secure connections established between individual wires. You may switch out the controller for a simple on/off switch if all you want to do is regulate when the lights are on or off.
5 wire 22 ga low voltage cable: This cable can have two, four, five, or six color-coded 22ga wires, depending on the layout of the LED strips. ItS available in a variety of colors.
Solderless wire clamps: These clamps work by piercing the wire to form the connection and then holding it in place. It is essential to get a clamp that is capable of accommodating the number of wires that are necessary for your LED strip.
The 16-foot RGBW LED strip light strip is available in wide variety of color and size options, some of which are waterproof and have a range of brightness levels. Along the contacts, the strips may be trimmed to the desired length, and several strips of varying lengths can be joined together. They come with an adhesive backing, which makes it very easy to stick the lights where you want them.
Aluminum Channel: A streamlined appearance may be achieved with exposed light strips by using an aluminum channel with a frosted cover.

What You Need To Take Into Account Before Purchasing LED Strips?

It is possible to configure LED light strips in a wide range of ways, giving you a choice of output voltage, whether or not they are waterproof, whether they are RGB, RGBW, or RGB+CCT, and providing each of these options in several different color temperatures. What does it all imply, and how do you go about making your decision?

12V or 24V? Adjust the voltage of the LED strip so that it is compatible with the voltage of the power supply (battery or transformer).
Does it protect against the elements, or not? You should invest in a strip that is water and weather-resistant if the lights are going to be put in an area that is likely to be exposed to rain or snow.
Color code:

RGB (just colors) (only colors).
RGBW (colors and white) (colors and white).
RGB together with CCT (colors and white, with the ability to change from cool to warm white temperature).
How many cables are there altogether?

RGB lights have to be connected using four different cables.
It takes five wires to do RGBW, so plan accordingly.
The RGB+CCT signal requires a total of six wires.
Controller or no controller? You will want a controller to make any adjustments to the lighting. Make sure to choose one that has the same number of wires as your lights require before you buy it.

Step-By-Step Instructions On How To Install LED Strip Lights

Step 1: Adjust The Length Of The LED Strip According To Your Needs

Determine the required length of the strip, and then cut it through the copper connections after you have it measured. It is essential to make this cut on the line exactly where it is located to preserve the connection.

Step 2: Attach The Cable To The Receiving Device

Utilize a solderless clamp to make the connection between the wires and the strip. After you have inserted the strip into the clamp’s shorter end, you will need to locate the letter that corresponds to the color of the wire on the LED strip that is attached to the longer end of the clamp. It’s possible that they are not in the same sequence as you expected, in which case you may need to perform some rearranging. Simply squeeze the clamp until it is tight; there is no need to remove the wires.

Step 3: Connect The Controller To The Console

Using the controller, you have the power to alter the color of the lights as well as the intensity of the brightness. A controller is required to operate color-changing lights, so make sure you have the one before you begin. Remove the insulation from the colored wires, and then connect each wire to the port on the controller that corresponds to that color. Turn the screw clockwise to fasten the pieces together in place.

Step 4: Mounting The Lights

Remove the backing from the glue, and then adhere to the lights wherever additional illumination is required. Utilize an aluminum channel in the installation of the lights will not be concealed. This combo has a much more polished appearance thanks to the frosted lens that comes included with the channel, which is designed to work with LED strips of varying sizes.

Step 5: Turn On All Of The Lights

If you are installing led lights into a system that operates on 12 volts, such as a boat, trailer, or automobile, you will need to connect the positive and negative leads of the 12 volts to the controller. If you want to install them in your house, you must first connect a transformer to the controller, and then connect the transformer to an outlet.