ELEGANT LIGHTING USING SDIP INDIVIDUALLY ADDRESSABLE RGBW LED STRIP

Power efficient and easily adaptable digital RGBW LED strip

 

SDIP manufactures 5v, 12v, or 24v individually addressable RGBW LED strips, allowing you to select your choice of power consumption for your various lighting projects. With SDIP RGBW addressable LED strip you are ensured of a low heat dissipation individually addressable RGBW LED strip allowing it to be suitable for indoor use.

Our smart RGBW LED strip is easily adaptable to both concrete, tiled, wooden, metal, and various surface finishing. With this, you are ensured of an easy installation of our RGBW addressable LED strip.

Contact us today on our website with your demands and we will be sure to deliver quality products worldwide.

 

Everything You Must Know About Addressable RGBW LED Strip Lights

 

Introduction

Have you ever thought about furnishing your home spaces with an ultra-modern LED technology that’ll provide over 15 million color shades along with a warm white LED radiance coming in 5050 size LED chip?

If not, then the RGBW LED strip is something you must give a try in one of these cool days.

RGBW LED strips to give a color combination as an upgrade of the traditional RGB LED strips by adding a task and household-friendly white hue that is suitable for both the lovers of incandescent fashion and those who have a great desire for something that avails a color-changing lighting effect.

The RGBW LED strip comes as a solution for the diverse consumer segments that had the great desire to have a product that is more flexible product than the traditional RGB LED strip which looked a little bit crude.

The extra white chip included in the new-model RGBW allows you the extra opportunity to enjoy an extra color-mixing scope that creates a wide range of unique scopes.

Here’s everything you must know about RGBW LED strips:

Table of Contents

1. What are RGBW LED Strips?
2. Can I connect RGB controller to RGBW addressable LED strips?
3. What Factors Must I Consider When Shopping for RGBW digital LED Strips?
4. How do I achieve the light effects I desire with my addressable RGBW strips?
5. How do RGBW digital LED strips work?
6. How are Digital RGBW LED strip lights manufactured?
7. Can Smart RGBW LED Strips be used in outdoor settings?
8. How do I control the brightness of my addressable RGBW LED Strips?
9. Are Addressable RGBW Strips Packed with Adhesive?
10. How Effective Are Voice Controlled Individually Addressable RGBW LED Strips??
11. Do Smart RGBW LED Strips have Flexible Properties?
12. How Often Should I Replace My Addressable LED Strip RGBW?
13. How do I control the power consumption rate of my Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights?
14. What drivers can I use for my Addressable LED Strip RGBWs?
15. Is the RGBW Digital LED Strip I plan to use bright enough?
16. Why are My Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights at the end of the tape warm white/pink when driven white?
17. Can I cut the tape for my Individually addressable RGBW LED Strip?
18. How Sustainable Are Addressable RGBW LED strip Lights?
19. Can I Remote Control My Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights?
20. How Can I Connect My RGBW Digital LED Strip Lights to My Smartphone?
21. Do Longer Runs of Addressable RGBW LED Strip Lose Brightness?
22. What is the Maximum Run Length of a Smart RGBW LED Strip before it experiences a voltage drop?
23. How Can I Create Ambient Light with My Addressable RGBW LED Strip?
24. How do I get started with the RGBW LED Digital Strip lights I bought?
25. What is the importance of having UL Listed Addressable RGBW LED Strip Lights?

 

Q1. What are RGBW LED Strips?

RGBW LED strip

RGBW LED strips are an upgrade of the traditional RGB LED strips comprising of four-channeled Red Green Blue White chips that are individually addressable.

The RGBW LED strip is undoubtedly more flexible and more effective than the standard RGB LED strips that have been portrayed to be a little crude in the market.

Depending on the model and the manufacturing company, RGBW strip lights tend to vary in the types of ICs used.

For instance, some manufacturers will use the IC WS2814 on their models while others will take the bold move of adopting other IC versions like the TM1814 and the SK6812.

Your local retailer will charge you more expensively for an RGBW LED strip; you will however reap the benefits associated with this highly capable commodity.

This is the best product for you if you are on the hunt for an LED strip that’ll give you a cool and natural environment.

Q2. Can I Connect RGB Controller to RGBW Addressable LED Strips?

No, you cannot connect your RGB controller to your RGBW addressable LED strip.

At this juncture, you need to be aware that the RGB controller has a great structural variation from the modern RGBW addressable LED strip.

The RGBW addressable LED strip you will purchase will requires five outputs- an output for each of the four colors and one for the source of power.

On the other hand, the traditional RGB LED strip comprised of four outputs- one for each of the three colors and one for the power source.

The functionality control associated with the RGBW addressable LED strip has also to be very different from that of the RGB addressable strip to enable effective operation of the white part in the RGB+W.

However, it is possible to connect your RGB addressable LED strip to an RGBW addressable LED strip cable.

You will have to connect the three-color pins of the RGB LED strip to their respective holes on the extension cable (leaving one hole and one pin unused).

It is important to note that the RGBW LED strip controller is one of the indispensable parts of your RGBW LED strip that allows t to work effectively.

It acts as the color management powerhouse of your RGBW addressable LED strip lighting system.

Similarly, the RGBW addressable LED controller will not only control the light but also play an additional role of regulating the fineness of the white light and mixing it with the other color schemes to bring out a richer, more vibrant and highly brilliant hues.

In other instances, the RGBW LED controller could be used to initiate adjustments on the relative strengths of each of the four primary colors to mix and bring out millions of other color schemes- this reveals its similarity with the RGB LED controller.

Q3. What Factors Must I Consider When Shopping for RGBW Digital LED Strips? 

RGBW digital LED strips have become a popular option for homeowners who have a deep desire for residential and commercial lighting systems that present both aesthetic and economic appeals.

There’s a tendency that counterfeits will penetrate the market as the demand for RGBW digital LED strips increases.

This reveals the essence of knowing the factors to consider when purchasing your set of RGB digital strips just to ensure that you get a system that suits your needs.

Here are the factors to consider the next time you go shopping for a set of RGBW digital LED strips:

The type of RGBW digital strips

There are dozens of RGBW digital strips in the market that you may choose from.

You may prefer having one type over the other.

Here is a brief description of the major types of RGBW LED strips that you may find in the market the next time you want to make a purchase:

• DC RGBW digital LED strips- They’re powered from a 12-volt DC and come with an adhesive backing that allow for easy mounting
  • • They may also be cut at every 2-inch measurement and offer waterproofing characteristics.
    • They come with either 30 LEDs per meter or 60 LEDs per meter.
• High output RGBW digital LED strips- These are high power LEDs with rigid strip mountings that come with on board circuitry and drivers.
• AC RGBW digital LED flex digital strips– This is a model of flexible strip light system that gives you the ability to operate straight from the outlet.
  • • You’ll only need to get them plugged in to the power source and they’ll be good to go.
• LED rope RGBW digital LED strips- These are encased and Omni-directional RGBW LED strips that come in a standard light rope packing.

The length of the RGBW digital LED strip

You must look at the length of the RGBW digital LED strip you desire to purchase before initiating the final decision.

Here, you will be vetting the number of LEDs per length of the RGBW digital LED strip as a key factor.

It would be a great idea to choose a strip with the highest number of LEDs per foot if you want something that’ll give you a brighter output.

You must also know that your strip will produce a spotty lighting if they are spaced farther apart along the strip instead of the highly coveted clean and continuous line of light.

The brightness of the RGBW digital LED strip

Advancements in LED technology have presented new mechanisms through which manufacturers can present their customer segments with RGBW digital strips with brighter capabilities than the traditional RGB versions.

However, this doesn’t make a conclusive stand that all the RGBW digital LED strips you get in the market will give you the super-bright effect.

There are instances where you may not want the super bright effect from your set of strip lights like your cabinets and shelves that may match well with an accent feel.

Brightness in RGBW digital LED strips is measured in lumens.

The number of lumens you need will greatly depend on the manner in which you plan to put the strips to use.

For instance, strips with anything brighter than 200 lumens per foot will give you an accent lighting effect.

However, your personal preferences will guide you on the additional number of lumens per foot that you will require for your RGBW digital LED strips.

This explains why it is always a great idea to check the number of lumens per length alongside the number of LEDs per length as they will have a remarkable effect on the quality of light you get.

The nature of LED strip colors

LED strip lights may present as single-color strips or multiple-colored strips.

However, RGBW digital LED strips are distinctively multi-color in nature.

Your RGBW digital LED strip will display any combination of red-blue-green colors.

They may be controlled to initiate color changes either in flashes or adopt a single selected solid hue.

The color temperature

The color temperature of an RGBW digital LED strip gives the basis of how you will differentiate the diversified white colors it can produce.

Conversely, the temperature of the strip reveals how cool or warm the light it produces will appear.

RGBW digital LED strips with higher temperatures will produce a cool blueish hue while their counterparts with lower temperatures will produce a warmer yellowish coloring like the one you expect from a bulb.

The wattage

Wattage is another key factor to consider any time you want to set up your RGBW digital LED strip lights.

You must first determine the wattage of the system you desire to set up then verify the wattage per length indicated by the manufacturer on the set pf RGBW digital LED strip lights.

This makes it easy to find out what your wattage will be as you will be well placed to know the linear feet you need for your space.

The total wattage doesn’t only help you get a matching power supply for your set of RGBW digital LED strip lights but also gives you a rough estimate of the amount of electricity you will require for the entire setup.

You will be well-placed to identify the power source once you have a clear picture of the wattage you desire.

This places you in a better position to know the input voltage that your RGBW digital LED strips will require.

Q4. How Do I Achieve the Light Effects I Desire with My Addressable RGBW Strips?

The lighting effects of addressable RGBW LED strip

Well, you will require a little programming to get the light affects you desire out of the set of addressable RGBW strip lights in your custody.

Here’s how to achieve the lighting effects you desire with your addressable RGBW strip lights:

Ensure that the addressable RGBW strip lights are properly connected

• Be keen to check the polarity of your addressable RGBW strip before you initiate a connection to the power supply
• Take time to read the instruction manual or the technical drawings on the user manual revealing the polarity of the addressable RGBW strip you have at hand.
• You must never initiate a reverse connection on your addressable RGBW strip’s polarity as it may cause a lot of damages on the internal IC processor of the addressable RGBW strip.

Check for the orientation of data on the addressable RGBW strip

• Identify the arrow revealing the direction of data flow and connect the driver in this direction
• Be careful not to connect the driver in a backward direction as it will not work but may cause damages on the first few LED of the strip.
• The ability of the addressable RGBW strip to initiate color and vibrancy changes reveals its greatest strength in the LED market.
• The ambiance you desire to present in your spaces greatly depends on the vibrancy and colors you have chosen from your set of addressable RGBW strip- an aspect that makes these products aesthetically pleasing compared to the other forms present in the market.

Controlling your addressable RGBW strip

• You may control your set of addressable RGBW strips by applying a wide range of controllers.
• For instance, the DMX controllers can handle near 500 color zones while the single-zone RF controllers are only dedicated to initiate control of one-color zone.

Q5. How do RGBW Digital LED Strips Work?

RGBW digital LED strips have a very simple working mechanism.

In essence, RGBW digital LED strips have a driver chip on the strip that is used to control the LEDs individually.

Each RGBW digital LED strip has four LEDs inside; one red, one green, one blue and one white.

Notably, the LEDs are dimmable in nature and every colored LED has the ability to produce all the associated color hues in its spectrum.

In essence, each colored LED can produce over 250 shades of the same color.

This reveals that a combination of the four colors will gibe you over 16 million color combinations.

So, how does each of the four LEDs on the RGBW digital Led strip produce these color combinations?

Well, this is only a simple issue of playing around with the brightness levels of each of the LEDs in the strip.

You may take advantage of your RGBW LED controller to control the brightness and color of the strip.

 

Q6. How are Digital RGBW LED strip lights manufactured?

The manufacturing process of digital RGBW LED strip lights has become more streamlined as the popularity of these devices increases across the globe.

In their basic form, digital RGBW LED strip lights are printed circuit boards (PCBs) that are welded together to present the desired LED length.

On the other hand, PCBs make use of the Surface Mount Technology Assembly Process to foresee the mounting of the targeted LEDs and other electrical components on the board (the strip).

Manufacturers take advantage f the PCBA procedure to foresee effective customization of LEDs to ensure that they match the desired lighting requirements.

The figure below gives a summary of the process of manufacturing digital RGBW LED strips:

The process of manufacturing a digital RGBW LED strip

Q7. Can Smart RGBW LED Strips Be Used in Outdoor Settings?

Using smart RGBW LED strips in outdoor settings

Yes, smart RGBW LED strips can be used in outdoor settings.

However, it greatly depends on the way the addressable RGBW LED strip manufacturer initiated the finishing- some could be suitable for outdoor use while other may not.

The manufacturing process for smart RGBW LED strips meant for outdoor uses involves welding the strips through a process referred to as aging which involves turning for about 12 hours to ensure that they are waterproof and working in a seamless way.

In essence, addressable RGBW LED strips meant for outdoor settings should be rated IP65 and above.

They are designed to meet a wide range of outdoor applications like vehicle mountings, landscaping, railings, gazebos and patios.

Q8. How Do I Control the Brightness of My Addressable RGBW LED Strips?

It is important to note that virtually all brands of RGBW addressable LED strips are dimmable.

Clearly, addressable LED strips are not meant to initiate direct connections to line voltages like your 120V AC wall socket and will need a power supply to foresee the conversion of the huge voltage into a lower 12V or 24V DC output.

Huge voltage connected into a lower 12V or 24V DC output

As such, involving a wall dimmer in the circuitry presents a communication avenue through which signals are initiated between the power supply unit and the LED strip.

Here are the two most common options used to direct the levels of brightness in addressable LED strips:

First option: Use a traditional TRIAC wall dimmer alongside a TRIAC dimmable power supply

Traditional TRIAC wall dimmer alongside a TRIAC dimmable power supply

This is the most effective way out for you if your house has the traditional wall dimmers and you have the great desire for an outstanding installation of addressable RGBW LED strips.

Most of the wall dimmers available in the market today have a great consideration on the use of a TRIAC dimming signal.

Therefore, you will need the installation of a TRIAC dimmable power supply that will:

• Minimize and correct the 120V AC to a 12/24V DC signal that’s compatible with your set of LED strips
• Interpret any form of TRIAC dimming signal produced by the all dimmer then translate them into the desired output.

The TRIAC dimmable power supply initiates a direct connection with the TRIAC wall dimmer while the output end of the power supply connects to the addressable RGBW LED strip.

You also need to be cautious with the solutions that involve a wall dimmer  as they will require a lot of hard-wiring connectivity to the mains electricity and will require the services of a qualified person to avoid any accident.

Second option: Make use of a low-voltage DC PWM Dimmer

Low-voltage DC PWM Dimmer

This is the best option for you if you are worried about messing up with the wiring of your house.

You may connect a DC PWM LED strip dimmer to your regular wall output between the LED strip and the non-TRIAC dimmable power supply.

Q9. Are Addressable RGBW Strips Packed with Adhesive?

Yes, addressable RGBW strips are packed with adhesives.

The manufacturers of RGBW strips appreciate that they may be used in outdoor conditions.

The adhesives included on these devices are meant to ensure that strips remain glued in place even in adverse conditions.

Q10. How Effective Are Voice Controlled Individually Addressable RGBW LED Strips?

Voice Controlled Individually Addressable RGBW LED Strips

Voice-controlled individually addressable RGBW LED strips are very effective for use in home spaces.

You will only need a stable Wi-Fi connection to give you the great opportunity to control your set of individually addressable RGBW LED strips by voice.

However, the greatest letdown with voice-controlled individually addressable RGBW LED strips is that some will only be programmed to be controlled by a particular voice whose absence may render them ineffective.

Q11. Do Smart RGBW LED Strips have Flexible Properties?

Yes, your set of addressable RGBW LED strips are designed to give you the highest degrees of flexibility.

In fact, the printed circuit boards of your smart RGBW LED strips are so robust that they can be bent up to 90 degrees with great ease.

Q 12. How Often Should I Replace My Addressable LED Strip RGBW?

Most of the addressable LED strip RGBW boast of a general lifespan of 50,000 hours.

This equates to about 6 years (full-time) of use.

Your set of addressable LED strip RGBW will lose their light output over time and will diminishing by over 70% when thy reach the 50,000 hours cycle.

His could be the most appropriate moment to thin about a replacement.

Q13. How Do I Control the Power Consumption Rate of My Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights?

Smart RGBW LED strip lights are not heavy consumers of electricity.

However, you may still contain the levels of consumption by finding a set of smart RGBW LED strip lights that is more efficient.

Q14. What drivers can I use for my Addressable LED Strip RGBWs?

Drivers are used to controlling the functional mechanisms and electrical characteristics of addressable LED strip RGBWs.

Here’s the list of drivers used in addressable LED strip RGBWs:

• Off-Line drivers/ AC LED drivers- Very effective for use in of addressable LED strip RGBW applications that require high voltage AC power.
• Low voltage DC input drivers- Used in of addressable LED strip RGBW that require a low voltage DC input.
• AC dimming drivers- Used to offer TRIAC dimming in addressable LED strip RGBWs
• LED boost drivers- They’re meant to output a higher voltage than what is supplied.

Q15. Is the RGBW Digital LED Strip I Plan to Use Bright Enough?

The RGBW digital LED strip you plan to buy could be brighter than you have ever thought.

In fact, the manufacturer gives you the opportunity to control the brightness by installing dimmable characteristics.

A typical RGBW digital LED strip meant for floor lighting will come with 20 lumens per square foot.

On the other hand, RGBW digital LED strips meant for tables and countertops will come with 30 lumens per square foot.

Similarly, RGBW digital LED strip used in reading spaces will have 50 lumens per square foot.

Q16. Why are My Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights at The End of The Tape Warm White/Pink When Driven White?

The LEDs at the end of your smart RGBW LED strip will appear warm white or pink when driven white because of the voltage drop that occurs along the strip n the attempt of powering the longer length of the tape.

It is because of the voltage drop that the pixels along the strip will develop a gradual color variation particularly when driven white.

This explains why it is important to determine the maximum possible length of run associated with your smart RGBW LED strip to be in a better position to know the length where to inject power.

Q17. Can I Cut the Tape for My Individually Addressable RGBW LED Strip?

Yes, you can cut the tape for your individually addressable RGBW LED strip.

In essence, addressable RGBW LED strips are very flexible and may be cut at any length you desire.

On the other hand, the addressable RGBW LED strip is divided into key segments with each part containing one RGBW LED.

Cutting an individually addressable RGBW LED strip

You may adjust the size of the individually addressable RGBW LED strip by cutting it with a pair of scissors at the right place since there are marks on the proper place where the strip should be cut.

Take time to solder a connector to the cut end of the individually addressable RGBW LED strip.

Q18. How Sustainable Are addressable RGBW LED strip Lights?

Addressable RGBW LED strips are very sustainable.

In essence addressable RGBW LED strips have been considered to be among the most energy-efficient modes of lighting both in home and business environments.

Surprisingly, your set of smart RGBW LED strip will give you a lot of  light while generating less heat at a significantly minimal cost compared to the traditional sources of lighting.

For instance, the conventional incandescent lightbulb with a 40 watts capacity will output about 400 lumens.

This is the same amount of brightness produced by a meter of a warm white smart RGBW LED which in addition presents a high-quality diode.

Instead of the 40 watts (used in the traditional incandescent bulb), a meter of smart RGBW LED will only use less than 5 watts.

RGBW digital LED strip vs traditional lighting

Q19. Can I Remote Control My Smart RGBW LED Strip Lights?

Remote-controlled addressable RGBW LED strip

Yes, you can remote control your smart RGBW LED strip lights with great ease.

In essence, your set of addressable RGBW LED strip lights will come with a programmable 4 zone remote controller that will allow you to initiate free selection and adjustment of the associated color schemes and color modes.

It is through the remote-control system that you will be able to program the color alteration modes you want like static white, blend the white color into the RGB hues to present a richer and more vibrant output.

Remote controllers installed in smart RGBW LED strips will allow you to create an environment that is suitable for relaxation and professionalism any time you have this desire.

You may use the remote controller’s touch color wheel and the dedicated button to initiate intensity controls and auto mix the diverse color schemes produced by the smart RGBW LED strip.

The 4 zones of the remote controller will grant you the ample opportunity to initiate adjustments related to a wide range of color schemes either independently or synchronously at one point.

You may take advantage of the remote-control system to set individual zones and present a perfect ambience lighting that allows you to save energy by turning off the zones that aren’t in use.

 

 

Q20. How Can I Connect My RGBW Digital LED Strip Lights to My Smartphone?

Well, this greatly depends with the type of smartphone application you want to use with your RGBW digital LED strip.

Even with the varied applications, there is a general procedure of connecting your RGBW digital LED strip to any app as long as the two are compatible.

Here’s the three-step procedure you will have to follow any time you want to connect your RGBW digital LED strip to a mobile phone application:

Step 1: Get the smartphone app downloaded

This is a standard procedure for all smartphone applications.

You need to download an application that is compatible with the set of RGBW digital LED strip in your possession.

Go ahead and register an account on the application.

Some apps will require a passcode verification.

Follow the procedure keenly to avoid any messes.

Step 2: Set up your RGBW digital LED strip

Here, we assume that your RGBW digital LED strip lights are already installed and waiting to work.

Time 10 seconds after you have turned on the RGBW digital LED strip then long press the power button on the controller for a period longer than 5 seconds then release.

Long press the power button once more to allow the lights to switch to the slow flash mode.

Step 3: Connect the smartphone app

Open the smartphone app then log in.

The app should present you with an option to add your set of RGBW digital LED strip lights with utmost ease.

A prompt concerning your Wi-Fi will appear- enter your username and password.

The app will tell you to connect your smartphone with the Wi-Fi network that the RGBW digital LED strip lights are on.

The app then starts connecting to the RGBW digital LED strip lights after you have completed the setup procedure.

This will only take a few seconds to get the entire process completed.

 

Q21. Do Longer Runs of Addressable RGBW LED Strip Lose Brightness?

Yes, longer runs of addressable RGBW LED strips may cause major issues on the degrees of brightness.

In essence, longer runs in addressable RGBW LED strips lead to voltage drop (a situation where electricity encounters resistance as it travels through a conductor).

However small, this voltage resistance lowers the voltage and ultimate power of the electric current leading to heat and light wastages.

The voltage drops results when either your wiring, strip runs or both are too long.

 

Q22. What is the Maximum Run Length of a Smart RGBW LED Strip before it experiences a voltage drop?

Well, it would be too difficult to quote a precise value of the maximum run length of a smart RGBW LED strip before it starts experiencing a voltage drop.

Yes, there’s no 100% accurate answer since the run length will depend on a range of factors such as:

• The total load attached to the addressable RGBW LED strip
• The source of power you’ve chosen for your set of smart RGBW LED strip
• The state of wiring used for the addressable RGBW LED strip

All these factors have a great effect on the voltage running through the addressable RGBW LED strip.

Even with these factors, the rule of the thumb will always remain “the shorter the smart RGBW LED strip the better”.

 

Q23. How Can I Create Ambient Light with My Addressable RGBW LED Strip?

Ambient light created using addressable RGBW addressable strips

You may take advantage of dimmers to create ambient light with your set of addressable LED strips.

Dimmers will grant you the rare opportunity to turn your addressable LED strips into crucial lighting masterpieces as they avail coloring experiences that are beyond your scope of imagination.

You may use the dimmers to turn down your addressable LED strip lights as night falls that will avail you with the feeling of relaxation and bring your mind to the sleeping mode.

You may also use dimmers to add ambient light in a room that enjoys the free flow of natural light but is experiencing some hindrance from the clouds and you desire a little extra.

Q24. How Do I Get Started with the RGBW LED Digital Strip Lights I Bought?

Here, we assume that you have already selected the RGBW LED digital strip of your choice and have already ferried it home.

The next step would be to ensure that the RGBW LED digital strip is well installed in the place you want it to be.

Note: Every digital RGBW strip comes with a driver chip meant to control each LED individually.

You will have to connect the RGBW LED digital strip to a remote control or a smartphone application through which you will initiate the necessary controls.

You will only have to ensure that key things like the voltage rating, pinout diagram and wattage are effectively adhered to if you want to get the most out of the RGBW LED digital strip you bought.

Q25. What is the Importance of Having UL Listed Addressable RGBW LED Strip Lights?

Notably, UL, formally referred to as Underwriters Laboratory, plays a role in advancing product safety standards and tests to ensure that the consumer only gets what is right.

This explains why it is important to have a UL listed addressable RGBW LED strip lights.