Installing LED strips can be quite confusing for many people. To simplify the process, we’ve put together this guide, which primarily focuses on our own LED strip offerings but can also serve as a useful reference for installing any LED strip.

Key LED Strip Specifications

Before diving into the installation, it's important to consider the specifications of your LED strip. Here's a summary of the key elements:
Type Voltage LEDs/m PCB Width PCB Thickness Max Run Cutting Points
3528 12V 60 8mm 0.25mm 5m 50mm
3528 24V 60 8mm 0.25mm 10m 100mm
5050 12V 60 10mm 0.25mm 5m 50mm
5050 24V 60 10mm 0.25mm 10m 100mm
5050 RGB + W 12V 60 10mm 0.25mm 5m 50mm
5050 RGB + W 24V 60 10mm 0.25mm 10m 100mm

3528 vs 5050

The terms "3528" and "5050" refer to the size of the LED chips used. LED strips with 5050 chips are about twice as bright as those with 3528 chips, but they also consume approximately double the power:
Type Voltage Power Consumption / 5m Current / 5m
3528 12V 30W 2.5A
3528 24V 30W 1.25A
5050 12V 60W 5A
5050 24V 60W 2.5A
5050 RGB + W 12V 60W 5A
5050 RGB + W 24V 60W 2.5A
*Assuming the same number of LEDs per meter.

12V vs 24V

If powered from one end only, our 12V LED strip can typically run up to 5 meters before noticeable dimming occurs. For 24V LED strips, the maximum length that can be powered from one end is usually 10 meters. This limitation is due to a phenomenon known as "voltage drop": [Insert image showing voltage drop] Voltage drop happens when current flows through a circuit, and it’s influenced by the resistance within the circuit, including cables, contacts, and connectors. The longer the circuit or cable, the more voltage is lost. In an LED strip, this results in the later LEDs being dimmer compared to the earlier ones. While voltage drop can often be mitigated in other electrical systems by using thicker cables, this isn’t practical for LED strips since their PCB width and thickness are fixed. For runs exceeding the "Max Run" length, we’ll discuss potential solutions in our upcoming article on LED strip installations.

PCB Thickness / Strip Width

This is essentially the width of the strip. Always make sure that any connectors or profiles you use are compatible with the strip width.

Cutting Points

LED strips can only be cut at specific intervals, known as cutting points. When installing LED strips, it’s crucial to take these cutting point intervals into account, especially between 12V and 24V strips.

Long Runs

When runs exceed the "Max Run" length, there are several options available. We'll explore these in detail in our next article on LED strip installation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team of experts at 01482 820099 or email us at [insert email]. [AddToAny sharing buttons] Last Updated: 04-12-2018

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