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Recommended Power Supply and LED Dimmer to run a 100ft LED Strip

Have 100' run and looking for suggestions on the power supply and dimmer

If you would like to tell us more about the power draw per foot of the LED strip lights currently being used, we would be happy to provide some dimmer and power supply product recommendations.

In the interim, it might also be helpful to know that our LED strip light products have a maximum combined length which is determined by the hardware. For our 12V LED strip light products, this maximum length is 16.4 ft (5 meters).

For the 24V LED Strip Light products, the combined length is 32.8 ft (10 meters). As our LED strip light products cannot support being powered in lengths greater than the above, we would not recommend installations that exceed these lengths.

I was considering using the film grade 5600

To install a 100 ft length of the 5600K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights we would recommend utilizing the 24V version as it can accommodate larger combined lengths than the 12V version.

As previously mentioned, the 24V FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft. This means that a single power supply cannot power any combined length of the product which is longer than 32.8 ft, as the physical hardware and wiring of the LED strip lights are unable to support it.

As our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product can output a maximum of 120W, it would not be able to power any LED lengths greater than 16.4 feet. As such, we recommend utilizing a power supply with a higher output such as 240W.

As the dimmers that we sell are installed between the power supply and the product, we would recommend a dedicated FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer for each connected length.

It might also be helpful to know that this installation could encounter a voltage drop if it utilizes long lengths of wiring to connect the products. To calculate the voltage drop and recommended wiring, you might find value in the voltage drop calculator tool on our website.

The below diagrams feature information regarding the installation of the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights and provide links to the recommended accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2076&py=-2227.5&pw=1152&ph=1455&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2076&py=-2227.5&pw=1152&ph=1455&s=0.1

Flicker-free Power Supply for non-Waveform LED Strip Light

I'm interested in the FilmGrade DC Power Supply for LED Strip as well as the Flicker-Free Dimmer. I already have LED strips in my studio that are causing significant flickering problems when filming them and was wondering if I could just get the Waveform Lighting DC Power Supply and use that instead of the AC adaptor provided with my LED strips? I was also checking out your Dimmer but I don't really need dimming capabilities, I'm just looking for a flicker-free power solution. In that case would your DC Power Supply fork for my needs? 

Based on my review of the product manual, it does appear that the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product could be compatible with the lighting product referenced.

That being said, I do not see a listed voltage for the OLS Home Accent Multi-Color Pro Series Lighting Kit product.

As such, we would recommend checking the pre-packaged A/C adapter to confirm voltage compatibility prior to purchase. Generally speaking, utilizing an incorrect voltage can cause product damage and create safety hazards.

My current power supply outputs 12V and 2Amps, does that sound like this would work as a replacement then, and should I consider the 12V version over the 24V version? Also will this for sure resolve the flickering issue I currently have when filming my LEDs?

Based on the details provided we would recommend a 12V power supply product for your installation over the 24V, as utilizing a higher voltage power supply with 12V products can overload the product circuitry and cause hazardous product issues. We would also recommend reviewing any safety guides that your LED strips may have come with to ensure compatibility.

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

Can I plug the UV-A LED Strip into the Vessel or Cigarette Lighter?

I am making a UV 365 charge box for my boat and would like to plug your 1 meter UV led strip either to my 12 volts directly or the cigarette lighter. How do I do that?

As the 12V battery within your vessel will likely have more than enough power to utilize the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights through a direct-wired connection with a product such as our Male DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter, there is a chance that some cigarette lighter adapter models could have hardware-defined output limitations that are lower than 12V.

Based on my review of some products available online, there do appear to be several listings that provide low-voltage protection for the products utilizing the ports. We might recommend selecting a similar product that can ensure sufficient and stable power for the LED product.

For more technical details regarding the realUV™ LED Strip Lights, I have included a link to the product sheet below.

realUV™ LED Strip Lights Product Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

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

Connecting Multiple LED Strips in One Power Supply

I need a very long LED strip. Is it possible to connect several of your strips using just one power supply? If so, how many could you connect?

While we can confirm that our LED Strip Light products can be connected together, it might be helpful to know that these products have a maximum length that can be connected and powered by a single power supply.

For our 12V LED Strip Light products, the maximum combined length is 16.4 feet (5 meters). For the 24V LED Strip Light products, the combined length is 32.8 ft (10 meters). As these products cannot support being powered in lengths greater than the above, we would not recommend installations that exceed these lengths. 

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

UV-A LED Strips for Tanning Wood and Curing Oil Varnish

I'm interested in these UV LEDs for tanning wood and curing oil varnish. They're listed as 12V units. My question is could I get higher intensity output by using your 24v power supply, or would that blow out the lights? 

As our LED products are designed at the circuit level with a specific voltage in mind, we do not recommend utilizing a 24V power supply with a 12V LED strip light product. In general, connections that lead to an over-voltage can permanently damage the LED strip lights and void the product warranty.

UV-A LED Strip Lights for Curing

Interested in UV LED for curing, 350 nm. I need 2 or 4 strips about 1 ft long. What products do I need, LED Power supply?

Based on the details provided, it appears that the closest product match would be the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. These products are available in 3.2 ft (1 meter) increments and can be powered using a power supply such as our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip products.

If you would prefer to connect multiple lengths using the pre-installed power plugs, you might be interested in our Daisy-Chain DC Connector for UV LED Strips product. Please note that these LED strip lights can support a maximum connected length of 16.4 ft (5 meters).

We have also attached two layout diagrams below, which illustrate some of the most common product installation configurations:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4B?px=-2201&py=-2213.5&pw=1402&ph=1427&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2201&py=-2213.5&pw=1402&ph=1427&s=0.1

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. ​

Film Grade LED Panels for Photographic Printing

Film Grade LED Panels for Photographic Printing

I am a professional photographic printmaker and require High CRI High R9 value print view lighting to just prints. I print using 5000K print view lighting but many times also view the print with 3200K lighting which is closer to the gallery and museum lighting. It looks like your Film Grade 9.5" x 18.9" flexible LED dimmable panel would work well for my needs. My print viewing area is 36" high by 60" wide. I want to determine if I need 1 Film Grade Flexible panel or 2 Film Grade Flexible panels to cover my print viewing area with even illumination. I will also want to be able to select 5000K precisely using the dimmer device. 

Our FilmGrade LED panels would certainly meet your color point needs, but unfortunately, we currently do not have any dimming solutions that would meet your requirements. (We currently support DMX only, for use in TV studio / theatrical installations).

​We do apologize for the inconvenience!

​As an alternative, we would perhaps build a panel using our single-color LED strip lights which can be used with our in-line dimmer. For example, please see below for an example layout:

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

Do the Centric LED Strip Lights require the Centric Power Supply? 

Do the Centric strip lights require the centric power supply? Or would the Film Grade power supply also work (for half the cost)? Alternatively, would any SMPS do the job as long as it provided the correct voltage and current? (16ft of 24V centric strip requires a minimum 3.75A @ 24V (90 watts)

You are correct that any 24 volt constant voltage power supply (including commonly available switch-mode power supplies) would work with our 24 volt LED strip lights as long as the power capacity of the power supply is sufficient.

​The FilmGrade power supply is a great option and will work fine and may even be more convenient if you are looking for a wall-plug solution rather than a permanent hard-wired installation.

Color Critical Lighting for Cultural Heritage Field

I would like to know if you have a product using the Toshiba TRI-R LEDs. We are involved in the Cultural Heritage field and need a better solution for lighting than currently available products. I am looking for a lighting solution similar to your flexible panels with the lighting spectral quality of the TRI-R-led specifications for proof of product assembly. 

We are not affiliated with Toshiba but we do have a line of 99 CRI products that may closely approximate the color rendition performance you are looking for.

​Below is our product page showcasing our ABSOLUTE SERIES 99 CRI products - please let us know if this is something that may work for your needs, and we would be more than happy to assist with any additional questions or concerns!

https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

From your link, I think we would need the equivalent of 52 strips to make 2 panels approximately 22”x 11” with full coverage over the area. Is there a connector solution that would work for that? Or do you have an option for the absolute series in an already-made panel about that size?

I would also need a power supply/driver to power 2 panels about that size. As well as a dimming module to work with to set output.

​Unfortunately, we do not have any panel-type products, although I completely agree that this would be an ideal use case for such a product.

​As such, the best alternative would be to use an array of LED strip lights as you suggest. In back-calculating from the suggested quantity, it appears that you would be looking at 26 rows of 22-inch length LED strip sections per panel.

This works out to approximately 48 feet or three reels of 16.4 feet each.

The general limitation for LED strip wiring is 16.4 feet (one reel) per power supply and dimmer connection. This is due to the current carrying capacity limitations in the LED strip as well as those of the power supply.

​As such, your single panel will require three separate sets of power supplies and dimmers, which may or may not be an issue for you from a feasibility perspective.

Each LED strip reel can be cut into as many shorter sections as needed; so each 16.4 ft reel, for example, can be cut into 9 separate sections of 22 inches each, and then re-joined using our solderless connector accessory PN 3071.

(For a visual overview of the components, here is an example layout for a similar configuration using our 24 volt / 95 CRI product which operates nearly identically from an electrical perspective: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E)

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

LED Strips for Space Lighting Upgrade

I'm trying to decide what I need to set up your product in my space. Currently, I have fluorescent tubes in a 500 ft. workspace. I would like to replace these with your 99 CRI LED strips and hardwire them to my existing wiring and use a dimmer. I'm not sure if I need 12 or 24, or if I need the Junction box on my power source. 

Our 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES sounds like a great option for upgrading your space's lighting! The flexible LED strip version is available in 12 volts only, so you will want to use the 12 volt TRIAC dimmable power supply to power the LED strip.

​Below is the direct link to the dimmable power supply:

If you intend to install the power supply unit directly inside the fixture, I do not believe that there will be a need for the junction box; typically the junction box is used when the power supply is mounted in an interior wall location.

If you are comfortable with and able to solder your own wires, that would perhaps provide you with the most flexibility and cleanest wiring installation, however, if not, our PN 3070 and PN 3071 connectors may be convenient options for you.

I am replacing five T12 tubes in this space (2500 lumens each), and it seems to be about 60% as bright, even though the lumens should be very close. 

The strip that is wired to the power source is brighter than the second strip, which is wired to the first strip. 

The brighter strip also seems very noticeably brighter closer to the connection that goes to the power source. The channel is also quite hot close to the connection, and warm at the other end. The second strip channel is not warm. 

The brightness drop you are observing may be caused by voltage drop, which can occur during longer LED strip installations. Can you provide some additional detail on how the two LED strip reels are connected?

For voltage drop and safety reasons, the maximum run length specification for any LED strip section is 16.4 ft. Therefore, if you are attempting to connect multiple reels to a single LED power supply, this would likely cause the voltage drop and reduction in brightness you are observing in the second reel.

​As such, we generally recommend connecting each 16.4 ft reel to a separate power supply unit to ensure that the maximum run length is not exceeded.

Can you point me to where in your documentation you recommend using a separate power supply for each 16 ft strip? 

Please see below for the datasheet which indicates the "max run" specification of 16.4 ft.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7101.pdf

How much LED Lights are needed for Office Lighting

I have a 12x12 home office. I’m wanting to run your LED lights (power supply, connectors) around the perimeter of the office, but I’m unsure of how many complete systems (LED lights, power supplies, connectors, etc) I need to order. From what I see the strips come in 16’ sections, and if I need to go around the entire perimeter I’d need 3, of your complete systems, but I need to how bright the three systems would be would it be better to split one or two up? The LED lights need to be dimmable. 

I've plugged the 12 x 12 foot dimensions into our lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator), which suggests a total brightness of 5850 lumens for an office space (approximately 40 footcandles).

​Our LED strip lights emit 450 lumens per foot, so 14 feet would be sufficient (just short of 1 reel) to meet this brightness level.

If you plan on installing a dimmer, however, there is no such thing as being "too bright" since this can always be dialed down if needed, and having the LED strip lights installed along the entire perimeter of your office space on each side might be a nice way to provide even and well distributed lighting.

One more thing, just so I understand what I need to do to get this operational, could you please provide me with a simple diagram from power in to the LED the entire diagram of this project. Would you suggest breaking the 16' strip into 4 equal parts or even 8 equal parts and place around the perimeter. Also, can you tell me how soon you can ship once we know exactly what is needed?

Below is a simplified wiring diagram showing two 16-ft reel circuits connected to a single dimmer. In your setup, you will want to replicate this a third time for the third circuit.

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

​I would recommend installing the LED strips as three equal parts at 16 ft each. The reason is that if we do four equal parts (or more), that would potentially require installing four separate power supplies (or more) as each power supply is limited to powering a maximum of 16.4 ft for any given connection.

​Given the dimensions of your space, turning the corners at each 12 ft mark may be a bit of a challenge depending on the configuration of your interior. An additional diagram link below shows how the LED strip sections can be cut into shorter segments and rejoined using our various accessory items. I suspect that PN 3071 may be helpful for you when turning the corners of space.

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

​Below is an preliminary shopping cart I've put together for you which includes the three sets of LED strip reels and corresponding power supplies. I've also included a 10-pack of the aforementioned PN 3071 accessory.

https://store.waveformlighting.com/27932316/invoices/96f20fd5f0df2415844ff452f475d2dd

​Our order turnaround time is typically 1-2 business days, and we do offer complimentary standard shipping which is typically delivered within a 5-10 business day timeframe. We also offer expedited shipping options for an additional charge; expedited shipping times and costs are calculated at checkout, but I would be more than happy to assist in calculating those for you if you can confirm your shipping address and cart contents.

Recommendation on LED White and UV Lighting for Imaging Application

For one our research projects on inspecting meat products, we are using different technologies to assess quality of fresh produce. in one of them we use RGB camera as an visual assessment in visible length, and also as contamination/disease assessment using fluorescence effect. We do need the lighting system both in visible white and UV for this. This will be done through an inspection dark tunnel, were samples are in trays (~600mmx400mmx150mm size), tray moving on a conveyor passing through the tunnel. When it reaches the RGB camera (stand off of ~500mm ), tray stops, white light turns on for one image in visible range, then white lights turns off and UV light turns on to take another image, then UV light turns off. 

We believe that for your application, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights would be the best fit for your needs. I've included a link to the product below:

​Each reel can be powered with our 12 volt power supply, which can be found below:

​The LED strip lights can then be cut into shorter sections and rejoined using the PN 3071 connectors:

Can I purchase a separate power supplies with dimmers to connect the cut LED strips?

I'm excited about your products and I want to purchase FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. I need a 16ft LED strip but I need to cut it into small pieces, and separately control the lights by dimming them. Can I purchase separate power supplies with dimmers, so I can connect the parts that I cut? 

We are happy to confirm that the LED strip light segments can be individually powered and connected with dimmer products. 

Below are some product configurations from our website, which could be useful for your planning purposes.

Configuration Links:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E​

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.

Dimmable Power Supply Compatible with Centric Home LED Strip Lights

I'm building a light fixture for my dining room, which is roughly 10' x 10' x 15' high (it's an open space). I've calculated that I need 1,673 lumens and that 3' of your CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential will provide that. What dimmable power supply do I need (assuming I use a Lutron or Leviton wall dimmer)? 

You are correct that the 3-foot section will provide approximately 1650 lumens, which should be sufficient for your needs. Do keep in mind, however, that depending on the design of your fixture, you may want a bit more brightness depending on the orientation of the LED strip lights as well as the fixture.

​As far as connecting the LED strip lights to a dimmer switch, you will want to use our TRIAC dimmable power supply product. we've included the product link below for your reference.

​https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/triac-dimmable-power-supply-for-led-strip?variant=27978821435494

Additionally, our layout map for the product may be helpful in understanding how the product can be wired to your dimmer circuit: 

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

Can you specify one or two specific Leviton or Lutron wall dimmer switches that are compatible with my order? 

We've tested a wide range of Lutron and Leviton wall dimmers for compatibility. Some of the most popular include the Lutron DVCL-153 series, which we have linked to below:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Diva-LED-Dimmer-Switch-for-Dimmable-LED-Halogen-and-Incandescent-Bulbs-Single-Pole-or-3-Way-White-6-Pack-DVCL-153PR-6-WH/301353737

For further reference, you may want to review our list of tested dimmers, which can be found below:

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

Power Supply and Voltage Drop

I received and installed the CENTRIC HOME LED Strip Lights, FilmGrade™ 24V Power Supply, and Aluminum Channel. I have a couple of questions:

For turning the light on and off is it ok just to switch the 24 VDC output or would it be better to switch the 110 VAC input? 

The on/off switching on the 24-volt DC side or the AC line voltage side is both acceptable.

​We do agree that the only difference would be the concern for "stand-by" power consumption if switching on the DC side. Unfortunately, we do not have the stand-by power specification, but we believe it to be very negligible if not completely 0.

​On the other hand, we have noticed a short delay when switching the power on from the AC side, so if this is a concern for you, switching on the DC side may be preferred.

From the power supply to the furthest light tape is about 20 ft(16 ga wire), so the voltage drop is 0.60.V resulting in the voltage to the furthest tape being 23.4 VDC. Are these 0.6 volts going to make these furthest lights noticeably dimmer? 

Based on some informal testing we have conducted, we would estimate that the voltage drop of 0.6 volts would equate to a power/brightness drop of approximately 10%.

​This estimate is based on the chart shown in the article below titled "Input Voltage vs Power Draw (24V Rating)"

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/can-you-operate-a-12v-led-strip-at-less-than-12v

Do keep in mind that the 10% reduction would apply only at the extreme ends where the voltage drop is most significant. Across the majority of the LED strip run, your actual voltage drop is likely less than 0.6 volts, and would therefore be well below a 10% brightness drop overall.

Power Supply Needed for LED Strip Light Installation

I will be installing 2 16ft reels of the Centric Daylight 4000K LED strips for my business. I am curious as to how many power supplies I will need. Will a single 24V power supply power 32.8 ft of these two LED reels? I also will be installing the RED LED 16.4 ft reel, which I notice has a 12V requirement. Would a single 12V power supply for the RED plus a single 24V volt power supply do the trick? Or might I need 3 power supplies? 

Though the 24V LED Strip Light products have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft, at 5.5 watts of power draw per foot, two 16.4 ft reels would require 180.4 W power output, which is greater than the 120 W power output of our power supply.

As such, we would recommend utilizing a dedicated power supply for each reel of the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Light product.

However, there may be third-party power supplies available elsewhere which might be capable of powering two full 16.4 ft reels of product.

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 in Creating a Vanity Mirror

I’m in the process of creating a jewelry box in solid oak, and I’m exploring the possibility of putting a vanity mirror in the lid of the box which contains a mirror. 

​From what I can see, do you have a dimmer built into the vanity mirror? The dimmer must be really small. Is that one you sell separately?

​We, unfortunately, do not sell and separate dimmers, but would perhaps recommend something like our FilmGrade inline dimmer, which we have linked to below:

​Do you use LED strips for the lighting? - Can the LED strips be in direct contact with the wood or will I need to place a strip of aluminum or plastic behind for safety reasons? 

​LED strip lights can certainly be used for such an installation. There are no significant safety concerns with direct contact on a wood surface.

​I’d like to use USB as my charger but can’t find any USB chargers on your website. Do I need a transformer to build in to use USB for charging?

​We, unfortunately, do not have any USB-based products or chargers, as all of our LED strip lights are based on 12 volts or 24 volts DC. You will instead want to use a standard 12 or 24-volt power supply to operate the system.

It seems to me that the biggest advantage of a 24V LED is that one can have long lines of LEDs using the same charger. Would you choose 24V or 12V for a project like this?

​That's correct, although, for a small installation, the maximum run length would be less of a concern. Here is an article going over some additional details:

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

​Many of the vanity mirrors out there has a feature that enables their users to choose between different light levels. Is this simply done with a light diffuser?  

​The best way to adjust light levels would be through the dimmer, as discussed in your first question.

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.

Does High CRI LED Strip Light Flicker-free?

Does high CRI LED strip flicker-free? In that, if we use the dimmer, it will be flicker-free or not? We need to use your LEDs for our test equipment and we need to control the lux level with your diffuser, will it be recommended that any other products be available with you? 

We're happy to confirm that our LED Strip Lights are flicker-free when paired with a flicker-free power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip, as well as our FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer.

Please note that as our LED Strip Light products are available in both 12V and 24V versions, it will be important to select a compatible 12V or 24V power supply. 

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.

UV-A LED Strip Lights for (Gum Bichromate) Photo Printing Processes

I am trying to construct a UV exposure unit for historic photo printing processes (gum Bichromate). I think the best wavelength is 365 nm because it is firmly in the UV window. Do you have any experience with this application for UV LED? I think I will need a 5 m reel to adequately cover a 20x24” surface. The distance to the image from the lights would be about 6”. Would you be able to suggest the maximum gap between strips that provide even illumination? Could you recommend a power supply that I could order at the same time that is sufficient for the 5 m of the LED? 

Our UV LED strip lights sound like a great option for your installation. While we do not have any data or specific recommendations for the gum bichromate process, we agree that the 365 nm wavelength should be a good fit based on what is generally known about its sensitivity to UV wavelengths.

The 5-meter length (approximately 16 ft) should be sufficient for the installation surface. Based on a 24" width, you could, for example, install eight sections of 2 ft each. 

To ensure even coverage, we generally recommend spacing the LED strips no farther apart than the distance away from the irradiance surface. In other words, for your installation, the LED strip sections should be placed no farther than 6 inches apart.

​Our 12-volt power supply has sufficient power capacity to operate a 5-meter reel of UV LED strip lights.

Finally, I've included a link to a layout diagram for a similar configuration, which may be helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C

I plan on cutting and soldering the sections together with the wire. Is there any specific wire that you would recommend for this application and the current? Over the 5m is there much of a voltage drop and corresponding drop in UV power across the length of an LED?

The primary thing to look out for when soldering the sections together is to use wire with the sufficient thickness (gauge). Our 16 AWG wire, for example, would be a great option for connecting the LED strip sections together. Please see below:

​In terms of voltage drop, we do not see any significant decrease in UV across the 5-meter run, as long as the connections between the LED strip sections are made securely and with wires of sufficient wire gauge. 

If consistent UV intensity is a significant concern, however, we may recommend powering the LED strip running from both ends, thereby effectively reducing the max run length to 2.5 meters each.

Can the power supplies/drivers be remotely mounted?

My question is regarding both dimmable and non-dimmable drivers for Waveform’s strip lights. Can these be remotely mounted? How far can the driver be from the light strip (Film Grade 5600k)? I will need 4 drivers for my installation. How much space is required between drivers?

The difficulty with the remote mounting of the LED strip power supplies is that they operate on low voltage DC, so we do want to be careful about the distance between the power supply and the LED strip light, as they can be susceptible to voltage drop.

​While we do not have an official specification, our recommendation would be to keep the distance between the power supply and the LED strip run to within 32 feet, as this will keep voltage drop to within 0.5 volts. This assumes that the system uses 24-volt DC and 16 AWG wires.

In terms of spacing, the LED power supplies should be provided with ample space around the units to provide sufficient ventilation and cooling. For additional reliability and safety, we would recommend using the junction box accessory.

LED Strip, Power and Control for Under Cabinet Lighting

I wanted a tunable light under the cabinet. My preference would be if could dim the lights at the switch, but control the "color" of the light with an app. Is this possible? We have three individual cabinet areas: 1) 80" span with a 30" gap over the stop and then continues for another 18" (we would not need to light under the stove) 2) 52" span (nothing special here) 3) 74" counter span (nothing special here, either) What products do we need to accomplish this? 

Our FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights are designed for cinematography applications, but they could certainly be repurposed for an under-cabinet installation.

A very nice feature of the FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights is the ability to change the color temperature of the lights between 3200K (warm white) and 6500K (cool white). This will, however, require some additional third-party controllers to achieve, and would not be compatible with a wall-dimmer installation.

For under-cabinet installations, most of our customers utilize a single-color LED strip light installation using our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights. While this product is fixed at a single color temperature, this product may be better suited for an under-cabinet installation as the color temperature options of 2700K or 3000K are better suited for residential installations. Additionally, it can be hard-wired to a wall switch, and also includes UL safety ratings for permanent residential installations.

Below is a link to an example installation diagram along with a parts list, which you may find helpful:

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

Based on the cabinet dimensions we have approximately 18' linear feet of cabinets in three unique areas that will need lighting. Do we need three reels and three power supplies or could we do two reels and three power supplies?

The LED strip reels can be cut into shorter lengths, so the two reels with three power supplies sound like a better option for you!

​The two reels will provide you with sufficient length to cover 32.8 ft, which is more than the 18 feet required for your cabinet dimensions.

​In fact, a single reel will provide you with 16.4 ft, so if you are OK with shortening the LED strip lights for some of your cabinets (the LED strip lights most likely do not need to go all the way from one end of the cabinet to the other), that might also save some of your cost as you would be able to use just a single reel instead of two.

Here is an example layout diagram that you may find helpful:

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

We're not sure if we need the 12V or 24V, and also do we need a junction box with the power supply?

I also want to confirm our dimmer switches will be compatible with this. Below are two different dimmer switches I'm planning to purchase:

Lutron MACL-153M-TP Maestro

Lutron MRF2-10D-120-TP Maestro 

Both the 12-volt and 24-volt versions will work OK for your installation, but generally, we recommend our 24-volt versions as they perform slightly more efficiently than their 12-volt counterparts. For additional details, you may find our article below helpful:

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

The junction box is an optional accessory for the power supply but can be useful for mounting the power supply safely and securely.

In terms of dimmer compatibility, our dimmable power supplies are designed to work with the majority of Lutron and Leviton dimmers. Below is a list of all dimmers we have tested for compatibility:

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

We do see both the MACL and MRF2 series dimmers on our tested list (I believe the letters and digits that follow are designators for non-electrical variations such as color, etc), so I do believe that either of those options should work well for your installation!

I don't believe we have any further guidance or recommendations, but you may want to review the following layout map for a visual preview of what you have in mind for the installation configuration:

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

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:

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

Can the Centric Series Power Supply handle (2) units of 16' LED Strips?

We would like to connect two 16' CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights in series to one CENTRIC HOME Flicker Free Dimmable power supply. Can the CENTRIC SERIES Flicker Free Dimmable power supply handle this, or would we need two power supplies (one for each 16' strip light)? 

We can confirm that the 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product has a power output of up to 120 W.

Further, we can confirm that the 24V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential have a maximum combined length of 32.8 feet (10 meters).

As such, a power supply that has a greater power output than our 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip products could be used to supply power for a combined 32.8 feet of the 24V LED strip lights.

Alternatively, as mentioned, you may want to consider a dedicated power supply for each 16.4 ft reel of the LED strip light product.

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 Strip Lights for Stair Lighting Installation

I have a staircase with 16 steps. Each step is 32" in length. They need to be hardwired to 120V. I want to have a timer so that they come on in the evening (7:00 pm) and off in the morning (6:00 am). Single color with blue being prefer, but white will also work. I'm having a difficult time putting this package together. Can you help by recommending the items that I would need for this project? 

To start off, our SimpleColor Blue LED strip lights sound like a great option for you. These LED strip lights feature just a single color light output and should provide you with the simplest lighting installation. Below is the product link for your reference:

In terms of spanning each of the 16 staircase steps, the configuration will require a bit of careful planning due to some limitations in the "maximum run length" per LED strip light.

​For the SimpleColor Blue LED strip lights, the maximum run length is 16.4 ft. If I have done the math correctly, this means that each run can cover 6 steps at a time (6 steps x 32 inches / step = 16 ft). In order to cover all 16 steps, you will require three separate runs, each powered with an independent power supply.

Depending on the distance between each of the stairs, you will likely want to use PN 3071, or a combination of PN 3070 + PN 7098.

​The power supply we would recommend in this installation would be our TRIAC dimmable power supply, which is designed to be hard-wired to the wires in your wall. To control the lights on a timer, you may want to consider using a "smart home" type dimmer switch such as the third-party Lutron Caseta, which can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times during the day.

​Below is a configuration diagram for our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights, which uses the same 12 volt low voltage architecture and may be useful for better visualizing the wiring needed to complete the installation:

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

Please note that you may want to consider using PN 7095 to connect the power supply output wires to the LED strip DC input jacks:

Finally, should you prefer a plug-in approach, our FilmGrade LED power supply can also be a nice alternative that can also be programmed using a third-party electrical timer similar to those used for Christmas tree lights.

Daisy-chaining realUV LED Strip Lights

Daisy chaining seven 16.4 ft lengths of your UV LEDs. Rather than using 7 power supplies, can you recommend a 600W power supply/driver I could use to power 115ft of this product? What other items would I need to daisy chain that length of 7021.95? 

While the realUV™ LED Strip Lights can be daisy-chained together, please note that this product has a maximum run length of 16.4 ft (5 meters).

As such, we do not recommend arranging this product into a combined run of 115 ft with a single power source, as this may introduce safety hazards.

Further, we, unfortunately, do not have any recommendations for power supplies that would be capable of powering seven reels of this product. We apologize! ​

Is the Film Grade DC Power Supply Compatible with different LED Strips?

I looked at the 24V plug-in transformer, and I noticed that it seemed to be specific to film-grade products. It is compatible with other strip lights such as the 95 CRI or 99 CRI 5000K products. The application I am using it for is a display cabinet that will not be hardwired. 

The 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip products is compatible with the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products.

However, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI - 16 ft / 5 m Reel product utilizes 12V, and would not be compatible with the 24V power supply.

Additionally, please note that an adapter such as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter would be required to connect the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights product wires to the barrel jack of the 24V power supply.

UV-C LED Strip Light for Fluorescent Mineral Display

I want to install UV shortwave lighting for my fluorescent mineral display. The minerals are on two shelves, each about 30 inches long and 6 inches wide. I believe the UV-C LED strip light will work. I am planning to buy the Filmgrade DC power supply. Is that the right power supply for what I want to do? How do I hook up the two strips (each 1/2 segment of the original)? Is there a way to do this without having to buy two power supplies? 

I am happy to confirm that the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip is indeed compatible with the realUV™ LED Strip Lights.

Please feel free to utilize our return policy, if the realUV™ LED Strip Lights wind up not working well for your mineral display. For your testing purposes, please note that we are unable to accept returns for LED strip light products that have been cut or altered, including the removal of the adhesive liner.

Regarding installing multiple strips, there are a few configurations that might work for your installation. I have provided layout links below which illustrate these configurations further. To utilize two strip segments powered by one power supply, you may benefit from using the LED Strip-to-Strip product.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4B?px=-2278.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1557&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2278.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1557&ph=1491&s=0.1

Do I have to unroll the entire LED strip to test it? I would like to test it using just half the length, then test using just 15 inches and finally test it using just 8 inches. 

Can I daisy chain two pieces (one will not have a DC connector) for my display and then use the third piece (with the second DC connector) somewhere else?

We're happy to confirm that the cleanUV™ UV-C LED Strip Light item can be removed from the reel, as well as tested without altering the product.

To daisy-chain the individual UV-C barrel jack lengths together, we sell a product called the Daisy-Chain DC Connector for UV LED Strips, which might prove to be useful.

Further, to connect the individual cut segments, we might recommend the LED Strip to Strip product.

For powering the product, we recommend a 12V DC power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product.

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.

LED Lights Recommendations for Digital Photo Studio

I'm converting a utility room in our garage to be a dedicated digital photo studio. As such, I know I need much more controlled/accurate lighting. Note, that I do not plan to shoot photos/video in the room, just edit, evaluate, and display.The skylights have remote-controlled blackout shades. My initial thoughts about your products are as follows:

I was thinking of using your 16' LED strip mounted in an aluminum channel on the ceiling ridge, e.g. Centric Daylight strip 5000K. For the LED strips, do your aluminum channels have a system to interlock end-to-end or would you recommend other types of aluminum channels for reasonably diffuse light?

While the linear light fixtures could allow for an easier installation than the LED strip lights, the linear light fixtures are not dimmable. As such, your space might benefit from the LED strip light products, which allow for dimming functionality.

Further, the aluminum channel products unfortunately do not feature the ability to interlock. However, there may be third-party products available elsewhere which would allow for a continuous length of mounted LED light strips for installation along the trusses of the room.

I was thinking of using your FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip mounted in your corner aluminum channels mounted under the bottoms of the trusses in the photo to illuminate the right side wall where I would hang/display prints. How accurate are the hybrid strips in simulating various color temps, etc.? Equally important, what's a simple solution for a controller that would allow me to specify the desired color temperature and it would set the appropriate LED values? Is this doable, what would you recommend?

The FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights could be a great option for your space, and I am happy to confirm that this product can be used to simulate any color temperature between 3200K and 6500K by adjusting the intensity of each color temperature.

However, it might be valuable to know that a LED strip light product featuring a single dedicated color temperature is able to emit more light per foot than the individual colors of the HYBRID LED Strip Lights are able to. For example, the HYBRID LED strip lights emit 225 lumens per foot, per color, whereas the single-color FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights emits 450 lumens per foot.

This product can be controlled using several different methods. Though the easiest implementation would likely be to utilize a color tunable LED controller, which would allow for you to easily adjust each color point. The below article contains detailed descriptions for each configuration method available for the product.

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products: https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography/how-to-connect-hybrid-cct-tunable-led-products

You sell your T5 Linear light fixtures (D50) in 4 ft. I was thinking of using a couple of those to set up a dedicated print viewing station. Your website says they are out of stock but will ship on 12/14. Is availability still accurate as I would like to go ahead and order them to start experimenting?

We can confirm that the 5000K 4-ft NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture product is currently expected to be available by December 14th. In the event that you would like to place your order prior to that availability date, we would process the shipment as soon as the items become available.

Do all of your 5000K lights actually meet D50 spec or only where specifically indicated?

Not all of our 5000K color temperature products are designed to be compliant with the D50 standard. However, if you had a specific product in mind, I would be happy to review the item to check for D50 compliance.

Anything else you would advise or suggest that I consider?

Regarding installation suggestions, the primary consideration which comes to mind would be to test the LED strip light products within the space prior to cutting the product into segments or installing them completely, as we are unable to accept returns for these products as soon as they have been cut or altered.

Our second suggestion is to keep in mind that the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights requires a 24V power supply.

Third, the HYBRID LED Strip Lights product has a maximum run of 32.8 ft, and draws a variable amount of power per foot depending on the color point adjustment. Details regarding this can be found on the product specification sheet. As such, you may want to consider a power supply which is capable of outputting enough power to accommodate the power draw needs of the lengths of your installation.

On the FilmHybrid LEDs, I saw the referenced setup with the two dimmers. But to use that, I need to figure out the dimmer settings that correspond to different Kelvin temperatures. I'm assuming to do that I would need to have a spectrophotometer that can measure incident light which I don't have. Is there another 3rd party solution that you could recommend that wouldn't be too complicated or expensive that would allow me specify the color temp and then set the appropriate values on the two LED channels of the hybrid film strip?

Any 3rd party aluminum channel manufacturers you recommend that might have interlocking sections? I'm still going to take a look at yours as well.

Unfortunately, the dimmer uses an analog dial to control the relative brightness levels of the two channels, so there is no way to digitally map the two output levels to a specific color temperature level. You may want to think of this as being similar to a traditional shower faucet, with one for hot and one for cold, without the ability to set a specific water temperature.

We are not aware of any third-party products or solutions that could incorporate our LED strip light to achieve the lighting controls you are looking for, but do hope to be able to offer such solutions in the near future. For the time being, we may recommend searching for cinematography and photography lighting products such as those manufactured by ARRI or Kino Flo, although these will likely be a much higher price point.

I've got a few questions on your 24V dimmable transformer that I purchased:

Is this designed to be driven at 100% rated load (96W) for a prolonged period of time? Is there any issue with splicing a pigtail and plugging it into an outlet (that has an AC dimmer upstream)? Is there a minimum load requirement on the transformer? Any issues if there is a GFI on the circuit?

The 24 volt dimmable power supply load is de-rated at 100% (full 96 watt capacity) until ambient temperatures exceed 105 F. Maximum allowable ambient temperature is 140 degrees F, at which the power supply output load is de-rated to 60% (59 watts capacity).

​We do not maintain a minimum load requirement on the power supply unit, but all dimmer tests are performed at 85% load.

With respect to your questions regarding installation through a wall outlet and the use of GFI components, I would consult with an electrician for further recommendations. From what I understand, there may be code compliance issues arising from:

From a pure electrical standpoint, I do not believe there would be any performance issues, but such installation methods would be beyond the scope of our safety and reliability assurances.

.

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:

Does your power supply require a neutral wire for dimming?

Your webpage shows a nice diagram using a Lutron dimmer. The Lutron dimmer I wish to use is the Caseta plug-in dimmer, P-PKG1P. It has two output plugs. Both plugs are two-wire, not three-wire plugs. Does your power supply require a neutral wire for dimming? If so, I could rig one.

If your dimmer does not have a neutral wire connection (it should just have two black wires), ​the TRIAC dimmable power supply's neutral wire can be connected directly to the neutral wire in the wall.

Which power dimmer switch should I order to work with your 220v power supply?

I am writing from Europe and planning to your LED stripes and dimmable power supplies for my new large bathroom project for barrisol ceiling (smth like this - https://youtu.be/QeMlIcZOlO0) As long as voltage here is 220v I am looking for proper dimmer switch (lutron for ex.) When I go to Lutron webpage every switch states it is meant for 120v. Can you please advise which switch should I order with your system to work with 220v? 

We currently do not have any specific compatibility test data for non-USA models of dimmers that can be used with our TRIAC dimmable power supply.​The dimmable power supply is designed to be compatible with phase dimmers in general, however, so you should find that most dimmer models available locally (including at 220 volts) should work with our product, without any issues.

Power Supply Recommended for a Goal Zero Solar Setup

I want to run a 12V LED filmstrip with a dimmer from a Goal Zero solar setup that has USB and cigarette lighter plug (or direct battery terminal) connection options. Will the dimmer work in this scenario, and do you offer any of the power supply options, or do you have product recommendations? I don't know much about wiring so prefer no soldering or splicing, or at least having product-specific recommendations. 

While we have not tested the Goal Zero product, based on a quick review of their product specifications, it does appear that the 12-volt output provided via the cigarette lighter port would be able to power our LED strip lights and dimmer.

​To connect the cigarette lighter plug to the dimmer, you may want to consider a third-party product such as the one below:

​From there, you may benefit from referencing our Layout Maps which show the connectivity of the dimmer and LED strip lights. In your case, you would want to ignore the DC power supply unit, since the Goal Zero unit already outputs 12 volts DC.

Do you have a 24-volt DC solution for the cleanUV UV-C LED Strip Light?

We have only 24V DC available in place, where we are planning to use this UV-C light. Do you have a 24V DC solution for this UV-C strip light? 

Unfortunately, we do not have any 24-volt DC configurations of our UV-C LED strip light products. If you do not have any other viable option, you may want to consider the following approach, which is not officially supported but may be workable, depending on your needs:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/pcb-designs/using-a-12v-led-strip-in-a-24v-system

Also, I have to ask for your help with UVC-dose calculations. You have very good specifications and data sheets, but this is a new thing for me. With this led strip, what is UVC-dose in a 50cm distance within 20 minutes? Do you have some program or formula to share, on how I could easily calculate UVC dose for shorter LED strips?

For the UV-C product, the exposure dosage charts can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/BP_7026_EXPOSURE.pdf

The nearest data we have is 30 cm at 15 minutes, for which the exposure dosage is 171 J/m2. For additional calculations, you may find our exposure dosage calculator below helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/uv-c-led/uv-unit-calculator

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.

realUV LED Strips for Printing Box

For my printing box, I need UV led strips realUV™ LED Strip Lights (5meter) and 365nm. I need to cut them and connect 10 pieces together. Also, do you have a powerboat that will work for Belgium? So if possible can you send me all of the information I need for ordering this? 

We have listed some product recommendations for your project below, which we hope will be helpful. However, if you would like to provide us with a sketch or layout of the printing box, we would be more than happy to provide you with a more precise product recommendation list.

We are also happy to confirm that the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product is compatible with the 220-240V Belgium standard, though you may require an additional wall socket adapter.

In order to connect the ten LED strip light segments together, we recommend using the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip product (PN3071). Please note that the realUV™ LED Strip Lights product has a maximum combined run length of 16.4 ft (5 meters).

In the event that your configuration requires the connection to more than one power supply, you may also find value in the LED Strip to Wire Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip (PN3070) product, which can be used in addition to the Male DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter (PN7095) and 16 AWG Wire for LED Strip Lights (PN7098) products in order to connect the cut segments to additional power supplies.

For more information regarding the various connection methods, please reference the below links which provide further illustration:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2260.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1521&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4B?px=-2260.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1521&ph=1491&s=0.1

So if I order 5 meter realUV 365nm led strip I need another power supply. Is it possible to order the 24v power supply and connect both led strips to one power supply or must each led strip have its own power supply.

While we can confirm that each 16.4 ft (5 meter) reel of the RealUV™ LED Strip Lights would require a dedicated power supply, the 24V power supply is not unfortunately compatible with this strip light product, as it is only designed for 12V.

As such, we might recommend utilizing an additional 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product with your additional reel of the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights.

LED Lights to Stimulate Daylight for Winter Depression

I am looking for a lamp that simulates daylight as accurately as possible to combat my winter depression. 

I'm not sure exactly which light fixtures are being used in my house. They appear to be standard spot lights. I sincerely doubt there is anything special about them. I am looking for a colour temperature of about 5000K - 6500K.

I'm interested in your full-spectrum products. Whatever reproduces the spectrum of sunlight must be the best. Let's take the LED strip as the starting point and figure out a solution around that. I would also like it to be dimmable if possible.

The closest measurement I can get is 13 metres for my small room and 30 for my large room.

Based on your needs, it seems as though the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs at 6500K would be the best fit for you. From a spectral and chromaticity standpoint, this is the product that most closely resembles natural daylight at noontime, and should be an excellent choice.

​To address some of your questions about the technical aspects of the product:

Regarding the power supply, we can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product would require a DC power supply for every 16.4 ft (5 meter) of length, such as our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. Our DC power supply is compatible with global input voltages (100 - 240V AC, 50-60Hz), though you may require an additional wall socket adapter. 

​Further, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product can be paired with the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product for additional dimming capability. 

Depending on your installation, we might also recommend placing the LED strip lights within an enclosure which features a diffusor, such as our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which is available in 'flat' and 'corner' options.

​For a detailed illustration of the configuration options available for this product, the below links may prove to be useful:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

It is going to be pretty difficult to install a power supply for every 5 metres of strip. If I run a strip around my whole room, I'm going to have a huge number of power supplies everywhere. Is there some way to hide them?

Unfortunately, we don't have a proper recommendation to hide the power supplies. However, the cords for the DC Power Supply products are of a decent length, and could be helpful in hiding the power supply some distance from the LED strip lights.

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.

Absolute Series LED Strip Lights Installation Questions

I’m working on a prototype product, which is a Lightbox for photographing original artwork and/or printed materials, color accurately. I need help with some technical questions.

I must be doing something wrong because only half the strips light up.  

Upon looking at the photos provided, it appears that the "3-LED jumper" segment is connected in reverse. In other words, it looks like the positive wire (red) is being connected to the negative copper pad on the LED strip segment. If you can simply flip the LED strip segment by 180 degrees and reconnect the sections, that should immediately resolve the issue!

Can I just cut those wires and splice them together without the small strip of lights in between? 

I completely understand why the 3-LED jumper is there due to the limitation of the cable length. You certainly can connect other wire components to achieve the same electrical connection here, and we would recommend looking at our PN 7098, which can also be used with our PN 3070 wire connectors. 

For an illustration showing how those components can be used, I would recommend referencing our Layout Maps diagram. Linked below is a diagram for a slightly different product, but the connectivity demonstration remains the same: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-4112.152690063189&py=-5318.5634471544645&pw=1806&ph=1814&s=0.458662083452406

My question is, if we add more lights will we get more lux? And, is there a way to calculate how many lights I might need to achieved the desired lux at the surface (which is the bottom of the box).

Yes, that is correct, and the nice thing is that lux is a linear measurement. In other words, if you are at 500 lux now, doubling the light quantity will get you 1,000 lux. If you have an existing lux measurement, a quick "scale factor" calculation could be the best way forward here.

We’ve already gone ahead and ordered 2 more strips with 2 more DC power supplies yesterday. I’m wondering, though, if I need a DC power supply for each strip or if I could connect 3-16’ strips together with 1 power supply?

Unfortunately, each LED strip reel (16.4 ft) will require its own power supply. This is due to the current carrying limitations in the LED strip lights, as well as the power capacity limitations in the power supply.

Running these lights at 100%, how much voltage are they using and how long will they last? And, what is the core temp of each LED?

When operated at 12 volts DC, the lights are rated to last 50,000 hours. As long as the LED strips are not subject to any voltage fluctuations (such as those introduced by battery systems), you should not have any issues with longevity. The product is also covered by our 3-year warranty.

The LEDs are designed with thermal management in mind, and will therefore not require any heatsinks or additional components.

Based on the photos provided, there do not appear to be any issues or concerns with respect to longevity or reliability.

TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply Compatible with Centric Home LED Strips

Can I use the TRIAC dimmable power supply with Centric LED strips?

Yes. We're happy to confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products is compatible with our CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential and CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products.

Below is the layout guide, which illustrates the configuration of these products.

LayoutMaps™ LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-4896&py=-3269.5&pw=1464&ph=1491&s=0.125

Power Supply Needed for (3 lengths) of 5m 365nm LED Strip Light

We are wanting to purchase and then join 3 lengths of 5m LED strip light together to form a 15m length. What is the best option to power this? If a single 5m length requires a 12V, 108W power supply, would a 12V, ~360W power supply work to power the 15m length?

Our 12V LED Strip Light products have a maximum run of 16.4 ft (5 meters). These products are not designed to carry current beyond that 16.4 ft maximum length. Unfortunately, this is the case even if you were able to locate a third-party power supply with a higher power capacity of 360 watts.

As such, each 16.4 ft (5 meters) length would require a dedicated power supply and would be unable to support additional lengths.

For the installation described, we would recommend pairing each 16.4 ft reel to a dedicated power supply product, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

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.

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

Does your TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply use high-frequency PWM?

I would like to ask if your TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip (3093.120) uses high-frequency PWM to dim the actual LED strip on the output side or uses PWM at the mains frequency.

I read your very good article which suggests that flicker-free PWM dimming needs to be at 25kHz or so. I live in New Zealand & we use 230VAC at 50Hz. I wish to adapt the existing 230V wiring to accommodate a dimmable LED strip. 

Our TRIAC dimmable power supply does indeed use high-frequency PWM on the output side to dim the LEDs. The PWM frequency is 25 kHz, which should be high enough for even the most sensitive or demanding of applications.

​On the AC input side, the power supply "interprets" a phase-dimming signal (commonly called TRIAC) which is produced by traditional wall dimmers in residential installations.

If you have a standard AC 230-volt mains voltage dimmer installed, our dimmable power supplier would be a great fit for the installation.

For additional guidance on installation, please see our layout map below:

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

Absolute Series LED modules for a color matching to a Pantone swatch book and small item product photography.

I am interested in the Absolute series LED modules, I just realized the modules won't fit into the aluminum channels you offer, so I'm not certain what to mount them on or use as a diffuser. Do you have any recommendations? Is the type of diffuser material likely to affect the CRI at all? 

I was also wondering about the brightness - each module produces 800 lumens. 

I am also thinking about getting one of your dimmers, is the panel with 2 modules likely to be too bright to use at full strength? 

I was also thinking about trying the North Lux light bulbs, but wasn't sure about the socket type - I'm in the UK. I noticed the Centric Daylight bulbs have an E27 European option though, are those actually the same bulbs as the North Lux? What is the actual CRI for either of these bulbs? The item page says they have a CRI of 95+, and an R9 of 80+, but the photometric report seems to suggest both of these are much higher. Am I reading it wrong? 

I was planning on getting the D65 modules as I'm used to working with natural daylight color temperatures. The Pantone color bridge I'm using says to use D50 for color matching, is the D65 fine for this? Pantone has further confused me by using M1 lighting for the color bridge guide, but M2 lighting without UV for the online color finder - do the Absolute series modules qualify as M1 lighting (the D50 version anyway)? 

First of all, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules sound like a great option to give you an excellent "building block" for building your own light panel. The 99 CRI is an excellent fit for many color viewing and color-critical applications.

​Whether or not you will need a diffuser will depend on whether there will be any potential for glare. If, for example, you plan on shining the modules directly at the illumination subject, there should not be any issues. For more information, we would recommend our blog article here: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/aluminum-channels-for-led-strip-lights-are-they-worth-it-an-in-depth-look

​If you do decide that the aluminum channels and diffusers are indeed necessary, you may want to consider our flexible LED strip version of the ABSOLUTE SERIES as they will fit inside the aluminum channels without any issues.

Each module produces 800 lumens. It's a bit difficult to provide any recommendations as to whether this is sufficient or excessive for your needs, but you may want to take a look at our lumen estimation calculator, which you can find here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

​Alternatively, a useful rule of thumb is to remember that 800 lumens are approximately equal in brightness to a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

​Transitioning to our household lamp form factors, the NorthLux is not available in an E27 socket variant, so we would recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions instead. For more information on E26 vs E27, you may want to reference our article here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/e26-vs-e27-bulbs-are-they-interchangeable

The CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions also offer an excellent 95 CRI color rendering at 5000K and 6500K, either of which should work well for you. The only minor difference (as noted by their part number including or not including the letter "D") is that the NorthLux is calibrated to D50 and D65 color standards, which may be of interest to you.

The actual color rendering values will depend on the specific bulb. Our guaranteed values are 95+ and 80+ for CRI, respectively, but depending on the specific bulb, these values may fluctuate. CRI, for example, can be anywhere between 95 and 98.

Since you'll be using the lamps for digital arts (rather than printing and visual assessments) with monitors calibrated to D65, our 6500K or D65 product options sound like the best option for you.

Is there a recommended type of material for this, or will any type of translucent plastic do? Are there any materials that look appropriate but I should actively avoid them due to them compromising the CRI too much? If I use completely transparent clear plastic just for a protective 'lid' over the module, will this affect the color temperature or CRI at all? My gut says no on this last one, but thought it was worth checking in case there's something I'm not aware of.

Unfortunately, all materials will absorb and reflect a small portion of the light energy across the spectrum in slightly different ways. We generally recommend using polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass, as these materials generally alter the spectrum to the smallest extent. Some anecdotal testing on our end indicates that polycarbonate diffusers can affect the color temperature by 200-300K. CRI is generally not affected.

I was hoping you might be able to give me some quick advice on setting up the modules - I've made a basic diagram of my plan, but I don't have much experience with this sort of thing, so I was hoping you could take a quick look and see if it makes sense.

I've reviewed the drawing you kindly provided, and everything looks good and reasonable.

Hopefully, this makes sense, if not, let me know! I will most likely put 3 modules on one panel and 2 on a separate one, but I am making the basic assumption that even if I put all 5 on the same panel using the same power supply, it should be ok, as the power supply is 24v, 60W, 2.5A, which seems to cover the minimum requirements for 5 modules, plus a bit extra - is it ok?  

Yes, the power capacity appears to be perfectly fine for this installation. The only thing to be careful of would be to make sure that the wires used to connect the modules have sufficient thickness. Generally, if you're just connecting a single module, you should be fine with 20 AWG or thicker.

Is it okay to use an inline switch sold as a 12V switch, as long as the amp rating is high enough? I found some that say 2 amp max at 12VDC, and one that says suitable for 5-24V but doesn't mention amps... They're all very basic barrel jack connected on/off switches that look identical, but I've read conflicting information online about this issue, mostly regarding the possibility of arcing with higher voltage, so I thought I'd better ask even though most people say it's ok. I'm guessing the current that will go through the switch will only be the 420mA / 10W for a single module though, given how it will be set up.  

There should not be any significant safety issues here, but we would recommend checking with the switch manufacturer to ensure that operation at 24 volts would be permissible. I believe that both the arc voltage, as well as current ratings, would both be of concern here.

Not too bothered about having to replace the switches if they break, but I don't want anything bad to happen to the LED modules. And I'm assuming that connecting and disconnecting the modules via just unplugging any of the connecting wires between the individual module and PSU while it's all switched on is a bad idea? This sort of thing is generally frowned upon, hence my idea about adding inline switches for each module for some brightness control... Sorry if any of these are silly questions, I'm learning this on the fly! 

There should be no issues with the modules, as long as they are not suddenly flooded with voltage or current.

As for the A19 style bulbs, does the article you linked basically mean it's always unsafe to use E26 bulbs in an E27 socket, even when they are compatible with 240V AC?

That is our assessment based on the dimensions and input voltage levels.

Would it be safe to use a NorthLux E26 bulb with a B22 (bayonet socket) to an E26 adapter at 240V? (E27 to E26 doesn't seem to be a thing...) Given that the product page says it's compatible with 240V AC, I assume I wouldn't have to use a step-down transformer or anything?  

Yes, the product is compatible with global input voltages and will operate with 240 volts AC despite having an E26 base.

Do you know if NorthLux bulbs (the D50 version anyway) conform to the M1 lighting standard at all? 

Unfortunately, our D50 products do not conform to the MIUV metamerism requirement for UV fluorescence. As such, you will see our conformance is limited to ISO 3664:2000 and not any of the later standards.

Do the lights emit anything into the UV range at all, or are they closer to the M2 UV-excluded type lights in that respect? Doesn't help either that the bridge guide uses M1 standards and photoshop uses M2 when the paper the guides printed on is full of OBAs.

All of our products do not emit any UV (defined as < 400nm) except for our realUV products.

Except for our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products, the LEDs are based on a royal blue 460 nm emitter with phosphor downconversion, so virtually no energy is emitted below 430 nm or so.

I saw the section about white rendering on the Absolute series product page, does this mean they can activate the OBAs in paper and textiles, at least somewhat? 

You are correct that the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products do have some potential to excite OBAs to improve white rendering. This is due to the underlying emitter being based on a violet emitter which peaks at 420 nm. You'll notice, though, that this is still well within the visible range of the spectrum and does not produce enough ultraviolet energy to provide meaningful improvements to MIUV rendering.

One thing you may want to look into is the realUV LED strip or floodlights​ in combination with our existing visible wavelength range products to improve UV rendering. Unfortunately, we don't have any test data or full solutions here, but this may be worth experimenting with on your end.

LED strip lights for under-cabinet lighting: 12V or 24V?

We are installing LED strip lights for an under-cabinet application. There are two 8-sections that are approximately 10 feet apart, for a total of 16 ft. Should we use a 12V or 24V setup?

Both 12V and 24V LED strips should work fine, as long as the corresponding power supply voltage is selected.

For your setup, however, 24V may be preferable as it will reduce the risk of voltage drop (lower brightness at the far end of the LED strip). Since you do have a 10-ft span between the 8-ft LED strip segments, the 24V might be a better option.

To further reduce the risk for voltage drop, we would recommend using sufficient wire gauge for the 10-ft wire span. For example, see our 16 AWG wire (PN 7098) available here.

The only significant downside of the 24V versions would be the longer intervals between cut lines. The 12V versions can be cut every 1 inch, while the 24V versions can be cut every 2 inches.

For further reference, we recommend referencing the following:

LED strip power supply capacity with dimmer

I have two reels of your 2700K 12V 95 CRI LED strip lights. I will be using the entirety of both reels, so a total of 33 feet, which based on my calculations, will require 178 Watts at 12V (5.5 watts / ft x 33 ft). I plan on connecting the system to a wall-dimmer to reduce the brightness. If I don't ever plan on exceeding 50% on the dimmer setting, can I get away with using just one power supply, even though it can only supply a max of 120 watts @ 12V?

While we completely understand the the logic behind this, the LED strips and power supplies do not work in this manner. The LED strips operate at a fixed power, voltage and current, so there is no way to adjust this, even if the LED strips are used with a dimmer. As such, you will need two separate power supplies for your two LED strip reels.

We know this is counter-intuitive, so below is a technical explanation of why this is the case.

If you operate the LED strips at a 50% dimmer setting, you will indeed get 50% of the brightness and use only 50% of the power. This is accomplished via a mechanism called PWM (pulse-width modulation). In PWM, the light output is actually "chopped up" into short bursts of on/off periods.

During the "on" period, the LED strips operate at 100% power, and during the "off" period, the LED strips operate at 0% power. The power supply adjusts the perceived brightness level by adjusting (i.e. "modulating") the proportion of "on" vs "off" time. Even at a 50% dimmer setting, the LED strip will draw its maximum power during 50% of the time period, and will cause the power supply to exceed its power capacity.

Below is on the product page, you will find the wiring diagram for the multiple power supplies connected to a single dimmer switch:https://store.waveformlighting.com/collections/power-supplies-and-dimmers/products/triac-dimmable-power-supply-for-led-strip

LED strip layout for cove lighting

I have a room with dimensions 15' x 15' and vaulted ceilings that go to 17'. I would like to line the perimeter of the room with LED strip lights. There is a "cove" space for lighting and I will utilize this space to install the LED strips. What layout and parts would you recommend for a dimmable setup?

Our LED strip lights sound like a great fit for an indirect lighting application. Assuming room dimensions of 15' x 15' and that you want to install LED strip lighting along the entire perimeter, this would require a total of 60 feet of LED strip lighting.

Each 16.4 reel of LED strip lights requires a separate TRIAC dimmable power supply. To cover 60 feet, you will likely want to use 4 reels and 4 power supplies. Each power supply can be connected to the same wall-dimmer as shown below:

Finally, inputting room dimensions and ceiling height into our calculator below, we can confirm that the 60 feet of LED strip will provide more than sufficient levels of brightness for all activities.

Power supply and voltage selection for a long run of LED strip lights

I need to install a 19-ft run of LED strip lights am confused about whether I should pick 12 or 24 volts.

The LED strip spec sheet for the 24 volt version says it can have a max length of 32 ft, but when I calculate out the wattage for the 19-ft run, it comes to 105 watts, which exceeds the power capacity of the 24 volt power supply (96 watts). Your 12 volt power supply has a capacity of 120 watts. Should I choose the 12 volt versions instead?

In terms of the run length and power draw question, there are two separate limitations that we will need to consider.

First, the 12 volt LED strip lights to have a recommended max run length of 16.4 feet. Exceeding this 16.4 ft maximum length may lead to safety risks, resulting from the excess heat generated by the higher levels of electrical current that a longer run length would require. While the 19 ft run does not exceed the 16.4 ft limitation by much, we would nonetheless not recommend exceeding this length for safety reasons.

On the other hand, as you mention, the 24 volt LED strip lights can safely be used at a 19 ft length, as their maximum run length specification is 32.8 ft.

(The reason for the higher max-run length specification is that the 24 volt versions operate at half the electrical current, which is the limiting factor).

Secondly, we will want to take a look at the power draw and capacity of the power supply units. The 24 volt TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has a maximum capacity of only 96 watts, which is unfortunately insufficient for the power draw needs of a 19 ft length of LED strips lights. The reason for this specification is to allow for installation as a Class 2 power supply, which is a commonly designated electrical code rating.

Although the 12 volt version of the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has a capacity of 120 watts and could theoretically power the entire 19 ft length, due to the maximum run length mentioned above, this would unfortunately not be a recommended option either.

This may not be a convenient solution, however, for maximum safety, we would recommend installing separate sections that do not exceed 16.4 ft, or depending on the flexibility of the installation, modify the run lengths to two runs of 16.4 ft each. Alternatively, a third-party 24 volt power supply with a capacity of 105 watts or higher may also be an option.

How to wire and power a long LED strip run (100 ft+)

I am looking to install LED strip lights across a 100 ft section. How many power supplies do I need, and should I use 12 volts or 24 volts?

Our recommendation is to set up six separate LED strip runs of 16.4 ft each. We would recommend our 24 volt LED strip lights, and each of the 16.4 ft runs should be powered by a TRIAC dimmable power supply. All of the power supplies can be connected to a single wall-dimmer so that the entire 100 ft section can be controlled from a single dimmer switch.

If you're wondering why we need a separate power supply for each 16.4 ft run, see our article below which should provide some additional insights, as well as some third-party options:

Which is safer - DC 12 volts or 24 volts?

Do 12 volt LED strip light systems also have lower shock risk than 24 volt? I have heard that "it's not voltage that kills, it's current" - in which case the 12 volt LED strips would appear more dangerous given that it has twice the amperage.

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.

TRIAC dimmable vs FilmGrade™ power supplies for LED strip

I am looking to purchase the CENTRIC HOME™ LED strip lights in 24 volts (PN 3004.27), and I see that for a dimmable setup, the TRIAC dimmable power supply is recommended. For my setup, I'm looking for a plug-in power supply, and it seems the FilmGrade™ 24V power supply (PN 3092) might work. Is this compatible with the 24V CENTRIC HOME™ LED strip lights? Will it have the same brightness?

The CENTRIC HOME™ LED strip lights are indeed compatible with both the TRIAC dimmable as well as the FilmGrade power supply units. Both power supply options provide the same level of power and brightness, so once installed, you will not see any differences in terms of the light output of the LED strip lights.

The primary advantage of the TRIAC dimmable power supply is the ability to incorporate dimming from a traditional wall-dimmer. This approach will typically require hard-wiring to the in-wall wiring and may require an electrician's assistance. Here is a wiring diagram for this approach.

On the other hand, the FilmGrade power supply units are designed to plug into any standard wall receptacle. This is a great option for less permanent installations where you want to avoid having to deal with any in-wall wiring. Here is a wiring diagram for this approach. Keep in mind that using the FilmGrade power supply will not allow you to use a traditional wall-dimmer. If dimmability is required, you will want to instead incorporate the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer (PN 3081), which should be connected between the power supply and the LED strip.

Operating a TRIAC-dimmable LED power supply from wall outlet

Can a Triac-dimmable power supply such as the CENTRIC SERIES LED power supply be connected to a wall outlet and controlled by a wall-dimmer?

Electrically speaking, this could be accomplished. However, this would not be an advisable configuration from an electrical safety standpoint. This is because, in general, a wall dimmer should never be connected to a wall outlet.

Wall outlets are used for a wide range of non-lighting related electrical appliances. If a non-lighting product is inadvertently plugged in and "dimmed" from the wall-dimmer, there may be some catastrophic failures and/or safety issues that arise. For example, a microwave oven is most certainly not designed to be "dimmed" from a wall-dimmer, and could potentially lead to some serious issues.

As an alternative, we would recommend using an in-line PWM dimmer in conjunction with a plug-in power supply.

Putting LED strip lights on the backs of shelves in a three section book case

I am putting lights on the backs of shelves in a three section book case. There are a total of 4 shelves on each section and a section in the middle with one shelf to light. The tape light I choose is 3000 K. The shelves each are all 30 inches with the exception of the one in the middle being 40 inches. Total length of lighting needed is 24 ft. There is about 18 in of jumpers needed between the shelves.

Would you recommend two 12 volt power supplies in 2 parallel 16 ft runs, or one 24 volt power supply in one 24 ft run wired in series?

Generally speaking, our LED strip lights are limited to 16.4 ft per run due to power supply and/or maximum run length constraints. For your installation of 24 ft, you will likely want to install two separate LED runs​, while ensuring that neither run exceeds 16.4 ft.​

Below is a link to one of our layout diagrams which you may find useful in determining the configuration and components needed for this setup:​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

Operating a TRIAC-dimmable LED power supply from wall outlet

Can a Triac-dimmable power supply such as the CENTRIC SERIES LED power supply be connected to a wall outlet and controlled by a wall-dimmer?

Electrically speaking, this could be accomplished. However, this would not be an advisable configuration from an electrical safety standpoint. This is because, in general, a wall dimmer should never be connected to a wall outlet.

Wall outlets are used for a wide range of non-lighting related electrical appliances. If a non-lighting product is inadvertently plugged in and "dimmed" from the wall-dimmer, there may be some catastrophic failures and/or safety issues that arise. For example, a microwave oven is most certainly not designed to be "dimmed" from a wall-dimmer, and could potentially lead to some serious issues.

As an alternative, we would recommend using an in-line PWM dimmer in conjunction with a plug-in power supply.

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