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Would 24V have lower electric shock risk/severity than 12V?

I'm trying to decide whether I'd be better off choosing 12VDC or 24VDC product. In the article Pros and cons of a 12V LED System, it's mentioned that 12V LED systems have a lower electric shock risk. This seems to be stated about 120V AC mains current; but do 12V systems also have lower shock risk than 24V? I've often heard that it's not the voltage that kills its current. In the article Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V, it's pointed out that a 24V LED system will draw half the amount of current as a 12V LED system to achieve the same power level. Then would 24V have lower shock risk/severity than 12V? Or is my thinking flawed? 

Generally, we believe that "shock risk" increases as the voltage increases. At a very basic level, this suggests that 12 volt LED systems would have the lowest possibility of causing an electric shock, while 24 volt would be slightly higher but still relatively low, and 120 volt line voltage would be much higher in terms of the possibility of causing an electric shock.

​Shock risk, however, is not the same as the potential to cause bodily harm or injury. The zap from static electricity that you feel on a dry winter day, for example, has a very high voltage of tens of thousands of volts, but does not cause any harm due to the inherently low amount of energy (as you mention, it lacks the "current which kills").

The primary reason lower voltage systems have a lower shock risk, is simply due to the fact that low voltage systems generally lack the voltage potential to overcome the high electrical resistance in our human skin. Therefore, a 12 volt system, even one with a higher amperage rating, is seen as generally lower risk because the 12 volts is usually insufficient to penetrate skin and other objects.

Low voltage systems do have a lower risk, but that is not to say they are risk-free. Please use caution and consult with an electrician when installing any LED systems you are not familiar with.

In any scenario, I want to have zero probability of any conducting wires making contact with the bodies, tubes, etc. through which I route them. The DC barrel jack plug adapter (PN 7094) on your site looks like it could be useful to me. If I'm assembling this adapter onto 18-gauge wire myself, would it be recommended to apply shrink wrap around the screw-clamp wire connection area afterward? Do you have some good suggestions for space-saving ways to permanently join wires as I assemble the power supply circuit to my led rope light? 

We understand the concern, and it does sound like you have the right idea in terms of insulation and protection from short circuits. I do agree that heat shrink tubing would be a good way to protect the exposed wires.

​Our recommendation here would be twofold:

​1) If possible, solder all wire connections directly. This will reduce the footprint of the connections, and make it far easier to apply heat shrink. Furthermore, connections will likely be more robust, as opposed to connectors which (although unlikely) may allow the bare wire to unexpectedly fall out.

​2) Place all exposed wires and connection locations away from any electrically conductive surfaces. If your wire run must pass through or along any electrically conductive material, ensure that the wire has sufficient insulation, and avoid or resolve any sharp edges which may snag or cut the wire insulation.

​

Do I need a Junction Box in the Power Supply for LED Undercabinet Lighting?

Just want to make sure I get the power supply correct, when do I need the junction box vs not? Pairing it with the 16m 3000K LEDs, figure I need some of the small tool-less connectors as well, since they're in multiple sections, will be separating and reconnecting them. Assume I can pair all of this with an ELV/MLV Caseta dimmer for 120 bucks. Does that all sound correct? 

The junction box for the dimmable power supply is generally recommended for in-wall installations to protect the unit from inadvertent exposure and contact with debris and other in-wall wiring. We would recommend consulting with your local NEC inspector to determine what regulations, if any, exist in your area.

​The TRIAC dimmable power supply is compatible with forward-phase, ELV/reverse-phase and MLV dimmers. Most of the tested dimmers are forward-phase dimmers and the list of tested dimmers can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We do offer several solderless connectors such as PN 3070 and PN 3071 which you may find useful in connecting separate LED strip runs together. Please see below for a configuration diagram showing how these components can be used:

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

LED Strip Lighting Accessories and Installation Layout

My wife and I plan to build a new home. The house includes a cathedral ceiling area 32 feet wide and 20 feet deep. We plan to illuminate the gambrel arch cathedral ceiling using Centric Home 24V DC 3000K LED Strips. Since the 20 feet is longer than the 16 feet of your strips, we plan to use two each 10 feet strips with separate power supplies for each strip and two dimmers, one for each side of the room. We want to use corner aluminum channels so the light is aimed at 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal. May I please speak with someone about the list of components I should make sure to have on my order? 

As you mention correctly, the 20 foot span is unfortunately too long for a single power supply, so I agree that the approach to "split" this into two sections of 10 feet, each with its own power supply, would be the best approach.

​Furthermore, the "corner" aluminum channels should provide you with exactly the type of 45 degree light angle and should work very well for you.

​Below are the list of items needed for this installation:

​2x PN 3004.30

2x PN 3094.096

2x PN 3061

​You may also find our configuration diagram helpful in thinking about the layout and wiring:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

​We do also agree that the LED strip lights would be the optimal choice here. While traditional lamp form factors such as spots and floods are convenient and familiar, for a new home installation, the LED strip approach will provide for the "latest and greatest" in terms of efficiency and versatility.

From the side of the room where I would mount the LED strips to the apex of the ceiling is a straight line distance of 22.4 feet. Now, we would mount LED strips on both sides of the room, so there would be two strips- one on each side of the room- aiming at the apex of the ceiling. Still, given the 22.4 feet distance, will there be enough light reaching the apex to illuminate it? I do not need a "bright" illumination, but I want to avoid any dark areas on the ceiling. How do I determine what the ceiling illumination will look like?

We unfortunately do not have a good answer for you here, as the light spread would depend on the exact layout and would require complex computer simulations to provide any accurate recommendations.

​The 22.4 ft distance is quite far, and while I do not believe it will be completely dark, it may appear dark when compared to the ceiling areas closer to the LED strips.

If you have the ability to locate the LED strips closer to the center (such that they are situated closer to the point beneath the ceiling apex) that may mitigate some of the concerns you have.

It might also be helpful to know that the LED strip lights emit light at a 120 degree angle, with the most intensity at the center of that beam. This may give you an additional data point in determining to what extent the light spread would be affected by the angle of the pitched ceiling.

Choosing Compatible Flicker-free LED Dimmer

I was reviewing your 24V LED strip lights and I’d like to know if they meet the other criteria on the attached list (text file attached, and also printed below). 

If so, I’d like some assistance choosing a compatible dimmer that will provide flicker-free dimming on the low end down to 0.1 percent. 

Our CENTRC HOME LED strip lights do meet the color requirements provided - i.e. 95 CRI, 2700K, in-stock. Please see below for the product link:

​The product can be dimmed when paired with our dimmable power supply. Please see below for the product link:

​We also maintain a compatible dimmer list, which shows the dimming range (e.g. 0-100%), which can be found below. This should be a good way to confirm the requirement for dimming down to 0.1%.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

Installation Configuration for Kitchen Lighting

We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and need advice. On our current configuration, we have a 3 ft cabinet, then an opening for the microwave, and then a 2 ft cabinet corner followed by a sink and a 2 ft cabinet. I would like a direct wire, dimmable led configuration. We want a continuous bright setup along the countertop and backsplash. With the spaces with the microwave and sink what would be a good choice for us?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product for your kitchen installation.

If you would like to install this product utilizing the wall wiring, we would recommend a matching voltage TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip product. When installed within a junction box or wall cavity, this product can be paired with wall switches and dimmers for light control. For mounting the LED strip light product, you might also be interested in our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product.

Using the measurements provided, it appears that your installation would require about seven feet of LED strip light product. As such, one 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of the CENTRIC HOME™ product should provide more than enough lighting for your installation.

However, please note that our LED strip light products are not designed to come into contact with water. If your installation runs across the sink backsplash, your installation might encounter enough moisture to cause product failure or create a safety hazard. That being said, many customers have connected similar lighting segments using hidden 16 AWG wiring behind the drywall, safely away from potential hazards.

We have included some links to our layout diagrams below, which we hope prove to be useful for your planning purposes. This link provides a configuration description and includes links to each of the connector accessories. As you can see, the individual segments can be pretty easily connected to a single power supply.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1 

Are the 24V TRIAC power supply compatible with Lutron Caseta LED dimmers?

I am interested in purchasing LED strip lights to use with the Lutron Caseta LED dimmers in residential kitchens and baths. Are the 24V TRIAC power supply and Centric Home LED strip the best option for this? Or 12V? Or something else? 

Based on our familiarity with the Lutron Caseta system, we are happy to confirm that 12V or 24V installations should be compatible.

As such, it does not appear that the Lutron Caseta system has any limitations regarding one option being preferred over the other. That being said, there might be some voltage considerations depending on the class or circuits used within your home. To that end, we might recommend reaching out to a local electrician for information on the electrical systems utilized within the residence.

Generally speaking, we strongly recommend selecting the compatible voltage for the lights and power supplies within installations. In case they prove to be helpful for your planning purposes, we have attached two blog post links from our website below, which discuss the options in detail.

Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/advantages-of-a-24v-led-system-vs-12v

Pros and cons of a 12V LED system https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/12v-led-system

We are happy to confirm that the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential could be a great option for your kitchen lighting. We generally recommend 2700K for living rooms and bedrooms, or 3000K for kitchens and dining areas. 

I am going to place an order for the Centric Home LED and TRIAD power supplies along with some aluminum track and have a couple more questions. What is your expected shipping time for these products and accessories? Would you be able to provide any promo or coupon code for trying this product out?

Based on my review, it appears that both items are available to be shipped without delay. Further, we unfortunately do not have any special promotional pricing available at the moment, and we do apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

Regarding accessories, you might find value in the below links from our website. These pages contains illustrated, interactive guides that describe the common product layouts and link to the accessories that we recommend for them.

LayoutMaps™ by Waveform Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2198&py=-2213.5&pw=1396&ph=1427&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1

12V vs 24V Power Supply

I am building some bookcases and am looking for a 16' roll of led lights and accessories. I am using a wall dimmer, but not sure of the difference between using the 12v dc power supply or the 24v power supply. Why the two offerings?

Generally speaking, there is not an extremely significant difference between 12V and 24V systems so long as the correct accessories are chosen. For example, we would discourage the use of a 24V Power Supply when using a 12V LED Strip Light product.

For more information regarding the differences and disadvantages of each type of system, you might find value in the below articles from our website:

Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/advantages-of-a-24v-led-system-vs-12v

Pros and cons of a 12V LED system: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/12v-led-system

Fixed Single Color LED Strip Light

We need to find a LED strip of a specific color to integrate into one of our products. I think it needs to be RGB since our color is not one of the basic colors, but we'd like a controller that allows for the configuration of a single color so that the strip lights up with this color whenever there is power on it. Any ideas?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product with the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. The FilmGrade DMX product can provide a granular level of light output control for the FiveSpect LED strip lights product, and can also be paired with a third-party DMX controller.

For more information regarding the setup and configuration of this product, the below links might prove to be useful.

Product Instruction Guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_3082.pdf

FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights LED Spectrum Simulator: https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-spectrum-simulator

Recommended LED Products for Under Cabinet Lighting

I plan to install under-cabinet lighting in our kitchen and need assistance selecting the proper products - 4 sections need lighting. The first section is 50 inches. It is separated from section 2 by a sink and window. The second section is 50 inches and connects at the right angle to a smaller 30-inch section. The fourth section is separated from the third section by a range hood. I assume I need one standard reel of 2700K LED strip lighting. How many power supplies/DC converters do I need? Do I need just one coupler? 

Based on the details provided, it appears that a total length of 130 inches of LED strip lights is required. As such, we believe that one 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of the 2700K 12V LED strip lights product should be sufficient for your installation. 

​If the length of the fourth segment is known, we would be happy to check to ensure that the single reel contains a sufficient length for the four combined segments.

Further, we believe that your installation would only require a single DC Power Supply if it utilizes four segments of strip lights, connected by lengths of wiring.

Though many of our customers prefer to utilize the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products for discretely mounting their lighting products, the 3.3 ft length of the item may not provide convenient housing for the 50 and 30-inch lengths of lighting which you mentioned. As such, we might recommend a third-party mount that could be trimmed to more precise lengths.

If you would like to utilize wall-wiring with this installation, you might find interest in our 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products. This product has the benefit of being compatible with wall dimmers. Alternatively, our plug-in 12V DC Power Supply product is an easy solution for most installations.

If it proves to be useful, I have attached a layout map below which illustrates the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply installation method. This link also includes information regarding the various connectors recommended for the installation.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2239.5&py=-2209&pw=1479&ph=1418&s=0.1

I neglected to mention that the 4th section is 24 inches. I still don’t understand how the single power supply unit and its connections will be inconspicuous. I would like the lighting to be wired in, but not being an electrician, I don’t know where or how the power source would be mounted. Sections 1 and 2 are separated by a sink with a window. Sections 3 and 4 are separated by a range hood. I don’t understand how the long wire connections you propose can be installed without being visible. 

Based on the length provided, we believe that the single 16.4 ft reel would still provide ample product for the four segment installations.

Generally speaking, these TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products are installed within the wall (such as installed behind the drywall in a junction box or cavity) and are directly connected to the housing wiring to power the lighting products.

If the sections are divided by range hoods and other barriers which might make a continuous connection difficult to inconspicuously install, we would then recommend utilizing a dedicated power supply for each section. For your installation, this might look like ordering four power supplies which would be installed to independently power the sections of strip lights. ​

LED Lights in Overhead Soffit to Reflect Off the Ceiling

I generally sit in that recliner at the far end to read. Want to put sufficient light in the overhead soffit to reflect off the ceiling and illuminate the read. The table lamp shown is decorative the task light, barely visible by the chair, is what I use now. Has an LED bulb in it. Glares for the wife seated on the couch. It works well if I bring it down close to the read (magazine or newspaper) bulb is white.

It sounds like we have a few lighting fixtures in your space. To start, are you able to confirm what type of lamps or bulbs your fixtures can accommodate?

​For example, the soffit looks like it may accommodate fluorescent fixtures, but it's a bit difficult to tell from the photo.

​Similarly, are the table lamp and task light standard fixtures that use medium-screw Edison bases (E26)? (E26 is the most commonly seen, traditional screw-in lamp type with a base that is approximately 1 inch in diameter).

Once you can let us know what types of lamps may be compatible with your existing fixtures, we'll have a better idea of what options we have available for you. 

​Additionally, can you let us know what challenges you're facing with your existing lighting - is it the color, clarity, brightness, or a combination of these factors?

​The soffit has a string of incandescent mini lights, circa 1992. We do not use the table lamp but it and the task light use standard e26 screw-in bulbs, the problem is insufficient illumination. The task light if I bring it close to the reading material will work but is ungainly and if it is set higher is not quite enough light but glares at anyone sitting on the couch. I had thought that linear LEDs in both soffits above the chair reflecting off the ceiling might work but leave that to your expertise. Using dimmers they could also provide illumination for the room. The soffit runs on three sides of the room.

We are in full agreement that improving the brightness from your soffit lighting fixture would be the best approach here to simultaneously increase brightness without causing additional glare issues.

​Unfortunately, despite their ubiquity, standard light bulbs induce significant amounts of glare due to their high brightness levels from a relatively small size.

Our first thought here would be to recommend our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights in 3000K. These LED strip lights emit approximately 450 lumens per foot, which is approximately equal in brightness to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. 

It's a bit difficult to determine from your photo, but my best guess would be that your soffit is approximately 10 feet long. If you were to install the LED strip lights across the entire soffit, this would provide you with approximately 4500 lumens, or 400 watts worth of incandescent bulb brightness.

The LED strip lights could of course extend and span multiple soffits across the three sides of the room as you suggest.

The LED strip lights do require some in-wall wiring and assembly work, but I do believe that this would be an excellent option for you. Below is an example wiring diagram that shows how the LED strips can be wired to a wall dimmer:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Sometimes sitting on the end of the couch to utilize the halogen Torch which almost does the job but could be better. The new light needs to be dimmable, and maybe the color change? 

Each one of the curtains is approx 6 ft across giving us approx 12 ft of the strip light. Approx 5500 lumens per your calculations. You mentioned 3000 Kelvin. Is that overly yellow for reading? Are your strip lights disabled and what dimmer do you suggest for the best performance? 

Is there an approved dimmer for 3-circuit control? I note that LeGrand makes a couple although I am partial to Lutron. 

I personally do not believe that 3000K is "too yellow" although that would certainly be within the realm of personal preference. Do you know what the color temperature of the lamps in your current space is, and what your thoughts on those might be? (Incandescent bulbs are typically 2700K and lower).

To cover the distances you quoted, you will likely need three sets of 16.4 ft LED strip reels, each with its own dimmable power supply. The cost estimate is as follows:

CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential: $99 ea

TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip: $139 ea

​We do not have any three-circuit control suggestions, but we do have a list of tested dimmers which are available here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

The reading lamp has a 790-lumen GE REVEAL built therein. It is I think overly bright white. If I bring it clues to the reading material it works but is glary with poor contrast and if further away not bright enough but not heavy. The soffit has a string of very old very small incandescent. I think we might try one set in the two soffits over the Chair to see how this indirect lighting works. 

We believe the GE Reveal lamps use a modified 3000K spectrum. If you find the incandescent lights in the soffit to be acceptable from a color perspective (i.e. not too yellow), then 2700K could also be a good option for you.

Below is an article that might help choose between the two options:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/choosing-between-2700k-and-3000k

Layout Design for Tape Light Installation

If I provide you with a sketch of my planned tape light installation, can you provide information regarding the appropriate transformer and all other parts? 

​In the meantime, I've linked to our layout maps page which shows several sample installation configurations and may be a helpful starting point for you:

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps

Attached is a draft of my layout. I plan on hard-wiring the power supply to a wall dimmer switch. I'm sure you will have questions. If you do let me know.

​Your layout looks great, and I do not see any issues apart from a potential power capacity limitation.

​From your drawing, I see five sections of 46 inches each. If I've done the math correctly, this works out to approximately 19.2 ft in total.

​Each foot of our LED strip light draws approximately 5.5 watts. This equates to a power capacity requirement of approximately 106 watts.

The drawing does not indicate the voltage (12 or 24 volts), but this will likely determine what is permissible here. While the 12-volt version of our TRIAC dimmable power supply will be able to support up to 120 watts per connection, our 24-volt version is limited to 96 watts. As such, the 12-volt version would be the only way to connect the entire circuit to a single power supply.

The only downside to the 12-volt version is greater susceptibility to voltage drop and the fact that the circuit would not comply with NEC Class 2 power limitations, making electrical code compliance potentially a bit more challenging (if that is a concern).

Based on the LED length per segment being less than 4 feet and the feeds being relatively short (max 72 inches) I do not foresee any voltage drop issues even with the 12-volt version.

Finally, we do not have any in-house products/adapters to join all five segments near the power supply, so you may need to create your wire junction or utilize third-party products for this connection point.

Please elaborate on what you meant by the fact that the circuit would not meet NEC Class 2 power limitations making the electric code compliance potentially a bit more challenging.

Would this cause a problem with house inspections, hard wire connections to a wall dimmer, etc?

If so, how could the design be changed?

When it comes to building inspections (typically subject to NEC standards), our LED strip lights themselves are rated for use in Class 2 circuits only. As such, the use of our LED strips on a Class 1 circuit would technically be a violation of the NEC rules and regulations. We would therefore recommend staying with a Class 2 installation.

At a basic level, our 24-volt TRIAC dimmable power supply (96-watt capacity) is a Class 2 power supply that can power up to 16.4 ft of LED strip lights. As such, as per my calculations, you would be able to connect up to four segments of 46" each, as that would total 15.3 ft, which would be below the 16.4 ft limit.

Are the FilmGrade White LED Strip Lights dimmable?

I just ordered film grade white led strip lights 5600K and 3200K. My question is are these dimmable? 

Yes, our FilmGrade LED strip lights are indeed dimmable when connected to a dimmer. Please see below for an example layout:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

Here is a direct link to the dimmer product:

What I was looking for was a Hybrid version that had both 3200K and 5600K LEDs on the same strip. Do you have anything along those lines?

The closest option we currently have would be our hybrid LED strip at 3200K/6500K - please see below and let me know if this will work for your needs.

The controller setup will be a bit difficult without a dedicated DMX control system, however, so if you do not have that we would perhaps recommend staying with the two separate LED strip reels controlled individually.

LED Dimmer and Installation Questions

I am installing the CENTRIC HOME™ 3000K / 12V DC with a TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. Can you suggest the best dimmer to use? In terms of this installation, I plan to reuse the existing wiring from my old under-cabinet fixtures. I think that I may need to attach leads to the old wiring so that the wire is stepped down to a size small enough to solder on the LED strips - any advice/tips/tricks for a neat(er) install? This install will have 7 discrete lamp sections ranging from 8" to 32" in length - altogether it's under 12' - all lamps will be housed inside the channel that I purchased from you too. Is the power supply I selected capable of driving this load? Lastly, the track comes with 5 end cap pairs - can you provide an additional 5 pairs so that I have a few extra for the installation? 

First of all, with respect to dimmer compatibility, our TRIAC dimmable power supplies are designed to work with virtually all phase dimmers so you should not have any significant issues with compatibility.

That being said, below is a list of the dimmers we have tested and their dimming range results:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We do see that the Lutron DVCL series is a popular choice among our customers and we have not received any reports of flickering or other compatibility issues.

Second, for soldering, I do not believe there should be any significant challenges regardless of the incoming wire type or size. Since the solder pads are quite large, they should take solder quite readily without any issues.

One recommendation, however, would be to consider using our PN 3070 solderless connectors. The two wire ends can be joined together using standard twist-on wire connectors (aka "wire nuts")

As long as the total connection length is at 16.4 feet or less (you mentioned 12 feet), you will be fine with the single power supply unit.

We, unfortunately, do not have any additional mounting hardware on hand for the aluminum channels, but I'll be more than happy to see if we have any extras available to send to you!

I’d prefer solderless connectors but I think I read in your literature that they don’t fit inside the tracks. can you clarify this - or perhaps send a photo of an install so I can plan for it?

You are correct that the solderless connectors are too wide for the aluminum channels, unfortunately. I'm sorry for the oversight here as I had not realized that the LEDs would be installed in the aluminum channels (I should have reviewed your order in greater detail!)

​The "workaround" would be to have the LED strip protrude from the end of the aluminum channel by about half an inch, thereby allowing the connector part of the solderless connector to connect outside of the aluminum channel. I would imagine that this would not be ideal from an aesthetics perspective in most cases, but at a practical level, this would technically work.

Otherwise, the alternative solution would be soldering the wires directly onto the copper pads, as was originally proposed.

Is it best to be using the 95 CRI products for Art Lighting?

We are wrapping up a project with an art wall for a special piece of art and need to light it with even light intensity and would like to learn more about your products. 

To light art, it is best to be using your 95 CRI products right?

Yes, the higher the CRI, the better the appearance of the colors in your artwork.

What is the difference between a Centric Home 3000K strip (3003.27) vs. a film grade 3200K tungsten strip (3001.32)?

The primary difference between the CENTRIC HOME and FilmGrade LED strip lights is the color temperature. The former is offered in 3000K, compared to the latter, which is offered in 3200K. The CENTRIC HOME at 3000K will be a closer match to halogen lighting used in art galleries, whereas the FilmGrade at 3200K is closer to tungsten lighting used in TV and movie sets.

It would seem all the strips have a max light intensity of 450 lumens per foot, are there higher lumen strips in the 3000K - 3200K color temp range?

Unfortunately we do not have any brighter LED strips. If more light is needed, we would recommend "doubling up" the number of rows.

How much lumen can be expected to be lost if used behind the lens of the corner aluminum channel?

We generally observe light loss of 10-15% when the diffuser cover is applied over the LED strip light.

Safe to assume all the strips are dimmable?

Yes, all LED strip lights are dimmable as long as they are connected to a dimmable power supply unit. (See below)

For about 13.5’ of stip lighting, what’s the best power supply to get and do you guys offer a hard wire remote transformer product to power the lights?

Please see below for the product link for our dimmable power supply which can be hard-wired to a dimmer circuit. One popular solution for controlling this power supply is using the Lutron Caseta dimmer system.

Below is some additional guidance on using the Lutron Caseta system with our LED strip lights:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/dimming-led-strip-lights-and-led-bulbs-using-smart-lighting-systems

For dimming of the light strip, what’s the best wall mount switch type dimmer to get that won’t cause flicker?

As long as you use our dimmable power supplies, you will be able to achieve flicker-free output regardless of the wall dimmer model or manufacturer.

​

LED Strip Lights for Photographing Artworks

I'm looking to create a lighting setup for digitally photographing artworks (mainly paintings) and then printing the files. 

I intended to make 4 panels around 40x50cm from 2-3 5m led rolls cut to lengths and attached to a backboard. I would like to be able to dim these panels also.

​This sounds like a great approach and excellent use case for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. The LED strip lights include double-sided adhesive and should allow for quick installation onto the backboard.

​For dimming, we recommend our FilmGrade flicker-free LED dimmer, which can be installed in between the LED strip lights and the power supply. Please see below for the product link:

​I am looking at the 99% absolute series and would like advice on how much light I may need (how close to space led strips on the panels?) and which driver I may need for say 7.5-meter strip cut to lengths.

​The amount of light needed would depend on the brightness needed for your photography (perhaps determined by your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings) as well as the distance away from the artwork. As a general ballpark estimate, each meter emits approximately 1250 lumens, which is equivalent to a 75-100 watt incandescent bulb.

​The maximum run length for the product is 5.0 meters. If connecting 7.5 meters per panel, you will need two separate power supplies (and perhaps, unfortunately, you will also require two separate dimmers for the separate circuits). The link to the power supply is shown below:

​Our general recommendation for spacing is to space the LED strip lights no farther apart than the distance from the illumination surface. In other words, if the panel is to be placed 20 cm from the illumination surface, the LED strips should not be spaced farther than 20 cm apart.

​Also, would the absolute series be good to record digital colors from paintings? I may install a linear polarizing sheet across the front of the panels also. They will likely be set at 45 degrees to paint.

​Yes, the ABSOLUTE SERIES is a great option for digital image capture! The 99 CRI rating is the highest that is currently available in the industry and informs us that the color accuracy as captured by your camera would be nearly perfect.

​The polarizing sheet, as well as perhaps a diffuser sheet, can help ensure even and smooth light distribution across the paintings.

​I notice a beam angle referenced in preassembled lighting panels - can you briefly explain this? and is it possible to recreate it with the strip LEDs?

The beam angle refers to the angle at which the light is dispersed. Our LED strip lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees, which you can think of as being a very wide conical light dispersion angle.

An led strip shows a lumen output of 6250. What would be a comparison in Lux at 1m or 3m? I suspect I am a little underpowered at 6250 lumens / 416 watts approx.

​A single row of LED strip lights will provide approximately 300 lux at 1 meter, and 25 lux at 3 meters. If using multiple rows, however, you would be able to add these lux values up in a linear fashion to determine the illuminance on that particular surface.

​You mentioned a space of 20cm between strips at a 20cm distance. I had guessed placing led strips at around an 8cm gap (mainly for estimated panel size using a 1x 5m reel, but I think I may need the strips much closer. 

Closer together than the 20 cm distance I had somewhat arbitrarily suggested is not an issue at all.

​I think I may need 4 panels of 5m strips cut to lengths (with a driver and dimmer for each panel) although this becomes pricy. Would you concur that with your products a 5m strip is the maximum for the drivers and dimmer?

Unfortunately, the maximum run length would indeed be 5 meters due to the power supply capacity as well as the limitations of the LED strip circuitry.

I generally understand CRI and the wavelengths of color and your absolute series seems to be as good as a "roto light" or "Gemini lite panel" and possibly as good as it gets. I see another figure being used for color perception and described as TICI. Do you have a rating for the Absolute series and what is TICI? (can't find it on google)

TLCI is the Television Lighting Consistency Index, frequently used in TV and broadcast environments in Europe. Similar to CRI, the TLCI determines color accuracy in the context of cameras and photography. Our ABSOLUTE SERIES has been tested to 99 TLCI (please see attached).

Are your LEDs flicker-free? I presume 4x 5m reels could all be exactly the same intensity and color? And the best color accuracy would be from a fixed-temperature LED. I note the preassembled panels from others have control over temperature, intensity, and hue in some cases.

Our LEDs are flicker-free when used with a flicker-free power source. All reels are calibrated to the same brightness and color point and are not adjustable, unfortunately.

​Would you happen to know what the import charges would be?

Unfortunately, import charges are quite variable and it is difficult to provide estimates up front, as these can depend on the specific port of import as well as customs officer discretion.

​If you would like to inquire with local customs authorities in advance, you might want to check on the estimated costs for products with HTS code 8539.50.0090, which is what is typically used for LED strip lights.

Compatible Dimmer & Power Supply for 24V LED Strip Lights

I am putting an order together for two of your 5m 24v 4000k 95 CRI LED light strips and need your help choosing a MeanWell 24V 150W Power Supply to drive an 18.5-foot segment. I am considering the MeanWell ELG-150-24AB and Lutron Caseta Wireless ELV. Will this work with these strips? Is there a better 150W power supply?

We've reviewed the product literature for the Meanwell product model numbers supplied, and all of them appear to be compatible with an 18-ft installation of our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT 24-volt 4000K LED strip lights. The primary electrical requirements for this installation would be 24 volts DC constant voltage output and a power capacity of at least 120 watts (5.5 watts x 18 ft = 99 watts, 20% overhead added).

​All three of the Meanwell products you mentioned appear to have the ability to provide this output, so they should be compatible; for further differences and recommendations between those options, we would recommend reaching out to Meanwell to better determine the best fit.

We did notice that you're looking to use a Lutron Caseta dimmer, which uses a phase-cut dimming signal. From what we understand, Meanwell products are NOT compatible with phase-cut dimmers and therefore may present some compatibility issues, so we would recommend reviewing this as well.

Choosing between T8 LED Tube and LED Strips for an Existing Electrical Boxes

I'm trying to choose between tube and strip lights and I need info on how I can hook it into my existing ceiling outlet box. 

While each installation can differ, we generally recommend using our LED tube lights if there is an existing 4-ft fixture already in place. Our LED tube lights can be used without a ballast and therefore can be used without any additional electronic components.

LED strip lights, on the other hand, can provide you with some additional versatility and installation options. This approach, however, will require additional wiring and configuration, including power supply units and LED strip assembly.

I have six separate track lights on separate dimmer switches. The reasons they interest me are that they look to be very low profile and you have a 99 CRI strip light but only 95 CRI tube lights. Are there any other advantages or disadvantages I should be aware of for strips vs ubes? If I go with the strip light option, what do I need to do? How does it connect to the end feed and will the extra transformer fit inside the end feed? Will I need new dimmer switches? I currently use these(Lutron CTELV-303P-WH Skylark Contour 300W Electronic Low Voltage Single Pole / 3-Way).

Since you don't have a fluorescent fixture at all, the LED strip light option is definitely worth considering.

The challenge with installing an LED strip light in a location like this is that the existing track systems operate at a completely different voltage type and level. Typically, they are 120 volts or 12 volts AC, while the LED strip lights require 12 volts DC.

As such, the electrical wiring and systems inside the track lights will not be useful here and will need to be bypassed completely.

Below is a configuration diagram for a simple LED strip setup:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

You will see the TRIAC dimmable power supply, which is the key component here that you will want to determine where you can fit this in your current installation. It is a somewhat bulky device and you will want to ensure it is installed in a location compliant to local electrical code. (Most frequently, it is installed inside of a junction box mounted inside of the wall).

The TRIAC power supply appears to be 9 inches, so it won't fit in the current electrical box in the ceiling. Could I just purchase your junction box and attach it to the ceiling? Do you sell it in white? Alternatively, I could install the TRIAC in the attic near the switches, but then it would need to feed into the current wires that run to the ceiling position. I'm thinking that those standard wires must be different than the ones needed for the DC, is that right? If so, I guess the TRIAC has to go right next to the strip lights. 

We are not sure about the electrical code requirements and considerations of mounting the junction box on the ceiling, so that is something you will want to confirm before going down that path. The junction box is unfortunately not available in any other colors.

The concern with installing the TRIAC dimmable power supply far from the LED strip lights is that large distances between the power supply and LED strip lights can result in voltage drop, whereby the brightness of the LED strips become diminished by the reduction in voltage supply. Generally, we recommend keeping the LED strip sections within 32 feet of the power supply unit to reduce the impact of voltage drop.

My understanding is that your tube lights are not dimmable, is that correct? 

That is correct. We agree that the LED strips would be the best option for a dimmable + flicker-free lighting solution.

​Do you sell L pieces for the aluminum channel so I can turn corners with the flex strips?

Unfortunately we do not sell any "L" shaped corner pieces. The best way to accomplish this would be to solder wires directly between the LED strip segments that meet at the corner. The aluminum channels can also be cut at 45-degree angles to create a gapless 90-degree turn.

​Do I need the centric series power supply rather than the triac to get flicker free? 

​The most recent batch of TRIAC dimmable power supplies is also now rated flicker-free. Therefore, you will be able to use the TRIAC dimmable power supply and achieve flicker-free and dimmable light output.

​Do you sell a junction box that covers the centric? 

​We do not sell a junction box for the CENTRIC SERIES power supply. We would recommend going with the TRIAC dimmable power supply since it also provides flicker-free light output.

Can I connect two separate 8 foot strips to one power supply? 

Yes, they can be connected "in parallel" - please see the blog post below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/connecting-led-strips-in-series-vs-parallel

I'm just about ready to order the absolute strip. I'm still trying to decide on whether to go with 6500k or 5000k. What connector will I need for that? 

Both the 5000K and 6500K should be good options for you. Here is an article, in case you haven't had a chance to yet see it, that might help you make a more informed decision one way or another:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/art-painting/difference-between-5000k-and-6500k-bulbs

Once the LED strip is cut, it cannot be re-joined using the pre-mounted female DC cables. They can be re-joined using the PN 3071 accessory that you have correctly identified.

LED Strip Lighting Layout

I am only putting the best into this place, so that means quality lighting. I am in a 19 x 16' space with 10' high ceilings and am curious as to what layout would be best. I plan on installing both the 4000k LED strip lighting alongside the red LED strip lighting for nighttime sessions. I will likely have both on during the day to put some Red back into the spectrum. When I install them, what is the recommended spacing between the two? Or have them right next to each other? I want what looks best and most balanced. 

Based on the measurements provided, we calculate that the space would be sufficiently illuminated by 14,960 lumens. As such, we might recommend utilizing 34 feet of LED Strip Lights in your studio space, which is just about two 16.4 ft reels of the LED strip lighting products, which emit 450 lumens per foot.

It might also be helpful to know that our 12V and 24V LED strip light products have maximum run lengths that can be powered by a single power supply. The maximum length for 12V is 16.4 ft, whereas the 24V maximum length is 32.8 ft.

As such, depending on the product selected, you will require a dedicated power supply of the matching product voltage. Further, each dedicated length and power supply will require a dedicated dimmer unit, in the event that you would like to dim the connected lengths of strip light products.

​We have attached a link below, which illustrates a common LED strip light configuration that utilizes multiple connected segments.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2201.5&py=-2227.5&pw=1403&ph=1455&s=0.1

Regarding light configuration, you may find that the ideal distance between the red and 4000K white LED strip lights may come down to personal preference and layout. As such, there is unfortunately not a precise alignment recommendation that we could make.

That being said, it might be helpful to know that many customers choose to install these lights along the ceiling perimeter to wash the walls in light.

While these LED strip lights can be installed in multiple ways, we also sell the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product which can be used for mounting the lights within corners or flat surfaces.

RGB LED Strip Light Solutions for Residential Lighting

I am interested in your RGB strip lighting solutions for a new home I am building. If I understand correctly, your 24V ColorSpace RGB may be a good solution for me. However I am a bit confused about a few aspects: This light strip only does one color at a time, correct? And if I connect multiple light strips together, they will all show the same color at the same time, correct? Can the strip also produce white light? If so, at what Kelvin and CRI? How many lumens/feet does this strip produce in various colors? Besides the power supply, what accessories are required for this strip light? Is a DMX controller required to control the color settings? I could not find the associated accessories on your website. Can you please show them to me?

First off, our RGB LED strips are not individually addressable. This means that the entire strip will emit one color at a time.

​Secondly, the LED strip is capable of emitting white light, but the color rendering and color temperature value precision would be inferior to a standard white LED. We would perhaps recommend our 5-in-1 LED strip as an alternative:

​The 5-in-1 LED strip light emits approximately 180 lumens per color (warm white / daylight) and has a 95 CRI rating, in addition to full RGB control. The product can be used with a DMX controller or a third-party 5-channel controller such as the one linked below:

​https://www.amazon.com/GLEDOPTO-Controller-Compatible-SmartThings-Lightify/dp/B07R32CS17

Each 16.4 ft reel should be connected to an individual power supply. The power supply is linked below:

LED Strip Lighting for Floating Shelves

I want to use strip lighting on 4 individual shelves, 2x2ft, and 2x3ft. Two shelves are mounted on either side of the TV. I want to use the existing wall switch for on/off and feed power from the attic down as I’m on the slab. Ideally, I would like to have voltage conversion in the attic and feed 12v/24v wiring out a hidden hole behind each shelf to led strips. Can you provide suggestions and equipment list? 

Based on the details provided, it appears that your installation can be accomplished using one unit of the 16.4 ft reel of LED strip lighting product divided into the 2 and 3 ft segments, as well as one unit of the TRIAC dimmable power supply in order to connect the LED strip lights to the wall switch and wall wiring. 

​It might also be helpful to note that our LED strip light products are available in both 12V and 24V. As such, it will be important to select the appropriate power supply voltage option.

​You may also find value in the below wiring products, which can be utilized for connecting the power supply to the LED strip lights, as well as connecting the LED strip segments together. 

​16 AWG Wire for LED Strip Lights - 33 ft / 10 meters: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/16-awg-wire

LED Strip to Wire: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/led-strip-to-wire-solderless-connector-for-single-color-led-strip-10-pack-1

LED Strip to Strip: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/led-strip-to-connector-solderless-connector-for-single-color-led-strip-10-pack

I have also attached a link to a layout map below which illustrates the configuration closest to the description provided. ​

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2255.5&py=-2110.5&pw=1511&ph=1221&s=0.1

LED Strips and Accessories for Under Cabinet Lighting

For under cabinet lights, I believe I have everything needed. Please check this and make sure I have everything needed and recommend any additional items or different items that would be better. The kitchen lights would have two zones, each turned on and off individually. Off of one power supply and one dimmer, there would be two parallel light loops each with its own on/off switch. 

PN 3003.27 (16 ft), PN 3092 , PN 3081 , PN 7094 , PN 3060 

We've reviewed the proposed purchase list and confirmed that the items are sufficient for your installation. During checkout, please be sure to select the correct 24-volt LED strip light option (PN 3004.27) to pair with the 24-volt power supply (PN 3092).

​In terms of the required components and parts, it appears that our installation diagram shown in the link below would be the closest representation of the proposed installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2D?px=-2154&py=-2089&pw=1308&ph=1178&s=0.1

​The main difference, of course, is the single LED strip run as opposed to the two separate runs you have in your proposal.

​With respect to the two parallel runs that are to be switched separately:

I plan on using a 110V AC wall switch as with a shallow box it tucks up underneath the cabinet, is hardly visible, and works very well. I don't see any switches like this on your website so if this switch won't work could you suggest a switch (with a mount if necessary) that will fit under the cabinet?

Would the power supply be harmed if the output is an open circuit?

As for the power supply, FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip 3092, can it mount in the cabinet above the microwave?

Can extra end caps and mounting brackets be purchased?

From an electricity perspective, I do not see any concerns and agree with you that the switch should be able to handle 24 volts and 5 amps. If there are electrical code compliance concerns, however, I would be sure to double-check as I know there tend to be some strict requirements in terms of product fit, even if it may be deemed safe from an electrical and fire safety perspective.

We, unfortunately, do not sell and switch products, but I would perhaps recommend searching for a third-party supplier for a dedicated DC switch. I do recall seeing a few "DC inline style" switches that could be used, for example, this product here (please check for max current limitations).

Next, if we have understood your question about the open circuit correctly, there will be no issues in terms of power supply damage or reliability. The open circuit would be electrically equivalent to powering the power supply without plugging it in anywhere (as is common with laptop chargers, etc).

Generally speaking, the power supply does require open airflow for sufficient cooling. However, if running the LED strips at 48 watts, the heat generated will be limited and should not be a concern for the suggested installation.

Yes. We do sell extra mounting brackets and end caps as separate items. Please see the product page below:

Do you have different product variants that allow the LED strips to lower brightness? 

We are interested in purchasing an LED strip we previously bought an LED strip with 9W 24V and 3000K. But after fitting it inside the LED profile and fixing it inside a kitchen cabinet it's still too bright that we have to cover it with silicon inside. Kindly advise if you have something suitable for our needs.

​Unfortunately, we do not have any different product variants that would allow for lower brightness. We would recommend one of two options:

Are the FilmGrade LED Strips able to be cut into shorter sections?

Are the FilmGrade LED strips able to be cut into shorter sections? And if so, what accessories would I need to make each section work independently? Would each segment need its power source, or could I link them, if so, what would I need to purchase to achieve that? Lastly, is there a way I could synchronize or program multiple strips together? 

Our FilmGrade LED strip lights can indeed be cut into shorter sections, in 1 or 2-inch intervals (depending on whether you select the 12-volt or 24-volt option). They can be reconnected using our solderless connectors, or ordinary low-voltage wire and solder.

Below is a connectivity diagram showing how multiple sections can be joined together to a single power source:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E

If you do need the sections controlled independently (e.g. one section is off while the other is on), you will require separate power supplies for each section.

Dimmable Power Supply for the Centric Home LED Strips

We have a wall dimmer and will be using the 3000K Centric LED strips. I'm wondering about power supplies. Does it seem your Centric flicker-free ones don't have an option for a junction box being included? And your Triac dimmable ones don't seem to be flicker-free but do have a junction box? But you don't have a flicker-free with junction box?

First of all, you are correct that only the "TRIAC dimmable power supply" product includes a junction box option. Our most recent production batch of this product, however, incorporates flicker-free performance, and you will see the same level of flicker performance as the CENTRIC SERIES power supplies. As such, should you require both flicker-free performance and a corresponding junction box, the TRIAC dimmable power supply should be a perfect option for you.

​

LED Strip Lighting Power Sources

I am in the middle of a renovation of a high-end motor coach. I am looking to place colored LED strip lighting around baseboards, under cabinets, and around other key areas to act as accent/night lighting. The RV in question has a 12v house system for lighting. Can your product be wired directly into that 12v system without the necessity of your 120v/12v power sources? Will the house system properly power your product so that it has full design intensity and no flickering, etc?

Our 12 volt LED strip lights sound like a great fit for the RV installation! As you mention, as long as these LED strip lights are provided with a stable 12 volt DC input, they are compatible with automotive battery and power systems.

The one thing to look out for, however, is to ensure that the wiring used to feed the LED strips have sufficient thickness and electrical current carrying capacity, as excessive power draw on under-rated wires can lead to a potential safety hazard.

What kind of amperage draw am I looking for so I can determine if the existing wiring is sufficient or if I need to run a new circuit? 

The exact power draw will depend on the product, so if you can let me know which LED strip light you are interested in installing (link to all LED strip lights below), I'd be more than happy to locate that specification for you.

In general, the LED strips draw between 4.2 watts (350 mA) per foot and 5.5 watts (450 mA) per foot. Below is the specification sheet for our most popular CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights which is an excellent option should you be looking for a high CRI warm-white LED strip solution.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_3001.27_3001.30.pdf

LED Strip Lights for Living Room Installation

I'm trying to buy "CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential". I'm planning to use "Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip - 5 PACK" Can this be set up by someone like me? And what other products do I need to purchase?

The CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product is available in both 12V and 24V. As such, it will be important to select a compatible 12V or 24V power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

​It might also be valuable to know that the LED strip lights have a maximum combined length that can be powered, which varies depending on the voltage selected. For the 12V product, the maximum combined length is 16.4 ft (5 meters). For the 24V product, the maximum combined length is 32.8 ft (10 meters).

If you would like to dim the lights, you can utilize the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product, which can be connected between the LED strip lights and the power supply.

To connect the LED strip light segments, you can combine both the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter as well as the LED Strip to the Wire product.

I have attached a link below that illustrates the configuration I have described in greater detail:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2B?px=-5007.5&py=-4686.5&pw=1511&ph=1221&s=0.125

LED Tape Lights and Controller for Channel Lighting

I'm interested in installing LED tape light / channels into a few rooms. I would like to use the tape lights that feature both a warm and cool mix of LED's so the warmth can be adjusted. How can I drive and control such an install? I currently use networked Lutron Dimmers on conventional 120V fixtures.

It's currently quite difficult to achieve the color tuning functionality using traditional wall dimmers such as those offered by Lutron and Leviton, as these dimmers are only capable of adjusting brightness, and unfortunately not color.

Another option would be to search for third-party controllers which can wirelessly control the output (brightness and color) using a remote control. Below is an example of a product which would achieve this:

Are you aware of any dimmable DC power supplies that could be controlled from a conventional Casetta dimmer / remote?

Our TRIAC dimmable power supply units have been tested with Lutron Caseta, and should meet the requirements you outlined in the most recent email. For more information, please see our article below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/dimming-led-strip-lights-and-led-bulbs-using-smart-lighting-systems

Does the TRIAC dimmable power supply referenced produce a ripple free clean DC signal, or is it a rectified / modified 120Hz pulse?

The TRIAC dimmable power supply's output is flicker-free by virtue of its very high PWM frequency. The frequency is > 20,000 Hz, which makes any stroboscopic flicker virtually undetectable.​Strictly speaking, however, since it is a PWM signal, it is not a flat DC current flow.

What tape light would you recommend that has the LEAST amount of green in the spectrum, and the most (Far) red?

​We would suggest the 2700K as it has the most amount of red phosphor, and therefore, by extension, the most amount of far-red energy as well.

The amount of green across the various color temperature options is likely to be similar.

Wiring Multiple UV LED Strip Lights

I have an application where I need to daisy chain 112ft of UV led strips (7021.95.5M) in 31" lengths in area 30" x 35". This would take 8 x 16.4ft lengths, but what's the power requirement of this, and what would be the best way to wire this? What other product numbers would I need? 

Our PN 7021.95.5M LED strip lights are very easy to set up and require just a plug-in power supply unit. Each power supply has a DC plug that can connect directly to the LED strip reel.

​Below is an example layout showing our 3.2 ft short reel (the 16.4 ft long reel would be configured the same): https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4A?px=-2155&py=-2617&pw=1310&ph=2234&s=0.1

​We've linked to the power supply product below:

Unfortunately, the LED strips cannot be daisy-chained past the 16.4 ft length per run. As such, you will need to utilize 8x separate power supplies to power the 8x reels of 16.4 ft. This is due to the internal circuitry as well as power supply capacity limitations when running low voltage electronics.

FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel - Transformer & Dimmers

Our architect specified your product - FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel. We have already purchased one panel and would need to order 7 more. We are also looking for a transformer that would be able to power 8 panels at the same time and two dimmers - one regular and one for switching the colors. 

Can you please advise on the product that would be suitable for this project? 

Our LED flex panel requires 50 watts per color to operate. If both colors are to be operated simultaneously, each panel will require up to 100 watts.​As such, 8 panels will require 800 watts to operate. This is a very high power capacity level and we, unfortunately, do not have any products which can support this configuration. Instead, we would recommend operating each panel with an independent power supply unit.

If we follow your recommendation and operate each panel with an independent power supply unit, would you be able to provide this unit?

Can you please advise on the quantity we would need and a price per one? 

Each power supply unit costs $49, and the link to the product can be located below.

Each of these power supplies would be sufficient for one panel. Therefore, for 8 panels, you will require 8 power supply units. You will also need a third-party controller to vary the color and output of the panel. (The sample setup you have from the one panel should simply be replicated by a factor of 8).

Can you please also advise if this power supply unit will work for dimming and color-changing? If not, will it be compatible with Lutron Caseta dimmer? 

Unfortunately, our product will not achieve the color-changing features you are seeking.​Do you have information on how you had the single-panel sample unit set up? Please let me know and I can assist in replicating that setup for you.

You mentioned earlier, that we would need a third-party controller to vary the color and output of the panel. Can you please advise if this device from your website can be used for dimming and color-changing? 

If not, can you recommend a different product? 

We want to be able to dim 8 panels from one dimmer at the same time, and also change the colors on all 8 panels from one device at the same time. 

We would recommend daisy-chaining eight of our DMX decoder units, controlled from a single DMX controller. Below is the product link:

LED Lighting and Dimmers for Laundry Room Lighting

I'm hoping you can help me a little with my laundry room lighting. Here are the specs: basement location - 1 small window in a well (almost no natural light). Room is 7.5' by 11.8', ceilings is 7.5' high (currently lit by a 4 t8 tube troffer fluorescent light in a drop ceiling). Block wall is off white -all wiring is surface wiring in conduit. 

Our high CRI LED products sound like a great fit for your retrofit installation, and the use of our LED strip lights in your fluorescent fixtures sounds like a great idea.​I don't foresee any issues from a performance perspective, but if there are any electrical code or inspection concerns, we would recommend confirming that this is a permissible installation method as regulations can differ depending on the specific inspectors as well as authorities having jurisdiction.

One alternative option would be to keep the fluorescent fixtures in place and utilize our T8 retrofit lamps, which offer the same level of color quality.

Should I use 2 strips or 4 by my calculations 4 would be giving me almost 8000 lumens, and this is not a baseball field. Will 2 strips look like 2 long blobs up there? or will I have even light over the troffer? 

I inputted the provided room dimensions into the lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator). Based on a target of 60 footcandles (which should provide you with a very nice level of brightness for most laundry-related tasks without being overly bright), the recommended lumen output for the lights would be approximately 6000 lumens.

​Your calculations are correct that four 4-ft rows of the LED strips would provide you with approximately 7200 lumens (450 lumens per foot * 16 feet). I do not think this is an unreasonable amount of light, especially if you have a troffer diffuser that will reduce the light output a bit.

I'm a little confused about dimmer options...I see that you have a triac dimmer compatible power supply. Are all wall dimmers triac? or just the standard incandescent ones. Do I still need to get an LED or other specialty dimmer from Lutron etc...i.e. low voltage electronic dimmer?

Most wall dimmers utilize TRIAC phase dimming, and our TRIAC dimmable power supply is compatible with most standard residential wall dimmers. Some of the most commonly seen wall dimmer brands include Lutron and Leviton. Please see below for a list of dimmers which we have tested compatibility for: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

 I was thinking I would use the 24 v option since I might like to run some of the strips in the hallway outside the laundry room and that would require a little more distance between the power supply and strip light. Does that make sense? I will be having an electrician do the actual installation.

Generally, 24 volts is almost always a better option when running longer wire connections. This is because a higher voltage option requires lower amperage, which is typically what causes voltage drop issues. For additional information on voltage drop, please see our article below: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/what-is-led-strip-voltage-drop

In order to connect my troffer strip to the next strip out in the hallway, I would use your 16 gauge wire that you sell by the spool, I believe. Would I be using the strip to wire pigtail connector that you sell? If so, how do I join the two wires? wire nuts in a junction box? or is there a way to solder the wire to the strip at either end and add a cover for protection?

The best way to accomplish this connection would be to use our PN 3070 solderless connector, joined to the 16 AWG wire using wire nuts. Please see the screenshot below, taken from the layout maps found at this link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

You may of course also forgo the PN 3070 component and solder the 16 AWG wires directly onto the LED strip copper pads as needed.

Also, is it possible to buy smaller quantities of the various connectors? I don't want to buy 10 if I only need two.

Unfortunately the connectors are pre-packaged packs of 10 and we would have no way to offer just two of them. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Compatible Power Supply for Lutron Caseta dimmer

I purchased some high-quality LED light strips (60 ft in total) and I am looking for a power supply that would work with a Lutron Caseta dimmer. Your 24V PSU is rated 96W/4A but it states it can only work for 16 ft light strips. My LED strip requires 96W at full power. Would your PSU work for this?

Our TRIAC dimmable power supply is indeed compatible with the Lutron Caseta dimming system, and can safely operate LED strip loads up to 96 watts. If the load exceeds 96 watts, the system will automatically shut off to protect itself from being over-driven.​We generally recommend leaving a 10-20% headroom above the LED strip power rating as an extra safety margin. The reason we recommend this safety margin is due to the variability of actual power draw performance of LED strip products. Your LED strip light product with a 96 watt rating, for example, is likely specified at 96 watts +/- 10%, which would suggest that the actual power draw can be anywhere between 86 and 106 watts.

One workaround would be to reduce the total length of LED strip connected, to ensure that the LED strip power draw remains well below the 96 watt level. This would, of course, require that you can accept a shorter run length than you currently have planned for.

Do you have a model above 96W? I wanted to stick to Class 2 rating but that's hard to do that with my setup.

Unfortunately we do not have any thing that is simultaneously dimmable and higher power than 96 watts.

One alternative would be to split your LED strip run, and use two of the 96 watt dimmable power supplies connected to the same Lutron dimmer. Please see below for a connection diagram showing how this would look:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

I ordered a Magnitude driver but, I want to test it because I saw reviews saying they flicker.

Now, you Centric series are rated flicker free. What about the regular Triac driver? Does it have flickering issues? 

The TRIAC dimmable power supply is also flicker free and you should not see any of the issues you are seeing with the Magnitude products.

I purchased a 60 ft strip like this one: Super Length 20 meters Constant Current DC24V 120leds/m SMD2835 LED Strip Light (coxotech.com). It is a high quality LED strip that uses integrated ICs to convert constant voltage to constant current (if my understanding is correct). Do you know if you LED drivers have PWM output or constant output?

Our TRIAC dimmable power supply units use high-frequency PWM (> 20,000 Hz) to achieve what is effectively flicker-free light output. (Typical flicker issues occur at or 2x line frequency, in the 50-60 Hz or 100-120 Hz range).

If the supplier of the LED strip lights you have in mind are certain that PWM is incompatible, that would unfortunately suggest that our TRIAC dimmable power supply would not be a suitable product pairing.

Do you have a recommended dimmer to minimize flicker while dimming?

I installed new recessed lighting and looking for quality LED bulbs with matching dimmers. I'm personally sensitive to color and flicker gives me headaches. I'm looking at the 4011.30.6P. It shows a flicker of 6%. Is this low flicker amplitude maintained while dimming. It appears Lutron and Leviton dimmer are mentioned as compatible. Any particular dimmer recommendation to minimize flicker while dimming?

We ran a series of dimming tests using a Lutron CTCL-150 and confirmed that the flicker performance is indeed best at or near 100% brightness, where we observed ~7% flicker and 0.02 flicker index.

As the brightness setting is decreased, flicker percentage increases to ~11% with 0.03 flicker index. Given that traditional incandescent lamps exhibit flicker rates of 15% and higher, this performance is in line with, or exceeds that of traditional incandescent lamps and should not present any issues for most residential installations and applications.

Attached are the test results as well as a plotted chart of the results.

Do you think the performance will be similar over the full line of Lutron LED+ dimmers or do you think this will vary substantially from one dimmer model to the next?

We've just repeated the test with the Lutron TGCL-153PH series dimmer and saw the same results (7-11% from high to low).​While we wouldn't be able to draw any conclusions from just these two tests, we now do possess two sets of data points for Lutron performance which may give us some further confidence regarding dimming performance across brightness settings.

Difference between FilmGrade and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI 5000K (D50) / 6500K (D65)

What is the difference between Film Grade vs. ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI 5000K (D50) / 6500K (D65)?

The primary difference between the FilmGrade and ABSOLUTE SERIES LED product lines is the color rendering index. The FilmGrade product line has a CRI rating of 95, while the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products have a CRI rating of 99.

Furthermore, the FilmGrade product line is offered in 5600K and 6500K, while the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs are offered in 5000K and 6500K.

Are these lights DC powered?

Yes, our LED strip lights and LED modules are powered via 12 volts or 24 volts DC. They will require a dedicated power supply to operate.

Do either of these lights flicker? 

If the LED strips and/or modules are powered via our power supply units, they will not produce any flicker.

Can I wire these lights in parallel (2 1-foot strips side by side)?

Yes, they can be wired in parallel, as long as the total connected length does not exceed the maximum power capacity of the power supply (e.g. do not exceed 16.4 ft for LED strips, in total). For additional information, please see our article below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/connecting-led-strips-in-series-vs-parallel

Or must I have a power supply for each strip of lights?

As long as the total power draw remains below the power capacity of the power supply unit, you should not see any issues. Below is a calculator which you may find helpful:

https://store.waveformlighting.com/pages/led-strip-power-supply-calculator-requirements

How can I order a sample 6-inch strip plus a power supply?

Please see below for the direct link to the 6-inch LED strip sample pack, which includes a power supply unit:

How can I link separate strips together? Do you have a picture of this showing the connector? I want to link 4 l foot strips side by side.

You may find our Layout Maps helpful. Specifically, see below for an illustration showing how multiple sections can be connected:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2183&py=-2023&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.1

Do the link connectors come in the 16-foot reel kit? 

The LED strip reel includes DC power ports pre-installed on both ends, so you will be able to connect the power supply directly to the DC port without any issues.​The PN 3071 solderless connectors can come in handy if you're looking to cut the LED strip reel into shorter segments and are looking to reconnect them.​Finally, the 6-inch sample pack also includes all of the components to set up a short 6-inch demo circuit.

Does Waveform make housings for these lights? Can these be cut?

Please see below for our aluminum channels which would be a great option for housing the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights:

Cuttability is not an officially supported feature of the aluminum channels, but I have had customers report that this can be done quite readily using a hacksaw.

Do you have a DMX or ArtNet Controller for FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip Lights

I am looking to purchase 16 (5m) pieces of the Hybrid LED Strips. I am planning on controlling them through DMX or ArtNet. Do you have any ArtNet controllers? Also, how many can I control through one of your DMX controllers? Do you have larger power supplies to support more than 1 strip at a time?

We currently offer a DMX decoder that can be paired with our FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights, however, a separate DMX controller (third-party) would be needed to control the color temperature and output levels.

Each reel of the hybrid LED strip lights requires approximately 3.8 amps of power capacity. Therefore, with each of the 5 channels being able to support up to 8 amps, the maximum number of reels per DMX decoders would be 10 reels.

This would, in turn, require a power supply that is capable of supplying at least 38 amps (3.8 amps x 10 reels) which we would need to recommend a third-party supplier such as MeanWell for further options.

Connectors and Wires Required for Absolute 6500K LED Strip

I am interested in getting set up with a set of Absolute 6500K LED strip lighting. I need help with the type of connectors and wires required. I plan to purchase the 5m roll of strip lighting because it’s the best deal. I will be photographing my artwork with these lights. The plan is to set up two sets of lights 6 feet on either side of the painting when photographing. 

We currently offer two types of ABSOLUTE SERIES products - one in a rigid module format, and another in a flexible LED strip format.

It sounds like you're after the flexible LED strip as you mention needing the 5-meter reel. In this case, the installation accessories will be quite straightforward, as the LED strip lights include a plug on both ends of the reel that is pre-installed.

To power the flexible LED strip, all that you need is our 12-volt power supply, which I have linked to below:

The LED strip lights can be cut to length based on your needs. If you need to re-connect any sections together, we would recommend our PN 3071 connectors.

Unfortunately, we don't have an exact layout map for this product, but you may want to reference an electrically similar product for some ideas. Below, I've linked to our FilmGrade LED strip light product using a similar layout, which may be of interest:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E

Accessories and Guide for Individual LED Strip and LED Strip to Power Supply Connection

I'd like to place an order for some LED strips. My question is, I need some adaptor cables: while I cut strips from the reel and plug to the female DC power plug that I ordered. I like to have (10) pcs, can you tell me how to order?

I have provided explanations below describing the method for connecting the LED Strip Lights to power supplies, as well as the method for connecting the LED Strip Light segments using connector accessories. Included below are product links for the recommended accessories, as well as guides that further illustrate these configurations.

For connecting the LED Strip Light segments to the DC Power Supply, we recommend using a combination of the LED Strip to Wire product (PN 3070, sold in 10-Packs), as well as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter (PN 7094, sold in 4-Packs).

Configuration guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2D?px=-2063&py=-2245.5&pw=1126&ph=1491&s=0.1

For connecting individual LED Strip Light segments, we recommend using the LED Strip to Strip product (PN 3071, sold in 10-Packs). Please note that our 12V LED Strip Light products, such as the ‘CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, have a maximum run of 16.4 ft (5 meters). As such, these LED strip light products cannot be powered in runs that exceed this length.

Configuration guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-7151&py=-4861.5&pw=1126&ph=1491&s=0.125

LED Lighting and Dimmers for Entertainment Center

The plan is to recess the LED strips behind the face boards. The part that I am finding most difficult is the dimmer (or maybe I’m just screwed up on everything). The LED lights need to have the ability to select a color including white. I need the width of the LED strips to be 10mm or less and the height to be as low as possible. We want a remote-controlled dimmer that can be used to change the colors and brightness of the LED lights. Can you please review and provide me with an itemized list of the materials that I need to complete this project?

Unfortunately, we currently do not have any remote-controlled dimmers or power supplies available which would be capable of changing the color and brightness of the LED strip lights. Most of our customers that utilize our color-changing LED strip lights are in the entertainment or theatrical industries, where DMX systems are commonly used.

​For a more consumer-friendly remote-control solution, we would recommend searching for third-party providers of such products.

In terms of our LED strip options, our ColorSpace RGB LED strip light may be a good fit for your needs. The product features an 8 mm width, high brightness, and very narrow wavelength tolerances to ensure consistency within and among LED strip runs.

Furthermore, you may also find that our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED strip lights may be of interest to you. This product is designed to have a high level of customized light spectrum output with the inclusion of a warm white and daylight white channel, in addition to the standard RGB channels.

To connect the LED strip lights to the power supply, we recommend our Solderless Connector Cable for a 5-in-1 LED Strip product.

Regarding the mounting of the lights within the structure, we currently do not offer mounting channels which would accommodate the 12mm width of the FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. That being said, there may be third-party options available that could diffuse the light.

How to Connect LED Strip Light to Connector?

How to Connect LED Strip Light to Connector PN 3071? 

Attached is a video link which displays the method for attaching the PN 3071 product to the light strip segments.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR_ML49gBlI

We also attached the link to a LayoutMaps™ diagram below, which further illustrates the methods for connecting the LED strip light segments using the PN 3071 product.

LayoutMaps™ LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2B?px=-10111&py=-2838.5&pw=1002&ph=1221&s=0.125

One thing that we have found can help improve the reliability of the connection is to remove a quarter inch or so of the adhesive from the end that is being inserted into the connector piece. The added thickness of the adhesive can prevent the LED strip from being inserted fully into the connector piece, resulting in poor connections in some cases.

Other than the solderless connectors, we, unfortunately, do not have any alternative solutions, apart from soldering wires directly onto the copper pads.

Do you have a selection of “T” connectors?

Unfortunately, we do not have any T-shaped connectors for the LED strip lights available at this time.

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