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How do the color changing led strips work


What components are needed for the color changing LED strip lighting system?

Typically, the color changing LED strip lighting system requires the following components: LED power + LED controller + color changing LED strip. Each component must coordinate and match in terms of performance and functions. The LED power supplies or power adapters convert high AC voltage to 12V or 24V DC. The LED controllers are suitable for 12V and 24V color changing LED strip lights.

The power supply voltage must always be the same as the voltage of the LED strip! When connecting multiple RGB LED strips, it is recommended using multiple wires to power the controller and by using terminal block connector or splicing connectors, extend wire harness from the controller to the color changing RGB LED strip lights.

LED controllers

LED controller is the critical part of the RGB color changing strip lighting system. There are many types of LED controllers that manage color changing LED strip lights in different ways, which are explained below in regard to the functions and features.

For more information on LED controllers, see RGB LED controller, RGBW LED controller, and RGBCCT LED controller.

LED controllers have the distinction of IR, RF, Bluetooth, WiFi, DMX mode and so on. Infrared(IR) LED controllers are cheaper, but a clear line of sight is required between the remote control and the receiver, which means that the receiver cannot be installed in a hidden area.

The other wireless LED controllers, such as RF, Bluetooh, and WiFi, are more advanced, and the receiver can be safely mounted in a suspended ceiling or adjacent room and can still receive control commands.


What are multi-zone LED controllers?

When using LED strip lights, we can easily control lighting by zones due to the technology advancement of LED controller. Multi-zone LED controllers are developed to control different zones synchronously or independently via one remote control. The so-called zone is the group of LED strips connected to the same LED controller.

If you plan an always uniformly colored light installation, your object is limited to one zone. The lighting design becomes interesting if multiple zones are to be illuminated in such a way that each zone is in different color at the same time.

For example, if you would like to set up two areas with one area in red light and the other in green light, you can create two strip lighting zones which can be realized by using two RGB LED controllers, each controller for one zone.

Multi-zone RGB LED controller for 8 zone application

WiFi RGB, RGBW, and RGBCCT Controller

More and more users now choose the WiFi RGB, RGBW and RGBCCT controller, which uses WiFi signal to control the lights through the smart phone. Using a smart phone to control lights looks even cooler. Some WiFi controllers can play music through a mobile phone, and the color changing LED strip light changes color as the music plays.

The application software is easier to select and customize the colors than the general controllers, choose the color temperature of white light, and adjust the brightness of each color light.

Some WiFi controllers are compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, and can be integrated into the home intelligent control system. For more information on LED controllers, please see the LED controller article.