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LED Strip Light for Opal Photography

I am trying to take pics and videos of opal gemstones. From what I’ve learned, that requires high CRI LEDs. Pics I take now don’t capture the true colors and are not sharp. Often, the color is washed out. I’m using an iPhone 13 with a 15x macro lens. I may need a different camera but I want to get the lighting right first. I think I need to be able to control the light intensity and temperature. What hardware do I need for this? I may ultimately build a lightbox.

Our high CRI LED strip lights sound like a great fit for your opal photography application. We understand you are looking for additional information on configuration, layout, and parts needed.

​We have included a link below to our layout diagram for the FilmGrade LED strip lights which should be sufficient for understanding the overall installation requirements. Please see below and let us know if you have any questions!

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E

The dimmer is for the intensity only. Correct? If so, what do I need to adjust the temperature? Also, do I want the Hybrid LED strip PN 3002.HY? How is that different from the PN 3002?

You are correct that our dimmer is for intensity control only. Unfortunately we do not have a way to provide color temperature control with our set of accessories at this time.

The 3002.HY product would provide the capability for color temperature adjustment, but a third party controller that offers color temperature adjustment would be necessary.

Have any recommendations and/or technical specifications for a device?

The third-party options we are aware of are either quite complex (e.g. DMX) or lack flicker-free light output for video purposes, so there may not be an optimal solution. That being said, we've included a few third-party product links below for your reference.

GLEDOPTO ZigBee 3.0 LED Strip Controller RGB+CCT Mix Dimmable 

GIDEALED 2.4G Wireless 5 Channel RGBCCT LED Controller with RF Remote Control, Dimming 5 in 1 RGBWW LED Strip Controller

Mounting specifications and quantities of DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder.

I'm looking for the mounting specifications and quantities of FilmGrade DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder.

Please see attached mounting hole dimensions.

LED Strip Light with Strobing Effect

I'm after a film-grade LED that offers a gentle strobing effect through a set color spectrum. Is this something you all can help me with?

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend using a combination of our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights and the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output. 

​These items can be programmed to provide customizable light output and can be further paired with a PC DMX Controller for automation and remote command. Such installations are common for event spaces and concert venues where networked lights are beneficial. 

LED Background That Can Be Pure White and RGB Color-changing

I'm trying to build an 8'x8' LED background that can be both pure white and RGB color-changing.

Based on my review, the closest match in our catalog would appear to be the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which can output RGB as well as Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures. This item is typically controlled using the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output as well a third-party DMX Controller for automating and controlling the output of the lights using a computer system. 

I understand that an ultra-fast refreshing decoder is vital for filming applications. The one you are selling is great for this application. How many decoder units would I need for the setup above?

How many power supplies or how many watts would I need for the setup above?

What are the differences between your RGB strips and the much less expensive strips I can get from Amazon? See the link here.

A high CRI strip is worth the price in the white strips but I don't think high CRI matters much in the RGB strips in my application. Would you agree? Why is it not?

Generally speaking, we recommend using one dedicated DMX Dimmer and Decoder and one per supply per full reel of FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights (or other LED Strip Lights). As such, we estimate that your order would require 16 units of the DMX Dimmer and Decoder product, as well as 16 power supplies.

That being said, if you can locate a higher capacity power supply than our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip, you may be able to connect more LED Strip Lights to each DMX Dimmer and Decoder. In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, I have attached a link to the product user guide below. 

Specification Sheet and User Manual

The primary difference between products such as the item shared and the items within our catalog are the quality of components, as well as the color consistency across the full reel. Our LED Strip Lights undergo strict testing to ensure that there is an extremely low variation across the full reel so that each segment is illuminated identically. 

​Our LED technologies also use higher quality materials than are found in most other LED products. Our products are manufactured using red phosphor, which is much more expensive than the yellow phosphor used in cheaper LED products. The red phosphor can provide a much higher CRI and color consistency, which we highly value in the production of our products. 

I read in the description of your decoder that it is capable of providing up to 40 Amps of power (8 Amps per channel). If so, I don't need another power supply as long as I buy one decoder per 16' strip of led lights. Right?

Yes, as long as you utilize just one LED strip reel (16.4 ft) per DMX decoder, you would be able to use a single power supply unit (sold separately: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/filmgrade-12v-24v-power-supply-for-led-strip-10-amps) for each DMX decoder.

 Do I need to buy the 12v or 24v light strips?

Both 12 and 24 volts would be suitable, but for higher efficiency, we would recommend 24 volts. Please see below for some additional insights:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/advantages-of-a-24v-led-system-vs-12v

Can two LED strips be placed side by side?

I am making a studio lamp. I would like to put one strip of filmmaking white 3500k next to another strip of RGB color space. 1st question, can two strips be placed side by side? if not what is the minimum distance required between strips (side by side)? I would like to control both strips with one controller and one power supply. Is that possible? Also, I would like to control the color and dimmer with knobs instead of/ or in addition to wifi or Bluetooth controller. Finally with the recommended controller from your website, what else does one need to actually control the lights? is it an app and a smartphone?

We are happy to confirm that two LED Strip Lights can be installed in parallel using the same power supply, so long as the power requirements do not exceed the capacity of the power source and have matching voltage. Utilizing an incorrect voltage will likely damage the hardware and void the product warranties. 

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per 5-meter reel, as lengths much greater than 5 meters will likely encounter voltage drop and diminished output. 

We offer the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output, which is able to send lighting commands to five channels using the on-device buttons. This product is typically used in conjunction with a third-party DMX Controller for networked lighting installations such as venues and studios. As your order would utilize four color channels, this may be a good option. 

That being said, our LED Strip Lights can also be used with third-party IR/WiFi controllers and power supplies as well as smart home systems. These options would likely be less intensive and may offer smartphone control and adjustment. Unfortunately, we do not have any specific third-party controllers that we could recommend at this time. 

The third party controller for your film grade dimmer decoder, what is the compatibility wording that I will be looking for to make sure the Ir/ wifi Controller will be compatible with your filmgrade dimmer decoder. Or is your filmgrade dimmer decoder basically compatible with ALL third party controllers ( assuming the voltage matches 12/ 24). 

The search terms we would recommend are DMX (officially DMX-512) or RDM (which is an enhancement of the DMX-512 protocol), which is the term for the networked lighting system that the DMX Dimmer and Decoder utilizes. Though we have not performed internal tests, some customers have found success using the DMX Dimmer and Decoder with the American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software. 

That being said, utilizing a DMX solution would be a different approach than utilizing an IR/WiFi controller, as those products may use a different protocol entirely and may not be compatible with the DMX Dimmer and Decoder. 

From my review, many of the IR/WiFi controllers available from other online storefronts utilize or include a dedicated power supply and controller, and are unlikely to require the DMX Dimmer and Decoder product for control of the color channels. Unfortunately, we do not have any specific products that we could recommend at this time. 

LED Strip, PSU, and DMX Technical Questions

I'm looking at buying a house-lot of LED strips from you. I like your helpful website, and the products appear to be of good quality. There are a couple of things I was hoping you could clear up for me.

- The Fivespect 24v strip data sheet says that it draws 36 watts for the two whites and 24 for each color. This is a total of 144 watts for the reel.

- However, it also says "max simultaneous power/ft" of 10 watts. This would be 164 watts for the reel.

- Then you recommend your 120-watt power supply, which doesn't seem like it would be enough.

- But you suggest 3rd party power supplies should be 60 watts?

- I'm guessing I'm missing something here.

And then my next question is about your Centric Home 24v. It says it has a total of 90 watts. Is your dimmable power supply, which is limited to 96 watts (to meet class 2) enough? As this is not as much headroom as I see is normally recommended (20-30%).

And then your DMX controller. It appears that these can be daisy-chained with ethernet-style cables, but I just wanted to check.

We agree that the power specifications on the FiveSpect product are a bit confusing - we hope we can help clarify, and perhaps work on this internally for clarification in the future.

​First of all, the specifications are offered under the assumption that the product will not necessarily be used as an entire reel, so your calculations and power supply limitation concerns are correct and valid.

Specifically, we would not recommend using our 120-watt power supply if you intend to operate all channels of a full reel of the FiveSpect LED strip lights, and at full brightness.

​The 60-watt power supply recommendation for a full reel is based on the assumption that the maximum power draw will be limited to 1.5 amps for the white (T/D) channels and 1.0 amps for the color (RGB) channels. This would be the case for most installations where brightness is maintained across color temperature dimming. For example, to maintain constant brightness from 2700 K to 6500 K, the channels would always need to add up to 1.5 amps, and never exceed it, even at the mid-point color temperatures.

Looking at the numbers, however, we're not sure how the 10 watts per foot limitation adds up, given that the individual circuits simultaneously powered at full brightness would still be less than the 10 watts per foot level. 

​Regarding the Class 2 power supplies, you are correct that the extra headroom in power supply capacity is commonly recommended. On the other hand, we do have quite a few of these dimmable power supply units in service, and we have not had any issues with power supply capacity, so we believe that with robust and reliable power supply design, these units fare quite well even when driven close to their 96-watt limit.

Finally, we can confirm that the DMX decoders can be daisy-chained via the RJ45 ethernet ports.

I have another question, and I have done a bit of research, and I am a bit of a nerd, but I thought I'd ask.

I'm wanting to put some of your home LED strips on my ceiling. They will be in a black aluminum channel, with a black diffuser, in the negative detail between sheets of plywood. 

It looks to be the same channel as the one you sell, but in black. The fact that the diffuser is black means it blocks a lot more light (I've seen varying claims between 40% to 65% are blocked).

Given that the channel will be recessed into the ply, and that the black diffuser stops more than normal light energy, do you think I could have any problems with heat? And by problems, I mean the plywood, and the LEDs themselves.

Also, I see you say that they normally reach 30 degrees C over ambient temperature. I assume this is not in a channel?

While we have not tested this specific type of diffuser installation, we completely agree in theory that it would be more likely to heat up a bit more than a translucent diffuser. A common misconception is that only infrared energy can carry heat; all wavelengths are capable of generating heat upon irradiance on a surface.

​That being said, we can't imagine the diffuser would absorb so much of the optical energy that it would heat significantly. As a rough ballpark estimate, we would say < 15% of the total system energy would be absorbed by the diffuser material. Our estimate is based on 70% efficiency loss in the LED strip itself (only 30% emitted as light), and a very rough guess that no more than half of the emitted light ends up being absorbed by the diffuser based on the transmission specs you provided.

The 30-degree measurements are based on the LED strip without the aluminum channel, so while we don't have the measurements, we expect that the temperature rise would like to be lower when used inside an aluminum channel.

If at all possible, we would recommend testing to verify all of these points, before any permanent installations. 

If I want to power your 5-color strip via the DMX controller, I assume your 200-watt power supply would be suitable. (in case someone puts all colors up full) I only ask as you market it specifically for your Photon panel. 

Yes, while it isn't being offered specifically for the FiveSpect product, the PhotonPanel power supply is certainly compatible and could be a good way to ensure sufficient power capacity.

Dimmable Light Bars for Aquaculture Hatchery

I'm looking for lights for an aquaculture hatchery and I can't find what I am looking for online but it seems like you have products that offer everything I'm looking for just not in the right combo. Does your company do custom orders? I'm looking for 36-inch dimmable light bars that have a red light only option, and a red/blue or white light option. We grow kelp in our hatchery vegetatively in red light-only conditions but then switch over to full spectrum or red/blue part way through the season.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate custom product fabrication and we would like to sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

As a further note, it, unfortunately, does not appear that we have any close product matches in our catalog. The closest match would likely be the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which are frequently used in conjunction with the DMX Dimmer and Decoder as well as a third-party DMX controller for networked lighting. 

​As this product contains RGB as well as tungsten and daylight color temperatures it can simulate almost any color point, as can be noted within our Spectrum Simulator. This tool allows you to adjust the output and preview the R values of the light, which I hope is helpful.

Further, we would be happy to share your interest in the multi-color dimmable light bars with our product development team, in the hopes that they can expand our catalog options soon. 

Is it possible to turn on/off the Color Space RGB with a wall switch without the remote controller?

I am interested in this light strip. I want to use the power supply and plug it into my switched outlet for on/off. How do I control the color I do not want to use a controller to turn on/off the lights

Is it possible to turn on/off with a wall switch without the remote controller?

It might be helpful to know that while single color LED Strip Lights only require a power supply and optional dimmer for operation, multi-color RGB products will require a dedicated controller for the adjustment of each color channel. That said, we unfortunately do not have a dedicated product for controlling the color of the RGB LED Strip Lights using a wall switch. 

We commonly recommend using either a third-party RGB WiFi/IR controller for simple installations or our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with a Third-Party Controller for more complex studio installations. 

Though we have not performed compatibility testing with the majority of third-party controllers, there appear to be several wall-panel options that connect to RGB power supplies available on Amazon and other marketplaces. ​

WiFi Control of FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip Light

What would you recommend to adjust Kevin Settings & Dimming using WiFi when I pair your FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip Lighting, coupled with your suggested FilmGrade Power Supply with or without your FilmGrade DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder?

Though we have not performed internal compatibility testing with these types of products as of yet, it appears that this result from Amazon may be able to provide you with the mobile control of the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights​ that you are hoping for.

This item would likely provide a less complex installation process than the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with a 5 Channel Output product, which is designed more for the benefit of controlling networked industrial lighting. 

Do you have the profile for the FilmGrade LED lights to use for the ADJ DMX 3.0 controller?

I have the DMX 512 & RDM Decoder. I also have an ADJ DMX 3.0 controller connected to the Decoder. 

The software for the ADJ 3.0 controller would work best if I had the profile for the FilmGrade LED lights to use all of the ADJ program features. I have purchased the FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights.

Can you tell me the profile that would work to allow me to get the most out of my lights?

Our FiveSpect LED strip lights and DMX decoder do not have any specific DMX profile recommendations, as long as the control system can provide five distinct channels of light output (red/green/blue/daylight/tungsten).

That being said, we've taken a look at the American DJ website and product page to attempt to locate information on their Fixture Profiles but was unable to locate a specific list or additional information on any profiles. If you can locate this list we'd be more than happy to take a look!

Alternatively, the support staff at American DJ may also be able to better recommend a specific profile setting based on our LED strip light parameters, and we'd be more than happy to answer any technical questions that may arise.

What equipment do I need to allow WiFi control for FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip?

If I purchase the FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip Light Strip, FilmGrade DC Power Supply, and the FilmGrade hDMX-512 LED Dimmer & Decoder, what equipment do I need ieRF Signal receiver to allow WiFi control? What would you recommend?

While we have not performed substantial internal compatibility testing with these products, it appears that this third-party result from Amazon may be able to provide you with mobile control of the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights. 

This item would likely provide a less complex installation process than the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with a 5 Channel Output product, which is designed more for the benefit of controlling networked industrial lighting.

Color Changing LED Strip for Floating Shelves Lighting

I'm installing floating shelves, and installing a channel below for strip lights. I'd like to be able to change colors (not temperature, per se, but actual colors - red, blue, etc.) so I think this leaves me with two options based on what I'm seeing on the site:

1. ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights

2. FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights

https://www.waveformlighting.com/simplecolor-led-strip (this model doesn't seem to apply to me b/c it's only able to do one color/you can't switch them on the fly).

I'm not sure what "color tunable" means for # 2. How does this differ from # 1?

 The Hybrid LED Strip Lights contain two color temperature LEDs, those being the 3200K and 6500K. Dimmer products can be used to control the intensity of each channel in order to simulate a color temperature between those two, such as 4000K or 5500K.

In comparison, our FiveSpect LED Strip Lights contain five color channels, those being red, green, blue, tungsten, and daylight. Using a connected DMX Dimmer and Decoder or DMX Controller, the individual LEDs can be adjusted to simulate any visible color point. I have attached a link to our LED Spectrum Simulator, which offers previews of the color options that the Fivespect and ColorSpace RGB products can provide. 

What's the difference b/w 12V and 24?

The primary difference between the 12V and 24V versions of our products is the maximum combined length, which is defined by the voltage. Our 12V products have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft, whereas the 24V versions have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft. Beyond this, the 12V LED Strip Lights also feature shorter cuttable sections than the 24V version. 

You list 'recommended accessories' for # 2 but not # 1. You also have spec sheets available for download for # 2 but not # 1 so I'm not sure I suspect # 1 will do the job for me as # 2 seems like it's geared for more commercial-based setups but the lack of add'l details about what else I need to order with it makes it difficult for me to understand what else I need to buy.

We do apologize for any confusion that the lack of a specification sheet for the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights may have caused. In the hope that it proves to be helpful, please note that both products would require the same connection accessories and power supplies. 

I'm not really seeing a way to control the changing of the colors.

We recommend utilizing our DMX Dimmer and Decoder product alongside a third-party controller such as the American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software​ to adjust each channel. 

In short, I'm lost. I think I need to purchase ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights  [12 or 24V?] + a power supply [which one ?] + a 'controller' [to be able to change the desired color]

As your installation would utilize only 8.6 feet, we would likely recommend utilizing the 12V ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights as well as a 12V power supply, such as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. 

LED Strip Light Recommendation for Front Room Installation

I am looking to light my front room with an LED Light strip, preferably 1 power source for my front living room (79 feet total). The room has 10 feet high Barrel ceiling with a piece of trim 8’ up the wall. I wanted to run the strip around the entire room on top of the trim (5/8 inch thick) and use a diffuser strip, maybe V-shaped. There are eight 45-degree angles (the fireplace pops out 1’). Need dimmable, very bright (95+), and perhaps able to change color although the dimmable super bright white is most important. Would prefer to have it wired to a light switch on the wall and a remote to control the colors. Interested in the multicolor or just white?

Based on the details provided, it appears that the installation area would require five 16.4 ft reels of our LED Strip Light products. 

As a starting point, it might be helpful to know that our LED Strip Lights have maximum combined lengths of 16.4 ft for the 12V version, and 32.8 ft for the 24V version. As each foot of LED Strip Lights uses 5.5W, we generally recommend one dedicated power supply per full reel of product. 

For a multi-color installation, we recommend the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which can be combined with the DMX Dimmer and Decoder as well as a third-party DMX Controller for the adjustment of each color channel. 

If a single-color white LED Strip Light is preferable, we have many options that can be powered by the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply and easily connected wall dimmers and smart home systems. For residential installations, we often recommend the 2700K or 3000K options of the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. 

As can be noted in the LayoutMap below, multiple TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies can be connected to the same dimmer so long as the maximum amperage is not exceeded. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

We will want the white only dimmable strips. As bright as we can get 24V. Looks like we will need 2 of them and will need 2 power sources. Ran into one dimmable strip. You didn’t mention the V-shaped track with a cover that disperses the light as not to see the individual LED lights. Do you carry those? If not, how wide are the LED strips?

We, unfortunately, do not have any V-shaped tracks, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your installation planning. 

Currently, we have both the flat and corner version of the aluminum channels available, which are able to accommodate the 10mm width of our LED Strip Lights. That said, third-party manufacturers such as Klus Design appear to have many other form factor options available. 

LED Driver for ColorSpace RGB Strip Lights

I purchased part number PN 3021 Colorspace RGB strip lights part number 3093.120 power supply needs to control color and brightness.

To control each channel of the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights, we recommend utilizing the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output and a third-party DMX controller. 

While we have not performed internal compatibility testing, some of our customers have chosen to use the American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software for controlling the output of our ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights. We do hope that this option is helpful for your installation planning. 

Can you mix the ColorSpace RGB to get different colors?

We like to purchase strip lights for our church altar background wall, but I have a few questions. Can you mix the Colorspace RGB to get different colors? Do you need the DMX mixer to get different colors or not necessarily? And finally, is Colorspace RGB strip light good for our application? 

We can confirm that a DMX mixer is typically utilized for adjusting the output of each channel of the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights. 

Some of our customers have found success with pairing our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output with the third-party American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software, though we have not performed internal compatibility testing with this item as of yet.

In the event that having access to both the tungsten and daylight color temperatures is a benefit for your church altar background wall, you may alternatively be interested in the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. This item can also be paired with the above DMX Controller and the DMX Dimmer and Decoder products. 

Signal Chain for Connecting the Color Tunable LED Strips

I'm working to integrate about 128 linear feet of the color tunable strips into an upcoming installation. We would ideally be controlling dimming and color via DMX, but I'm not sure I'm quite fully understanding the signal chain for connecting these, and how best to actually wire them so they act as a single unit. 

As a starting point, it might be helpful to know that the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights have a max run of 32.8 feet. Due to this, any connected lengths that exceed that length will encounter voltage drop and decreased light output. 

As a further consideration, our 24V power supplies have a maximum output of 96W in accordance with class 2 ratings. As each foot of the Hybrid LED Strip Lights requires 45W per reel, roughly two full 16.4 ft reels can be connected to a single power supply. 

As can be noted within the user manual for the DMX Dimmer and Decoder product, multiple units can be daisy chained together. When they have been connected, the downstream units will emulate the settings of the primary upstream DMX Dimmer and Decoder. 

So I could use a single power supply and a single DMX unit per ~32 feet of tape, and have them all talk to each other. Correct?

I think this makes sense. Are the products I sent earlier the correct ones?

We can confirm that so long as each ~32-foot length has a dedicated DMX Dimmer and Decoder as well as a dedicated power supply, the installation should allow for daisy-chained operation. 

If any of the LED Strip Lights of DMX Dimmer and Decoder units wind up being unneeded for your installation, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. 

So long as the LED Strip Lights are in their original condition and have not been cut or altered, including the adhesive backing being removed, we will gladly provide you with a prepaid return label. 

As the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights requires a 24V power supply, we would recommend the matching voltage 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip (PN3092). Further, as the power supply uses a barrel-jack adapter, your installation may benefit from utilizing the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter (PN7094) and extra wiring for connection to the DMX Dimmer and Decoder power contact pads. 

Where can I get the DMX controller to change the settings on my DMX512 LED Dimmer / Decoder?

Where can I get the DMX controller to change the settings on my DMX512 LED Dimmer / Decoder? Also, I will need to purchase 4 or 5 more DMX512 LED Dimmer and Decoders, and I would like to have one control device, or web app to adjust all of the LEDs. 

While we do not sell DMX controllers in our own storefront, some customers have utilized third-party products such as the American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software for PC connection and the adjustment of multiple DMX Dimmer and Decoders. Unfortunately, we have not yet performed internal compatibility testing on these products. 

In the hopes that it proves to be useful, we have also attached the link to the DMX Dimmer and Decoder Specification Sheet and User Manual. This document contains daisy-chain connection instructions as well as details regarding the connection to a third-party DMX Controller. 

Circuit Protection for DMX Dimmer

We are using multiple Waveform Lighting 3082 DMX controllers for a lighting project and we can't find a lot of information on the required circuit protection for the device. It says a total of 40A input, and 8A per channel, but do we need to protect each channel with an 8A breaker, or if we were to protect the incoming DC with say a 20a breaker from a 20A power supply will the module protect each channel against over current/short circuit on each channel? 

We were able to confirm that the DMX decoder units have over-current protection on each channel. Specifically, there is a recoverable software layer, as well as non-recoverable 10A rated fuse for each channel.

We would advise designing circuits to minimize the occurrences of short circuits and other over-current states, but for most installations, we believe that the built-in protections should be sufficient.

Do you have rack mountable DMX-controlled LED dimmer module for dimmable LED lights?

Rack mountable DMX controlled LED dimmer module for dimmable LED lights

Based on the details provided, we would recommend our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output. Though not specifically marketing for rack installation, we have heard of other customers using several daisy-chained units of the DMX Dimmer and Decoder in conjuction for complex lighting installations. 

​That being said, please note that a central third-party DMX controller is recommended for controlling the output of more complex systems. 

Can I control the FilmGrade FiveSpect LED Strip Lights without the DMX decoder or connect my phone to an app?

Do you have a way that I could control strips of the FilmGrade FiveSpect lights without having to set up a DMX environment or connect my phone to an app? I'm specifically looking for an RF remote or knobs type of solution. Also, I'm trying to house 4 ft of LED strips into a clip made for T12 bulbs (specifically, this clip). I'm not dealing with T12 bulbs, just the housing. Do you sell any channels or housing that would fit into that? The outer diameter needs to be round and I believe 1.5 inches. If you do not sell products to fit these needs, do you know of products or companies elsewhere that would work well with your FilmGrade FiveSpect lights that you could recommend? 

We, unfortunately, do not have any alternative controllers for the FilmGrade FiveSpect LED Strip Lights, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your purchase planning. That being said, there appear to be several options for ‘5-channel LED remote’ available from Amazon and other third-party retailers.

While we do not have any channels that would fit within the B&H clamp product that you referenced, you may be able to find alternative options from Klus Design. They appear to have an extensive catalog of LED extrusion options available on their website. 

RGBW Controller for Five-Spect LED Strips

I have a bunch of the five-spect strips with the corresponding controller. I wanted to know what the best option for wireless light control would be. I've been searching DMX products and I can't find what may work the best. 

Unfortunately, we do not have any specific remotes that we could recommend for controlling the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder and FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

That said, a customer using those same products recently let us know that they found success using the American DJ my DMX 3.0 DMX Controller and Software, which appears to be designed for PC control. There also appear to be several DMX controllers available from third-party marketplaces, such as Amazon. 

Does your DMX Decoder provide constant voltage high-frequency?

I need a constant voltage high-frequency PWM dimmer, like your DMX512 decoder, and it must be able to run 24/7. Is your DMX512 Decoder capable of 24/7 operation? If not, what can I use instead?

We can confirm that the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output product is not expected to encounter any issues with installations where it operates continually. 

Flicker-free and Dimmable Lighting Option

My cabinet makers installed Hafele 12 V LED lights on the bookcase. And I make a lot of YouTube videos. Unfortunately, my LEDs flicker and produce annoying lines. The LED strips are RGB and the remote has a dimmer. What can I buy from you to remove the flicker, and allow me to dim the lights? 

As flicker-free functionality is often provided to the connected LED products as a feature of the power supply, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip for your installation. For dimming your lights, you may be interested in our FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. 

Hopefully, these options will allow for your RGB lights to output consistent flicker-free operation. We also recommend ensuring that the lights currently being used are compatible by voltage (12V vs 24V) and draw prior to replacing the currently utilized power supplies. 

Do I need to change out the LED strips? Assuming I replace the LED strips with yours, do you have corner pieces I can use to connect strips in 90-degree connections to turn the inside bookcase corners? What equipment will I need to control the color and saturation of the LEDs? Do I need more Power supplies? (60 feet of lights). Which LED lights do you recommend I purchase?

It appears that the Hafele 833.95.746 driver is able to output either 90W at 12V. At 90W, it appears that they would be able to provide ample power for one full 16.4 ft reel of our LED Strip Lights per power supply. As such, you may be able to replace the lights in your installation with our 12V LED Strip Light products without requiring the purchase of additional power supplies.

For your retrofitting, it might be helpful to know that our 12V LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters). As lengths that are greater than this will encounter increasing voltage drops, we would recommend pairing one dedicated power supply per reel. 

For an alternative to the multi-channel Hafele light strip products, we would recommend our 12V FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which can be paired with our DMX Dimmer and Decoder or third-party DMX controller for the adjustment of light output. 

The controller currently being used by Hafele may also be compatible, though we have not performed any internal compatibility tests with their controllers. If so, this would allow you to continue using Bluetooth control for the installation. 

While do not have corner connectors, you may alternatively be interested in utilizing our 5-Channel LED Strip to Strip Solderless Connectors for the corners of your installation. 

LED Strip Lights for Above-Cabinet Lighting

My daughter’s teacher has asked me to install LEDs above a cabinet for her. I’d like to use non-flickering LEDs and your company comes recommended. But I’m not technical and don’t understand if your strip lights would even work for my application (like which voltage I need). I just want something I can plug into a wall Jack and control easily. Colors would be a bonus.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, as that is the most commonly recommend color temperature for classrooms and workspaces. 

While we do offer the multi-color FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, it is a product that often requires PC (or automated) control, as well as the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output for control of the individual color channels, which may not be convenient for all purposes. 

For the above-cabinet lighting, we might recommend using a combination of the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer and FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. The LED Strip Lights can also be installed within the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strips, which are available in flat and corner options. 

Third-party remotes may be available elsewhere as alternatives to the in-line dimmer, and would likely consist of an intermediary receiver installed between the power supply and LED Strip Lights.

In the hopes that they prove to be helpful, we have attached two LayoutMaps below which illustrate the configuration options and accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

As an alternate option that would involve fewer components, you might also be interested in the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures, which are designed to be easily mounted and daisy-chained while offering a high CRI of 95+. That said, please note that these linear fixtures are not dimmable. 

Dimmable Power Supplies and Dimmers for Adjustable Backlit Lightbox

I am trying to build an adjustable backlit lightbox for looking at backlit prints at various color temps and brightnesses. Could you provide any assistance with the dimmable power supplies and dimmers? Specs, where to get them, etc.

Based on the details provided, it does appear that our Hybrid LEDs would be a good match for the installation if connected to the shared power supplies in parallel, due to the maximum combined length (32.8 ft) and reduction of required dimmers per channel. 

Regarding the connected power supplies, we would recommend ensuring that they can offer sufficient amperage for the total connected amount of product. For additional connection advice, we have attached a configuration guide for the Hybrid LED Strip Lights below. 

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products

As an alternative, you may also be interested in our FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel. 

This flex panel product offers the benefit of utilizing 1152 total LED diodes per panel (576 per channel) as well as pre-applied wiring for power, which can help reduce the complexity of larger installations. 

Can the light dimmer and color temperature control operate independently?

We are interested in these strips but wanted to speak to someone about the accessories and the strip's capabilities. Can the light dimmer and color temperature control operate independently?

Our Hybrid LED strip lights certainly can offer both color temperature and brightness control. 

At the moment, the best way to operate the hybrid LED strip lights would be to utilize a DMX system with digital control. We have linked to our DMX decoder product below:

Do you have a flicker-free color LED available?

Are there any flicker-free color LEDs available? I purchased some Philips Hue bulbs only to notice that they do flicker.

While we can confirm that we do not sell flicker-free color lightbulbs, we do sell the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which are flicker-free when paired with a power supply such as the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. 

Do you have a recommended remote controllers for DMX Dimmer?

I have an application with a single-color LED strip where I would like to use your FilmGrade DMX dimmer but I am looking for a product that I can use to control this wirelessly with a simple remote. Can you make any recommendations? As an alternative, I really just need a very high-frequency PWM controller with a wireless remote but am having trouble locating such a product. 

Unfortunately, we are not aware of any remotes that could be used with our DMX Dimmer and Decoder product, and we do apologize for any impact this might have on your purchase planning. 

That said, there do appear to be several LED Light remote controllers available from third-party stores such as Amazon, though we have not performed compatibility testing to ensure that these remotes would be compatible with our LED Strip Lights.​

Would I be able to operate the realUV 365nm and 395nm strips individually and simultaneously?

I am interested in a 3.2 ft strip of each of the two wavelengths and would like to be able to have them separate individually and simultaneously (both straps on at the same time, but also the ability to have them operate independently). What equipment/setup would be needed? 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend an installation that utilizes our DMX Dimmer and Decoder as a hub for both LED Strip Lights. 

The DMX Dimmer and Decoder is a product that can be used to precisely control the output of each connected channel, as well as multiple LED Strip Lights. In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a link to the product user manual below. 

Specification Sheet and User Manual

I am interested in setting up two short straps of the LED UV. One strip at 365nm and the other at 395nm. These would be attached to the wall just above a table where I'd like to observe/study banknotes with fluorescent properties. As long as the lights would be powerful enough to shed their special type of light about 2-3 ft or so, then that is all I'd need. 

I just would not know how to install it. Would it come with instructions? Or is it simply another unit that needs to be plugged in and the leads from the two strips would have to be plugged in? Is there a way to call and discuss using it? 

Based on the details provided, we can confirm that the LED Strip Lights can be daisy-chained together using the Daisy-Chain DC Connector for UV LED Strips product. 

This would allow for a low-cost installation utilizing the minimum quantity of power supplies and connectors for the two 3.2 ft (1 meter) lengths of the 365nm and 395nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

So, with 2 strips and the device(s) needed to make the daisy chain work, what would the cost be? Also, would I need any advanced knowledge/skills to install the units? Would installation instructions/guidance be provided?

My main purpose is to have these lights installed to observe and take pictures of banknotes (US and world banknotes) that fluoresce...would these lights (365nm/395nm) do the trick?

Generally speaking, the fluorescent effect upon a target will be strongest with the 365nm version. We have attached an informative link from our website regarding the topic below. 

We have also attached links to two LayoutMaps below, which illustrate the configuration using the realUV LED Strip Lights. These links contain installation descriptions and links to each product featured within. 

What is the Difference Between 365 nm and 395 nm UV LED Lights?

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4D

What is the main function of the dimmer? For example, if I connect the dimmer between the power supply and the strip, will I be able to increase/decrease the intensity of a single strip? Control whether multiple strips are either on or off.

Based on the fact that 365nm will generally give better effects for my uses and therefore, rendering the 395nm not as necessary, what would be the cost for the 365nm strip and power supply?

Also, how long does the strip last and are individual cells on the strip replaceable...or dies the whole strip need to eventually need to be replaced?

We can confirm that the dimmer uses a dial to adjust the output (between 0-100%) of the connected LED Strip Light product. 

We can also confirm that the realUV™ LED Strip Lights have a three-year warranty period. If the lights encounter malfunctions during that time, please let us know and we would be happy to help. 

Aside from controlling the intensity of things emitted, what is/are the functions that the Dimmer offers? For example, does it offer the option of adding another strip and allowing to "toggle" between the different light sources and controlling the light intensity of each light strip? My understanding is that without the Dimmer, the light strip and the power unit would just allow one strip to be used and it will be either on or off with additional controls/flexibility especially.

We can confirm that the dimmer only controls the intensity of light output from 0-100%, and is not able to directly target (or “toggle”) the output of individual light strip segments that are connected to it. 

Is your DMX LED Dimmer flicker-free?

I want to ask if the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output is flicker-free. 

We are happy to confirm that the DMX Dimmer and Decoder can provide flicker-free performance to the connected LED strip light products. This process is illustrated in the product user guide, which we have shared below. 

Specification Sheet and User Manual

Can I daisy chain a 10m third-party LED strip using FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer?

I am looking at purchasing your FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output.

I’m curious to know if I can daisy chain 10m of 24V RGB+CCT (60 LEDS / 1m) LED strips with a single box. Would I also be able to run this on a single 24V DC power supply, or would I need two?

Am I also able to use the strobe function in my DMX software with this decoder, without any issues? I will be using ArtNet, via an Ethernet WiFi router.

I am looking at some fairly basic RGB+CCT strips on Amazon. The input voltage is 24V DC and the working power is 3.5A 84W/16.4ft Max, 5.12w/feet.

Based on my review of the product details, it appears that 10 meters of the product would require 168W and 7A. 

While the DMX Dimmer and Decoder product has an available 8 amps per channel and would be capable of supporting 10 meters of product, our 24V power supplies have a maximum output of 120W and 5A, which is far less than the 10 meters would require. 

That said, you may be able to locate a higher output power supply, though a supply capable of outputting 168W would likely exceed class 2 ratings for residential and commercial installations. 

Unfortunately, we do not currently have any third-party power supplies capable of that output which we could recommend, though your local hardware store will likely have some insight into the available options.

I noticed that the DMX decoder and dimmer have the ability to have two DC power supplies wired up to them. If I were to connect two individual power supplies, plugged into two separate plug sockets at home, would this be enough to support 168W and 7A? Would this also pass class 2 ratings? 

The DMX Dimmer and Decoder product can indeed safely utilize two power supplies, so long as both power supplies are of a matching voltage. 

From an electrical standpoint, there should not be any issues with using two power supplies, as this product is rated for up to 40 amps (960 watts at 24 volts.) Given the high amperage rating, this product is not rated as a class 2 device. 

Am I correct in thinking that a single electrical outlet in the US can handle up to 15A? And as for it being above a class 2 device, would it be a legal issue to run a device like this in my home? Will I need to do anything else, such as grounding the device, so as not to cause an electric shock? 

As the class ratings are primarily a consideration for new permanent electrical construction to align with local electrical safety codes, such as new electrical boxes or new homes, the class restrictions are not expected to be an issue for utilizing two DC-plug power supplies with a single DMX Dimmer and Decoder. 

Under Cabinet Kitchen Light Replacement

I need to replace my under-cabinet kitchen lights with a white-only, 4000K system. I need to install a new over-cabinet light strip, color with standalone white (RGBW), and Bluetooth might work nicely. 

The reference document is here: https://www.evernote.com/shard/s102/sh/60b63539-5bda-de6b-3bd8-da7adbed18d2/63457905b12ae060428f710e1f94635a 

We have provided responses to each of the points listed within the provided Evernote document below.

Under-Cabinet Lighting

Currently, we do not have a 4000K LED strip light product in 12V. The closest match available is the 4000K 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail. For reference, this is the same product within the specification sheet shared in your document (PN3004.40). 

​We can also confirm that the product is compatible with in-wall dimmers when using an in-wall power supply. In order to evenly light the corners, we would suggest installing the lights within channels such as the ‘Flat’ version of our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip. 

Over-Cabinet Lighting

Though not a direct match for the specified color temperatures, the closest option that we have available is our 12V FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, also available in 24V. This product is able to offer RGB as well as Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K). 

In order to adjust the individual color channels, we suggest a combination of the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output and a third-party controller. Although we do not currently have a Bluetooth or wireless remote that can be used with the product, there are likely options available elsewhere, such as TP Link. 

It might also be helpful to know that our 12V LED strip lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters), and our 24V LED strip lights have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft. For a 12V installation, we would recommend installing two 12V lengths in parallel to a central power supply capable of providing the watts required such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. 

For connecting the product to the power supply, we recommend utilizing the LED Strip to Wire product (PN3075). For additional wiring, we would suggest 16 AWG. 

As the FiveSpect product draws different amounts of power depending on the color channels being illuminated, you might find value in the product specification sheet for selecting the ideal power supply for your installation. 

Do you have an RGB LED Strip Light with tunable white?

I am looking to buy an RGB light strip with tunable white. Where would I purchase this?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which has RGB output as well as tungsten and daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K). 

When using this product, we generally recommend purchasing a decoder such as our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output in order to directly adjust each available channel. As we do not work with third-party distributors, we can also confirm that the above products are currently only available from our storefront website.

We have attached a link to the product user guide below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful: 

DMX Decoder Specification Sheet and User Manual

Power Supply and Driver for RGB LED Light Strip

I would like to install an RGB LED light strip on top of my 3/4 height walls in my loft. I am having trouble figuring out exactly what to buy besides the light strip and my electrician has not handled this type of installation in the past. I read that I need a power supply and DMX driver. 

Is there anything on your site that you'd recommend? I see the RGB light strip and housings, but I'm not sure which driver or power supply to buy.

We can confirm that for installations that utilize the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, we recommend utilizing a matching voltage power supply, DC adapters, and the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output. 

For more detailed installation instructions, we have attached a link to the product user guide below. This guide displays the multiple configuration options that are available for the product, as well as instructions for how to accomplish them. 

Specifications & User Manual

Additionally, it might help to know that the DMX Decoders are often paired with third-party DMX controllers. These controllers can allow for automation, scheduling, and PC/computer control of the light output. 

Adjustable full-spectrum LED light with pulsing and flickering adjustment

Do you have a full spectrum LED products that could be delivered with a controller to regulate the output frequency (in Hz), and if so what is the range?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend utilizing a combination of the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights with the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output. 

​As the FiveSpect product offers RGB as well as Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K), the Decoder can be used for granular control of the output for each available channel. The available range of control is listed within the Decoder user guide and installation manual, which we have shared below for your review. 

Specifications & User Manual

We have also provided a few related articles below that may be helpful:

FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights

FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output User Manual

The FilmGrade™ DMX512 LED Dimmer can output pulsed light in the area of 500Hz to 30KHz right? Could we have any real-time adjustment or preprogrammed to choose from a panel or “PC”?

There are beneficial pulsed frequency ranges in the area of 4-100 Hz, but you do not have a solution there.

We are happy to confirm that the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output can be paired with a PC controller for direct control of the output. Based on our review, there appear to be a few DMX PC controllers available from third-party marketplaces such as Amazon.

Unfortunately, the DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder does not have the ability to adjust the PWM frequency beyond the boundaries of the 500Hz to 30KHz range. As such, it may not be able to meet the referenced PWM frequency of 4-100 Hz. 

RGBW LED Strip Light Kit for Kitchen Application

I need an RGBW strip light kit for a kitchen application, preferably 32' that I can cut down to 25 - 26 feet as this is for an odd number of cabinets and can only access from one end. Do you have or can you put together such a beast? IR remote preferred.

As we currently do not have any RGBW kits currently available, you might alternatively be interested in our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which are able to offer programmable RGB as well as Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K). 

Though we usually recommend utilizing the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output for granular control of each channel, this decoder unfortunately does not utilize an IR remote. 

As such, we might alternatively recommend utilizing a third-party power supply and decoder, though we currently do not have any specific products that we have tested and could recommend at this time. 

Can the DMX decoder dim and change color for at least two zones of lights?

I want to build a top light for my studio - for product videos. I want it to be 4ft by 6 ft - am planning to cut the ribbons in 4 ft strips and lay them out in parallel strips. I will end up with two zones (4 strips each) that I will want to be able to dim separately and change the color temp of each zone independently. I plan on ordering (2) 3002.HY, to be cut into 4 ft strips and laid out into two zones, (2) 3093.120 power supplies, 1-pack of PN 3076 bi-color strip connectors, (1) 3082 Dimmer and Decoder. I am assuming the decoder can dim and change color for at least two zones of lights - correct? From your POV do I need anything else? What does WRGB mean?

Our DMX Decoder can indeed be utilized to control two individual sets of the Hybrid LED strip lights. Though the labeled names for each channel may not match, we would not imagine there to be any electrical limitations. 

The one note to keep in mind is that the Hybrid LEDs would need to share a common positive. As such, we would recommend placing the positive wires for both zones into the same positive connection point on the DMX decoder. 

As a final note, WRGB generally means white, red, green, and blue. Though that acronym is actually inaccurate, as the DMX decoder utilizes warm white, cool white, red, green, and blue as individual channels. ​

I’d like to control use the DMX controller to control the color temp and also the dimming of the lights, so I understand that to change color temperature by dimming either the tungsten or the daylight strand of LEDs. Is that correct? So, you’re not really changing the color temperature, instead, your adjusting the mix of the two light sources. Is this correct?

We can confirm that the Hybrid LED Strip Lights do not have LED chips that individually change the color output. 

Rather, the Hybrid LED Strip Lights have two sets of color temperature LED chips on each reel, which are individually adjusted via dimming to create a blend of output between the 3200K and 6500K color points. As such, the individual dimming of each channel can be easily adjusted with the DMX Decoder product. 

​We have attached an article link below regarding the traditional non-DMX decoder setup of the Hybrid LED Strip Lights, which I hope proves to be informative.

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products

Do I just need one power supply (PN3091) to power all four strip lights that I have attached to 4 discreet channels in the controller? Seeing that the controller is rated for 5 channels I will not be using the 5th with this setup.

As a primary consideration, please note that though the DMX Decoder has 8 amps of output per channel, our PN3092 24V power supply only has a max output of 5 amps. In comparison, the two-channel Hybrid LED Strip Lights draw 1.9 amps per channel. If two Hybrid reels are connected to one DMX Decoder (totaling four channels), they could easily draw ~8 amps, thus exceeding the 5A available from our 24V power supply. 

As such, we would likely recommend utilizing a compatible third-party power supply for your installation. Based on my review of Amazon search results, there appear to be several 24V 10A DC Power Supplies available that appear to be compatible. 

​Further, please note that each Hybrid LED Strip Light has two channels, one for Tungsten output and another for Daylight output. As the DMX Decoder has five available channels, utilizing four reels comprising a total of eight channels is likely, not possible. As such, using two reels per DMX Decoder is recommended as an alternative. 

Can I run the RGB LED Strip with Conductor Speaker Wires for Under Cabinet Lighting

I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to run under cabinet LED lighting. I ran 2 conductor speaker wires to all the cabinets where the strips will be going. My question is, am I able to somehow run RGB LED with the wiring I have and some kind of connector? Or would I need the 4 conductor wire to do the color changing? 

Depending on the gauge of the speaker wire, it could very well be sufficient for the power requirements of the FiveSpect product, though we generally recommend utilizing 16-24 gauge wiring for our LED products. For example, the 5-color connecter cable for the FiveSpect product utilizes a 24 gauge wire.

Further, please note that as the FiveSpect product utilizes five channels for the power and adjustment of each RGB output, you will likely require a wiring solution that can easily accommodate all five channels between the FiveSpect and the controller. 

​In order to control the output of each channel, we would recommend either our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product paired with a DMX controller, or a third-party 5-channel output controller. Based on my review, there appear to be several third-party options available online.

In case it proves to be useful, you may also be interested in our LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator, which can provide information regarding the recommended wire gauge after inputting some installation details.

Do you have a ceiling dimmable light that could adjust color temperature/brightness level?

Do you have a kind of ceiling dimmable light, that could adjust color temperature/brightness level, with a remote, for residential, bedrooms? I am very sensitive even to high PWM flicker frequency, do you know how many "kHz" frequencies your product works on different brightness settings?

Though we unfortunately do have any fixtures that would be capable of all referenced features, you might be interested in either the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights which can emit any visible spectrum, or our FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights which can be tuned between tungsten and daylight color temperature output.

​Regarding the flicker sensitivity, you may also be interested in the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output, which is capable of PWM frequency adjustment between 500Hz and 30 kHz. Additionally, it might be helpful to know that this product can be used with the above Hybrid and FiveSpect products.

We recommend utilizing a third-party controller for adjusting the output of these products, as well as a mounting channel such as the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strips. Further, please note that these products would likely require more manual configuration than another pre-built fixture option might allow for.

Could you tell me an average competitor product, that claims to be flicker-free, how many kHz are use in their product? 

Though we're not aware of the exact flicker rate of the products offered by our competitors, we can confirm that many third-party LED products can have a flicker rate between 15-75%, which is quite high. 

​We have provided a link to an instructional article from our website about flicker-free technology, which we hope proves to be useful.

Flicker-Free LED Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/flicker-free-led-lighting

LED UV Dimmer Mode that Works as a Fader

I'm looking for a LED UV dimmer mode that works as a fader, automatically going from 0% to 100% back to 0% and keeps repeating. Do you have such an item? 

Unfortunately, we do not have any products that can automatically adjust the light output of the LED strip light products at this time.

As an alternative, you might be interested in the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output product, which can be paired with a third-party DMX controller for granular control of the light output.

Do the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights have a daylight option?

Do the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Change LED Strip Lights have a daylight option as the Film color strip does? I am replacing the interior lighting in my sailboat, and need red running lights for overnight passage making, and daylight for when at dock or anchor. I would need to make non-continuous strip sections function as a whole or separately. 

Though the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights can be adjusted to output white light through adjustment or the RGB output, it does not contain dedicated white-color high output as the FiveFilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights product is capable of. 

That being said, please note that these products are not IP rated for protection against moisture or condensation. As such, we would recommend an enclosure to insulate the products against any contact that could cause electrical hazards.

As we do not offer any connective accessories for the ColorSpace RGB product at this time, most of our customers utilize third-party supplies and controllers, such as DMX systems, to control and adjust the light output.

Can I connect the ground wire to the DMX LED Dimmer input ground?

I am wanting to try using this LED dimmer controller for one of my light fixtures. The light fixture I have has two wires: (the PWM control wire and the ground wire). Would it be okay if I connect the ground wire to the DMX input ground?

Our DMX decoder is not designed to be compatible with residential or commercial lighting fixtures. As such, it does produce any PWM-based dimming signals. It sounds like your LED controller is not DMX compatible and would not be a good fit here.

The lighting fixture that I am trying to control is described here: This lighting fixture has 3 wires and is controlled by PWM:

Wire1: 850nm, Wire2: 940 nm, Wire3: ground

Regarding the DMX decoder, I tried measuring the output but I didn’t see any changes on the oscilloscope. I tried measuring the PWM from 5/W2, 4/W1, 3/B-, 2/G-, and 1/R-. 

In addition, I tried changing the settings manually such as PF01 to PF30, and 1-00 to 1-99…etc but didn’t notice any changes in the output.

I think I should be able to see PWM. Am I measuring the output incorrectly? What is the correct way to measure the signal from this device?

Unfortunately, we weren't able to see any technical information on the PWM input requirements so I'm not sure if I can provide any further assistance here concerning this product. If the manufacturer has some additional datasheets or information they can provide, that may be helpful for us to better determine this.

For example, see below for the Meanwell HLG power supply, which provides detail on the 10-volt PWM input requirements (middle chart, page 4):

https://www.meanwell.com/Upload/PDF/HLG-240H/HLG-240H-SPEC.PDF

We do suspect that the CMVision product has some special requirements for dimming and the manufacturer may be better equipped to provide assistance with the necessary accessories and components.

​Otherwise, we suspect that our DMX decoder product is not compatible with the CMVision product you have linked to, and do apologize for the inconvenience. 

DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder in Setting Up a Preprogram Scenes

I am setting up the Waveform 3082 controller with 5 channels (Maybe 10 channels with 2 3082 controllers) of White Light Film Grade LED strips. I want to be able to preprogram different static intensity levels of each channel which can be switched easily switched to another pre-programmed set of intensity levels by computer of a button push. I would like to be able to set up about 5 different preprogrammed scenes that can be chosen easily by an untrained person. The DMX controllers that are available have capabilities well above what I need. I could program a Rasberry Pi system that could do what I need but I rather not spend the development time if there is a simple solution available that would meet my need. 

We understand the request and use case, and this may indeed be a bit of a challenge given the constraints on development/set-up time and user interface complexity.

​​As you mention, the DMX decoder/dimmer (PN 3082) does not have any custom preset functionality, so the only way to effectively utilize this component for your installation would be to have some kind of DMX controller input.

While we have not tested this on our end, we are aware that several DMX-to-USB products exist, which may allow you to have a simpler "software" interface on the PC side compared to the more commonly seen DMX controllers used for theatrical and stage lighting applications.

One "analog" alternative would be to utilize our PN 3081 dimmers which have analog dimmer setting input dials with brightness setting markers. This would likely be a more costly solution since you will need one dimmer per LED strip reel but perhaps could be worth considering if a simple and intuitive setup is preferred.

LED Strip Light to Illuminate Above Kitchen Cabinets

I need to illuminate with a 16’ stretch above the kitchen cabinets artwork on the wall. Has two 45-degree turns from a straight run. Would like color, remote dim, and color change. I guess 2700? Can you suggest a system?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights paired with the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output or another this-party DMX option. However, please note that the FiveSpect product is currently out of stock, and is expected to return on May 10th.

With this system, you can adjust the color output and dimming level. Alternatively, a third-party controller can also be connected for more granular control options.

As the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights are available in both 24V and 12V options, we recommend utilizing a matching compatible power supply such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

Here is the recommended purchase list:

Here is a link to the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output User Manual, if it proves to be useful: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_3082.pdf

FilmGrade FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights for Color-tunable Photoreactors

I am very interested in purchasing this product for applications as color-tunable photoreactors for my research lab. For these LEDs, do you have control over the 5 different color outputs you can use? Can you provide a comprehensive list of equipment needed to control the wavelengths of output light? 

The FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED strip does indeed allow you to control five different channels at various levels. The five channels include monochromatic red, green and blue, as well as full-spectrum warm-white (2700K) and daylight (6500K).

​Our LED spectrum simulator provides an overview of the various spectrum combinations that can be realized:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-spectrum-simulator/

​Installation does require a bit of assembly and configuration work. The most straightforward may be to utilize our DMX decoder / dimmer to control the various channels using the on-board controls. In addition to the DMX decoder, at minimum, you will also require a power supply unit and a female DC wire adapter.

When it comes to using the decoder, I noticed that they have Ethernet ports. Is this to hook up to a computer to control the light output? Is there a specific program that you would recommend for this type of control or am I way off base?

The RJ-45 jacks are for use with DMX systems, and unfortunately there is no way to operate the unit from a PC unless a third-party DMX-to-PC interface is used. Unfortunately this setup would be beyond the scope of the support we can offer.

​Below I've linked to the instruction manual for the DMX decoder which should help guide you with instructions on how to use the product:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_3082.pdf

Recommended Lights for Recreational Vehicle

I'm living in an RV and want to redo the lighting and would like some directions. It has 7 circular LED lights (probably 4" diameter) prewired for 12VDC. Ideally, I'm looking to mimic the sun, reds at night, oranges in the afternoon, and a lower blue light throughout the day while I'm home and need to supplement natural daylight. Can you recommend what lights would be good for that and if I would need a dimmer or controller? Also, not sure if I can bend the LED strips into a ring shape to use the existing wiring and light fixtures.

Based on the details provided, the closest product match would be our FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights paired with the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output controller product. As the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights are designed with both the 3200K and 6500K LED’s, the product output can be tuned to achieve any color temperature in between the two.

You might also benefit from an additional programmable controller that can adjust the light output based on the time of day. Unfortunately, we do not have any guides for this type of configuration at the moment.

While we can confirm that the LED strip lights have a bend tolerance, it is unlikely that they would be pliable enough to be installed within a ring shape, as the product does contain sensitive circuitry.

FilmGrade DMX LED Dimmer Certification

Is this product UL listed or certified by another NRTL? I am looking for a multizone LED strip dimming solution for a permanent residential installation. 

While the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product is not UL listed, we can confirm that the product is designed to conform to the UL safety standards. 

For more information regarding the product, ​we have provided a link to the product user manual below.

Specifications & User Manual: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_3082.pdf

Fixed Single Color LED Strip Light

We need to find a LED strip of a specific color to integrate into one of our products. I think it needs to be RGB since our color is not one of the basic colors, but we'd like a controller that allows for the configuration of a single color so that the strip lights up with this color whenever there is power on it. Any ideas?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product with the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. The FilmGrade DMX product can provide a granular level of light output control for the FiveSpect LED strip lights product, and can also be paired with a third-party DMX controller.

For more information regarding the setup and configuration of this product, the below links might prove to be useful.

Product Instruction Guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_3082.pdf

FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights LED Spectrum Simulator: https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-spectrum-simulator

Is it possible to use a single knob to transition from RGB to white tunable?

If I bought a 5 in 1 LED light with the DMX Dimmer and the power supply, Would it be possible to use a single knob to transition from RGB to white tunable?

While our DMX decoder would be a great option for our 5-in-1 LED strip lights, the controls are accomplished via digital signals only, so there would unfortunately not be any knobs or dials that could accomplish this.

​That being said, there may be some third-party DMX controllers which incorporate analog inputs that can be programmed to achieve the functionality you are looking for.

How to control the color temperature of FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights?

What is needed to control the color temperature of FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights? 

The first method would require the use of a DMX or controller solution. Below is an example of a third-party controller available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/LEDUPDATES-Controller-remote-Temperature-Changing/dp/B07DVHXGTD/

​Alternatively, you can also use a combination of two inline dimmers to control each color channel independently. The product link is below: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/filmgrade-flicker-free-dimmer-for-led-strip

Additional accessories and components are needed for this approach, which is outlined in the connection diagrams shown in the article here. 

FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output

Why are there two 12-24vdc+ and two 12-24 VDC - inputs?

The FilmGrade DMX decoder has two sets of 12-24 volt input ports to allow for more than one power supply input. This may be advantageous if the DMX decoder is used at higher amperage levels, as this can help mitigate power supply capacity and input wire voltage drop issues.

Do you have a DMX or ArtNet Controller for FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strip Lights

I am looking to purchase 16 (5m) pieces of the Hybrid LED Strips. I am planning on controlling them through DMX or ArtNet. Do you have any ArtNet controllers? Also, how many can I control through one of your DMX controllers? Do you have larger power supplies to support more than 1 strip at a time?

We currently offer a DMX decoder that can be paired with our FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights, however, a separate DMX controller (third-party) would be needed to control the color temperature and output levels.

Each reel of the hybrid LED strip lights requires approximately 3.8 amps of power capacity. Therefore, with each of the 5 channels being able to support up to 8 amps, the maximum number of reels per DMX decoders would be 10 reels.

This would, in turn, require a power supply that is capable of supplying at least 38 amps (3.8 amps x 10 reels) which we would need to recommend a third-party supplier such as MeanWell for further options.

Color Tunable Recommendations

Would it be possible to send me a lecture about wiring your product to a lighting control system as a Lutron homeworks with dimming and color-tunable?

Unfortunately we do not have any support for color tuning of our products using Lutron systems. If you have any additional information on the specific Lutron product you are interested in, we would be more than happy to provide further information on our color tunable products to see if they would be a good fit.

For standard single-color dimming, our layout diagram below may be of help for you:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2395&py=-2315.5&pw=1790&ph=1631&s=0.1

We want to use the Filmgrade Hybrid Led Flex Panel 3004 HY. We can use Lutron Caseta with GRX-tvi to have ability to dim 0-10V.

A few comments:

As such, it does not seem that our hybrid LED flex panel would be compatible with this system as it requires a low voltage DC system (i.e. 24 volts DC) with dimming control over channels (warm white and cool white). 

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