Installing LED strips can be a bit confusing, especially if you’re new to it. To make things easier, we’ve put together this guide, which focuses primarily on our LED strip offerings but can also serve as a general resource for any LED strip installation.

Key LED Strip Specifications

Before diving into the installation process, it's important to understand the specifications of your LED strip. Here’s a summary of the critical elements:
Type Voltage LEDs/m PCB Width PCB Thickness Max Run Length 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: What’s the Difference?

The numbers 3528 and 5050 refer to the size of the LED chips used. LED strips with 5050 chips are generally twice as bright as those with 3528 chips, though they also consume twice 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: Which Should You Choose?

If you're powering your LED strip from one end only, our 12V LED strips can typically be run up to a maximum length of 5 meters. On the other hand, our 24V LED strips can be run up to 10 meters under the same conditions. This difference is due to something called "voltage drop," which occurs when current flows through a cable. The resistance to current flow is influenced by passive components like cables, contacts, and connectors. The longer the circuit or cable, the more voltage is lost. In an LED strip circuit, this means the last LEDs in a long run may appear dimmer than the earlier ones. In most electrical systems, voltage drop can often be mitigated by using thicker cables, which reduce resistance. However, this isn’t practical for LED strips since their PCB width and thickness are fixed. While our experience suggests you might be able to install around 6 meters of 12V LED strip and 12 meters of 24V LED strip before noticing a significant drop in brightness, exceeding these lengths requires special considerations.

PCB Thickness & Strip Width

This refers to the physical width of the strip. Always ensure that any connectors or mounting profiles you use are compatible with the strip’s width.

Cutting Points

LED strips can only be cut at specific points called cutting points. The distance between these points differs between 12V and 24V strips, so it’s crucial to take this into account during installation.

Longer Runs

For installations requiring lengths beyond the "Max Run" limit, there are several solutions that will be explored in our upcoming LED strip installation guide. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our team of experts at 01482 820099 or email us at [insert email address]. --- We hope this guide helps you better understand LED strip installations. Stay tuned for more detailed advice on handling longer runs and other advanced topics! *Last updated: 04-12-2018*

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