Application Note – How to use LED Flexible Light StripsLED­Flexible­Light­Strips­are­wound­on­reels­like­movie­film­and­are­5­meters­(16.4­feet)­long.­They­are­low­voltage­andoperate­off­12­Volt­DC­power.­The­backside­of­the­strip­has­a­protective­cover­over­3M­adhesive.­The­strips­are­Peel­andStick­so­you­can­attach­them­to­any­surface­to­which­you­can­apply­tape.­Like­tape,­these­LED­strips­can­be­cut­to­thelength­you­need­with­scissors.­These­strips­have­a­marked­line­every­3­LEDs,­approximately­every­2­inches,­where­youcan­cut­the­strip.­Determine­the­length,­find­the­nearest­cutting­line,­and­carefully­cut­exactly­along­the­line.­Whether­youare­cutting­strips­ to­put­beneath­your­kitchen­cabinets,­ lighting­a­display­case­or­curio­cabinet,­or­bringing­ light­ to­yourmulti-level­model­railroad­layout,­you­can­adjust­the­length­to­what­you­need.­

When­cutting­LED­strips­to­length,­you­must­also­consider­the­power­connections.­All­of­our­single-color­LED­reels­have­abarrel­jack­electrical­connector­attached­to­one­end­that­can­plug­directly­to­the­barrel­plug­connector­of­our­#85501­powersupply.­Our­Multi-Color­LED­strip­comes­with­a­4-pin­connector­on­one­end­of­ the­strip­ that­plugs­ into­one­of­our­colorcontrollers,­#85688­or­#85552.­Our­color­controllers­also­have­a­barrel­jack­connector­which­allows­you­to­easily­connect­toour­#85501­power­supply.­This­is­a­simple­way­to­power­the­LED­Light­Strip.­When­using­only­a­part­of­the­light­strip­andnot­ the­entire­ length,­ first­ use­ the­end­ that­has­ the­connector­already­attached.­Use­one­of­ our­ solderless­ clip-onconnectors­to­power­cut­sections­of­LED­strips.­Look­closely­on­both­sides­of­a­cutting­line.­On­our­single­color­LED­strips,there­are­two­pads,­which­are­the­power­connections­for­the­strip.­One­pad­has­a­“+”­next­to­it,­and­the­other­pad­has­a­“–”next­ to­ it.­This­ indicates­ the­positive­ (+)­and­negative­ (–)­ connections­ for­ the­12­Volt­DC­power.­These­pads­are­ theconnections­for­our­clip-on­strip­connectors.­Our­Multi-Color­strips­have­four­pads­next­to­each­cut­line­(see­below).­

Choosing a Color

Single-color­LED­strips­come­in­several­colors,­plus­three­varieties­of­white­LED­strips.­White­LED­strips­are­available­inthree­color­temperatures:­5000°K­(Bright­White);­4200°K­(Neutral­White)­and­2800°K­(Warm­White).­The­white­to­chooseis­mostly­a­matter­of­personal­preference,­but­here­are­some­guidelines:­Most­people­prefer­the­Bright­White­for­lightingcurio­cabinets…particularly­when­there­are­crystal­figures­to­display.­Warm­White­is­similar­to­incandescent­lighting­and­isusually­ preferred­beneath­ kitchen­ cabinets.­Neutral­White­works­best­ for­ lighting­outdoor­ dioramas­or­model­ railroadlayouts,­since­it­produces­color­renditions­similar­to­natural­outdoor­lighting.­Using­two­strips,­one­Bright­White­and­oneWarm­White,­will­also­produce­a­neutral­white­effect.­­­

Using our Solderless Strip Connectors with Flying Leads (#85498 and #85560)

If­you­are­going­ to­power­a­cut­ length­of­ the­LED­Strip,­you­can­easily­use­one­of­our­solderless­connectors­ to­makeelectrical­connections­to­the­power­pads.­Open­the­connector­end­(opposite­the­wires)­by­lifting­the­small­plastic­latch­thatholds­the­connector­closed.­Peel­back­a­small­portion­of­the­adhesive­backing­paper­(about­¼­inch).­Insert­the­end­of­theLED­Strip­into­the­slots­in­the­connector,­under­the­metal­contacts,­and­snap­the­cover­of­the­connector­closed.

On­single­color­strips,­make­sure­that­the­red­wire­side­of­the­connector­goes­to­the­“+”­pad,­and­the­black­wire­side­of­theconnector­goes­to­the­“-“­pad.­On­Multi-Color­strips,­make­sure­that­the­black­wire­side­of­the­connector­goes­to­the­padmarked­“+12”­(You­may­have­to­turn­the­strip­upside­down­to­do­this­properly­for­both­types­of­strips).­For­single­colorstrips,­connect­the­red­wire­to­+12­VDC­and­the­black­wire­to­the­negative­screw­terminals­of­a­power­supply,­LED­StripDimmer,­or­Barrel­Jack­adapter.

340­Snyder­Avenue,­Berkeley­Heights,­NJ­07922

www.micromark.com­­•­­MMTechService@micromark.com

Tech­Support:­908-464-1094,­weekdays,­1pm­to­5pm­ET

Single color LED light strip

Single color

Multi-color

Multi-color LED light strip

MM09­­­1216

Multi-Color­ strips­ have­ four­ connections;­ one­ for­ the­+12V­power,­ and­one­each­ for­ the­Red,­Green,­ and­Blue­ colorchannel­return­connections.­Extend­the­wire­leads,­ if­necessary,­with­22­AWG­wire.­Our­#84109­ScotchLok­connectorscan­be­used­to­make­quick­connections.­For­LED­strip­lengths­of­10­feet­or­less,­our­#85511­(red)­and­#85512­(black)­24AWG­flexible­wire­can­be­used;­it­has­a­thin­FEP­insulation­and­fits­into­tighter­places­than­typical­PVC­insulated­wire.

#85498

#85500 #85562

#85498

#85499 #85561

#85560

Using our Solderless Strip-to-Strip Wired Connectors (#85499 and #85561)

Installing­ two­LED­Flexible­Strips­at­ anyangle­to­each­other­is­easy­with­our­strip-to-strip­wired­ connector.­Separated­by­5inches­of­wire,­ the­ two­ connectors­ let­ youconnect­ two­strips­and­mount­at­any­angleto­each­other.­ ­ Follow­ the­ same­LED­stripconnection­procedure­as­our­Flying­Leadconnectors.

Using our Solderless LED Strip Couplers (#85500 and #85562)

Use­our­strip­coupler­to­closely­connect­twostrips­ together­with­a­minimal­gap­betweenLEDs.­Open­ the­ two­sides­of­ the­connectorby­ lifting­ the­small­plastic­ latches­ that­holdthe­connector­ closed.­Peel­back­a­smallportion­of­the­adhesive­backing­paper­(about¼­inch)­on­each­strip.­Insert­the­ends­of­thetwo­LED­Strips­into­the­slots­in­both­sides­ofthe­connector­and­under­the­metal­contacts.Make­sure­that­the­“+”­pad­one­strip­lines­upon­with­the­“+”­pad­on­the­other­strip.­

Dimming the Brightness of LED Strips

Our­#85503­LED­Strip­Dimmer­adjusts­ thebrightness­of­ your­ single-color­LED­Strip.­It­will­ plug­directly­ into­barrel­ plug­of­ the#85501­Power­Supply­and­barrel­ jack­ofsingle­ color­LED strip.­Use­#85553­BarrelPlug­Adaptor­and­22­AWG wire­ to­ connectto­#85502­Power­Supply.

No more cutting and soldering!

#85553 2.1 mm Barrel Plug to screw terminals Adapter #85554 2.1 mm Barrel Jack to screw terminals Adapter

These­two­adapters­allow­you­to­connect­bare­wires­ tobarrel­ jack­ connectors.­One­end­has­screw­ terminalsand­ the­other­has­a­2.1­mm­x­5.5­mm,­center-positivebarrel­ connector.­Choose­ the­#85553­Plug­or­ the#85554­Jack­as­needed­for­your­connections.­Be­sure­tofollow­the­“+”­and­“–”­markings­near­the­screw­terminalsto­ensure­the­proper­polarity.­Use­any­available­20­AWGor­22­AWG­wire­ to­make­your­ connections.­Shorterlengths­of­ LED­strips­ (under­10­ feet)­ can­be­poweredfrom­thinner­24­AWG­wire.

Power Supplies

A­ full­ reel­ (5­ meter)­ LED­ strip­ at­ fullbrightness­requires­6­Amps­at­12­VDC.­Our#85501­Power­Supply­provides­ this­powerand­can­operate­one­ full­ LED­strip.­Topower­more­ than­5­meters­of­ LED­striplights,­ use­ two­ (or­more)­of­ our­#85501power­ supplies.­We­also­offer­our­#85502power­ supply­ that­provides­up­ to­33­Ampsat­12­VDC­and­can­operate­up­ to­ five­ fullreels­ (25­meters)­of­ LED­strips.­ It­ uses­aterminal­ strip­ with­ 3­ pairs­ of­ 12Vconnections­for­direct­wiring­of­LED­strips.­

Color Controller for Multi-Color LED Strips

Each­LED­chip­on­ the­Multi-Color­ strip­actually­ contains­ three­ individual­ LEDS;one­ red,­one­green,­and­one­blue.­Any­color­ can­be­produced­by­ varying­ theintensity­of­ the­ individual­ color­channels.­Our­color­controller­ can­select­ specificcolors­or­create­various­color­effects­and­sequences­by­combining­colors.­Colorcontroller­comes­with­a­wireless­(infrared)­remote­control.­The­control­box­has­abarrel­ jack­ connector­ for­ the­power­ supply.­The­ infrared­sensor­ is­on­a­ shortlength­of­wire­which­lets­you­place­the­control­box­out­of­sight­while­keeping­thesensor­visible­to­the­remote­control.­The­4-pin­connector­plugs­into­the­Multi-ColorLED­strip:­Just­line­up­the­arrows­on­the­two­connectors.­Use­the­remote­controlto­set­colors­or­run­sequences.­

T H E S M A L L T O O L S P E C I A L I S T S340­Snyder­Avenue,­Berkeley­Heights,­NJ­07922

www.micromark.com­­•­­Tech­Support:­908-464-1094,­weekdays,­1pm­to­5pm­ET­­•­­MMTechService@micromark.com

#85553

#85502#85501

#86615

#85554

Barrel Plug Barrel Jack

Micro-Mark Tip:

When­powering­LED­Light­Strips,­you­may­find­ that­ the­ lights­are­brighter­at­one­end­of­ the­strip­ than­at­ the­other,especially­when­you­have­multiple­light­strips­connected­in­a­daisy-chain­(end­to­end)­fashion.­To­balance­the­light­output,you'll­need­to­provide­additional­power­feeds­to­the­connection­points­between­strips.­You­may­also­feed­the­powerinto­the­center­of­the­string,­or­feed­from­both­ends,­or­at­various­points­along­the­string­of­strips.­Be­sure­to­connectall­(+)­connections­together­and­connect­all­(–)­connections­together;­otherwise,­you­will­short­out­the­power­supply.