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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

LED Strip vs Tube Lights in an existing T8 fixtures for Art Studio

I am helping my father order new lights for his art studio. We want to order LED lights to replace his T8 daylight fluorescent bulbs. We have two fixtures that hold six bulbs each. One fixture has a bad ballast that needs replacing; the other ballast was recently replaced.

I am trying to decide between T8 tube LEDs or adhesive LED strip lights. Your NorthLux 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio will work fine, but I will need to replace the ballast, correct? Or is there an easy workaround for that?

I heard that the tube lights waste a bit of luminosity because the light is directed upwards instead of all downward into the living (studio) area. On the contrary, strip lights are more efficient because ALL the light is directed toward the living area. So they are "brighter" and more lumens are shining directly into the living space. Correct?

If this is so, what product do you recommend for the strip lights for an art studio/gallery space? High CRI and color-accurate lighting are critical. My father is a professional portrait painter and color accuracy is (obviously!) important. 

Both our T8 LED tube lights and LED strip lights sound like a great option for your father's new art studio!

​In regards to your first question, you are correct on both the ballast as well as the "wasted" light situation. Unlike traditional fluorescent lamps, however, our T8 LED tube lights do not have a full 360 degree beam angle and are actually closer to 320 degrees, so there may be less concern with respect to wasted light.

​For an LED strip light solution, you will also want to consider the additional complexity of wiring and installation, as well as the additional component cost with power supplies and other accessories. That being said, we would perhaps recommend either our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights (99 CRI) or CENTRIC DAYLIGHT LED strip lights (95 CRI); links below:

As an alternative to LED strip lights, our T5 linear lamps could also be a viable option; we have provided a link for this product below:

Regarding tubes versus the strips, is there a noticeable difference in the amount of light received? Does each tube have one strip within it, or multiple strips? Is the wattage used the same?

The LED strip lights emit 450 lumens per foot, so this equates to approximately 1800 lumens for a 4-foot section, making this approximately equal to the 1800 lumens emitted by the 4-ft T8 lamp. The LED strip lights emit light in a narrower angle of 120 degrees, however, so they may be even better at reducing "wasted" lumens as we discussed prior.

The other advantage is that LED strip lights would provide you with the ability to quickly scale up or down the amount of brightness needed by installing multiple rows. Since the LED strips are quite narrow (less than half an inch), you would be able to install multiple rows in a fixture without worrying too much about footprint issues.

Is the T8 NorthLux light more suitable for art/gallery use than the strip options? The NorthLux is the only one in which there is text or reviews citing art studio/gallery use. I had assumed the Filmgrade White would be the best for artists and color rendition.

They all offer 95 CRI and 5000K, so we would not say that one is more suitable than the other. The product pages are shown primarily for marketing purposes, so if you're interested in the LED strip approach, that would certainly be fine.

The FilmGrade LED strip lights offer a color temperature of 5600K which is specific to the TV & film lighting industry. It is a perfectly suitable color temperature for art and gallery use, though keep in mind that it would not match any of the industry standards for printing or digital arts (D50 and D65, respectively).

I noticed that the Absolute offers less lumens (375/ft compared to 450/ft for the Centric and the NorthLux). Is the difference noticeable?

Yes, the difference would be noticeable, as the light output is approximately 15-20% less. That being said, installing multiple rows of the ABSOLUTE SERIES could be an easy way to make up for any brightness loss.

Lastly- (sorry for all the questions!)- if I order the T8 bulbs for my existing fluorescent fixtures, I can bypass the existing ballasts by connecting the incoming 120v wires to the blue/red wires that feed each of the "tombstones" that hold the T8 pins? Here's a short video showing that procedure: https://youtu.be/ts4dW8kLefY.

Yes, that would be a perfect way to ensure compatibility. we've included the installation manual for the T8 lamps below, which has information on wiring configurations:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

Would the diffuser in your aluminum channel affect the full-spectrum distribution of lights?

Would the light diffuser in your aluminum channel fixture for LED strips defeat or inhibit the purpose of buying full-spectrum lighting in an attempt to get more red spectrum inside living areas? I understand much of the sun's red and NIR is blocked by windows and this is why I'm trying to get more of that spectrum inside my house with lighting. Would the light diffuser have the same issues? 

Based on our tests, the aluminum channel diffusers do not affect the overall spectral distribution, including red and NIR wavelengths. They may reduce light output slightly (~15%) but this is an issue of overall intensity across all wavelength ranges, and not specifically affecting red wavelengths.

Do you have a cut-to-length high-intensity IR LED strips?

I was looking to purchase cut-to-length high-intensity IR LED strips. What I am asking is if I cut to 12" can the strip be powered by a straight 12VDC source? Also do you have end connectors that have wires attached that can be purchased as well. 

We can confirm that the Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Lights can be segmented and powered using a 12V DC power source, so long as the power source meets the power requirements of the LED Strip Light. 

We carry the LED Strip to Wire Solderless Connector Cable, which can be connected to the contact pads of the LED Strip Light for power or connection to other segments. 

Can I use one power supply for 25-ft run of Centric Home LED strips?

I am planning on 25 feet of Centric Home LED strip lights on one run. Do I need 2 power supplies in tandem for this? Can this be done?

We are happy to confirm that two reels of LED Strip Lights can be connected in parallel. We have attached a link to a LayoutMap diagram below, which features an installation where two power supplies and reels of CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential are attached to a single dimmer. 

​LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Can I use a mechanical dimmer switch rated at 600 watts to control all 5 strips?

I need to talk to someone about my project 5- 16 ft runs 0f 3004.40 with 3094.096 triac dimmable power supply. Can I use this mechanical dimmer switch rated at 600 watts? A 24-volt LED flex strip at 14 ft would draw 96 watts x 5 would be well under the 600-watt dimmer rating. 

Based on my review, the 120V Dimmer Switch for LED Light Fixtures within the product link appears to be compatible and able to afford the total 451W power requirements for the five reels of CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail.

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

Flicker-free LED Strip Lighting Options

I am highly sensitive to flicker - migraine caused by flicker eliminates short-term memory so I can’t work along with other debilitating symptoms. I need something that eliminates both brightness flicker and color flicker as much as possible. Both types of flicker trigger me. I’m a geneticist and have been able to research neuroscience enough that I have a good idea of what the biological data suggests might be necessary for me, but I definitely need your help to get a clearer idea of the mechanisms of your products, especially some with sparser descriptions. 

We can confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip can provide connected lights with flicker-free functionality. The TRIAC dimmable power supply has also been tested with the following wall dimmer products.

Dimmer Compatibility List:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CD_3093.pdf?src=pse

We can also confirm that the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output product can adjust the PWM frequency of connected light products between 500 Hz and 30 kHz. Here are the product specs.

You may also be interested to know that we are planning to release T8 Light Fixtures for use in office installations, which are designed to be compatible with our line of flicker-free, full-spectrum T8 LED tube light products, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights.

​The benefit offered by these over-integrated fixtures is that if the T8 product encounters an outage within the 50,000 hours lifetime (5-year warranty), they can be easily replaced. Contrastingly, integrated features usually need to be entirely replaced.

Maximum Run Length of DC LED Strip Power Source

We are about to make another order and I want to double-check:

So, one power source that converts AC to DC will only fire up one (16.4 feet) length LED 365nm strip? In other words, I cannot connect two (16.4 foot) strips and run them off of one power source.

We can confirm that your summary is correct. As each foot of LED Strip Lights requires 5.5 watts, two full reels would require far more wattage than the single 120-watt power supply could offer, which would result in greatly diminished output as well as voltage drop. As such, we usually recommend using one dedicated power supply per 16.4-foot reel. 

High CRI Lighting for Art Studio

I need high CRI even lighting for initially ~ 5"x6 art/painting area, (ceiling joist is 7' from the floor), and if that works out another 5X6 for the working table. Looking at your LED Shop light fixture and Linear light fixture. Questions: Does either have a diffuser? Dimmer? what is cord length? 

Based on the details provided, it seems as though our T5 Linear Light Fixtures and LED Shop Lights could be a great fit for your art and painting areas!

While these products are not dimmable, we can confirm that the LED Shop Lights contain a polycarbonate lens, and the T5 Linear Light Fixtures have a diffusion cover to evenly distribute the light output. We can further confirm that the T5 Fixtures have a 12" power cord, whereas the LED Shop Light Fixtures have a 60" power cable. Longer power cables are available from third-party storefronts as well, should your installation require them. 

If a dimmable light source is preferable, we might alternatively recommend either the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail or the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. These products can be paired with either in-wall dimmers or in-line dimmers and can utilize DC power supplies or the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply.

Many of our customers also choose to use our aluminum channels with these products, which contain diffusion covers for even light distribution. Other customers have also installed these lights so that they can be controlled using smart home systems, such as Lutron Caseta. 

FilmGrade WHITE LED Strip Lights for Under Cabinet Lighting

I'm looking to install this as a replacement for my under cabinet lighting in my kitchen. Right now I have 4 separate units that take halogens and they are wired back to a single light switch (not plugged into outlets). I need help to make sure I get everything I need to do so. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend either the 3000K 12V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential or the 3200K 12V FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. It might be helpful to know that the only difference between the two is that the latter option will provide a slightly cooler color point than the 3000K option. 

For use with a wall dimmer, we would likely recommend using the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. This product is compatible with a wide variety of wall dimmers and can be controlled with smart home systems as well. Our website also features a set of LayoutMaps which illustrate the most common installations and provide links to the recommended connectors and accessories. 

​For kitchen installations, many of our customers prefer to protect the LED Strip Lights by installing them within the downward-casting flat aluminum channels, which contain diffusers for even light distribution. 

Gapless connector and male/female barrel jack to pigtail wire cable for (PN 3004.30)

What solderless, gapless connector do you recommend for part number 3004.30 LED lighting strip? Is it PN 3072? When you say gapless, does that mean, the light output would be continuous without any "Dead spots" where the lights are joined? Does your male/female dc barrel jack plug fit into an LED track that is 12.55mm wide? If not, what male/female DC barrel jack to pigtail wire cable would you recommend for your "3004.30" lighting strip?

We are happy to confirm that the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Gapless Connector is recommended for connecting segments of the 24V 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. That being said, it might be helpful to know that the gapless connector is slightly too large to be installed within our aluminum channels, which have a width just large enough to accommodate the 10mm width of the LED Strip Lights. 

When the LED Strip Strip Solderless Gapless Connector is used, we would not expect the connector clasp to substantially block any of the LEDs where the segments are joined. As an alternative to using the connectors, you might alternatively be interested in soldering the segments together directly to prevent all light output blockage. 

Based on my measurements, we can confirm that the barrel jack connector measures to be roughly 12.7mm at the widest point. As such, it does not seem likely that the connection point would be able to comfortably fit within the 12.55mm wide LED track referenced in your email. As such, we would likely recommend using wire nuts to join the wiring to the power source or using soldering to connect the wired segment to power. 

How wide is the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Gapless Connector? Would it fit the 12.55mm LED Track that I have? Can items # 7093 link to the product page (Male DC Barrel Jack to Pigtail Wire Cable) and # 7092 link to the product page (Female DC barrel jack to pigtail wire cable) be used with 24V 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product? As you can tell I'm trying to avoid soldering unless I absolutely have to.

Based on my measurements, the Gapless Connectors have measurements of 15.875x15.875mm. As such, it, unfortunately, would not appear to fit within the 12.55mm LED track currently in your possession. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

As a further note, we can confirm that the PN87093 and PN7092 could be connected together to join the power supply to the LED Strip Lights for operation. 

Spec Sheet for ColorSpace RGB LED Strip

I am looking for the spec sheet for the 24V version of the ColorSpace RGB LED Strip product. I cannot find the spec sheet on your website anywhere.

Specifically, I am looking to answer:

- What is the power consumed per foot at full brightness?

- Are the LEDs individually addressable?

- What is the protocol for individually addressing these lights?

While we, unfortunately, do not have a specification sheet for the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights, we have provided a link below for the specification sheet for the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights​.

​The FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights are a very similar product, though it offers the additional tungsten and daylight color temperatures as well as the red, green, and blue channels found on the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights. Hopefully, the details within are helpful for your installation planning process. 

24V FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights - Specification Sheet

​As a further note, we can confirm that the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights do not contain individually addressable LEDs. This is also true for the rest of our LED Strip Lights. As such, they may not be the ideal product for your installation, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your purchase planning. 

Do your bulbs and fixtures work on European current?

Do your bulbs and fixtures work on European current? I have fittings with electronic ballast. Will your tubes work with any type of ballast?

Most of our A19 bulbs, such as the CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb, are available in the E27 base which is standard in Europe. 

Further, the power supplies that we have available for use with the LED Flex Strips can accept 100 - 277 V AC input voltage, where 230 V AC appears to be standard in Ireland. 

Further, if the model of ballast found within your fixture is not within our compatible ballast list, we would recommend bypassing the ballast so that the T8 LED Tube Lights use direct wire power. 

If the fixtures contain ballasts that are incompatible, our T8 LED Tube Lights will likely encounter damage which would void the product warranty, as those ballasts were initially intended for adjusting the power supplied to fluorescent tubes in ways that can damage LED hardware. 

LED Flex Strip Bend Limit and Direction

I purchased your 99 CRI flex strip and wanted to install them in a 4x5" box. I need to snake it back and forth along the bottom, bending/looping at the end of each row to start the next row. What is the bend limit and safest bend direction?

We can confirm that our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips have a minimum bend radius for the LED strip lights is 1.6 inches. 

As an alternative, we would likely recommend utilizing the Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip (PN 3071) product for connecting the segments of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. This product will reduce the strain on the joints and solder pads when bent, thereby reducing the potential for accidental damage. This product will also ensure that the installation is more easily able to lay flat on the surface. 

Flicker-free Ceiling LED Lights

I want to replace my existing ceiling lights with Flicker Free. They are mounted on the ceiling. What flicker-free replacement light do you have that would be comparable?

While we would normally recommend our dimmable Ultra High 95 CRI E26 BR30 LED Bulb for Home & Residential, these items are not flicker-free. As an alternative, you might be interested in our 2700K and 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs. 

We also offer the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, which are often installed on cornices or ceiling lines for illuminating residential spaces. These lights can be powered with an in-wall power supply and controlled using wall dimmers or smart home systems. 

Do you have a LED strip power supply that works with the non-dimmable switch?

We bought the LED light strip and I'm wondering what power supply we should get. We have a light switch connected to a transformer but the light flickers. Do you have a power supply that we can tie into a light switch? 

We were able to locate your order for a 16.4 ft reel of the 2700 K, 12-volt LED strip light. 

We would recommend our TRIAC dimmable power supply which can be connected to a wall switch as you mention. Below is the product link:

Below is a layout diagram showing how this can be connected:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Will it work if our switch isn't dimmable? Will I need a junction box?

Yes, our product will work with standard on/off-only switches as well.

For in-wall installations, we would recommend using the junction box to ensure safe and code-compliant installation.

​

Under Cabinet LED Strip Lights and Accessories

I want to order under cabinet LED strip lighting (3000K) and aluminum channel from you and I want to make certain I order all the correct pieces. 

Here is my setup (all connected via one dimmer switch):

- 19' total lighting

- one 4' section, with power supplied at one end

- one 10' section (3' section, 90° turn, then 7' section, power supplied at one end

- 5' section, power supplied at one end.

- 4 down lights (Dimmable GU5.3 LED Bulb, MR16 70W Equivalent Light Bulb) on same circuit.

Can you put together the correct materials list for me from this description? 

To summarize the conversation, we would recommend the two 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels of the 12V 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential along with two 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies. 

​This product features insulated wire ends, and should not require an additional adapter for connection to the TRIAC power supply. That being said, segmented lengths that do not have the wired ends can be connected to power using the Solderless Connector Cable for Single Color LED Strip (PN 3070).

Individual segments of the LED Strip Lights can be connected using the Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip (PN 3071), which can be especially helpful for corners. We also recommend utilizing 16 AWG Wiring to connect any expanses between the power supply and the lights, in an effort to prevent voltage drop. 

The LED Strip Lights are frequently installed within the flat or corner Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strips, which help to diffuse the light and protect the light sources from damage. 

Why are you recommending 2 power supplies?

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per reel of LED Strip Lights, though your 19' installation could very well be powered by a single power supply. 

​As the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential utilize 5.5 watts per foot, an installation using 19 feet would require 104.5W, which is just under the maximum 120W output of our 12V power supplies. If the installation required much more than 19', a single power supply would be insufficient for power, which would likely result in reduced light output across the installation. 

RGB LED Strips for Cabinet Under the Counters

I want to install RGB lighting strips under the counters in my kitchen. I want the following features:

1. High-density LED strips. A full reel would give me sufficient length for my application (16ft?).

2. An appropriate power supply

3 A splitter to send power to 2 different zones

4. Extension cables to reach about 6 feet to each zone

5. I need to make at least one 90-degree turn in one of the zones

6. A remote that preferably operates on RF, although I could use IR in a pinch.

Can you suggest specific products to complete this project?

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our 12V 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential as well as the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. For under-cabinet installations, the LED Strip Lights are frequently placed within the flat Aluminum Channels for even light diffusion. That being said, we do not have any corner adapters for the channels, and we do apologize. 

​For reduced voltage drop between the lights and power supply, we recommend the 16 AWG wiring. As the LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters), we recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per reel. While we do not have any splitters available in our catalog, your local hardware store will likely have a few options readily available. 

Though we do not have RF or IR remotes, our LED Strip Lights and Power Supplies can be operated using smart home systems such as Lutron Caseta. While there may be third-party options that would fit your installation, we do not have any specific products that we could recommend. 

Home Lighting Design for Permanent Installation

I'm hoping to improve the lighting in my house because of our somewhat weak sunlight and short days. Are you aware of lighting designers in Washington State that are familiar with your products? I would like to install something more permanent/discrete here and would appreciate any recommendation you could offer.

Our LED strip lights sound like a great fit for your residential installation. Unfortunately, we do not have any specific lighting designers or contacts, but we would be more than happy to assist with any technical or product questions you may have.

We've linked below to our most popular LED strip light product for residential installations:

Additionally, below is a link to our configuration diagram, which may help in providing further information about the required components and other installation considerations:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps

Dimmable and WIFI controllable LED Strip for Outdoor Kitchen Lighting

I am looking for an outdoor kitchen under bar-top strip lighting. I would like multiple color selections and dimmable. I would also like WIFI controllable. Do you have products meeting those requirements?

Unfortunately, we do not have any product solutions that incorporate WiFi control and color changing features. The closest match we can offer is a single-color dimming solution using our LED strip lights.

We have included some installation diagrams below for your reference, most of which show the single-color dimming setup:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps

LED Strip Lights for Outdoor Installation

I had a question about the materials needed for my outdoor concrete steps and porch steps. 

As a starting point, it might be helpful to know that our LED Strip Lights are not IP Rated for protection against the elements, such as rain or condensation. As such, we may not have the ideal products for your project available, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning.

That being said, some of our customers appear to have been able to locate weather-protected insulated channels from third parties for outdoor use, though we are unfortunately not aware of the specific products that they purchased for their installations. 

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 Lights and Accessories for Treehouse

We would like to install some daisy-chained LED light strips into a treehouse that will be linked to a home savant system. I would like some help selecting the appropriate accessories for the strip lights that will be compatible with the home automation system

As a starting point, in the event that the treehouse is expected to have exposure to condensation or moisture, our LED Strip Lights may not be the best fit as they are not IP rated against the elements. As such, any contact that these products have with moisture or the elements will likely cause a hazard and void the product warranties. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning process, we have attached a link to an article that explains the process for operating our LED Strip Lights with smart home systems below. 

​You may also be interested in reviewing our LayoutMap pages, which illustrate the most common basic installations and provide links and descriptions for each of the connection accessories and power supplies that are most commonly recommended for the LED Strip Lights installations. 

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems

LayoutMaps™ by Waveform Lighting

Wifi/Zigbee Controller Compatibility

I'm interested in lighting my living area with full-spectrum lighting, even supplementing with additional reds and IR to achieve the closest Sunlight as possible. I also want to automate dimming and shutoff so I can kill blue light, at least to an extent after sunset.

I know I can DIY this with a Raspberry Pi and cheap wifi/Zigbee controllers adjusting LED strips, I just want to get your take on compatibility with your high-quality strips. I see y'all don't offer connectivity on your controllers/dimmers so I wanted to ask if it might spell a problem or would just be too hard to do.

While we have not tested our lights with a Raspberry Pi or the Zigbee controller, we have shared a guide below regarding how to connect our LED Strip Lights with a smart home dimming system, which hopefully holds some helpful information for your installation. 

In the hopes that it proves to be useful for your purchase planning process, please note that our LED Strip Lights are not individually addressable. As such, the LEDs will not be able to individually illuminate at the command of a central controller. 

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems

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.

Can I replace the traditional wafer lights with LED strips?

I am building a house with traditional wafer lights and I wanted to see if I can replace them with LED strips. For example, the living room is 15x17 feet and I have (12) 1100-lumen LED wafer lights. Can I replace them with 4 16' LED strips? How much output does the diffuser remove? In theory, the strips should output 28800 lumens vs 13200 for the recessed lights. I would want the strips to be equal to or greater than the wafer lights.

Based on the details provided, it sounds like our LED strip lights could be a great replacement for your LED wafer lights. Each reel of strip lights would require a dedicated power supply, such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, which may already be compatible with your wall dimmer. 

​The lights can be installed within our aluminum channels, which we can confirm will reduce transmission by roughly 10% if the diffusion covers are installed. Even so, the total lumen output should be far greater than the wafers currently provide. 

We have shared some LayoutMaps below which illustrate some common installation layouts and include links to the recommended products and accessories. Hopefully, the contents are helpful for your installation planning process. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Do you have any dimmers that fit well in a standard residential light switch box?

I'm wondering if, you have any dimmers that fit well in a standard residential light switch box.

I found your site based on a search for PWM flicker-free lighting. My main concern is EMF/dirty electricity with no flicker/buzzing on my LED strip dimmer as a side effect/bonus so to speak. Can you speak at all to the relative EMF output of your various options? Do your TRIAC-compatible dimmers use forward phase or reverse? From the little info out there I've been able to research both likely are worse than the PWM. 

If I go with your PWM option is there a way to hardwire to the power supply/strips using regular house wiring as the electrical is done on this project and I can't practically run barrel connectors at this point?

I'm keen on your PWM unit and power supply but would be looking to pair it with this dim-to-warm strip: Ribbon Star Dim to Warm LED Strip Light Would it be compatible?

I have provided answers to each of your questions below, which we hope are helpful for your purchase planning process. 

1.) We, unfortunately, do not sell wall dimmers, and we do apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. That said, we have a list of dimmers that have been tested as compatible with our power supplies. 

2.) We can confirm that our products do not create any dirty electricity as rated by FCC standards for EMF emissions.

3.) Our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies are compatible with both forward and reverse phase dimmers and use high-frequency PWM (> 20,000 Hz) for effectively flicker-free dimming. 

4.) We can confirm that our power supplies are designed to be connected directly to line voltage, as our TRIAC and Centric Series power supplies do not use barrel jack adapters. For our LED Strip Lights that utilize barrel jack adapters, we recommend utilizing our adapters for connection to the power supply. 

You say non of your equipment produces EMF. What about when I add a TRIAC switch to your dimmable power supplies, would that potentially add any EMFs to the system?

I ended up purchasing the barrel jack style setup, are there barrel jack to DC adapters commonly available at electronics supply stores?

One more follow-up question. I'm planning an RV build and want the dim to warm strips. 24V 5m iP20 2835 White Dim to Warm LED Strip - 196 LEDs/m (Strip Only) - LED Montreal

Are these compatible with your systems and if so is it possible to run them on 12v?

While the power supply is unlikely to introduce any EMF, the TRIAC dimmer possibly could. 

​As far as we are aware, this would depend on the specific dimmer, installation circuit, and other factors. For specific feedback for your installation, we would likely recommend contacting a local electrician for guidance. 

Further, we can confirm that the barrel jack connectors appear to be fairly common. We suspect that your local hardware store or electronic component specialty store would have those items readily available for purchase. 

As the hardware components within LED Strip Lights are voltage specific, we would not expect the 24V LED Montreal product to be compatible with our 12V power supplies or a 12V system. Using mismatched voltage often causes damage to the components, and will likely void the warranties. That being said, a 12V version would likely be useable if it does not exceed the available power of your vehicle battery or a separate RV power source. 

How many lumens per foot this amber strip light has and also what its equivalent color temperature would be in Kelvin? From what I've been reading there isn't necessarily a direct conversion but would it be about 2200K?

The amber LED strip light has a light output of 185 lumens per foot. Please see below for the full specifications:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7041.pdf

​Unfortunately, there is no way to accurately convert a non-white light source such as this amber LED strip to a color temperature, but 2200K would be a close approximation if one were to "force" a conversion from 592 nm to CCT.

Which of your products are flicker-free and how they compare on an oscilloscope to the Phillips product?

Can you tell me which of your products are flicker-free, and how they compare on an oscilloscope to this Phillips product: 

Philips LED Dimmable Warm Glow Effect A19

I liked your oscilloscope comparison at this article and I'm wondering how yours and the Phillips one compare. One of my kids is very sensitive to flicker, so I want to try to figure out what's best for him.

While we do not have oscilloscope readings for all of our products, we can confirm that our standard A19 and A21 bulbs feature flicker-free output. 

Though currently out of stock, our 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip is also able to provide flicker-free output for 24V LED Strip Light products. 

From our review of the Philips product, they appear to provide flicker-free output as well. That being said, it does not appear that the CRI is listed on the product listing. 

Generally speaking, our LED technology uses red phosphor in order to create a high CRI output of 95+. The larger brands often use the far less expensive yellow phosphor, which typically provides a maximum CRI of about 80. 

As a further note, you can tell from our photometric test reports page that our A19 bulbs have a flicker percentage of 0%, and have a flicker index of 0.00. As such, we would not expect them to provide any flicker while operating. 

That aside, if you would like to try and compare our products, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide prepaid return labels so that items from domestic orders can be returned for a refund. 

We need flicker-free for one of my kids so I'm looking at your CENTRIC HOME Flicker-Free A21 LED bulbs. We're testing them in a 300-square-foot room that has four bulb sockets and no dimmer circuit. Usually with four 60W bulbs we feel like it's a bit dark in the room.

On the other hand, with the Phillips flicker-free product I mentioned below (60W; I believe it's 2700K with no dimmer) my wife says the Phillips bulbs hurt her eyes. I know that's a little vague, but which of your products would you suggest I try first: 2700K or 3000K, and 60W or 100W? 

By room size I'd think 100W, but we don't know what makes the Phillips bulbs hurt my wife's eyes, and she's worried about going brighter if the 60W Phillips bulbs already hurt.) I'm hoping that as an expert you might have a better chance at pinpointing what we need first-try than I would as a non-expert.

Based on my use of the Lumen Estimation Calculator, it appears that a 300 square foot room would be fully illuminated by 3,188 lumens. As each of our A19 lightbulbs outputs 800 lumens, we would likely recommend using four of our 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs. For reference, 800 lumens is equivalent to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. 

We like to define glare as the contrast between the darkest point in a room and the brightest. If a light source is considerably brighter than the surrounding area and does not use any type of diffusion covering, the light output can feel stark and relatively intense. If that glare is a persistent issue, we recommend utilizing a fixture that has a covering for diffusion, which should hopefully help to reduce the effect.

While we might recommend our 2700K Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential as an alternative given the relatively lower lumen output per bulb (450 lumens vs 800), these products are not flicker-free and as such may not be the best option for your installation. 

LED Strip for Under-Cabinet Kitchen Lighting

I am looking to install some under-cabinet lights in my kitchen. I listed the specs for my project below and would love your help in figuring out the right lights, power supply, aluminum channel, etc.

-Run length: 90"

-Distance from wall: 11.5"

-Existing cutout in bottom plywood cabinets: cross-section is 0.75" x 0.75" (will the aluminum channel dissipate enough heat?)

-Color temp desired: 3000k

-Dimmable with Lutron Toggler if possible

-Lumens: Whatever is recommended for the kitchen?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend one 16.4 ft (5 meter) reel of the 24V 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential as well as the 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. These products are compatible with a wide variety of Lutron dimmers, as can be noted from our dimmer compatibility list. 

We can confirm that the aluminum channels do a great job of diffusing the heat that LED Strip Lights generates during operation. As your installation does not appear to be anchored to the junction of the cabinets and wall, we would likely recommend the flat version of the channels for even illumination on the counter surfaces beneath them.

If you would like to enter the dimension of your kitchen space in our Lumen Estimation Calculator, it will provide you with an illumination target as well as a recommendation for the total lighting needed to meet that goal. 

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. 

Exterior Strip Lighting for Motor Yacht

I need a single run 50' blue exterior strip lighting for a motor yacht

As our LED Strip Lights are unfortunately not IP-Rated for protection against the elements, it unfortunately does not appear that we have any products that would be a natural fit for your yacht installation. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchasing plans. 

That being said, some of our customers have reportedly located third-party insulated channels that are able to be used onboard boats and other vessels. If you are able to locate such products, we would likely recommend our 460nm SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights. 

As each 5-meter reel of the SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights has a maximum combined length of 16.4’, we would likely recommend utilizing three reels with a dedicated power supply each. As a general note, it might be helpful to know that lengths exceeding the maximum run will encounter voltage drop and reduced light output. 

High CRI and Higher Lumen Lights

We have your 3000k Centric Home Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs, and they are fine. But I recall from earlier discussions that there was another option available that would have provided an even higher CRI and higher lumens. But I recall that it involved some technical skills in terms of assembly. I cannot recall the product name. Could you remind me of what that product is?

Based on my review of our previous conversations, it appears that the products in question are our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules as well as the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. While the LED Modules are most commonly used as components in light studies, the LED Flexible Strips are more commonly used in residential installations and could be a good fit for your requirements.

Many customers who install our LED Flexible Strips in residential spaces utilize our 12V in-wall power supplies and place the products within the aluminum channels on sconces or ceiling lines for uniform illumination. These products are also compatible with wall dimmers, and can also be controlled using smart home systems.

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. ​

Do you have a full spectrum that mimics sunlight?

I am looking for a light that mimics sunlight including UV. Do you have those, with UVA and UVB?

While we offer the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip, we don't currently have any products available which can provide both UV-A and UV-B alongside the visible spectrum. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

Will the solderless connectors still work if the 5-meter strip is cut into 5?

I bought the 5-meter strip listed above, and connectors. I want to cut it into 5, one-meter strips, for a fixture. This puts the cut points at the points where the strip is soldered together. Will the connectors still work at this point?

We are happy to confirm that the LED Strip Lights can be segmented at the contact pad solder joints for installations. 

If you require greater clearance on the PCB to attach the solderless connector wires (or other connectors), we might recommend desoldering the joints so that there is sufficient clearance for the contact pads to fit snugly under the connectors. 

What is the power consumption of the LED Strip lights?

This article (link below) from your support center is very helpful and validates my understanding, as I am pretty good in general with electrical. So I am good on the power supply selection criteria, but I also want to understand the power consumption in Watts @ 120 VAC and the hit to my power bill. If I am recalling my basic electrical theory correctly, a Watt is a unit of consumption, and essentially a Watt is a Watt, and 24w @12 VDC would still equate to 24w @ 120 VAC, but at a much lesser amperage, which would be 0.2A in this case. Of course, there may be some loss due to the 120V to 12V power supply but assuming this is negligible, it would still be a 24W power draw on my home electrical bill, I believe. 

We can confirm that an installation at 120 VAC would draw about 12 watts or .02 amps, whereas an installation at 12 VDC will draw about 24 watts or 2 amps. As such, the latter would have a higher draw than the former.

Is it possible to get narrow-spectrum LED strip lights?

In my Biology department, we are trying to do some photosynthesis experiments. Is it possible to get narrow-spectrum LED lights? for example, a light almost entirely in the 450–475 range and another in the 650–670 range?

While we are unfortunately unable to provide custom fabrication for LED Strip Lights emitting a certain bandwidth, we do have some options in our catalog that we might recommend. 

As a primary option, we have the SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights available, which output royal blue 460nm light at 88 lumens per foot. Unfortunately, the closest match in our catalog to the referenced 650–670 range would be the SimpleColor™ Red LED Strip Lights, which output a saturated red 630nm light at 161 lumens per foot. 

If you would prefer one product that is capable of outputting any combination of the visible color spectrum, you may also be interested in our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. Please note that this product will require a connected DMX Decoder or third-party controller for the adjustment of each channel. 

Is there a primer on how to work with these LED light strips? I see that simple blue and simple green LED strips will hit the peaks I am looking for, but I am not sure how to cut and join them as this is new to me. I also see that the film grade 5-spec can peak around the 660 range. I am also not sure how the controller works for that setup.

We have several pages on our website dedicated to getting started with LED Strip Lights, including instructions on how to use the connectors. We have attached those links below, which we hope prove to be helpful for you. 

LED Strip Lights: Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

How to Connect An LED Strip to a Power Supply

Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip - Contains Instructional Video

LayoutMaps™ by Waveform Lighting - Contains multiple instructional installation layouts 

The DMX Dimmer and Decoder is a product that is most often used for the control of multi-channel RGBW networked lights that are directed by a DMX Controller such as the American DJ myDMX 3.0 DMX. 

​That said, there are alternative third-party IR/WiFi controllers available from marketplaces such as Amazon. These products generally would not require additional hardware and are often able to be wired directly to the LED Strip Lights. Many of the products found in my own search are able to utilize remotes for operation, as well. 

Recommended Power Supply for Under-mount LED Strip for Kitchen Lighting

I want to chat with someone about the right power supply and wiring. I've got to run about 15 feet of under-mount on one circuit and I'd like it to be dimmable at the switch. I'll be using your Centric series.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, which is the most common color temperature for kitchens and food prep installations. 

One 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel can be powered using a single power supply such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, which can be connected to a wall dimmer for adjustment and operation. We typically recommend the 16 AWG wiring to reduce the risk of voltage drop.

If that flicker-free operation is preferred, we would alternatively recommend the 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. If this option is selected, we would strongly recommend using the 24V version of the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. As a general note, when products of mismatched voltage are used hardware damage may occur which will void the product warranties. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a link to two LayoutMaps from our website which illustrates installations similar to the details provided. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

Replacement for Daylight fluorescent bulbs

I was wondering if you could help us with trying to specify the correct LED solution to replace the daylight fluorescent bulbs we are currently using at our live animal shows. We would love to switch to LEDs, but since we are judging the animals on the color and quality of their fur we need to be as consistent as possible between the LEDs and the old fluorescents that are the current industry standard. 

The bulbs we currently use for the shows are Philips F96T 12/DX Alto and GE F96DX which are both 8' long. Our show table is usually 16'-24' long and we are trying to get a consistent, even light across the length, hence using the 8' bulbs. 

For my own use, I'm looking at ordering a pack of your Centric Daylight T8 tube lights to try out, but I'm not sure that 4' long bulbs would be ideal for the long show lights. The strip lights seem ideal as they would give us lots of flexibility on storage and set up, but I'm not sure that they would give us the same even, more diffuse light that the linear bulbs do. Currently, the bulbs are 28" above the table. 

Though we were unable to locate any details about the GE F96DX, based on my review of the Philips F96T 12/DX Alto product it appears that each 8 ft tube light provides 4200 lumens (525 lumens per foot) with a CRI of 90. 

The primary recommendation that comes to mind as an alternative is our 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. Though these provide a lower 1800 lumens per 4 ft tube (450 lumens per foot), they also provide a greater CRI of 95+. That said, please note that these lights are not compatible with all ballasts found in T8 fixtures, and may require rewiring to bypass the ballasts. 

The second option would be our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which feature the same lumens per foot and CRI as the above product. The primary benefit of the LED Strip Lights is that one full 16.4 ft reel can be powered using a single power supply such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply (for more permanent installations). These items can be installed within the aluminum channels, which feature a diffusion panel for uniform light distribution. 

As the above products would feature a substantially higher CRI than the currently utilized Philips and GE products, we might recommend purchasing an initial test order containing one unit of our 2 ft or 4 ft 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures to test on your show table to ensure that the color quality matches the industry standard. 

These T5 Linear Light Fixtures utilize the same LED technology as the above products, though they would not require any additional connectors or power supplies for operation. These fixtures can also be daisy-chained (or interlocked) together for a maximum length of 70 feet, which may make them a good third option for your show table installation. 

Are your Centric Home Strip Lights with Triac Power Supply compatible with Lutron Caseta switch?

Are your Centric Home Strip Lights with Triac Driver compatible with Lutron Caseta switch? Is your Triac Power supply electronic or magnetic? Do you use leading-edge or trailing-edge technology?

We can confirm that our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies are electric, and are compatible with the leading edge or trailing edge technology used in dimmers. In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have also provided a link to our list of dimmers that are compatible with the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply below. 

Compatible Dimmer List 

How long it takes for the Absolute Series LED strip to go from the minimum to the max lux?

Do you have the spec sheet for the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCB? I would like to find out how long it takes for the LED strip to go from the minimum lux to the max lux and the other way around. Is this something you have analyzed?

Though we unfortunately do not have any data regarding the timing that the LED Modules would take to adjust from minimum to maximum output and vice versa, we can confirm that LEDs typically have a rise and fall time on the order of nanoseconds. 

As a further note, this timing is also dependent on the on/off response time of any connected power supplies or controllers.

Do you offer 7200 series 100W COB in the blue 455 nm wavelength?

Do you offer your 7200 series 100W COB LED in the blue 455 nm wavelength?

We're sorry to report that we do not offer the 7200 Series™ 100W COB LED - 95 CRI Full Spectrum in the 455nm wavelength, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

That said, you may alternatively be interested in the 450nm SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights, which are in stock and available for purchase. 

Do I need to order three power supplies to operate three (5m) LED strips separately?

I am building a UV varnish curing cabinet for stringed instruments and would like to rig up 3x5m strips of your 365nm realUV reels. Does this mean that I need to order 3 separate power supplies to power each reel or is there a more powerful option that would power all three? It would be a plug-in setup.

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per 5-meter reel of LED Strip Lights due to the available wattage of each supply. Where each 12V power supply can provide 120 watts, each of the 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Light reels would require roughly 90.2 watts.

While we do not have a more powerful DC option than the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip, you may be able to locate a higher-capacity power supply locally. Our power supplies have a limited output defined by domestic electrical class ratings, though those ratings and regulations may be different internationally. 

Recommended Lights for Art Studio Space

I've recently acquired a new art studio space which was formerly a hotel room. It's about 200 sq ft with a very small north-facing window and a fairly small south-facing window. Where I'm hoping to set up my easel would be closest to the south-facing window (with an awning that obstructs the light) and under 4 light receptacles that were placed for a time when it was a hotel room. I'm just wondering if you have any recommendations for lighting the space. I'll be painting it white. 

Based on my review of the details provided, it appears that we have several options that we would recommend for your new studio space. If the ceiling lighting is recessed, we would primarily recommend our NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulbs for Artwork & Studio, which are available in both 5000K and 6500K. These dimmable lights provide 800 lumens per bulb and offer a CRI of 95+. 

Some of our other customers with similar installations have also installed our LED Strip Lights at the ceiling line within the corner version of our aluminum channels, which can be dimmed and paired with smart home systems. 

​Depending on the finer details of your studio space, you may prefer to utilize the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip and FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer rather than the in-wall power supplies that would require connection to line voltage and manual wiring.

LED Strip Light Connections Guidance

I'm setting up a single strand of single-color strip lights. It's my first time and I'm working through the kinks. I'm using the WF power supply and WF inline dimmer. I understand I need an adapter to connect the DC barrel connector to the wires at the end of the LED strip. Does the power supply or dimmer or strip come with a barrel adapter (PN 7094)? For obvious reasons, I don't really want to buy a 4 pack when I only need 1.

I’m buying a reel of 16 AWG wire to make strip-to-strip connections over distances of multiple feet. I’d like to do this with solderless connections, but PN 3017 is too short. I’d consider buying a pack of PN 3071 and modifying them, but the wires seem hard-wired in. How do I do this?

While our power supplies do not include the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapters, functionally similar items are likely available in single units from your local hardware stores. 

As an alternative to the LED Strip to Strip Connectors, you may alternatively be interested in connecting the segments using a combination of the 16 AWG Wire and the LED Strip to Wire Connectors (PN3070) using wire nuts or soldering. ​

LED Strip Lights for Bioreactors for Algae Growth

We are looking to create several bioreactors for algae growth. We were hoping to buy LED strips that were flexible enough to place into a bioreactor (approximately the shape of a cylinder with a front opening). I'm envisioning this as several LED strips running in parallel across the cylinder using your non-soldering connectors. We could require something with a full spectrum with a high output (~300uMol or higher) that could be dimmed. We've found some controllers which may be appropriate here. 

Based on my review, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips for your installation. Where the former provides greater lumen output per meter (1500 vs 1250), the latter can provide 99 CRI over 95 CRI, which can be quite helpful for installations where daylight simulation is important. 

Based on my use of our Lumen to PPF Calculator, we have found that each full reel of the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights would provide 172.5 umol/s, and each full reel of the 6500K would provide 143.75 umol/s. Hopefully, just over two reels should be able to meet the 300 umol/s target referenced in your email. 

As it appears that your installation would utilize multiple reels and power supplies, we would likely recommend the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply or the CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip for 24V-specific installations where flicker-are output is beneficial. As can be noted within one of the below LayoutMap, multiple units of either of the aforementioned power supplies can be installed to a simple dimmer. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Is your Centric Home LED strip flicker-free?

Is your Centric Home LED strip as flicker-free as the FilmGrade? Looking for the most flicker-free option in a warm light temp. 

We can confirm that the 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights feature the warmest color temperature among the product line. Further, both it and the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights are flicker-free when paired with a flicker-free power supply of matching voltage such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

While not available within every test report, many of the reports on our Photometric Test Report page list the flicker rate of the LED Strip Lights, which are typically tested using the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supplies. 

Is your 12V IR LED strip compatible with 24V?

I'm interested in your infrared LED strip, but I'm looking for a 24V strip. Is your 12V strip compatible with 24V? If not, do you have any 24V infrared strips in stock?

Our Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light is currently available only in the 12V DC version, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase plans. 

​As a further note, it might be helpful to know that we generally discourage the use of power supplies with a mismatched voltage, as this can damage the hardware and void the product warranties. Due to this, you may alternatively be interested in our 12V power supplies such as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. 

Can LED strip lights be used as ceiling lights?

Can LED strip lights be used as ceiling lights? Is it practical?

We are happy to confirm that our LED Strip Lights are commonly used as ceiling lighting. In these installations, the LED Strip Lights are often installed into the wall cornices using our corner or flat aluminum channels. The lights can be controlled using smart home systems or dimmers and powered using line voltage and a power supply. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a link to two introductory articles below for getting started with LED Strip Lighting. 

Getting started with LED strip lighting for your home

LED Strip Lights - Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

Difference Between Tungsten and Daylight FilmGrade WHITE LED Strip Lights

I am interested in purchasing your FilmGrade White LED Strip Lights 3001.32, but I am confused about whether I should order the tungsten or daylight. 

Is the color temperature associated with the brightness of the light? When would I want tungsten, and when would I want daylight? How does the dimmer affect this? Dimmers normally reduce the brightness of a light, correct?

We can confirm that the color temperature of a light source is not related to the lumen output. The first measures the correlated color temperature (CCT), whereas the latter measures the quantity of light being output. As such, when a light is dimmed, the number of lumens output will reduce, but the color temperature will not change. 

As can be noted from the below guide, we often recommend the 3000K color temperature for kitchen installations. If you are unsure of which color temperature would work best in your kitchen, we might recommend purchasing a few of our standard lightbulbs to see which best fits the needs of the kitchen prep space. 

After you have compared the options, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide a prepaid return label for any needed items from domestic orders. 

Regarding the voltage options, it might be helpful to know that each of the LED Strip Lights hardware is designed for specific voltages. If the 12V FilmGrade WHITE LED Strip Lights were selected, we would recommend using a 12V power supply. If the 24V version was instead preferred, we suggest the 24V power supply. When products of mismatched voltage are connected to power, hardware damage may be incurred, which will void the product warranty. 

We have attached several guides below, which we hope are helpful as you continue your purchase and installation planning process. 

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

LED Strip Lights - Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

How to Dim LED Strip Lights

What is the difference between the "CENTRIC SERIES" and "TRIAC" dimmable power supplies?

What is the difference between "flicker-free" and triac dimmers? What do you mean by "flicker free"? Are you somehow varying a DC voltage and current, doing a high rate voltage PWM, or PWMing the current while keeping the voltage constant?

​The only difference between the "CENTRIC SERIES" and "TRIAC" dimmable power supplies is the footprint. The electrical properties for both product lines are the same.

​At full power, the output does not have any PWM in the signal, but when dimmed, the light output is reduced via PWM.

​If you PWM, at what rate?

Our current product iteration utilizes 400 Hz PWM when dimmed. We have completed prototypes and expect to launch a 20 kHz version (when dimmed) within the next few months.

​What is the lowest dim level with the Caseta dimmer? I thought I saw somewhere on your website that it goes down to ~0, somewhere else, the lowest dim level was much higher

Based on our testing with the Lutron Caseta setup, the lowest dim level was 0.2%.

Are your dimmers appropriate at the power levels I need, or are they oversized / drop significantly in efficiency?

​Each power supply has a rated power capacity of 96 watts, so the 22-watt and 35–40 watt LED strip runs will not be an issue. As you mentioned, they can be connected to a single wall dimmer so that the two LED strip runs are "synchronized."

​Is there a way to somehow trim the dimers to make sure that both strips dim consistently; Also, can I set the top dim level down if the strips are somehow too bright for this application?

​Unfortunately, there is no way to adjust the trim on the power supplies themselves, but there are several dimmers on the market that have adjustable trim dials, which may accomplish what you are looking for. If we recall, the Lutron Caseta does not have this feature at the hardware level, but there may be some features inside the software that would allow you to program your preferences.

Do you have data sheets? I did not see them on the website 

​We do not have datasheets published yet, but if you have any further technical questions, we would be more than happy to assist!

99 CRI LED Strip Light for Proofing Slides and Photographing Artwork

I would like to replace the fluorescent bulbs in my Justlicht light table with your CRI 99 LED. Yes, you have 4-foot bulbs that I could drop in, but they are CRI 95, and I would prefer 99, as well as being able to use the LED strips in another lightbox to photograph art objects. Doable?

I am a photographer, and color corrections are critical for my work, both for proofing slides and photographing artwork. Therefore, a flexible solution of CRI 99 LEDs would be best for me. Do you ship to Iceland?

We are happy to confirm that we are able to ship orders internationally to Iceland. These orders typically take one to two days to process before being dispatched. 

Further, we can also confirm that our D50 5000K T5 LED Linear Light Fixture for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) (PN4026.2F.50.4P) is compatible with the input frequency of 120 – 277V AC at 50 – 60 Hz. As such, it appears that the product would be compatible with the 220V AC referenced. 

If the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip is of interest, we can confirm that the product can be used with 12V DC Power or line voltage via the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply.

Would the LED strips be installed in place of the current T8 fixtures?

NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio 4024.50.4P. Is this lamp dimmable?

Unfortunately, none of our T8 LED Tube Light products are dimmable. For installations where dimming is helpful, we typically recommend our LED Strip Lights as alternative light sources. 

How are they installed? In the diagram attachment, we are needing a high CRI above the conference table for viewing new products and comparing the color of shipments to the original color. Would the LED strips be installed in place of the current fixtures? 

We can confirm that our LED Strip Lights can be used for both commercial and residential installations. Installations commonly utilize runs of the LED Strip Lights installed within the aluminum channels, which are controlled using smart home systems or wall dimmers and powered with supplies such as the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. 

For installations where color accuracy is important, we would likely recommend our D50 or D65 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips, which can output light that is virtually indistinguishable from sunlight. 

If the lights are to be installed within a retrofitted T8 fixture, our primary recommendation would be to ensure that the power supply can comfortably fit within or around the fixture. Some customers choose to utilize the cavity where the ballasts were previously held for such installation. 

Can you give me a drawing of what you speak? Can’t visualize it 

Though we, unfortunately, do not have precise installation schematics on file that we could provide, we have shared a few LayoutMap links below that illustrate installations using connected segments of our LED Strip Lights powered by the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. We do hope that these resources prove helpful for your installation planning. 

​The CENTRIC HOME/DAYLIGHT LED Strip Lights featured within the below links are very similar to the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip, though the latter has barrel jack adapters on the reel ends for power connection. As such, we would recommend using the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter to connect the wiring without requiring soldering. Doing so also makes future adjustments and troubleshooting easier, as the Flex Strip can be detached. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

What is the output per foot of FilmGrade LED Strip Light?

On your FilmGrade LED Strip Light specification it states '450 lumens per foot (1500 lumens per meter)—does this mean a foot or meter length of the strip, or does this mean per square foot/square meter? 

We can confirm that the 24V FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights output 450 lumens of light in all directions per foot of LED Strip Lights.

Would you know the beam angle of your FilmGrade LED Strip Light & ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module?

I have a specific light intensity I'm trying to reach, and with the beam angle, I can work out the area illuminated 50cm from the light source.

We can confirm that both the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights and the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules have a beam angle of 120°. 

LED Strip Lights and Power Supply Needed for Undercabinet Lighting

I plan on ordering 2 reels of CENTRIC HOME LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, PN 3003.27 for use as undercabinet lighting. At one point, I needed to go around a corner. How do I connect the two segments at that juncture? I will end up with 20 feet of lighting installed. What power supply/transformer will I need? Also, there are 4 other MR11-type LED downlights on the same run. Can the power supply I need power these as well? 

As a primary installation planning note, it might be helpful to know that our 12V and 24V products have different maximum lengths. Where the 12V has a maximum run of 16.4 feet, the 24V has a maximum combined length of 32.8 feet. When lengths greater than these are connected to power, voltage drop and reduced lumen output will occur. 

That said, the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip has a maximum power output of 120W for 12V, and 96W for 24V. Given the above, we would likely recommend shortening the total LED Strip Lights used in the installation or adding one additional TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip to the installation for the second wall of lights. 

We have attached two LayoutMap guides below for installations that we think might be helpful to reference for your installation planning process. As you will note, 3001-1B includes the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Connector for Single Color LED, which we usually recommend for connecting strip light segments. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

As we are not aware of the technical requirements of the MR11, they likely utilize ground voltage through a direct-wire connection. If they require power supplies and are of a matching voltage, it may be possible to use our power supplies in your installation to power all items. 

Do you have the highest-watt and full spectrum lights?

I’m looking at creating the beach in a small 15 ft x 15 ft room with sand, a fake sun, etc. For this, I’m looking at the highest-watt and full-spectrum lights I can find. Do you have products like that? Something probably a few hundred watts?

Based on the details provided we would likely recommend our 100W-equivalent LED A21 Bulbs which provide 1600 lumens per lightbulb, which is the highest lumen output among our standard lightbulbs.

Depending on how warm or cool you would like the artificial sun to be, you might be interested in trying a few options and taking advantage of our 30-day return policy. We will gladly provide a prepaid return label for domestic orders for any unneeded items. 

So it looks like this bulb has the same pretty standard peak at at 450 as most other “full spectrum” bulbs, is there no way to get something more like actual sunlight?

Though not a standard lightbulb as your installation may benefit from, you may alternatively be interested in our 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip or 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules.

These products are designed to provide light output which is virtually indistinguishable from daylight, which might provide the ideal type of illumination for your installation. 

We have attached a link to the 6500K Photometric Reports for the 6500K LED Linear Module below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your purchase and installation planning process. 

Photometric Data for ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Linear Module 6500K

Can I use an inline resistor to achieve differential dimming?

I installed three 14-volt LED strips wired in parallel to a dimmable power supply. One strip is about 65 inches long and mounted under our kitchen cabinets for task lighting. The other two 31-inch strips are mounted in the cabinets above that have glass doors. These are strictly decorative, and my wife would like them to be dimmer than the undercabinet light. Can I use an inline resistor to dim the upper two strips?

While we completely understand the idea behind using an inline resistor to achieve the goal of differential dimming, unfortunately, this would not be a practical and recommended approach.

The primary concern is that an inline resistor would need to dissipate a significant amount of heat. If, for example, you have 5 feet of LED strip connected, this would amount to nearly 30 watts (5.5 watts per foot). Reducing the power to the system by just 10% using a resistor would require dissipating 3 watts, which is a significant amount of heat for a small, passive component such as an inline resistor.

There are also concerns with heat buildup and potential safety concerns, especially in a residential installation.

We realize this will increase the total component cost for your project, but the best solution would be to utilize two separate power supplies connected to two separate wall-dimmers.

Flicker-free with 800+ lumens Output Lighting

 I am trying to achieve the lighting required on page 4 of the link below. https://trackman.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/article_attachments/4403267887003/Spotlight_Installation_Instructions_4.20__1_.pdf. Can you please recommend which of your lighting would work best? I can use the shop light style or more of a can/flood option. 

Based on our review of the document provided, it appears that a flicker-free option with an output greater than 800 lumens is recommended for your installation. As such, it appears that we have several options that could work well. 

As a primary consideration, while our BR30 bulbs are a great option for recessed lighting, they are unfortunately not flicker-free which may affect the video capture of your installation. 

You may be interested in our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures due to the ease of installation, flicker-free output, and high CRI of 95+. These light sources can be conveniently installed using the included brackets and DC power cable, and do not require a dedicated power supply. 

As a secondary recommendation, our NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixtures are similar to the linear light fixtures in that they only require a DC connection for power, and offer flicker-free output. As is also true of the linear light fixtures, this product is not designed for wiring to line voltage or use with dimmers. 

If wall dimmers and smart home systems are of benefit for your installation, we would recommend the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which are designed with video capture in mind. As this item is available in both the 12V and 24V versions, we strongly recommend selecting a power supply of a matching voltage. 

Do you have a recommended magnetic switch for LED strip systems?

I am installing/designing LED lighting inside 7 closets. As a test, I recently purchased a 24V 2700-degree strip, AC/DC adapter, and dimmer from Waveform. I am trying to find a compatible NO Reed/magnetic switch. Does WFL have recommendations? 

Options I found: 

https://www.graybar.com/60-series-magnetic-switches/p/88086115 • https://www.inspiredled.com/product/led-magnetic-switch/#1580488109404-98569db6-1fad (incompatible wire gauge/plug) https://lightdream.com.au/shop/sensor-switch/ (Australia) Also, I bought 24V because your website suggested greater efficiency, etc than 12V. If a magnetic switch is not conducive to 24V then should I consider switching to a 12V system? 

We don't have any first-hand data or testing to verify, but most third-party magnetic switches should be compatible with our LED strip systems. We did take a look at the links you provided and conceptually they look to be compatible with our LED strips.

The one concern we have is with the current rating. Only the Inspired LED product page shows a specific max current specification - "Max load not to exceed 5A" - which should be more than sufficient (our LED strips draw 3.8 amps per 16.4 ft reel) but with the other products not indicating a specific max current rating, that would be something to double check. Our LED strips draw 225 mA per foot, so depending on the total installation length, you'll have to do a bit simple math to determine the total current draw.

Going to 12 volts may be a viable option if that opens up more product options for magnetic switches. Otherwise, the 24 volt version, as you mention, provides a slightly more efficient and cooler system.

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.

Will the UL listing on the LED strip be “nullified” if the LED strip is cut-to-length?

I’m interested in utilizing cut-to-length UL-listed LED strip lighting. I’d like to know if the UL listing on LED strip lighting would be “nullified” if the LED strip is cut to length.

As far as we are aware, the UL Listing does not become negated when the LED Strip Lights are divided into the individual segments that are installed individually. 

If you have specific compliance concerns, we would recommend reaching out to a local fire code expert to ensure that your installation aligns with local rules and regulations for construction. 

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 Lights and Accessories Needed for Garage Lighting

I have a 20x20 garage and am looking to get some of your products. I added them to the shopping cart but I know I am missing a couple of things. Items I have included so far:

1. Triac Dimmable Power Supply

2. Absolute Series LED Flex Strip - 99 CRI - 16ft

3. Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip (FLAT)

My goal is to have 4 sections of light mounted to the ceiling of our garage to give good 360-degree lighting. The goal right now would be to have 4 x 4ft sections of lights creating a square. The ends wouldn't be touching unless that really complicates the setup.

The goal is to get a dimmer switch and have this next to the other light switch on the wall currently.

What other items would you suggest I get to make this happen? I also haven't soldered before but have no problem learning that. I just don't know how to properly run power to this new switch on the wall to support this type of lighting.

Based on my review of your email, we would likely recommend adding the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter, LED Strip to Strip Connectors, and a pack of 16 AWG wiring for connection to the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. 

Beyond the three above products, we believe that all required components are included in your cart. As a side note, it might be helpful to know that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft (5 meters). 

Connections that are greater than 16.4 ft will encounter voltage drop and reduced output. As such, we recommend utilizing one deviated power supply per full reel of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. 

As a final note, we have attached a link to the list of wall dimmers that have been tested and found as compatible with our LED Strip Lights and TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies. 

This might be the first electrical job I try myself. Do you have recommendations for how to online somewhere or an article? Or, do you recommend I get an electrician?

We have attached several resources from our website below, which we hope prove to be helpful for your installation planning process. 

As a notable distinction for the LayoutMap below, it might be helpful to know that the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Strip Lights utilize a barrel jack adapter for power connection. When using this product with the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, we recommend using the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter for easier future adjustment. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LED Strip Lights - Everything You Need To Know Before You Buy

Getting Started with LED Strip Lighting For Your Home

How to Connect An LED Strip to a Power Supply 

All of that said, we can certainly understand any hesitations that may arise from wiring power supplies to ground voltage for the first time. If you are apprehensive about the installation process, we would recommend reaching out to a local electrician for assistance. 

Is it possible to have longer-distance wiring connecting the 4 sections of an LED? My plan was similar to a map but the distance between each section was going to be longer.

For the aluminum case that they go in, do you recommend any space at the ends of the strip or the strip can go tight up against the ends of the casing?

While the segments can certainly be connected over long distances using 16 AWG Wire, it might be helpful to know that great expanses may introduce voltage drop. Voltage drop typically reduces the maximum light output and may cause performance issues.

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning process, we have attached a link to our Voltage Drop Calculator tool below. 

Voltage Drop Calculator

Regarding the aluminum channels, please feel free to install the LED Strip Lights that the LED Strip Lights are aligned to the end of the channels. ​

Lightbox for Color Matching

I would like to build a light box (daylight cabinet) for color matching using flexible strip 99. Do you have any available designs showing the box and relative positioning of the strips?

While we, unfortunately, do not have any design documents regarding the placement of LED Strip Lights within a lightbox, we would be more than happy to answer any installation or product questions that you might have. 

In the interim, we have provided a few LayoutMap links below, including two which illustrate installations that use several connected segments of our LED Strip Lights, which we hope proves to be helpful. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Can I use a single power supply for a 16 ft. cut LED strip?

I need to cut 16 ft. (30cm) strips and rejoin them with the couplers. Can I use a single 12V power supply unit for this setup?

As our LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length defined by voltage, the 12V versions have a maximum combined length of 499.872 cm (16.4 feet), whereas the 24V versions have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft (999.744 cm). 

As such, based on the details provided it does appear that a single 120 W (10 Amp) 12V power supply would be capable of providing power for 480 total centimeters (15.748 feet) connected with the LED connectors. 

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 Lights for Planted Aquarium

I’m looking to change from T5 tubes to LED and looking for recommendations if you have any product lines.

We are happy to confirm that we have several options that could be a good fit for your installation. 

That being said, please note that the majority of our LED products are not IP rated for protection against the elements, such as moisture or condensation. As such, if the ideal installation area is to be submerged or located close to water, we, unfortunately, would not have a compatible product available in our catalog. 

The primary products which we would recommend would be our LED Strip Lights installed within our aluminum channels for diffusion. These LED Strip Lights can be paired with wall dimmers and power supplies, and can also be controlled using smart home systems. 

You may also be interested in our integrated T5 Linear Light Fixtures, which contain both internal power supplies and light sources. These items can also be daisy-chained together by interlocking or using the included daisy-chain cables. 

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. 

Do you have LED lights that has blue photons?

I'm looking to buy an LED that has blue on it, a total of 4-5% including from nearby colors.

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend the 460nm SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights. If this product is not the right fit for your installation needs, We have attached a link to our full set of photometric test reports which we hope helps locate a product within our catalog that has the preferred output.

What's PPFD on those?

As PPFD is defined by the number of light photons which hit a surface in micromoles per second per meter squared, gradually losing strength while traveling the distance between source and target, it, unfortunately, cannot be calculated without having the distance between those two defined. 

To calculate the PPFD, we would recommend utilizing a PPFD meter mobile app or a dedicated light meter device. Though we do not have a chart readily available for PPFD, it is a similar principle as described within our realUV™ LED Strip Lights UV Irradiance Pattern document, which we have shared a link to below. 

realUV™ LED Strip Lights UV Irradiance Pattern

I'm sorry, I believe it's the PAR from blue to red, the spectrum values are what I wanted to know for the light. I'm trying to find a light that has its own blue par from blue lights, rather than from a 7000 white light.

While we do not have the PAR number for our products currently available, we can confirm that the SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights output 88 lumens per foot of all blue energy. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your purchase and installation planning process, we have attached a link to the ‘Lumen to PPF calculator​.

LED dimmer for LED Sign

I need a flicker-free dimmer for an LED sign being used in a video. The FilmGrade dimmer looks like just what I need but I don't know if it will integrate into the existing hardware or if I need to order a new power supply and amplifier as well. The power supply is an HLG-320H-12A. The confusing thing to me is that there is a barrel connector for positive and negative output, rather than one single barrel connector. Max output is 22A, 12V. This feeds into an amplifier. 

At this point, I don't need a remote control. I just need to be able to dim the sign and flicker-free by any means. I would simply buy the FilmGrade dimmer except I don't know if or how it would integrate into the existing setup (do I need to keep the amp? Do I need a smaller power supply to reach the 10A threshold of the FilmGrade dimmer?)

Electrically speaking, our flicker-free LED dimmer sounds like a great option and solution for you. As you've mentioned, however, the concern is with the maximum amperage. We do see that the power supply you currently have is rated at 22 amps. The 22 amp rating refers to the maximum capacity of the power supply, however, and it does ​not mean that the LED system is actually utilizing the full 22 amps.

As such, the next step in determining compatibility is to see what the amperage draw of the LED sign installation is. Typically, the LED sign supplier or the electrician who installed the system should be able to provide this information. Based on this finding, we would be able to further recommend next steps.

Do you know whether (and how) dimming will affect the spectrum of Absolute Series LED series?

I'm interested in the Absolute LED series because I want a grow light that best mimics natural sunlight for use in my research lab. I am hoping to use a dimmer with them so I can have fine control over PPFD, but I'm worried that dimming will change the light spectrum. Do you know whether (and how) dimming will affect the spectrum? 

In installations where the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip or other LED lighting products are being dimmed using a PWM dimmer, such as the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer, we would not expect for there to be any change in the light spectrum. 

For the rare installations where the dimming is accomplished through input voltage adjustment or reduction, there may be a mild change in the spectrum. 

LED Lighting for Birds

I was hoping to order LED lights for birds that are not individual light bulbs but either strips or tube lights. Do you have anything like that for birds? 

While not specifically marketed for birds, we are happy to confirm that the same LED technology found within our avian A19 and BR30 lightbulbs can also be found in our T8 LED Tube Lights and LED Strip Light products. 

As such, you may be interested in our 4000K and 6500K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights, which are designed to be compatible with our newly launched LED Ready T8 Fixtures. 

For an LED Strip Light option, we might recommend either the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail or the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights in 12V or 24V. These lights can be mounted within channels, paired with in-wall dimmers, and powered with DC power supplies or in-wall power supplies

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. 

Can I run SimpleColor Red and Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light in parallel using one 12V power supply?

I want to check what your recommendations are for utilizing two of your products in parallel with a switch (A, B, or A+B) utilizing one power supply. I want to use the PN:7041.630 (Simple Color 12V LED Strip - RED) and the PN:7031.85 (Infrared LED Strip Lights - 1m) in a prototype I'm designing to use them as a source of heat and red light. I will be using about a meter of both in parallel, with the power junction through a switch that allows me to choose to use them individually or at the same time. I want to use just a single power source (The PN3091 from your company) and my initial thought is that this should support my use, but I'd like to check with your recommendations to see if that will be sufficient before making my purchase. 

For as long as the total available power provided by the power supply is not exceeded by the LED Strip Lights, we would expect the installation to operate without any issues. 

In the hopes that it proves to be useful, we have shared an article from our website below regarding the installation of LED Strip Lights in Parallel vs. in Series. 

Connecting LED Strips in “Series” vs “Parallel”

Waterproof LED Strip Lights

Are the LED strips waterproof?

Unfortunately, our LED Strip Lights are not IP rated for protection against the elements such as moisture and condensation. We apologize!

That being said, other customers have found success with third-party waterproof channels for boat and outdoor installations, though we have not tested those products internally for compatibility. 

LED Strip Light and Accessories for Kitchen Lightning

I am currently replacing my cabinets and want to install under-cabinet lightning. My kitchen has three sections. A 27" cabinet, space for a hood, Three cabinets with 54" lf, window gap of 7', and then a 30" cabinet. I was planning to purchase the LED tape strip as they easily install. I am confused about what to purchase to connect to Alexa and allow direct wire. 

We are happy to confirm that our LED Strip Lights and power supplies are compatible with many smart home hub systems, such as Lutron Caseta, that can be controlled with Alexa and Siri integrations. 

Based on the details provided, it does appear that the 3200K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights could be a great option. In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached an article on the topic below for your review. 

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems 

For your installation planning, it might be helpful to know that these products have a maximum combined length determined by the input voltage. The 12V version has a maximum run of 16.4 ft (5 meters), whereas the 24V option has a maximum run of 32.8 ft (10 meters). Lengths that exceed those will encounter increasing voltage drop and reduced light output. 

Further, as both versions require 5.5 watts per foot, each reel will require 90.2 watts. As our power supplies offer up to 120 W power output (120W/10A for 12V, and 96W/4A for 24V to meet Class 2 rating). Given this, we usually recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per 5-meter reel of LED Strip Lights. 

We have shared several LayoutMap links below, which illustrate the common installation methods that our customers utilize. These pages also contain descriptions and links to each of the recommended connector accessories. As can be noted within 3001-1C, multiple in-wall power supplies can be connected to the same wall dimmer. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

Do you have a LED bulb for perfect replication of blackbody radiation?

Can you create an LED bulb that perfectly mimics a 6000K blackbody spectrum, from 300nm to 1100 nm?

While this may be theoretically possible, this would not be practical due to the need to include many individual wavelength diodes to ensure coverage across the entire range of wavelengths specified. Phosphors provide wide bandwidth but are generally available in the visible wavelength range only, so the UV and IR regions would need to be supplemented with a large number of different wavelength diodes, which would not be practical in an LED bulb footprint.

Can you create a bulb with zero flicker, that perfectly mimics the solar blackbody spectrum, unfiltered by the atmosphere, in the visible range?

My definition of visible range: "The range of colors visible to even the most sensitive of human eyes."

Our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products are the closest fit to the request. They are not available in a light bulb shape but can be made flicker-free with the appropriate power supplies and dimming configuration.

​Some people may have visual sensitivity beyond the generally accepted 380-780 nm range, however, and this would require supplemental wavelength energy to truly match (see my response above).

Can you create a bulb with zero flicker, that emits every wavelength in the visible range with equal intensity?

My definition of visible range: "The range of colors visible to even the most sensitive of human eyes."

Please see the 5000 K photometric report at the link below, which shows the spectral power distribution.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

The theoretical "Illuminant E" fits the description provided, but it is not feasible with current LED technology due to the limitations described in the response to question 1 above.

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. 

LED Strip and Accessories Needed for Display Cabinet

I want to buy a roll of your CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential Quantity (x2), but I don't see info on the length of the roll. I need about 11 feet + whatever connectors are needed to separate them into 4 pieces, connected by cables each of which would be about 2 feet long.

We can confirm that the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential are sold in reels that are 16.4 ft (5 meters) in length. 

These reels have designated cut points with contact pads that can be used to segment and re-connect the strip lights to our PN 3071 solderless connectors. 

This LED strip product requires a DC 12V or 24V power source to operate. We recommend a minimum power supply capacity of 96W when operating the entire 16 ft. reel.

We have also attached two LayoutMap links from our website below which feature links to each of the recommended connector accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

Indoor Lights for Dog Kennels Breeding Lighting

Which products would be beneficial for a dog's health regarding vit D, heat cycles and fertility, and the general health of a dog who gets outside for maybe a half hour at breakfast time and then again at supper? Would the avian bird light bulbs be correct or something else? I understand that they are part of the Absolute series which in a different area on your website indicates that only linear modules and flexible strips are available in that collection. Did I misunderstand?

As we unfortunately do not have expertise regarding kennels or breeding, we might recommend reaching out to local veterinarians or pet experts for feedback regarding the role that lighting has on indoor kennel spaces. 

That being said, we can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ line of products is comprised of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. Both of these products offer identical 99 CRI light output, which is virtually indistinguishable from daylight. 

How do they compare to the Absolute light bulb (6500 E 26 A19) ( and also a dimmable version) in the avian section? or are they not available? Does the Absolute series stimulate the effects that being out in the sun would, such as vit D production?

We understand that you are looking for a lighting solution that maximizes vitamin D production in miniature schnauzers. Unfortunately we do not have any data on this and as such, cannot provide you with a specific and definitive recommendation.

On the other hand, the shop light fixtures you purchased have a 95 CRI rating, which indicates that the spectral output of the light is extremely similar to natural daylight. Additionally the 4200 lumen light output will ensure that sufficient brightness is available for your kennel space.

​While our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights do offer a 99 CRI rating, these LED strip lights are generally not suitable for indoor residential spaces and are unlikely to reach the level of light intensity needed for your needs.

What is the light intensity of the LED Strip lights?

I was wondering if you knew the light intensity of the LED Strip lights.

Though there are some differences between the products in our catalog, we can confirm that the majority of our LED Strip Lights provide 450 lumens per foot. 

If the specific photometric report measurements are useful, you may be interested in our reports page which houses the available test reports for the products in our catalog.  

I was wondering, given that units seem to vary among competitors, if you can tell me how this compares to 2 different products that have the following intensities: 1.65 x 10 photons/sec/cm3 and 352mW/cm2. 

​The irradiance values of LED products are dependent on the distance away from the light source, so before making any comparisons, we would recommend ensuring a common baseline for distance values.

Our LED strip lights have irradiance values of approximately 2500 lux at 12 inches away. This can be approximated to 45 umol/s/m2 according to our calculator.

Do you have a solderless connector that will fit a 0.6" wide LED aluminum channel?

Do you have a solderless connector that will fit inside a 0.6" wide LED aluminum channel? This unit is too wide.

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our LED Strip to Wire Solderless Connector Cable for Single Color LED Strip product, which has a width of 0.54 inches (13.8mm). 

Unless your installation requires the multi-channel FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, the single-color LED connector should be sufficient for your installation. 

​That being said, these dimensions may not allow for sufficient room for installation. If these products do not work well with your installation, let us know and we will gladly provide you with a prepaid return label. 

I do need the 5 wire RGBW version. What do you have for that?

Unfortunately, we do not have alternative solderless connectors for the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase and installation planning. 

As an alternative to the connectors, we would likely recommend utilizing soldering so that the products are able to neatly fit within the aluminum channels of your installation. 

Do you have a full-spectrum Halogen bulb (MR16) replacement bulb?

We are trying to replace a Halogen bulb (MR16) with a full-spectrum equivalent. This is being used in a broadband light therapy device. The ideal would be to duplicate the spectral energy in sunlight. Do you have the development capabilities to do this?

While not available in the MR16 standard, the closest match in our catalog would be the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips and LED Modules. These products provide 99 CRI full-spectrum output, which is virtually indistinguishable from daylight.

That being said, the output diminishes around the 780nm point, which may mean that they are not the ideal products for the 420nm-1000nm installation requirements. 

Flicker-free Dimmable with a Decor Style Wall Dimmer

Does the below system produces flicker-free output?

FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights 

CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply 24V

Lutron DVCL-253P-WH = 250W

We can confirm that the 24V 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights (PN3002.65) would offer flicker-free output when paired with the 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip (PN3104). 

As a further note, it appears that the referenced Lutron DVCL-253P-WH dimmer would be compatible with the aforementioned products as well. 

What is the power supply needed for CENTRIC HOME LED Strip PN 3003.30?

I'm looking to get the item PN 3003.30, to split into 3 lengths for under-cabinet lighting. I do not need dimming. Is it the 3091 power supply that I need (three of them)? I see cut marks on the strip - I assume I can cut and wire myself. 

We are happy to confirm that the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential have designated cut points every 0.984 inches (25 mm). 

As can be noted within the below LayoutMaps link, multiple individual segments can be connected to a single power supply. We also have several connection accessories that can make installations slightly easier, each of which is linked within the LayoutMap below. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

What color LED would work best as a vanity light?

I am considering using your Corner Chanel and LED strip for mirror sidelights in an RV. Can I buy just two strips or do you need to buy the package of 5? Also, can I buy a shorter length of LED's? Again I only need about 4 feet. What color LED would work best as a vanity light?

We can confirm that our aluminum channels are currently only sold in 5-Packs. Further, the majority of our LED Strip Lights are currently only sold in 16.4 ft (5-meter) lengths, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchasing process. 

For powder rooms and vanities, we typically recommend the 2700K color temperature. As such, you may be interested in the 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. 

Will I be able to dim the lights to a light similar to the tungsten (3200K)?

I am interested in purchasing your FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights PN 3001.32, but have a couple of questions regarding them and your dimmer. Your website indicates that they are available in both tungsten (3200K) and daylight (5600K or 6500K). If I also purchase the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer PN 3081, will I be able to dim the lights to a light similar to the tungsten (3200K)? Also, we may be moving soon, are the strips easily removed so that we could take them with us?

When the output is adjusted using a dimmer, the lumen output changes while the color temperature does not.

​While traditional incandescent bulbs emit warmer color temperatures while dimmed, LED lighting technology allows for a consistent color temperature regardless of the adjusted dimming level of the output. As such, whether the 3200K product is at 20% dimming or 80% dimming, the color of the output will not change significantly.

We can confirm that the adhesive backing can be removed, though we generally recommend placing them within our aluminum channels for easier future adjustment. 3M sells adhesive remover and replacement tape at hardware stores, as well. 

LED Strip Lighting Between Two Kitchen Cabinets

I would like to light up the above-requested area to show off some pretty granite, need 4000K to match the other lighting, and want to hard wire. Will two lights in the middle work? There would be 1" on each side, also it would attach above to a stainless steel hood fan with a 1" lip to attach. Will double-sided stick tape work?

For the installation described, we would recommend the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail. These products require an attached 24V power supply and can be controlled using in-wall dimmers. 

Based on my review, two feet of our LED Strip Lights would provide 900 total lumens upon the target surface. Without having the dimensions of the granite counter space available, it is slightly difficult to know whether two feet of LED Strip Lights would fully illuminate the space to your preference. 

That being said, we would recommend utilizing our Lumen Estimation Calculator to ensure that the area is provided with optimal illumination by the light products. By inputting the size of the granite as the room dimensions, this tool will let you know how many feet of LED Strip Light products would be required to meet the illumination target. 

​The LED Strip Lights are also commonly installed using our aluminum channel products, which can assist with diffusing the light output and allow for easy replacement and adjustment if issues occur. 

As our LED Strip Light products ship with pre-attached 3M adhesive tape, no additional double-sided adhesive would be needed for your installation.

​

Recommended Flexible LED Strip Light for Celtic Harp

I need a sticky back flexible light strip to tape to the underside neck of a Celtic Harp. Most strings are whitish, and some are red and blue. Certain stage lighting can cause a vibrating string to become invisible = not good. What K value of light would work best?

Based on the details provided, it sounds as though a low flicker rate of the stage lighting may be causing the vibrating strings to appear invisible, rather than the ‘Kelvin’ color temperature of the lights. As such, we would likely recommend utilizing a flicker-free power supply to pair with our flicker-free LED Strip Lights in your preferred color temperature to solve the issue at hand. 

While we are not familiar with the most common color temperatures of lighting that might be used for cello stage performances, we are happy to confirm that our LED strip lights are available in a broad set of color temperature options. Further, we can confirm that color temperatures are not linked to flicker rates, as each of our color points allows for flicker-free output. 

For powering the cello-attached LED strip lights, we would recommend the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. This product can provide flicker-free output and can be connected to wall sockets for power. As many of our LED Strip Lights are available in both 12V and 24V options, we recommend selecting a power supply of a matching voltage. 

Which Strip do you recommend?

-Considering I will be using a 12 V Lithium Battery Pack for boosting batteries (Electrical Instrumentation background)

-I need 3K to 4K light tone and 10 ft flexible sticky back strip

-Since it is against wood (classical harp), do I need to be concerned with heat

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our 16.4 ft (5-meter) reel of the 3200K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. These strips have designated cut points every .984” (25 mm) which can be used to divide them into the preferred lengths. 

As can be noted within the referenced article, we have measured an average temperature rise of 54°F (30°C) over ambient temperatures. If the wood material or finish upon the wood is sensitive to such rises in temperature, we would recommend selecting a third-party light product that has a lower LED density to protect the material. 

While batteries could potentially be used to power the LED Strip Lights, we generally recommend pairing them with a FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. A dimmer can also be connected in-line to adjust the output. 

LED Strip and Required Accessories for Under-cabinet Task Lighting

I am ordering LED strip lighting PN 3004.40, power supply PN 3092, Flicker Free Dimmer PN 3081, aluminum channel PN 3060, and barrel jack products PN 7095 PN 7094. Are all of these components compatible? To the 2nd question, I am looking for good under-cabinet task lighting in the kitchen. Is the color temperature 4000 a good choice? 

Based on our review of the contents, it appears that all required items are both present and compatible. In the hope that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning, we have attached a LayoutMap link from our website below for an installation using connected LED Strip Lights segments. 

While we typically recommend the 3000K color temperature for kitchens, the 4000K color temperature option can also be a great choice for providing a neutral white color for cooking preparation areas and task lighting. 

If a warmer color winds up being preferable or if any connectors purchased are unneeded, please let us know and we would be happy to provide a prepaid return label. So long as the LED Strip Light has not been cut or altered, we can accept it as a return. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

LED Strip Lights for Under-Shelf Lighting

I'm trying to determine what I need for my project and I require some additional assistance. I have 4 stacked wall-to-wall shelves that I want to install under-mounted LED strip lights. 

Each shelf is just under 8 feet long. Do I need 2 power supplies to power 32 feet of 12V centric home strips? Should I buy a 12 or 24V power supply? Can I control all of this with 1 dimmer or will I need 2? 

What I have in my cart is the following: 2 16' LED Home centric 12V strip lights 2 flat aluminum casings 1 pack of PN 3070 connectors 2 film grade DC power supply (24V) 16 AWG wires 2 PN 7094. Right now I don't have dimmers included. Does this make sense? I want to make sure I have everything I need.

Based on the details provided, we would suggest utilizing one dedicated power supply and dimmer per reel of the 12V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. As the LED Strip Lights require a total of 90.02 watts per reel, and as the 12V power supplies have a maximum output of 120V, adding reel would likely result in diminished light output. 

​We would also strongly recommend updating the power supply in your cart to be a matching 12V. When power supplies with non-matching voltage are used, permanent damage to the LED Strip Lights can occur which will void the warranty. 

​Based on my review, it appears that the majority of the items within your part list are accurate, apart from the aforementioned incompatible voltage of the power supplies. 

In the hopes that they prove to be useful, we have shared two LayoutMap links below for installations that utilize the aforementioned power supplies and 12V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

Are your Absolute Series LED modules D65 illuminant color calibrated?

Are your Absolute series 99 CRI LED modules suitable for use as a D65 illuminant for camera color calibration test charts or are they only intended as illumination for human observers?

We are happy to confirm that our 6500K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules are ISO D65 compliant for color calibration purposes. 

How wide an angle of the aluminum channel?

I am looking for side lighting to illuminate cases displaying Japanese Cloisonne. Cloisonne is difficult to illuminate. The colors are subtle; the shapes curved; and they are highly reflective fired-enamel. Your product could be just what I'm looking for. I am wondering if you can tell me the angle of the light coming from your channel and corner aluminum housings. I am concerned about too wide an angle escaping the cases and too narrow not evenly reaching the objects. 

While we do not have precise measurements available, we estimate that the flat aluminum channel has a 150-degree beam angle, whereas the corner version has a 120-degree beam angle. 

Do you offer zero blue or low blue lights in LED strip lighting?

I was looking at your website, and it looks like you carry zero blue or low blue lights meaning less toxicity. Do you offer this in the strip lighting? 

While we are not aware of any toxicity that would occur with utilizing lights with blue output, we might recommend our 2700K and 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, as they offer a much lower relative intensity of blue output than our other LED Strip Light products. 

As a further product recommendation, you may also be interested in our line of SimpleColor single-color output LED Strip Lights. 

What are the TM-30 measurements for the Absolute Series 5000K LED Strip?

What are the TM-30 measurements for the Absolute 5000K? And why is the GAI so much lower on the Absolute vs. the regular 5000K LED Strip What is the R9 + R12 value of the Absolute 5000K strip?

We have attached the TM-30 Color Rendition Reports for the 5000K and 6500K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips below, as per your request. 

Although, it appears that we don't have an accurate GAI report available at this time. We apologize!

As a final note, we can confirm that the 5000K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips have an R13 value of 99. This can be noted within the product photometric report, as well. 

What is the lumens-per-meter amount of Absolute Series 5000K LED Strip?

What is the lumens-per-meter amount for the 5000K LED Strip? I need to compare it to the Absolute 5000K LED Strip in terms of brightness.

We can confirm that the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail output 1500 lumens per meter, whereas the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip outputs 1250 lumens per meter. 

Lighting Recommendation for Indoor Photography

Would you be able to help me choose lighting to use in my condo that would help me take better photos for my cosplays & other social media images? 

If you have any details regarding the preferred fixtures to be used for the lighting, please let us know and we would be happy to provide a few specific product recommendations for you. 

In the interim, it might be helpful to know that our line of FilmGrade products are designed with film and photography capture in mind. These products feature full-spectrum output, as well as a CRI of 95+, which are both very helpful for ensuring color accuracy. 

​For example, our FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulb and FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights are available in the color temperatures most often recommended for video and photo capture.

LED Strip Light for Home/Residential Lighting

I have an old Victorian house and am thinking of installing LED light strips inside the picture rail. I prototyped this with the 2700k Centric Home strip + the FilmGrade Flicker-Free Dimmer and it works wonderfully though it's a bit yellow. 

Is there a difference between the 3000k Centric Home LED Strips and the 3200k FilmGrade White LED Strips other than the color temperature? 

As the underlying technology is identical, the only difference between the two items is the color temperatures available. Both items are also available in the same 12V and 24V options.

What is the difference between the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply and the Centric Series Flicker-free Dimmable Power Supply? 

The TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has an optional junction box, whereas the CENTRIC power supplies have slightly smaller dimensions. The smaller dimensions can be quite helpful for installations that have less room for wiring and power supplies, such as cabinetry installations. As a further note, the CENTRIC SERIES™ power supplies are only available in the 24V option, whereas the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip is available in both 12V and 24V options.

For those power supplies, what are the mounting restrictions? I was thinking of putting them in the basement ceiling, but they would be running up against Radiant Barrier insulation that currently covers the bottom of the floor joists. 

As we are not familiar with the standard precautions that a radiant barrier installation might require, we would likely recommend reaching out to a local electrician for an informed opinion regarding safe placement. 

Do you recommend putting a fuse between the output of the power supply and the light-strip? If so, how would you calculate sizing? 

Generally speaking, adding fuses between the power supply and LED Strip Light products is not required or recommended. 

LED Strip for Kitchen Under Cabinets Lighting

I want to light my kitchen under the cabinets. Each cabinet is about 18" wide with a 1-inch box under each. If I cut 3 strips 18 inches long, what would I need to power each? Also, I intend to power them with a wall switch. 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend purchasing one reel of our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential for your under-cabinet kitchen installation. 

These LED Strip Lights can be segmented, connected with 16 AWG wiring, and powered with the same in-wall TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for control using a compatible wall dimmer. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a LayoutMap below for a similar installation of segmented LED Strip Lights. Within this map, there are links for each of the recommended connections accessories that you may need. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

Can I switch between IR (850) and Absolute Series LED Strip?

We would like to be able to use one LED strip and be able to switch between 850 and white light from day to day. Do you have any solution for this?

Unfortunately, we do not have a single product that would be capable of the output range referenced, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your purchase planning. 

As an alternative, you might be interested in utilizing an installation that uses a combination of our Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. This installation could be accomplished by connecting the two products to a shared dimmer or a shared 12V power supply. 

Lighting Recommendation for Single Car Garage Space

I am in the process of converting a single-car garage into a space where I will have a single car on display in a relaxed and "man cave" sort of setup. I have two objectives in lighting the space (dimensionally the space is 279"x197" and the ceiling is 111" high) 1) The car is the star in this space. It is red with a black interior. 2) I have some artwork on one wall in the garage I would like to light independently. My leaning is to have dimmers on both circuits. This is not a workspace or a hospital ward; I want to avoid a super bright/cold/antiseptic feel. What it will be is a place to relax with a little music, my wife, our car, and a cold beer. In what direction would you steer me? 

By using my Lumen Estimation Calculator in the interim, it appears that the space would be evenly illuminated by 8,265 lumens. 

Based on the details provided, I might recommend utilizing ~19 feet of the 2700K or 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential for a warmer installation. 

These lights can be installed within the ceiling cornices of the space within our flat or cornered aluminum channels, and controlled using in-wall power supplies and wall dimmers. 

While we also have the LED Shop Light Fixtures available, these products are not available in the warmer color temperatures that you mentioned a preference for. 

If you would like to test which color temperature works best for your garage, we might recommend purchasing a few of our A19 lightbulb options to ensure that they provide the right illumination. 

If any of the bulbs wind up being unneeded, simply let us know and we will gladly provide you with a prepaid return label for their return. 

What are the minimum size aluminum channel measurements to allow the PN 3071 connectors?

I'm interested in purchasing your Centric Daylight strips. It looks like they are 10mm wide. I'd like to incorporate some of the 3071 connectors, but see that the channel you offer is not large enough. What are the minimum size channel measurements that will allow for those connectors? I am looking at the connector drawing but I can't quite get to the answer. 

Based on the product measurements illustration, it appears that the LED Solderless Connectors have a width of 13.8 mm. 

So long as the third-party channel utilized can accommodate for that width, as well as an additional .5 millimeters of space for easier adjustment, the connector and LED Strip Lights should fit properly. 

If the channel utilized does not have sufficient room, you can alternatively connect the LED Strip Lights to wiring and power with manual soldering. 

Full Spectrum LED Bulbs for Indoor Lights

We are looking for full spectrum indoor lights for our lamps. We want something as bright as possible. Which would be best for us? CENTRIC DAYLIGHT 100W equiv or Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulb?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 100W-equivalent CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulbs, as they can provide greater lumen output than our ​Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs (1600 lumens vs 800 lumens).

I see Waveform CRI 99, but I don’t see what products of yours offer that. Where are those products? Also, do you sell any lamps (not a standard bulbs) with full spectrum light and a lot of lumens?

We currently have two products within our line of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI products, which are the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. 

We also have several light fixtures available which can output full-spectrum light, such as our LED Shop Light Fixtures, which each have an output of 4200 lumens, and our 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures, which can output 900 and 1800 lumens depending on the length selected (2ft and 4ft). 

What are the beam angles of the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and Strip?

I would like to ask what the beam angles are for the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI products. I am interested in the 6500k products. Also what approximate lux values would be typical if 1.5m (5 strips) were mounted 1.7m above an office desk? Do you have any recommended ranges of Lux values for office home office lighting? I am wondering if 5 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules would be sufficient or if I might need 10 (based on 120-degree angle initial estimates from an online calculator). 

While we, unfortunately, cannot calculate the lux that would fall upon the target surface described, the following photometric reports for the product might be helpful as they list what the lux measurements are at 12” from the source.

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Module 5000K Photometric Report

ABSOLUTE SERIES LED Module 6500K Photometric Report

Does your TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply create heat?

I'm planning on creating an installation to bring much-needed light to my living room. (A 16 ft continuous run along 1 wall connected to a dimmer switch on the wall. My question is: Does the Power Supply create heat? That is, could I drop the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply unit behind the drywall, or would that be a fire hazard? 

We can confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply will generate a small amount of heat while operating. We would not expect that this heat would cause a fire hazard. 

Further, when these products are installed behind drywall we typically recommend purchasing the optional junction box to protect the power supply and allow for ease of future adjustment. 

Here’s the circuit I’m planning. Before I order, does that look right to you?

Lutron Wall Dimmer switch 

Power Supply 

LED 24V Strip 16 ft. 

LED Connector Strip 

LED 24V Strip 16 ft.

Based on our review, it appears that the Lutron Diva (PN DVWCL-153PH-WH) is among our list of tested and compatible wall dimmers. As such, we would not expect any issues to arise when using it with our products. 

That being said, we typically do not recommend utilizing DC Power Supplies with in-wall dimmers and connection to in-wall power. As an alternative, we would likely recommend two units of the 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, as the total voltage requirements of two reels (180.4W) would exceed the available supply from a single unit (96W). 

In the hopes that they prove to be useful for your installation planning, we have attached two LayoutMap links below which illustrate installations that use our power supplies and in-wall dimmers. These pages also feature links to each of the recommended connecter accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

If I wanted to put each LED Strip on its dimmer (16 ft per dimmer, vs 32 ft on 1 dimmer.

Power Supply: Do I need to order another Power Supply? I have already ordered the one you recommended below, but that was for 32’ on 1 dimmer. Do you recommend 2 of the same product or 2 different products?

Switch: What dual dimmer switches do you recommend? I do not see any on the list. 

Based on our review of your recently placed order and diagram, we would recommend utilizing a total of two identical 24V power supplies, with one dedicated to each 16-foot length of the product. 

Though the 24V LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 32.8 feet, each foot requires 5.5 watts of power. As the 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply can offer a maximum of 96W, 24 feet of LED Strip Lights would require a much greater 180.4W of power than could be supplied by a single unit. 

Unfortunately, it does not appear that any of the dimmers within our compatibility list features dual controls, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

Do you have 440nm-450nm (blue) light fixtures?

I am looking for a light fixture in a very specific color range, about 440-450nm (blue), that is also very bright. I'm inquiring to find out if you have any fixtures, or can custom-build fixtures, in this specific color range.

While we do not have any products which specifically output the 440-450nm range, the closest match in our catalog would be the 460nm SimpleColor™ Blue LED Strip Lights. 

As a further note, we are unfortunately unable to accommodate custom product or fixture fabrication at this time, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your planning process.  

Will the LED strip continue to emit light as the voltage drops?

Will these continue to emit light as the voltage drops if I were to use an energizer A23 12V battery? It would only be one or 2 sections being powered. Or is that not even an option? 

Generally speaking, the LED Strip Light products can continue to function so long as there is a minimum of 10V being provided to them. When less than 10V is available for the 12V realUV LED Strip Lights, they will have greatly reduced output, and may not have any visible output. 

For reference, the 12V realUV™ LED Strip Lights require 4.5 watts and 400 mA per foot from the power supply. Unfortunately, the A23 12V battery does not appear to have sufficient milliamp-hours for stable power for the LED Strip Lights. 

That being said, we have spoken to several other customers who have utilized larger 12V batteries to supply power for LED Strip Lights for installations on RVs, boats, and other portable installations. 

Is it possible to hook up the LED strips to the main power source rather than the power supply box/cord?

My gym purchased the red 630nm LED strips years ago and loves them! We are in the process of building out a new facility and have a few questions about the LED strips. We would love to fit the facility with the daylight strips and red light strips but am curious about a few things. Is it possible to hook up the strips to the main power source rather than the power supply box/cord yall sell? The second question is, can strips that are already mounted be repurposed? Third question, if not to the second question do yall buy back LED strips and re-purpose them?

As the LED technology requires direct voltage, power supplies are required for connection in AC ground voltage for operation. As such, they would require a power supply for conversion to DC for functionality. 

For reference, our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has an input voltage of 100-277V AC, which is converted to 12V or 24V DC to provide appropriate voltage to the LED Strip Light products.

We have not encountered installations where the LED Strip Lights are removed and re-adhered to the channels or mounting surfaces, though it does appear that 3M sells double-sided 10mm adhesive tape, which could potentially be used for repurposing the lights. 

As a final note, we, unfortunately, do not have any such program for buying back and repurposing our products. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your purchasing plans. 

High CRI Socket Bulb Similar to Tungsten

Please recommend: a) socket bulb most similar to tungsten with highest CRI - I need to replace all of my lightbulbs but do not want to change temperature too much nor get flatter tone light. b) I have a strip light. Can it be installed outdoors (under a roof)? Do you have an outdoor rated power extension, so I can leave the 24v transformer indoors? 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs, which offers a CRI of 95+ and full spectrum output while being relatively close to the 3200K tungsten color point. 

For your outdoor installation, it might be helpful to know that our LED Strip Lights are not IP-Rated for protection against the elements. As such, any contact that they have with moisture or condensation may cause an electrical hazard and void the product warranty. 

That being said, several other customers in the past have been able to locate third-party insulated channels for use on boats and covered patios. As such, there may be reasonably safe channel options available elsewhere for your installation. 

As a further note, we regrettably do not have any power extensions available in our catalog which are designed for the outdoors, and we do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchasing plans. 

PN 3002.40 vs PN 3004.40: What's the difference?

A couple of years ago I purchased strips of LED lighting, and I'm looking to get more soon. It looks like the specific Ultra High CRI LED strips I ordered are no longer listed, part# 3002.40; were these replaced by the Centric Daylight series, part# 3004.40? Are they very close in color and brightness to the previous item?

Since the initial order of the Ultra High 95 CRI LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail in March of 2019, the product line received UL certification and an updated product number of 3004.40. 

As such, these two products can be expected to provide identical performance and output. 

99 CRI Color-accurate LED Lights for Paper color

I'm having difficulty finding lights that show the difference in paper color in my print shop. Under natural daylight the difference is obvious. Under traditional fluorescent tubes it's hit or miss and depends on a variety of factors. LED lights, however, are the absolute worst. Even my 97+ CRI photography LED lights don't show the difference. I picked up some of your 95 CRI PN4005C.50 bulbs hoping they would do the trick, but they do not. Is your 99 CRI light strips any better at this?

It does sound as though your installation would benefit from the 99 CRI Absolute Series LED Flex Strips. 

These products can output light that is virtually indistinguishable from daylight, which we hope is helpful for the color-accurate requirements of your print shop. 

If you would like to try the product, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. So long as the LED Strip Light is not cut or altered, including the adhesive being removed, we would be happy to accept it as a return. 

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. 

Will your LED Strips dim via a wall dimmer with Centric Dimmable Power Supply?

I'm wondering if your film-grade LED strip lights will dim successfully via a wall dimmer if I also use your flicker-free Centric dimmable power supply?

We can confirm that our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights and CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply is compatible with the majority of wall dimmer products, as can be noted within the ​dimmer compatibility guide. 

Flicker-free LED Bulbs for Golf Simulation Bay-focused Lighting

I am looking for non-flicking LED Bulbs that we can use to light golf simulation bay-focused lighting that can be combined to get 12,000 lumens.

While we might normally recommend our NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulbs for focused lighting, these items unfortunately are not flicker-free and may not be the ideal product for your golf simulator. 

That being said, we have several alternatives that you might be interested in, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A21 15W LED Bulb. As this product outputs 1600 lumens per bulb, 7-8 units should be able to meet the 12,000-lumen target. 

It might be helpful to know that previous customers have utilized our LED Strip Lights for golf simulators which integrated high-framerate video capture, such as our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. These products can offer dimmable flicker-free output, though they would also require dedicated power supplies and additional wiring. 

Guidance on Light Type and Required Accessories for Residential Project Lighting

I would like to discuss a project we are working on for a customer and we would like to get some guidance on lighting type and required items to finish the project. 

Requirements:

1) 300 Linear feet of trimless recessed channel in plaster - 3 or 4 inches in size. 2) 80 Linear feet of trimless recessed channel in plaster - 2 inches in size (40 feet will be exterior wall mount).

Item# 1 Some of the area would require 2 LED strip lighting to be run in the same channel. Based on this we would need approximately 600 Linear Feet of LED strip lighting. 

For starters, it might be helpful to know that our LED Strip Light products are sold in 16.4 ft reels, and have maximum combined lengths defined by voltage (16.4 ft for 12V, 32.8 ft for 24V). As such, if any installation where lengths greater than the above is to be connected, they would require dedicated power supplies and connected wiring to the power source. 

If you require longer uninterrupted lengths for your installation, we unfortunately may not have the ideal products available. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

​Further, while we currently sell the Aluminum Channels for mounting the LED Strip Light products on walls and other surfaces, we do not have plaster channels available in our catalog. 

I am attaching the plans with this email, we are planning on installing the linear lighting in the OPEN space; only rest of the rooms will have canned LED light. 

1. Family room / Kitchen - various lengths 4, 8 and 12 Foot runs

2. Great Room 4 of 16 Feet Linear light

3. Entertainment - 2 of 3 8 or 12 Feet Linear light

4. Pooja Room - 2 of 12 Feet Linear light

5. Dining Room - 2 of 12 Feet Linear light

6 Walkway Top and Bottom - 4 Feet Runs

Exterior 

Garage Pillars - 3 - 6 or 8 Foot 

Main Door 2 of 8 Feet runs

Though we are more than happy to recommend some products for your construction, we might recommend reaching out to a lighting designer for layout advice, as we do not specialize in planning layouts or lighting installations. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, however, we have attached links to some of our LayoutMaps below, which illustrate installations where segments of LED Strip Lights are powered by multiple power supplies while connected to in-wall dimmers. These pages also list the connection accessories that are recommended, which we hope are helpful for your planning purposes. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

For residential installations, we typically recommend utilizing the 2700K and 3000K color temperatures as can be noted within the guide below. As such, we would recommend the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product, which is available in those color points in both 12V and 24V versions. 

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

For a list of in-wall dimmers and smart home dimmers that are compatible with our power supplies, such as the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, please review the following link. 

Updated Dimmer Compatibility 2021 

Recommended Lighting for Flower Shop

Wish to get information and cost for mainly silk flower shop, so that flowers look real. Will like to send a drawing of the space for recommended lighting from my reading it seems a cut of 95 and 4000 CRI.

Generally speaking, our LED Strip Lights should evenly distribute light output so long as they are more than 6” from the target. For a more thorough dispersion of light output, we would recommend installing them within channels with diffusion lenses such as our Aluminum Channels for LED Flex Strip. 

For commercial installations, we typically recommend the referenced 4000K color temperature. As such, you may be interested in the 24V 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, which offers a CRI of 95+. 

Recommended Lighting for Paint Booth

I have purchased some lights from you guys in the past and I’ve been very happy with the service and products and would like to continue patronizing you. That being said, I’m constructing a paint booth. What kind of lighting would you recommend? I want light from overhead as well as from the sides so I have really good 365-degree lighting around every project. 

In the interim, we might recommend installing our LED strip light products on the cornices of each wall within the 45° corner mounting channels for evenly distributed output throughout the booth. That said, this advice may change depending on the dimensions provided for the installation area. 

FYI, it’s a paint booth. It’s roughly 10’ wide x 6’ deep and 8’ high. I may make it fully enclosed, but for now, and for the sake of simplicity, let’s say it has an open face. 

Based on my review of the Lumen Estimation Calculator, it appears that the 10x6x8’ area would be evenly illuminated for fine manufacturing and detail purposes with 6,038 lumens. This lumen target could be reached by using four units of our T8 LED Tube Lights or 14 ft of LED Strip Lights. 

From the photo that you provided, it appears that the paint booth has two openings for T8 fixtures. If it does, we might recommend our 5000K or 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio products, which are calibrated for color accuracy. 

These T8 LED Tube Lights are also designed to be compatible with our newly launched LED Ready T8 LED Fixtures, which do not utilize ballasts that many retrofit fixtures use. For reference, older fixtures often utilize ballasts that are incompatible with the power requirements of LED technology.

As a secondary recommendation, one or two of the 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels of the 5000K (D50-calibrated) or 6500K (D65-calibrated) ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip could be utilized, which would be able to replicate natural daylight with a CRI of 99. 

We imagine that one or two reels could be installed upon the wall cornices of the paint booth within the 45° corner aluminum channels for even light distribution. 

We have attached a few LayoutMaps below, which illustrate the many configuration options that are possible with the aforementioned LED Strip Lights. We do hope these are useful for your installation planning. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

Centric Daylight LED Strip for Kitchen Under Cabinet Lighting

I want to use the Centric Daylight LED strip 4000K, so that requires the 24V power supply?

Yes, that is correct. Our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT LED strip lights are offered in 24 volts only, so you will want to ensure that you select the correct power supply voltage (24 volts).

Does the 16 AWG wire need to be stranded like speaker wire or can it be a single copper 16-gage wire?

​There are no firm requirements here as long as the wires can handle the current load. Single-strand copper wires would be fine at 16 AWG or thicker.

Can the solderless connector end of PN 3071 be disassembled and reassembled for installation purposes?

Yes, they can be detached and reattached numerous times. However, after multiple assemblies, the contact point may become less reliable over time (as the connector clamps need to bite down onto the circuit board), so we would recommend avoiding reassembly as much as possible. If absolutely necessary, you could cut one section of the LED strip section off to obtain a "fresh" LED strip connection point.

Is there any noise/whine created by the power supplies?

The units do not produce any audible noise, but if there are particular concerns about this, we would recommend testing before installation to double-check. As a worst-case scenario, we would be happy to have you return the units to use for a full refund.

Aluminum Channel Mounting Clips for LED Flex Strip

I am pricing out a small project and would like to know if extra channel mounting clips and screws can be purchased. Is there a product # for ordering? 

We can certainly provide extra mounting brackets and screws for the aluminum channels. The part numbers are PN 3060.A and PN 3061.A for the flat and corner versions, respectively.

Here are the product links:

Could your LED strip lights be configured for a ceiling-mount fixtures?

I'm an artist looking at studio lighting options, and I'm leaning toward purchasing one or two of your NorthLux 5000K shop lights for my studio. But I was hoping to flush mount a fixture instead, and there aren't many great options available. I do see a lot of nice LED flush mounts elsewhere but without the essential high CRI lights that I need as an artist. Would it be possible to get a flush mount like this (link here) or one at Lowe's and replace the strips in that with your LED strips? Or (fingers crossed). Do you have any plans for a nice-looking flush mount fixture in the works? 

Unfortunately virtually all LED ceiling lights are not designed with replaceable LED strips, so while we totally agree with the concept, this would not be a practical solution.

​We've received numerous requests for ceiling-mount fixtures with high CRI LED light sources, and hopeful that we will be able to introduce a product line with these features in the near future. 

For the time being, we would suggest the shop light fixtures (as you mentioned), our T5 linear fixtures or our T8 lamps + fixtures as the closest alternative options which would provide the high CRI you are looking for.

Do you have a 12V LED bulbs for RV installation?

We are traveling. Do you have bulbs in 12 volts for my RV so my bird to get sunlight on the road?

Unfortunately, our retrofit bulbs are all designed for AC 120 volts (line voltage) and are not compatible with RV systems. However, we do have several LED strip light products which operate at DC 12 volts and may be a great fit for your daylight needs.

​Below are two LED strip light products that offer 99 CRI and 95 CRI, respectively:

For LED strip lights, the only difficulty would be needing to perform an electrical install, rather than a simple screw-in lamp installation. Below is an installation diagram for a typical residential setup (120 volts AC) but for an RV installation the power supply can be ignored as the system provides DC 12 volts directly.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

​

What is the lumen outputs of FiveSpect LED RGB channels?

In the datasheet for product number PN 3011, you list in the "Features" section the lumen output for the tungsten and daylight LEDs. I would be interested to know also the lumen output for the Red, Green, and Blue LEDs. Do you have that information available?

As you mention, we unfortunately do not publish our luminous output data for the red, green and blue channels as brightness can be difficult to measure and interpret for non-white light sources.

That being said, we do have the following luminous efficacy values for each color, which may be helpful in extrapolating the expected luminous output for the FiveSpect product's RGB channels:

While these are just approximations, we do hope this is helpful for your purposes.

UV-A LED and White LED Strip Light for Matted Poster

I’m planning on doing 3 (to start) posters matted and framed up inside what is called shadow boxes. I would like to have both UV-A LED as well as a white as close to the color of the sun as possible. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend utilizing a combination of the 365nm 12V realUV™ LED Strip Lights and the 6500K 12V FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. As both of these products are of a matching voltage, a shared 12V power supply can be used to power these items, such as our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached a LayoutMap below for an installation that utilizes a single power supply and connected segments of LED Strip Light products. If the longer reels are to be segmented, we would recommend connecting the strips by using the connector accessories featured within the LayoutMap for interlinked power. 

As you plan your installation, please note that the 12V LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft. This means that connected lengths of any combination of 12V LED Strip Lights beyond 16.4 feet will encounter voltage drop and diminished output. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

Does a 10-watt LED bulb replace a 60-watt bulb?

Under your Flicker Free Products, the first light bulb shown has 95 CRI and a 60-watt replacement. Then it shows the price as $18.00 and then states Centric Daylight Full Spectrum Flicker Free A19 10W LED Bulb

Does that mean that your $18 LED bulb is 10W and is replacing a former 60-watt bulb? So if my husband likes 60-watt bulbs we would order a 10W LED Bulb? What is meant by Filmgrade? Is that a brand name?

We can confirm that our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb is designed to have an equivalent level of light output as a traditional incandescent 60W bulb. 

We can also confirm that the FilmGrade and NorthLux names are branded lines of products in our catalog which are marketed for different purposes, such as video capture, artwork creation, and studio installations. 

Does one have to use the whole 16 feet of these FIlmGrade LED Strip Lights in one place?

Our FilmGrade LED strip lights can be cut to length, so the single reel can certainly be used in multiple locations. Below are some layout diagrams which may help visualize the installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3C

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

So each smaller strip needs its own power cord?

Each shorter section will need to be connected to its own power supply unit (12 / 24 volt) which would then feed power to the LED strip segment. See below for a diagram showing how to cut sections would connect to a power supply unit:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2C

Can I cut the 1-meter LED strip into 3 pieces of 1 ft?

I would like to know whether the LED strips of 1 meter can be split into 3 pcs of 1 ft. And each 1 ft can be joined to make 2 ft, 3 ft, or 4ft LED strips. 

The majority of the LED Strip Lights in our catalog are sold in 5-meter (16.4-ft) reels and can be segmented at the designated cut points, which are labeled upon the product PCB.

Further, we can confirm that the individual 1-foot segments can be connected to other segments using soldering or solderless LED connectors. The pricing for each of the LED strip lights available in our catalog can be found at this link. 

Light Set-Up Recommendation for Commercial Installation

I am ordering your aluminum channel to light a product I use which is called 3-form. It is a recycled plastic and we are using it in a commercial setting. I have 4 straight lengths of 8 feet each and I want to light it slightly with a warm white I need a power supply and I think a residential white. Can you kindly recommend what parts I may need?

Based on the details provided, we would recommend purchasing two 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels of our 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail in the 4000K color temperature option, as that is the color point most often recommended for retail and commercial installations. 

These two reels can be connected and powered by a single 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, and can also be connected to in-wall power and controlled using either in-wall dimmers or smart home dimmers such as Lutron Caseta. 

We have attached a LayoutMap from our website below for an installation that utilizes segmented LED Strip Lights, hard-wired power, and a wall dimmer. This LayoutMap also contains an installation description and links to each of the optional connector accessories that may be required. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

Which product to choose to make a desk or overhead office lamp with?

I work with computers but find the yellow light quality poor, and was thinking I'd order some high-quality full spectrum light from you in hopes it will make for a more pleasant environment. Occasionally I work with color, too -- graphic design and 3D modeling, and photo work. I am in the northern hemisphere where winters are long so I also thought a full spectrum blue light would work well for the first half of the day as the sun is low. I was thinking of either the Absolute Series LED module or the 5m strip. Would you recommend either making an overhanding (from the ceiling) or standing-on-desk work desk lamp? Anyone of these, in particular, better suited for my purpose? 

While both products are able to provide identical 99 CRI output, I might recommend the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip over the module for your office, as it is compatible with more mounting channel products due to it having the more common 10mm LED strip width. 

The modules have less commonly used dimensions (11 inches x 0.78 inches), which might make finding preferable housing for the product slightly more difficult unless you would prefer to fashion your own. 

As an additional product for your workspace, you may also be interested in the Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip for D65 Bias Lighting, which is able to provide 6500K bias lighting for installations where D65 color calibration is important. 

Will flickering be eliminated if we follow the dimming guidelines?

If we follow these guidelines, will flickering be eliminated? It doesn't specifically say so in the article. 

Generally speaking, the ability to provide flicker-free output is determined by both the power supply and LED products. As such, the inclusion of the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip or FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip of a matching voltage should allow for the flicker-free output of the connected LED Strip Lights. 

Is there a minimum distance between the high CRI fluorescent bulb and the work surface?

Is there a minimum distance between the high CRI fluorescent bulb and the work surface? Will your fluorescent bulbs work in an existing dimmable fluorescent fixture?

Generally speaking, we do not advise any particular minimum distance between the light source and the target. Though we can confirm that the overall lux will reduce the further the light source is from the work surface due to dispersion. 

Unfortunately, our T8 LED Tube Lights are not compatible with dimmable fixtures, and we do apologize for any impact this may have on your purchase planning. 

As alternatives that are dimmable, you may be interested in our LED Strip Lights such as the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights and 5000K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip.

High CRI Flicker-free LED Bulbs for Color Matching and Painting

I’m looking for high CRI bulbs for my art studio, and I’m wondering which of your bulbs would be the highest in CRI value for color matching and painting? Also, you have flicker-free bulbs. Is that referring to the actual bulbs flickering or the frequency they work on that stop flickering when filming in slower frames per second?

For art studios, we usually recommend the NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio, which is available in the most common color temperature for artwork (5000K and 6500K). As our line of A19 and A21 bulbs utilize the same internal technology, they will all feature the same high CRI of 95+. 

Though not a lightbulb, you may also be interested in our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. This product features a CRI of 99, making the output virtually indistinguishable from natural daylight. 

Generally speaking, the flicker rate of the LED lightbulbs is calculated by measuring the relative difference in brightness between the maximum and minimum brightness exhibited during a flicker cycle. 

Our flicker-free lightbulbs output light that is constant and uninterrupted, meaning that the fluctuations of brightness are extremely minute (less than 1%). For installations where they are used to illuminate video capture, the lights fluctuate fast enough that there would not be any visible flicker. 

LED Strip Light and Accessories for Mirror Installation

I’m totally new in this light world. I’ve been a hairstylist for over 10 years and I know how important the lights are even after dark. I’m trying to install strip lights around the mirrors looking for 4000K. I need a plug in no dimmer what do I need? 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend using the 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip and the 4000K 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail. As the LED Strip Light does not contain pre-attached adapters, we would recommend utilizing the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter to connect it to the power supply. 

In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, we have attached several LayoutMap links below which contain installation diagrams for the ENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights. These links also contain information regarding any of the optional and required connecter accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2A

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2D

Planning on installing strips around large square mirrors can I place them in the corners? Do I need to buy corner connecters?

We would recommend utilizing the LED Strip to Strip Solderless Connecters for the connection of LED Strip Light segments at the corners of the mirror installation.​

Lighting Recommendation for Painting Studio

I’m interested in purchasing strip or bulb LED tube lights and fixtures from you— something that can light a 400 sq foot space w only a glass garage door as the source of daylight. I hope to find something in the 4500k range, with a high CRI. 

As a primary recommendation, you may be interested in our FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights, which can be calibrated to achieve any color temperature between 3200K and 6500K. 

For an easier installation that would require less wiring, you might be interested in our 4000K or 5000K options, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights, which are designed to be compatible with our LED-Ready T8 Fixtures. 

You might also be interested in our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixture, which is designed for easy installation using the included hook and chain. This integrated fixture has been very popular with artists who utilize garages or other areas as studio spaces, due to the easy installation. 

Are any or all of these lights dimmable?

The products that we shared are unfortunately not dimmable. If dimmable products are preferable, we might alternatively recommend the NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio, or an installation that utilizes our LED Strip Lights. 

The LED Strip Lights can be mounted to ceiling or other surfaces by using the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip, and powered using either in-wall power supplies or standard DC power. These products can also be controlled using the majority of standard in-wall dimmers, such as Lutron and others. 

If it proves to be helpful, we have attached a few LayoutMap links below which illustrate LED Strip Light installation options. Each diagram contains installation descriptions, as well as links to each of the recommended connecters and power supplies. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

I’d like to know if you have a tube light structure that’s LED and also dimmable. Do the strips work in the first hanging fixture you sent?

Unfortunately, we do not have any fixtures which are flicker-free and dimmable at this time. We do sincerely apologize for any impact this may have on your purchasing plans. 

As a further note, the LED Shop Light fixtures shared in my initial reply are designed with pre-attached LED lighting products within. As such, no additional lighting products are required for operation. 

Are the LED shop light fixtures flicker free? Space is a total of 400 sq ft. Could the fixture be hung upside down so that it bounces off the ceiling as opposed to being hung as overhead lights?

We can confirm that the LED Shop Light Fixtures are indeed flicker-free.

While these fixtures could be installed in such a fashion that they shine directly upwards for indirect lighting, they are designed to be hung from the included hook and chain. 

Based on the dimensions provided, it appears that the space would be evenly illuminated for artwork creation with 31,451 lumens. This target could be reached with seven of the LED Shop Light fixtures, which each output 4,200 lumens. 

As an alternative, the target could also be reached using 18 units of the T8 LED Tube Light products, which are designed to be compatible with our LED Ready T8 Fixtures. 

Is it possible to simulate the full spectrum natural light using two LED strip lights?

Is it possible to simulate the full range of natural light (from the red-shifted dawn/dusk to the 6500K high noon) using two of your light strips? I really like the 99 CRI flicker-free strip but it isn't adjustable (in the color space) and the 5-color simulator shows me that while I can come pretty close to your circadian specialty bulbs, I pretty much won't be using 3 of them at that setting and the flicker will be decently high. 

Do you have a WW and red-only reel? Between that and the 6500, I think you could simulate pretty much everything. Also, ideally, it would be able to modulate on an inch-by-inch basis but I know that's asking a bit much. I just have this dream of making them follow the actual pattern of the sun through the seasons inside but I'll settle first for basic functionality. 

Based on the details provided of the sun pattern installation, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which contains RGB as well as the tungsten and daylight color temperatures, as well as our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output. 

Though more complex to configure than some of our plug-and-play products (such as the T5 Linear Light Fixtures), the FiveSpect and DMX Dimmer and Decoder are able to be paired with PCs or other systems for the granular control of each channel. We do not have any direct experience in programming sun simulations, though DIY sites such as Instructables may have some valuable options for your installation planning. 

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. 

Can I use a Lutron Caseta Switch with your transformer driver and third-party LED Strip?

I had an issue finding a wall switch. Finally found this one and want to use it with your hard-wired or maybe I can use barrel jacks.

Wave Form - FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip

YUJILEDS® High CRI 95+ IP67 Waterproof LED Flexible Strip - 24V

For installations using in-wall power, we recommend using the 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip instead of the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. This power supply is compatible with most models of wall dimmers, which include the Lutron Caseta Wireless In-Wall Dimmer featured in the photo that you provided. 

Please note that as this 24V product has a maximum output of 96 watts, it would not be able to provide sufficient power for a product that requires 150W. If the YujiLEDs product requires 150 watts of power, we recommend using a third-party power supply capable of providing that output. For reference, we do not have any power supplies capable of providing 150 watts. 

Dimming and Wire Size of LED Strip Lights

I just ordered four rolls of LED Centric Daylight 24V strip lights and have a couple of questions. I will be connecting each 4-foot segment back to the TRIAC dimmer/transformer individually. Every 4-foot segment is a home run to the transformer. The longest run this perhaps 25 feet. Is it okay to use 18 gauge wire for these 4' segments? My second question is: when I dim these strips, do I lose energy/lighting efficiency?" Does the CRI remain constant? 

Due to the use of PWM, we would not expect any loss in efficiency as the LED strip is dimmed. There may be minor differences in the efficiency of the LED power supply, though we expect it to be negligible. 

By using our voltage drop calculator, it appears that using 18 gauge wire for a 24V installation with a 25 ft maximum expanse of wire between the power supply and 4 ft lengths of LED Strip Light product would produce roughly 0.067V voltage drop. As such, we believe that using 18 gauge wiring would not cause a substantial change to the output. 

Can I cut the ColorSpace RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights?

We can confirm that the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights are indeed cuttable. 

As can be noted from the attached annotated product photography, the strip lights feature designated cut points between each series of LEDs. When cut evenly at these points using sharp scissors, the individual segments can be connected to one another and to power. 

Do you carry a color chase LED strip?

Do you carry a color chase LED strip? We are looking for a product that will allow us to change color on each individual pixel of the strip instead of only being able to change the color of the entire strip at once.

While we have the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights product available, it might be helpful to know that the individual LEDs within each channel of the product are not directly addressable. 

Do you have LED bulbs resembling strip schematics?

Your schematic for LED strips implies that strips fed with pure 24V DC (from batteries or filtered supply) will light without flashing at any frequency. Are there any 24V DC LED bulbs with internally equivalent schematics? I'm looking for extremely low noise for an electro-sensitive application. 

We completely agree that a low-voltage DC LED system will work best for installations that require extremely stable light output. Unfortunately, we do not have any products that are offered in a bulb shape, but we would recommend searching third-party websites for LED bulbs designed for RV systems that utilize low-voltage DC input due to their need to run on battery systems.

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. 

Do the UV LED strip lights have a UL rating?

Does this lighting strip have a UL rating? We're using it in a lab hood where there are flammable chemicals. Is there a risk of a spark? It is currently permanently plugged in outside of the vent chamber.

Unfortunately, our UV LED strip lights have not been submitted to UL for safety approval. From a design perspective, however, they would meet the UL 2108 requirements for low-voltage lighting systems (Class 2).

​We similarly do not have any ratings or evaluations for use in flammable environments, so we, unfortunately, cannot provide any assurances for your installation. We would recommend consulting with a system or product design expert to ensure that any potential electrical arcs (even if small at 12 volts DC) would not pose a risk for safe use.

Max Voltage for CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip

I am retrofitting a retail space (clothing store) and would love to use your Centric Daylight 4000K LED strips. I see that they run on 24V DC. What is the maximum voltage they can withstand? I currently have 17 power supplies that output 27V and eight power supplies that output 30V. Can any of these be used on your LED strips?

As our LED Strip Light products are designed with specific voltage in mind, we do not recommend utilizing power supplies that exceed the stated voltage with them, as such configurations will likely cause damage to the products and void the warranty. We do apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

As alternatives, we recommend utilizing matching voltage power supplies, such as our 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. 

Can I use a dimmable constant current LED driver?

I see that the spec sheet for the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights says that the strips accept a 'Constant Voltage' power source. Does that mean the strips would perform poorly with a 'Constant Current' driver? I would like to be able to power the strips via a 24VDC Li-Ion battery bank. It appears that all of the Meanwell DC-DC LED drivers are constant current. Would using a dimmable DC-DC constant current driver like this be problematic? 

Though we can confirm that our LED Strip Lights are designed for ‘constant voltage’ rather than ‘constant current’, they should theoretically work so long as the voltage has been properly set from the power supply. 

Based on our review of the Mean Well DC-DC Constant Current Step-Down LED driver, it appears that the input voltage can be selected, depending on the model number (LDD-300L, LDD350L, etc). As such, we recommend ensuring that stable voltage can be set and provided to the LED Strip Lights before use in order to prevent any product damage. 

Do you have a 24V of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips?

Do you make these in 24V of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips?

We can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips are currently only available in 12V, and we do apologize for any impact that the lack of a 24V option might have on your purchase planning. 

That being said, you might alternatively be interested in the 24V ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules, which offer the same 99 CRI in a different form factor. 

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. 

Do you have a transformer that allows to string all (4) reels together?

I am considering using your strip lights and installing them myself instead of buying the Shop light fixtures (similar to the ones I have already purchased). I would buy four of the 5 m reels. Do you sell a transformer that will allow me to string all 4 reels together? Or do I need to buy multiple Transformers (the Transformers I see on your website)? If that is the case, how many reels will one of your transformers power? 

We can confirm that we generally recommend one dedicated power supply per 5 meters (16.4 ft) of LED Strip Lights product, and do not currently have a power supply capable of providing power for multiple reels. 

As each reel of LED Strip Lights consumes 5.5 watts per foot, 90.2 watts would be required of the 120-watt max output DC Power Supplies and TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies. It might also be helpful to know that the 12V LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft, whereas the 24V version has a maximum run of 32.8 ft. Lengths greater than these will encounter diminished output, as well as voltage drop. 

We have attached a LayoutMap below that illustrates an installation utilizing multiple TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies connected to a single in-wall dimmer, which we hope is helpful for your installation planning. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

For installations using our own products, we would suggest a layout similar to that linked below, though you may be able to locate third-party power supplies elsewhere that would be able to afford greater output. 

LED Lights Sculpture Studio Lighting

For rough lumens needs we used 18’ x 18’x 18’ and set the brightness between art creation and fine industrial. I get roughly 31,000 lumens needed. Which amount could be supplied by four 16-foot rolls of 

6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. Which with power supplies and hard-wired dimmers and aluminum mounting strips and diffuser covers would cost for four approximately $1,000. 

“I’m a little confused about this. Is the suggestion that we use LED strip lights as our main artificial lighting source? I've only ever seen strip lights used for ambient lighting (i.e. walkways for movie theaters and airplanes, under cabinets, decorative).

And so can we use LED strips to light our room? Or is the inverse square drop in intensity going to reduce the available lumens too much from such a small point source? (Obviously, that’s a throwback to high school physics).

Also is there an advantage to using the 24-volt as against the 12-volt? We are not using solar. We are using 120V AC.

While hallways and under-counter lighting are common uses for LED Strip Lights, we can confirm that many of our customers have chosen to use LED Strip Lighting for studio spaces. 

That said, we also offer several other products such as the LED-Ready T8 LED Fixtures and NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio installations where easily replaceable light sources and dedicated fixtures are preferable. These flicker-free lights are available in both 5000K and 6500K, which are popular for studio and photo capture installations. 

Regarding the lumen requirements, it does appear that four reels of the LED Strip Lights would meet the 61 feet of required product to meet the ~30,000-lumen recommendation. 

We have attached a link to a blog post below regarding the benefits of a 24V system over a 12V system, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful. In short, the primary benefit is that 24V LEDs can accommodate longer linear runs (16.4 ft for 12V, 32.8 ft for 24V).

Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V

In your most recent email, you referenced powering via solar panels. As far as we are aware, solar panels would provide the same AC power as our power supplies are designed to intake. As such, we would expect our products to function properly when using solar panels, though we would recommend checking with solar experts to confirm precise fixture and voltage compatibility. 

Though we do not have direct experience in lighting sculpture studios, we would be more than happy to assist with any additional product or configuration questions that you might have. 

What is the maximum watt per meter of Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light?

I am looking for the Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light. I would like to know the following details for 12V DC powered and 24 volts DC powered (if possible). The maximum watt per meter, Lumens per meter, Datasheet.

We can confirm that the Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light (PN7041.850.5M) operates with 12V power, and consumes 14 watts per meter. 

LED Strip Lights for Indirect Lighting

I am setting up an edit/color suite and want to hang acoustic panels from the ceiling with LED strips pointed toward a white ceiling to bounce the light back down into the room (hopefully eliminating glare and hotspots). The room's dimensions are 13' x 17' and I would have 6 2'x5' distributed throughout the room. Do you think lining the edges of each panel would create enough bounce light to illuminate the room? Because we are using the ceiling as a bounce should we invest in the higher CRI lights to make up for the bounce or would we be ok using the 95 CRI lights? By my calculations, I would have to get 5 strips to completely line my panels so the savings would add up quickly. 

For your installation, we would likely recommend the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which can output 450 lumens per foot and are available in 12V and 24V options. 

Using our Lumen Estimation Calculator, we estimate that the room would be fully illuminated with 17,727 lumens, which can be accomplished with 40 ft of LED Strip Lights (that being roughly two and a half 16.4 ft reels).

For lining the backing of the acoustic panels, you might find value in utilizing the 'Corner' versions of the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip to aim the lights at a 45-degree angle towards the ceiling, though the flat version will also likely work. 

In the hopes that they prove to be helpful, we have attached a LayoutMap below which illustrates the connection accessories and has installation tips. This LayoutMap utilizes a DC Power Supply, though in-wall dimmers and in-wall power supplies can also be used via barrel-jack connecter accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

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. 

High CRI Bulb for Home Lighting

I am shopping for some high CRI lights for use in my home and had some general questions. 

Is there any way to get the bulbs in 3000K that don't have the issue? 

While I can confirm that the recent batch of the 3000K bulbs has a slight green tint, the color output remains within our color quality specifications. These filament bulbs typically require ~15 minutes or so for the color tint to stabilize, after which the color tint adjusts to being neutral. 

Unfortunately, for our most discerning customers, this greener tint may be bothersome and may not meet expectations. If you receive any products from our website that do not meet your expectations, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. 

Will your company be making a higher-wattage version of this bulb in the future? 

As far as I am aware, there are no plans to release a higher-wattage version of the filament bulb products. That said, I would be happy to share your interest in such a product with my development team for future consideration. 

Does your company have any resources or recommendations for lighting design ideas or projects? I am wanting to use strip lights and other types around the house, but I'm looking for some inspiration and ideas. 

For installation inspiration, you might find value in the product reviews posted on our LED Strip Light product pages, where our customers have shared photos and descriptions of their installations. For example, several installation photos can be found on the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential page.

I am interested in doing a horticultural lighting project. I am looking for LEDs that match the sun's natural spectrum but it is hard to find information on this online. 

Does your company have any diodes that are still good but not matching the quality that you can sell? Basically second-tier absolute series. Also if I was to find a source for chips that have the broadest spectrum, does your company have the ability to manufacture strips from the led chips for a reasonable price? 

While we do not sell individual LED components and are unable to accommodate custom product fabrication, you might alternatively be interested in our 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, which are both able to offer a high CRI of 95+, which is just slightly lower than the 99 CRI offered by the Absolute Series. 

LED Light Option for Sculpture Studio

We are a group of sculptors and we're setting up a studio. The celling is about 18 feet overhead and there's one skylight off center. The space is rectangular. The sculptors are arranged around the model. Important consideration are ample light and no chatter or multiple cast shadows. We're thinkin to mimic the skylight by putting the lighting in the skylight box and have light that would yield similar to more or less obtain a similar quality. 

If that direct north-facing daylight is to be simulated for the studio space, we would recommend the 6500K color temperature option. The 5000K color point option can also be helpful for installations where a neutral daylight color is preferred. 

For an installation that would occupy the perimeter of a skylight, you might be interested in our 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which can be easily mounted within aluminum channels and powered via in-wall LED drivers and dimmers. 

If integrated fixtures are preferable, you may alternatively be interested in our NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixtures, T8 LED Tube Lights or T8 Fixtures. That said, please note that these products are not dimmable, and may not be the ideal products for a studio space that requires adjustable light output. 

For your installation planning, we recommend inputting the dimensions of the space into our Lumen Estimation Calculator, which will provide you with a total lumen suggestion as well as product recommendations to meet the lumen goal. 

Recommended Fluorescent LED Under Light for Kitchen Cabinet

A segment of my cabinet is 70cm so what length of fluorescent LED light is ideal? 30 cm or 50 cm? I have two segments of 140 cm together, so do I put one or two LED tubes (50cm x2) for the length of 140cm? Or should I go for a 30 cm length? 

We can confirm that the total length of LED Strip Lights required for an installation is most often defined by the light output requirements. For example, a small closet may not need very bright lighting, whereas a cooktop or kitchen prep area may require much greater illumination. 

Given the details provided, you may be interested in our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, which has an output of 1500 lumens meter and is commonly used in kitchens for under-cabinet lighting. For an installation using two parallel segments of 70 cm, the total output would be 2100 lumens (1050 per 70 cm segment). 

As an alternative, you may also be interested in our 60.96 cm (2 ft) NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures, which are designed for easy installation and power, and have an output of 900 lumens per unit.

Does the Aluminum Channel modify the light temperature, lumens, or anything else?

On the peak winter days, there are only about 4 hours of daylight. I’m looking at the LED flex lights to line one ceiling side with your Aluminum channel. Does this channel modify the light temperature, lumens, or anything else I should consider? I keep going between 3,000 and 5,000 temperatures and just don’t know what would be best.

We are happy to confirm that the aluminum channels do not affect the light output, though the diffusion cover will reduce overall transmission by roughly 10%. 

While we generally recommend 2700K and 3000K color temperatures for residential installations, it sounds as though daylight color points might be a better fit for your purposes considering the limited daylight hours available. 

As such, we would likely recommend the 5000K for neutral balanced daylight color, or alternatively 6500K for true matching of north-facing daylight. 

LED Strip Lights and Accessories for Kitchen Lighting

I've attached a layout for the CENTRIC HOME LED strip LIGHTS that I'm thinking of buying for my kitchen. 

The total length of the cabinets (17') is slightly more than the (16') length of the light strip kit. Do you have a recommendation for how to lay out it?

As the total length of the cabinets is slightly greater than the 16.4 ft reel of the product, you may be interested in connecting an additional small segment of LED Strip Lights via a second purchased reel, as a slightly greater connected length should not overly tax the single connected power supply.

Based on the attached layout distances, which TRIA dimmable Power supply should be purchased 24V DC or 12V? Will a single power supply be enough if powered from one end of the run?

 If you were to utilize an additional segment of LED Strip Lights, we would recommend using 24V products, as they have a greater maximum combined length than the 12V version (32.8 ft vs 16.4 ft). We also recommend selecting LED Strip Lights and power supplies of matching voltage to ensure functionality. 

I will be using the flat Aluminum Channel for the light strip --so all connections must be soldered. Are any special connector cables needed for other connections?

While soldering on the LED Strip Light solder pads is an option, you may also be interested in our LED Strip to Wire and LED Strip to Strip accessories, as featured within the LayoutMap. 

I am planning to make an order of the following items have I left anything out to make this system function properly:

It appears that the referenced set of products is sufficient for your installation unless additional connector accessories are preferred. 

The power supply junction box can be useful for insulating the power supply when installed behind drywall, though some customers prefer to place the power supply within the cabinet toe kick for easier accessibility. 

It might also be helpful to know that the cooler 3000K color temperature is most often recommended for kitchen installations, whereas the warmer 2700K is more common for living areas and bedrooms. 

Under Shelf Lighting for Backdrop Studio

I recently purchased some LED strip lights from a third party for under my shelves for the backdrop of my studio for filming cake decorating. We installed all of them, they looked great until we turned on the camera. No matter what shutter speed we chose, there is terrible "banding" from the lights. 

I'm wondering if I could use the current setup I have but use your "FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip" with this setup I already have. It is a remote control setup, so would I need to purchase your dimmer also to make this work? This is what I purchased.

If I wasn't able to use my current setup, what is the full setup I would need to do non-flickering lights under two shelves (43" each) with 27" between them where they'd need an extension? It's really just ambiance lighting, so we're trying to keep it in a friendly-er budget. 

We can confirm that the flicker rate of LED lights is most often defined by the power supply and dimmer utilized, rather than by the LED product itself. 

As such, you may find that utilizing our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip may improve the performance of your third-party lighting installation. 

​That said, it appears that the remote receiver of the product referenced utilizes a special connection plug which our LED Strip Lights do not use. As such, you may not be able to use our products with the remote and receiver.

Regarding an installation that would use our own products, our LayoutMap pages, such as the ones below, illustrate the arrangement of our components. We estimate that two 43” shelves could be illuminated with one segmented 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of LED Strip Lights, powered by one dedicated 12V power supply. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2D

Full Spectrum LED Strip Lights for Grow Plants Indoors

I've been trying to find a full spectrum of LED strip lights that can help us to grow plants indoors, I aim to lower the cost and increase the efficiency for plants. Our current light system is also from the USA, brand, and model specified as Spider Farmer Upgraded SE7000 730W Commercial LED Grow Light which can provide warm white light(2800-3000k), Rich Red Light(660-665nm), Blue Light(4800-5000k) The problem is that those lights come with standard dimensions and we can only hang them on the ceilings, with the strip light advantages we can also hang them on the walls and provide lights on the sides as well. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which offer Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K) alongside adjustable RGB output. 

These lights are typically paired with a product for controlling the output of each channel, such as our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product. 

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:

Wiring three LED strips in one switch for faux window installation.

I'm going to be creating a faux window for a film set and was wondering if the following configuration could be a viable option for lighting it: 1x Lutron Skylark dimmer switch 3x TRIAC Dimmable Power Supplies (wired as shown in the diagram on the product page) 3x FilmGrade 16' 5600k 24v strips Am I correct in assuming I can only run 1 full strip per Power Supply? Does this configuration make sense on paper as long as I wire everything up alright? 

The FilmGrade LED strip lights sound like a great option for a faux window installation!

We've reviewed your proposed configuration and can confirm that this should work great. As you mention, we are limited to one 16.4 ft reel per power supply due to power supply capacity limitations. As such, connecting the three reels to a single wall dimmer (in parallel) would be the best approach.

Do I need two power supplies for two (16.4 ft) LED Strips?

I’m interested in the Centric Daylight 4K LED strip lights for my garage. I have a few questions before I place an order. I’m wanting to install two reels worth of lighting (16.4/reel) in my garage. Is the two power supplies I need 3094.096? I’m wanting to use a typical dimmer, for those types of power supplies. Is there an illuminated switch you recommend? I want to be able to see it in total darkness. Also, I want a recessed aluminum channel but I didn’t see them on your website, any brand you recommend or point me where to get them?

You are correct that you will want two PN 3094.096 power supplies for each of the two LED strip reels. The good news is that both of these power supplies can be connected to a single wall-dimmer circuit (in parallel) so that you can control both LED strip reels from a single wall-dimmer. Below is a layout diagram showing how this can be configured:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

​Regarding illuminated switches, unfortunately, we don't have any active catalog of compatible dimmers with this feature, but we do maintain a general list of tested dimmers which can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CD_3093.pdf

We should note that our dimmable power supply is designed to work with all phase dimmers, so there is a good chance that it would be compatible with any given illuminated dimmer switch you end up going with (we would still recommend testing before permanent installation).

Our aluminum channel products are not specifically designed for recessed installations, but can certainly be installed in such locations if needed. The product link is below:

For a wider selection of aluminum channels, we would recommend reaching out to KLUS, which specializes in this area. The link is below:

https://klusdesign.com/

What PWM frequency(s) are used for the PWM output of LED Strip power supplies?

I have some questions about the 3104 and 3094.096 dimmable power supplies for LED strips. What PWM frequency(s) is/are used for the PWM output of these power supplies? Are these power supplies compliant with the IEEE 1789 "flicker-free" NOEL specification? And is there a flicker graph available as published by IEEE 1789? 

Our PN 3104 and PN 3094.096 power supplies utilize PWM (100% modulation) at a 20 kHz frequency.

​In terms of the IEEE 1789, this would place the product firmly in the "safe" zone given that the standard suggests that frequencies above 3 kHz have not shown to have any detrimental effects on humans.

What are the LED make or models used in LED Strip Lights?

What are the LED make/models used in these LED strips: "CENTRIC HOME", "CENTRIC DAYLIGHT", and "FilmGrade WHITE"? I was not able to find this information in the data sheets. 

The LEDs mounted on the LED strip lights are based on an industry-standard 2835 chip carrier, but utilize our own phosphor formulations to achieve color accuracy and performance standards.

LED Recommendation for Construction Project

Looking to specify your lamps in new construction and need recommendations.

Our LED products sound like they may be a great fit for your new construction project. For an integrated LED solution, our LED strip lights have been a very popular option, which I have linked to below for your convenience:

What about downlighting for general illumination in a residential situation and spotlighting for artwork? Right now we are using old technology with lighter downlights, and spots with halogen lamps. We want our new construction to be all LED lighting above 90 CRI. I've looked at your lamps and don't know if I'm seeing what is compatible with flush ceiling downlights or small swivel spotlights that would take a small bulb.

For downlighting applications, the only product we currently offer is a BR30 lamp which uses an E26 base and fits inside 5" or larger ceiling cans. Depending on your local jurisdiction, this may or may not be an issue for new construction.

​We currently do not have any ceiling fixtures but are hoping to launch some additional offerings shortly.

Similarly, we do not offer any spotlights as everything we offer is either in a 120-degree flood or wider beam angle. 

Do I need two transformers for two 12 inches LED strips?

I am designing open shelves for my kitchen and have several questions: I will need 24' of strips split into two 12' runs - do I need two transformers? For open shelves if I use diffuser channels how do I route connectors to the next shelf?

The maximum recommended run length for our LED strip lights in most cases is limited to 16.4 ft (one reel) so for two runs of 12 ft, you will need to use two separate transformers. This is unfortunately due to the current draw limitations on the LED strip light, as well as power supply capacity constraints, especially for a residential Class 2 installation.

​Multiple sections of the LED strip lights can be "daisy-chained" using low voltage wire such as our PN 7098. We've linked to a layout distribution below which should help visualize the installation method:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-4268.919951544279&py=-4912.126233002789&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.2781926160615588

As far as the aluminum channels are concerned, the PN 3070 connectors will be too wide to fit inside the channels, so we would either recommend soldering the low voltage wire directly onto the LED strip copper pads or allowing the LED strip ends to protrude a bit to allow for the connection to happen outside of the aluminum channel.

Most likely I will solder directly - my thinking is to route the shelves and install the channel all the way to the wall like a large U. So we will miter the channels at the 90-degree corners. Can I bend the steps that tightly or use soldered wire jumpers?

Soldering directly is definitely a solid option and should work well for joining the sections between the aluminum channels.

​For the 90-degree turns, we would not recommend bending the LED strips for two reasons. First, the LED strips do not bend laterally, and only in an up/down direction. Secondly, the bend radius for a 90-degree turn would likely be too tight, resulting in damage to the LED components. Since it sounds like you'll be set up to solder jumper wires, using the wires for the 90-degree turns won't be too much extra trouble.

Regarding your second question, the answer is most definitely "yes" and the layout diagram below should be helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

Do you offer a sample kit with DC power and a LED strip?

I have a small photo studio 1m 3. I would like to buy your photography LED strip. The sample kit looks good, but I fear 6" may be a little too small. However, a 5m strip would be vastly more than I need. Would you be able to offer a kit with DC power and a LED strip of maybe 1m? I am in Scotland and so do not want to buy excess as it will add to the shipping and import duties. I look forward to your suggestion. 

While we completely understand the concern, unfortunately, all of our LED strip light products are pre-packaged in 5-meter reels, and we are not able to handle custom or partial reel measurements at this time.

​This may not be helpful from a cost reduction perspective, but we do offer a user-friendly flicker-free LED dimmer which may help allow you to achieve a wide range of brightness settings for your studio space. Utilizing the entire 5-meter reel will not only allow you to achieve very high brightness if needed but also provide a much more evenly distributed lighting effect by allowing the light to emanate from a larger area.

​In case you're interested, I've linked to the product below:

Do you have a third-party recommendation for longer connectors?

I'd like to recommend your strips to a store manager for their new display cases. However, they can't solder and I only see a 6" solder-less connector option. Is there a 3rd party option for connectors that would work and come in longer options? 

We completely understand the concern regarding the limitations surrounding soldering, and this is indeed the reason we offer the 6" solderless connector cable. Unfortunately, however, we do not offer any other cable lengths, and do apologize for the inconvenience.

The best alternative solution would be to utilize our PN 3070 solderless connectors in conjunction with our low voltage wire (PN 7098) which would be cut to length and then joined together using twist-on wire connectors. Please see below for a layout diagram that should help visualize the setup:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-4661.340129842386&py=-4786.461120318501&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.2781926160615588

There may be some third-party options but we are not aware of any specific products that would fit; as our LED strip lights are offered in a high-density configuration, many connectors have plastic covers that are incompatible.

D65 Illuminant for Color Correcting Lighting

I'd like to purchase an accurate D65 illuminant (6500k?) for color-correcting a custom-built camera with a MacBeth chart. Can you please recommend a kit of hardware to purchase from you to create this lighting?

We offer several D65 color-calibrated products which may be of specific interest to your needs. Below are some recommendations:

All of these options at 6500K are also calibrated to the D65 color point and are excellent options for color matching using digital imaging equipment (D50 is of course another popular option for visual inspection).

​We have a windowless room dedicated to different camera calibrations, used frequently. The A19 and T5 are great options as they seem to be easily removable. For the A19, would something like this be what you recommend for hosting the bulb? What differences should I expect in light output from the A19 and T5?

Our calibration room has never been used for color calibration, so I am also shopping for a white booth/background. Unlikely, but I’m open to suggestions for this too.

In terms of color quality, you would not notice any difference as both are calibrated to the exact same D65 color point, so it ultimately comes down to the lighting installation and how you'd like to configure the lights.

In terms of brightness, the A19 lamps emit 800 lumens, while the T5 linear fixtures 900 lumens and 1800 lumens for the 2-ft and 4-ft versions, respectively. If your illumination target is a longer, more rectangular area, the linear fixtures might be a better way to evenly illuminate the entire surface.

I've reviewed the Amazon link and can confirm that this would be a great lamp fixture for the A19 lamp!

While we aren't able to provide direct support for the lighting booth and background, here's an article from Church Film School which features our products and may have some overlaps with your project and may be helpful: 

https://www.churchfilmschool.com/blog/how-to-set-up-your-office-for-color-grading

Your lamps have been working great, but now I’m looking for something that has a variable temperature. Do you sell anything with a wide range of temperatures?

We, unfortunately, do not have any complete lamp products that offer color temperature control. The closest option we offer is an LED strip component for film and TV studio applications. I've provided the link below:

Custom Strip for Fluorescent Fixtures Replacement

I was wondering if it is feasible to create a custom strip array for a ceiling to replace fluorescent fixtures.

While we are unable to accommodate custom product fabrication at this time, we would be more than happy to tell you more about our currently available catalog of products.

For example, you might alternatively be interested in our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights or LED-Ready T8 Tube Light Fixtures, the latter of which are designed to utilize our LED T8 Tube Lights. 

Flicker difference between Film Grade & Absolute Series LED Strips

Using the same FilmGrade dimmer and power supply, will there be any difference between the flickering of FilmGrade and Absolute LED strips? 

We're happy to confirm that there should not be any difference in the flicker rate of the two LED Strip Light products when used with the same FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. ​

Does your Ultra High LED Strip Lights register on the DLC list?

Please tell me if these lights and the ultra-high-95-cri-led-strip-lights-for-home-residential are registered on the DLC list in the US. I need proof of this for an efficiency program benefit. 

We can confirm that the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product is not part of the aforementioned DLC list. That said, it might be helpful to know that this product is UL listed (E508810).

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 recommend 18 AWG for strip-to-strip connections?

I am planning to build an undercabinet lighting system using: CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential - 3000K Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip - 5 PACK CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip - 24V. I see that you sell various connectors for connecting one LED to another in series but to use these tracks, I have to solder them myself. Do you recommend 18 AWG for strip-to-strip connections? Do you sell 18 AWG? All I see is 16. 

While we can confirm that we do not sell 18 AWG wiring, I have attached a link to our LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator, which we do hope proves to be helpful for your installation planning. 

Based on my use of the aforementioned tool, we believe that 16 AWG wiring would be sufficient for your installation, so long as the length of connecting wire between the power supply and product is not excessively long. 

Anecdotally, we can also confirm that 16 AWG is most often recommended for the connection of LED Strip Light segments. 

What the actual PWM rate of LED Dimmer?

I’m thinking about getting an Absolute 16’ strip and might decide to also buy your FilmGrade PWM dimmer to put in between the power supply and the strip. What is the PWM rate (Hz) on this dimmer? Specs indicate it was tested on frame rates up to 240fps but I’m wondering what the actual rate is. The specs for the other DMX dimmer indicate 30kHz so I’m hoping the FilmGrade dimmer is at least 25kHz as recommended in your support docs about dimming/flicker. 

We can confirm that the PWM rate of the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer is 25 kHz. 

I see that as opposed to the FilmGrade strips which are available in 12V or 24V options, the Absolute strips are only 12V. Since I will likely be using the full 16 ft (cut into several small strips connected together) with a single power supply, I thought 24V would be a little better (less voltage drop, higher efficiency). However, the Absolute strips are only 12V so I'm wondering if these will be ok or if I should perhaps consider using Absolute modules instead. It seems the modules can be daisy-chained and are 24V and can be dimmed using the same FilmGrade LED dimmer as the strips. Any suggestions?

You are correct that unfortunately, the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights are available in 12 volts only. When used as a continuous, 16.4 ft reel without being cut into shorter sections, we have not observed any voltage drop issues.

​We have seen some situations, however, where voltage drop becomes an issue when many shorter sections are joined together using connectors and wires, as these act as bottlenecks for electrical current and can cause drops in brightness.

The ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules may be a more reliable option since as you mention, they operate at 24 volts and will therefore exhibit lower voltage drop issues. The modules are also fully compatible with the flicker-free dimmer, although some extra components such as PN 7095 and connection wires would be required for assembly.

High CRI Dimmable Lighting for Small Room

We are looking to light up a small room we have built. It is around 9x12ft. Currently, we have some edge-lit LED panels (2x4) in there which have low 80 CRI but nice diffuse light and dimmable as well. We are looking to get around 50,000 Lumens of high CRI, Dimmable light. We have some thoughts about using your LED strip lights and a diffuser sheet, but I am worried about the amount of lights, power supplies, and dimmers I would need. 

As every 16.4 ft (5 meter) reel of the 12V or 24V LED Strip Lights provides 7500 lumens, 6.6 reels would be able to provide the requested 50,000 lumens. 

Though each reel would require a dedicated power supply (such as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip), it might be helpful to know that multiple power supplies and product reels can be connected to the same in-wall dimmer, as illustrated within the TRIAC product page. 

​That said, please note that wall-dimmers have maximum wattage ratings. We would recommend ensuring that the products connected per dimmer circuit do not exceed that rating for safety purposes. 

If the DC power supplies were alternatively used, each reel would require a dedicated dimmer, such as the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. 

In the hopes that it proves to be useful for your installation planning, I have attached a link to a LayoutMap below, for an illustration that utilizes multiple power supplies. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Do you have any type of extruded aluminum channel that I could adhere the LED strip lights in to allow for cooling, and easy of assembly and disassembly? This unit will be taken down to travel to trade shows and re-assembled. 

We can confirm that we sell the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip in both flat and corner versions, which can be helpful for the diffusion of both heat output and light output. 

The aluminum channels have a 13mm internal width, which can be used to apply the 10mm width of the LED Strip Lights within using the preattached adhesive backing. 

By pairing this installation with detachable LED strip connectors, it could be a good option for the aforementioned trade shows. 

​Alternative options may also be available from Klus Design, though we have not personally tested the products they have available. 

LED Strip for Showcase Lighting

I'm looking for lights or strips for our showcase lighting. Our products are diamond jewelry set in 14k and 18k white gold and platinum metals. Our goal is to redo our lights to feel warm and inviting while keeping the vibrance and sparkle of the diamonds and other jewelry we offer. We require at least 4,000 - 5,000 lumens for the lights. 

For warm yet illuminating light output, we might recommend the 3200K tungsten version of the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which can provide 7500 lumens per 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel. 

These lights can be installed within channels, and powered with in-wall wiring using the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. In the hopes that it proves to be helpful, I have also attached a color temperature selection guide below. 

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Do you have pendant-type fixtures for ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED flex strips?

I'm looking for pendant-type fixtures up to 8' to install the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI. The lights will be used for critical color printing evaluation. Is it possible to purchase a designer fixture and replace the LED strips with your LED flex strips? Do you have recommendations? 

Our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED flex strips are a great fit for color printing evaluation! The D50 color point should be an excellent way to ensure consistent and accurate color evaluation.

From an electrical perspective, this can certainly be done, but we are unfortunately not aware of any existing pendant fixtures that are designed with LEDs that can be replaced by the end user. In addition to mechanical fit, we would also need to ensure electrical compatibility as our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip requires 12 volts DC to operate.

(We also have a 24-volt, linear module version which you may also want to consider).

Is it possible to daisy chain two 16-ft LED strips with one power supply?

Is it possible to daisy chain two 16-ft LED strips and power them with only one 12V or 24V DC power supply? Specifically asking about your products. 

Unfortunately, due to power supply capacity limitations, you would not be able to power two 16 ft reels using a single power supply.

Each 16 ft reel requires approximately 90 watts to operate, which means two reels would require 180 watts. Since our power supplies have a max power of 120 watts, the 180 watts would unfortunately overload them.

12V vs 24V: Which voltage adaptor I should choose?

Have read all the info 3 times and am still at a loss to determine whether I have enough wattage (105) to power the 16 ft. strip. I understand I'll have a wattage need of 88. But I do not know a) whether the current to the shed, 20V, is sufficient, using an adaptor to get to 105 watts; and b) what adaptor I need to buy and whether I buy it from Waveform or elsewhere. 

I will use an adapter for connecting the strip to the power supply. This is for my art studio and the strip will be overhead. Will I need a channel? Or can I get away without one? The product number is 3003.3..or possibly #3004, the 24V. This is what I don't understand: what determines which one I choose? I want the 3000K version, and will also need PN 3071 connectors.

The aluminum channels can be very helpful for securely adhering the LED Strip Lights to mounting surfaces, while also providing the benefit of the diffusion cover.

We can also confirm that the product numbers of the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential adjust slightly based on the voltage and color temperature. For example, the 12V 3000K is PN3003.30, whereas the 24V 3000K is PN3004.30.

For the 24V 3000K model, we would recommend using the matching voltage 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip (PN3092). 

We have attached several LayoutMap links below, which illustrate the various configuration options. These links contain installation descriptions, as well as links to each product within. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2D

As you can tell from the above guides, the Centric Home LED Strip Lights will require the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter for connection to the power supply.

​

Do your D50 products and Absolute Series ISO 3664:2000 D50 calibrate?

We work mainly with artists. Which of your product is ISO 3664:2009 D50? What about your latest Absolute Series in that regard? We would like to introduce them to our client's Application of Color matching, and screen vs inkjet printing.

We can confirm that our D50 products, as well as our 5000K Absolute Series products, are calibrated for ISO 3664:2000 D50, rather than the referenced ISO 3664:2009 D50. 

In the hope that they prove to be helpful, we have attached links for the product specification sheet and 5000K photometric report below. 

Specification Sheet

5000K Photometric Report

For the ABSOLUTE SERIES, the reference is SO3664:2009 which I guess includes the ISO 3664 2000. Would you explain to me what the difference is between both?

Also with the rail diffuser: Could it be used without the diffuser At 3-4 feet from a table? Does the rail diffuser affect color temperature or spec Does it affect the CRI? OR the R?

We can confirm that while ISO 3664:2009 includes violet light in the output, ISO 3664:2000 does not. 

Additionally, we have just confirmed that the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights, as well as the Absolute Series LED Modules, are both rated for ISO 3664:2009. 

Regarding the channel diffusor, we can confirm that the diffusor can reduce transmission by roughly 10%. If you require the full output from the lights, we would recommend disconnecting the diffusor cover. Further, it might be helpful to know that the LED Modules are not able to fit within our channels, which are only able to accommodate the 10mm width of the LED Strip Lights. 

We will be using those linear modules in an aluminum U-channel large enough to receive the LED MODULES. Is there any additional wire or plug we need to interconnect all those 3 elements?

We can confirm that the color temperature is not expected to be altered when cast through the diffusion panels, though there can be a ~10% loss in lumen transmission.

As the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules have a width of 20mm, they are too wide for the 13mm width of the aluminum channels, which are designed to accommodate the 10mm LED Strip Light width. 

​If the aluminum channels are preferred for your installation, we would instead recommend the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. 

Further, please note that the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights utilize 12V. As such, we recommend selecting a power supply with a matching voltage. 

In the hopes that they prove to be useful for your installation planning, we have provided a few LayoutMap diagrams below, which illustrate the configuration of LED Strip Lights and provide links to the recommended connectors. Please ignore the 24V labeled within, as those are specific to the FilmGrade LED Strip Lights. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

Do you have a lighting solution to spot check on some of the colors that are susceptible to the pink problem?

We are a flooring manufacturer that has used your lighting solutions before, and I’d like to inquire about a potential solution for an issue that we currently have. 

Can you suggest a lighting solution that would help us to do a spot check on some of the colors that are susceptible to the pink problem? I imagine that if we were to add light that targets the longer wavelength, warmer part of the spectrum, it would really make it easy to see pink if it were to exist…..but is that correct? 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, as it is able to offer a CRI of 99, making the output virtually indistinguishable from natural daylight. 

It might be helpful to know that this item has been positively reviewed by several other customers who have used them for color matching and photography. Hopefully, this means that you will be able to identify incorrect colors or hues in the products being inspected, though please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy if it is not the right fit. 

Do you have an inline connector that fits inside the aluminum channel?

I need an LED inline connector that fits inside the aluminum track you sell. there is 13mm of space in there but the connectors that you sell are too wide and don't fit. Surely there is something on the market to do this, please help me find it.

We can confirm that the LED Strip Light connectors available utilize a clasp that is wider than the available space within the aluminum channels, and we do apologize for any complexity this might add to your installation.

Based on our review of many third-party options available from Amazon and Home Depot, it appears that the wide majority of options utilize similarly sized (or larger) clamps that are unlikely to fit within the cavity of the channels.

As a primary alternative, we would recommend soldering wires to the solder pads of the LED Strip Lights for power connection. For most installations that use the channels and connectors, the LED connection clamps protrude from the end of the channels for power connections. 

Can I run two LED strips in one power supply?

I have a plan for putting in some of your LED strips in my kitchen. I need only 24 inches in one section that is right by a dimmer switch in the wall. Then I'd like to run a length of in-wall cable to another section of lights across the room, to be run by the same switch. If the total length of strips is less than 16ft, can I run them off the same 24v TRIAC dimmer source?

We are happy to confirm that so long as the maximum combined length of LED Strip Lights is less than 16.4 ft, the two segments of lights can be powered by a single TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. 

You might encounter a small amount of voltage drop depending on the expanse between the connected strip lights, which can be calculated using the below calculator from our website. Voltage drop can often be minimized by utilizing the proper gauge of wire. 

We have also attached a LayoutMap from our website below for a configuration utilizing connected light segments, in the hopes that it proves to be useful for your installation planning. 

LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

What is the method by UL certification for terminating each LED strip?

I would like the Centric Daylight product at 5000K and might need more than 1 or 2 power supplies.

The sconce, for example, has a 17 & 3/4-inch existing PC board with 4000K LEDs currently. Which I will remove. The spine of the wall sconce is 18". I will ground the sconce structure to comply with NEC 2020 Code.

As this assembly will be only 1/24th the power needed, a 96W power supply seems way over spec. And I will need to power two independent sconces and therefore power supplies. 

If I cut the strip at 17" or 18", what do need to power these strips, please? What is the method, by UL certification, for terminating each strip- please?

Though we are unable to provide detailed assistance for retrofitting or adjusting third-party fixtures, we can confirm that an 18” length of our LED strip light would require 7.75 watts and 337.5 mA. 

Given that our own power supplies might be excessive for these installations, you may be able to acquire a lower-output 24V power supply for the fixtures. 

As extra low-voltage Class 2 components, we are not aware of any specific termination requirements for our LED strips once they are cut to length. For further recommendations or regulations regarding electrical code compliance, we would recommend reaching out to your local authorities (AHJ). 

We recommend using a pair of sharp scissors to achieve a clean cut, and taking care to ensure that loose wires and other objects do not come in contact with the LED strips.

Would you direct me to where these devices are identified by the IEC 61140 Class definitions, please? (I anticipate these are PELV, not SELV, and Class 1, not Class 0.)

As to the product- I was hoping to identify if the UL listing(s) cited from the sales page had an NRTL solution, not just components 

The 2020 NEC, which I plan to adhere to, is the most current version. Municipalities many times lag over two Handbook versions. As is the case with my installation site's jurisdiction.  

If these are only, say, the 2010 version of NEC applicable- why not just say so? As to the NEC- power supplies are to be Class 2 compliant. 12V DC drivers must be 60W and under. Or 24V drivers must be 96W and under. Power supplies that comply with the Class 2 regulation are always marked or labeled as so.

We have just confirmed that the product in question is categorized as ‘Class I’ per IEC 61140 definitions. We can also confirm that this product is rated to separate extra-low voltage (SELV), as can be noted in the attached product label below. Further, the product is marked as a Class 2 LED Power Supply and conforms to UL 1310 and UL 8750. 

We have also attached a link to the UL file listing for this power supply product below, for your reference. 

UL File Listing

Do you have 1ft lengths of 2700K LED Strip?

I would like to place an order for guestroom bath lighting. Do you have or can provide 1ft lengths of 2700K LED strip? Or do you only sell the 16ft roll?

We can confirm that the 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential are currently sold in 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels, and is currently not available in smaller increments. 

That being said, we can also confirm that the LED Strip Lights can be easily divided into smaller increments using the labeled cut points. Each segment can also be individually powered, or connected in series using wiring adapters. 

LED Strip Light for Boat Cabin Lighting

I am looking to put ambient, dimmable 12-volt strip led lights on the interior of my sailboat. A five-foot run on both port and starboard sides of the boat interior. What products would suit my needs? 

Before recommending a product, it might be helpful to know that our LED Strip Lights are not IP rated for exposure to moisture or the elements, though there may be third-party insulated channels available elsewhere. 

That being said, the first product that comes to mind is the 12V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product in 2700K or 3000K. 

This product can be paired with a dimmer such as the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer, though your installation may be able to utilize an integrated dimmer onboard the vessel rather than the above in-line dimmer. 

What is the expected reliability of CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights?

We are using your Ultra High CRI 24V LED Strip PN 3004.27/3004.30 Can you tell me what is the expected reliability? I mean MTBF or any other term of reliability (like a minimum lifetime for x% reliability).

Our tests for the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential have shown an expected L70 lifetime of > 36k hours based on TM-21 projection methods. 

I assume the LED strip reliability model follows the Weibull distribution (meaning aging during the time and not exponential which is a constant failure rate), if this is the case what is the beta Weibull shape?

We, unfortunately, do not have Weibull distribution testing available for our LED Strip Lights, and we do apologize for any impact this might have on your purchase planning. 

Rather than experiencing a catastrophic failure, the LED emitters within the strip light products are known to gradually lose brightness over time. In this instance, they have a maximum output of 70% after 36,000 hours. 

High CRI light for Color Transparency and Re-photographing

I am looking for a high CRI light source for color transparency and re-photographing for museums. I need an even light source of about 6x6 inches.

The light table is about 5” in depth, but we can use any table. The largest films we re-photograph are 4x5", so if the diffused light is about 6” inches then would be fine. I don’t mind making a box to hold a bright 5000K LED array and I’ll add white plastic to even the light out - several layers. So far I have done about 10,000 images and they look a lot better than flatbed or even drum scanners, which I once owned. The modern sensors in cameras are simply better. And I can balance the camera to the light to get the RGB equal.

What about strip lights, cut up? Seems hard to connect and needs DC power, but you might have a better idea. Like something off the shelf.

The first product that came to mind was our D50 5000K T5 LED Linear Light Fixture for Color Matching. This product only requires a DC plug for power, can be daisy-chained, and offers 95 CRI light output. 

For a slightly more complicated installation, we would suggest our Absolute Series 99 CRI 5000K LED Strip Lights. These 99 CRI lights utilize pre-attached barrel-jack adapters which can easily connect to a DC power supply. 

Additionally, the LED Strip to Strip connectors can be used to connect segments of LED strip lights in the event that several parallel lengths were to be utilized.

Is there a decrease in LED performance when using splitters?

Is there a decrease in LED performance when using splitters to run multiple LED strips vs using jumpers between them? Is there a risk in running a splitter off another splitter?

We can confirm that we are not aware of any performance impact that might be incurred through the use of splitters.

We find that the most common performance inhibitors are the result of voltage drop due to long distances between the power supply and product, or overdrawn power supplies which result in diminished output. 

Generally speaking, so long as the power supply used is not being overdrawn in current or wattage, the parallel installation utilizing splitters should function optimally. 

In the interim, you may also find value in the below article regarding the installation of LED Strip Lights connected in parallel. 

Connecting LED Strips in "Series" vs "Parallel"

Can the 24V FilmGrade power supply drive a 6-meter LED Strip?

I'll be buying 24V FilmGrade LED strips and a 24V PN 3092 power supply. Can this power supply drive 5.3 meters of LEDs? What is the maximum length of LEDs that this power supply can serve? Can LED reels to be purchased in custom lengths? Having six @ 5.5 meters (three rows) and six at 3.5 meters (two rows) has several advantages for what I'm trying to achieve. I know about PN 3072. 4) my 2' long x 5-row prototype (900 footcandle) was constructed in a serpentine series -- rows 1 & 2 soldered together at the right end, rows 2 & 3 soldered at the left end, 3 & 4 right, 4 & 5 left. Instead, can the power supply drive three 6' rows of LED wired in parallel using 3 PN3070 connectors twisted together and wired into a single PN7094 female adapter? 

As 5.3 meters of LED Strip Lights would require 3.4A and 95.63W of the available 5A 120W, we can confirm that PN3092 would be able to provide sufficient power for the three 6 ft rows of LED Strip Lights. 

Generally speaking, we recommend drawing less than the maximum 120W to comfortably allow for minor variations in power draw. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to sell our LED strip lights in custom lengths at this time, and we do apologize for any complexity this might introduce to your planning process. 

We are happy to confirm that our LED Strip Lights can be connected in parallel. Based on my review of the details provided, it does seem possible for the PN7094 and PN3070 to be used in conjunction for a parallel installation.

We hope that the above is helpful for your installation planning. Please let me know if we can provide any further configuration assistance, and we would be happy to help!

What is the brightness of Centric Daylight Strip Lighting at a 3-feet distance?

Can you please tell me what the brightness would be in Lumens at a distance of 3 feet from your PN 3004.50? I need to have 1000 lumens at that distance from the source

Based on our review of the details provided, as well as our IES report data, we can confirm that the 3-foot illuminance value would be approximately 572 lux. As such, we would recommend utilizing two rows of products to reach the 1000 lux target. 

​We have attached a PDF containing the PN 3004.50 IES data below, in the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning. 

I want to buy the following to try the lighting out as proof of concept and want to be sure I am buying the proper items

1 each 16-foot strip 3004-50

1 each power supply, would that be the 3071?

1 each package jumpers, 3071

Our plan to start will be to outfit a single 8-foot bench so we are cutting it in half and will double the side of the strip by side….

Also, I see you have the 3060 surface mount extrusion but it looks to only fit one LED strip in width. We need two strips to sit side by side…

Do you have an aluminum extrusion that would fit TWO of the LED strips and also comes in longer lengths?

We can confirm that the 24V 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights (PN3002.50, though please let me know if this is incorrectly listed as 3004.50) are compatible with the 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip (PN3092).

We can also confirm that the LED Strip to Strip Connectors (PN3071) can be used to connect segments of the Centric LED Strip Lights. 

If it proves to be helpful for your installation planning, we have also provided a link to a LayoutMap below for a segmented LED strip light installation. This link contains configuration details as well as links to each of the optional connector accessories. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

As a final note, we do not have channels that can accommodate two parallel strip lights at this time, nor do we have longer channels available, and we do apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning. 

When do you use the Film Grade power supply and when do you use the 3071 Power supply?

For reference, the PN3071 product in our catalog is the LED Strip to Strip connector, which is used to connect segmented LED strip lights. In case it proves to be helpful, we have attached a link to our full list of power supply products below. 

LED Power & Dimmers

What is the beam and field angle of each diode of the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights?

What angle is the beam of each diode? What angle is the field of each diode?

We can confirm that the LEDs on the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights have a beam angle of 120º while the field angle is 160º. 

Automotive Paint Inspection Lighting

I would like to speak with someone about possibly improving our inspection lighting to help us better identify defects that are easily seen in sunlight but not under standard inspection lighting.

Our high CRI, daylight-calibrated light sources sound like a great fit for your needs. Specifically, our D50 lamps may be an excellent option to replace the current standard lighting, as the D50 chromaticity point and spectrum approximate noon sunlight.

If you can tell us a bit more about the form factor that would be best suited for the manufacturing / inspection site, we may be able to provide some additional insights as far as product types and configuration.

As a starting point, our T5 linear fixtures with D50 chromaticity is a very popular option among our professional customers looking for a relatively straightforward and ETL-listed turn-key lighting installation. The lamps have a 95 CRI rating, are available in 2-ft and 4-ft configurations, and can be daisy-chained.

Our shop light fixtures also feature D50 light quality and can hang above the inspection station, if that is a potential installation location / method.

For a 99 CRI, D50 option, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED components could also be a viable candidate for your installation. Our LED strip lights, for example, could be installed along the sides or above the inspection subject. Do keep in mind that the LED strip lights do require a bit more configuration work, which could make replicating the installation across multiple locations a bit more challenging.

I have attached a picture of one of our decks that I am interested in improving the lighting (we have 6 areas throughout the plant that are similar). The side and top lights are 8 feet and the angled lights on the top are 4 feet. I also attached some pictures of our current lights. Would we be able to simple replace the led strip inside with your 99CRI strip?

We've taken a look at the existing fixture, and it appears to be a product that does not have any user-replaceable parts and is not designed to be retrofitted. As a result, this leads us to two concerns about this approach:

​1) The power supply unit uses constant current with a voltage output range of 25-45 volts. Our LED strips require constant voltage at 12 volts or 24 volts, so the power supply units that are included in your fixture would not be compatible. Replacing both the LED strips and the power supply units to re-use just the housing may not be the most optimal.

2) Modifying fixtures will likely void any safety approval marks such as UL or ETL, as these marks are granted at the complete fixture level. In our prior experiences working with customers in manufacturing environments, safety approvals have been a firm requirement.

If you would like to continue to pursue the fixture retrofit approach, we would recommend using our flicker-free power supply unit listed here in conjunction with our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules, listed here.

Can I use a third-party power supply for Centric Home LED Strip?

I purchased an LED strip from a third party, and I'm dissatisfied with the quality of the light. I'd like to purchase lighting with a higher CRI. I'd purchase CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, 3003.27, 12V, 2700K. I'm wondering if the power supply I purchased from them will be compatible with your LED strip. The one I have is 60W Magnitude UL Listed Dimmable Power Supplies. I'm powering 10.5 feet of LED strip. 

Based on our review of the Magnitude UL Listed Dimmable Power Supply product page, it appears that the 60W 12V version would be capable of powering 10.5 feet of our LED strip lights, which draw 5.5 watts per foot (totaling 57.75W). 

Additionally, as the LED strip lights require 450 mA per foot, 10.5 feet would require 4.725 amps, which is just under the maximum output current of the 60W power supply. 

That said, we do not see that the power supply lists flicker-free output as a feature. As such, you may find that the flicker rate of the LED strip lights is visibly noticeable. If so, you might be interested in our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip as an alternative. 

LED lighting for Rocks and Mineral Display

I have a display cabinet (about 6 feet tall by 4 feet wide) with 7 glass shelves (38" x 13") that I display rocks and minerals. I would like to add LED light strips. What would you recommend?

For mineral fluorescence, we usually recommend our 365nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. 

In the event that you would like each of the seven four-foot shelves to be lit evenly, we would recommend two divided 16.4 ft reels powered by two power supplies, mounted within the aluminum channels for uniform light diffusion.

We have attached a layout guide below, illustrating an installation that utilizes a segmented reel of LED strip products powered by a DC-Plug power supply. This page also contains links to each recommended product and optional connecter. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C

I am not planning on fluorescent display. Just general lighting. I understand that something in the natural light range is best. And I am interested in evenly lit shelves. Currently I have 3 lights at the top but the light diminishes below the first 2 or 3 shelves.

If you would like to let us know what color temperature lights are currently being used in your display, we would be happy to provide a few product recommendations to match the output. 

Based on our review in the interim, it appears that gem displays may benefit from different color temperatures depending on the color of the stones, though the daylight color temperatures of 5000K and 6500K appear to be popular options. 

As such, we might recommend the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail for your display.

As you mentioned that the current light output diminishes beyond the second or third shelf, we would recommend installing a strip of LED lights above each shelf, or alternatively above every second shelf, for an evenly illuminated display. 

Choosing Proper Lights for Home Reno Project

I am doing a home reno project that is including renovating two bathrooms and the kitchen. Could you help me figure out which of your products is right for me and let me know product availability? Full-spectrum, flicker-free, low EMF are my desired features for lighting.

Ceiling fixtures: I will have two of these installed (one already is): Sputnik chandelier

For the Sputnik chandelier, we would recommend the dimmable 3000K Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential. The 3000K color temperature is the most common option for kitchens and dining areas. 

Under-cabinet task lighting (four zones): I'm looking for a permanent power supply installation of strip lighting instead of each zone lighting having to take up a wall plug. 

For the under-cabinet kitchen zones, I would recommend the 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential with the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip and TRIAC dimmable power supply. 

Please note that these 12V LED strip light products have a maximum combined length of 16.4 feet, meaning that connected lengths greater than that will experience diminished output.

As such, if the under-cabinet zones are to utilize greater than 16.4 feet of product, we would recommend utilizing a second dedicated reel of LED strip lights paired with a dedicated dimmable power supply. 

As can be noted in the below LayoutMap, multiple power supplies, and LED strip lights can be connected to the same dimmer. Our power supplies are also compatible with smart home dimmers. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

If you would like to provide us with a rough layout of the under-cabinet installation areas, I would be more than happy to provide a recommended parts list and order quantity. 

High hats: My licensed electrician is supplying these. He said he can choose styles that take bulbs instead of LED light covers, but he knows nothing about flicker-free, full-spectrum lighting.

For dimmable lightbulbs that would be compatible with a partially or fully enclosed high-hat fixture, we would recommend the 3000K Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb. 

Bathrooms: I've gotten this wall fixture for both bathrooms: Maxim Lighting Essentials 4-Light polished chrome bath vanity light.

Based on our review of the fixture, I would recommend the Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential, as it is suitable for enclosed fixtures as well as use in damp locations such as bathrooms. We usually recommend 2700K or 3000K for those areas. 

Garage: I currently have a ceiling fixture that uses florescent bulbs. 48". I don't spend a lot of time out there and am not sure I want to spend extra for specialty bulbs. 

For the garage fluorescent fixture, we would recommend our 5000K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio. Before purchase, we recommend checking to ensure that if a ballast is utilized within the fixtures, it is compatible with our LED tube lights. If not, these lights can also be installed using a ballast-bypass method. 

As a final note, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy if items within your purchase aren’t quite the right fit. For the LED strip lights, we are happy to accept them as returns so long as they have not been cut or altered. 

Can I leave the cut strip exposed if I were to cut it in half?

If I were to cut the strip in half and run each half from its own power supply, can I leave the ends that I cut exposed? Or do they need to be wrapped in electrical tape?

The LED strip light ends do not need to be wrapped with electrical tape and can be left exposed. 

Also, instead of running each from a separate adapter, could I buy a 1-2 splitter and run both from the same power supply split in a Y?

We're happy to confirm that the LED strip lights can be connected to the power supply in parallel.

If I did would each have to be the same length?

The segments would not need to be the same length.

Could I do a 1-3 splitter piece as long as the total length was less than 16ft?

The 16.4 ft maximum run is only a consideration when installing connected lengths in series. When installing in parallel, the primary consideration would instead be ensuring that the output of the power supply is capable of powering the strip light segments. 

Also, is there any difference between a 3 ft strip running a 2amp vs a 6amp vs a 10amp supply? Would it change that efficiency or brightness depending on how much extra power the supply had?

As amperage and voltage needs are defined by the total connected quantity of products, we would recommend referencing the ‘power supply selection’ section of the realUV specification sheet. Within this section, you will see the 'Minimum Power Supply Capacity' for each length of strip light product. 

Finally, I have a couple of supplies that mention different amps on the input spec. What does that affect? For example, I think your 10amp supply says 2amp on the input spec if you look at the picture of it.

We can confirm that the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip has an input voltage of 2A and output of 10A. As discussed above, the wattage and amperage needs of the LED strip lights are defined by the total amount of product being used. So long as your power supplies can afford the required power defined within the specification sheet, we would assume that the installation would function properly. 

When utilizing dimmable power supplies, there may be issues regarding minimum load. 

​When a dimmable power supply is connected to a product that uses a far lower percentage of the available output (such as 5-10%), unexpected dimming issues may arise.

Contrastingly, for an installation utilizing non-dimmable power supplies, we would not expect the minimum load to be an issue. 

Regarding the amperage of power supplies, the input amperage is not as important for product operation as the available output of the power supply. So long as the power required is under the maximum available wattage and amperage, the installation should operate without issue.

Fluorescent Replacement for Office Space Lighting

We are moving offices, and I am searching for lighting to replace our current fluorescents. We are looking for human-centered lighting that will create a better work environment for our employees. The space needs lighting that totals 108,000 lumens. However, we already have purchased some hanging pendants that account for 24,000 lumens. As a result, we are looking for additional lighting to account for another 84,000 lumens. At this time, we are thinking that hanging linear lights would be the best option. I have looked at your Northlux Light Fixtures as an option. What would you recommend? Could you point me in the right direction for products and provide me with an estimate?

Though the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures are easily mountable and provide high-quality light, they are not usually used for office spaces as they are not dimmable, and require DC-plugs for power. 

These limitations can be detractors for customers who intend to connect the lights to utilize in-wall power, or for customers who want to be able to adjust the output using a wall dimmer or smart dimmer system. These same considerations are true for our NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixtures, which also rely on DC plugs. 

As an alternative, you might be interested in our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio, as they can be installed within T8 fixtures as well as easily replaced if the individual lights encounter any malfunction. 

​For an installation where utilizing dimming and in-wall power are preferred, we would recommend the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip Lights. These products can be ceiling-mounted within channels and are able to offer our highest quality of light output. 

PhotonTube vs FilmGrade Strips: Do the strips output a similar amount of photons?

I have a question regarding the output of the FilmGrade Strip in 6500K vs your T5 PhotonTube in 6500K. Do the strips output a similar amount of photons (par, ppf, or lumen) as the T5 Tube configuration? Are they the same diodes? 

We can confirm that the 4-ft PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tubes have an output of 48 umols/sec, which translates to 2087 lumens. This means that one 6500K T5HO Tube Light will have the same output as 4.63 feet of the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights (which output 450 lumens per foot). As such, the output will be fairly similar by length. 

We can confirm that the PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tubes utilize the 2835 LED size. 

In the event that they prove to be useful, we have attached links to both the 'Lumens to PPF' and 'PPF to Lumens' calculator tools from our website below. 

Convert PPF to Lumens - Online Calculator

Convert Lumens to PPF - Online Calculator

Flicker-free 12V LED Lighting Option for Travel Trailer

I am a building biologist building a travel trailer for my family and I am trying to source high-quality lighting for it. I see your 12V strip lighting, but I am wondering if there are other options that you could recommend. I really want a warm, flicker-free LED but am struggling to find this. 

As our catalog of products beyond the LED strip lights are designed for in-wall power (such as AC90-240V/50-60Hz for our A19 bulbs), they are unlikely to be compatible with the 12V battery power available in most RVs, campers, and trailers. 

As such, the closest match in our catalog would likely be the LED strip lights. The primary product among that line which we would recommend would be the 12V 2700K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights, as they are able to offer a warm color temperature alongside a high CRI. 

NorthLux vs. Absolute Series for Painting Studio

Could you please help me understand the pros and cons between Northlux and Absolute for a painter/artist studio? It seems that a 99CRI would be better, but is there something I'm not understanding? 

When considering the Northlux and Absolute series of products, the two considerations are the form factor and CRI. 

Though the Absolute Series products can offer a superior CRI of 99, they are currently only available in LED strip lights and LED modules. These products would require more configuration effort to install and could utilize power supplies, dimmers, and wiring connection accessories. 

In comparison, though the Northlux line has a slightly lower CRI of 95+, the line includes lightbulbs, linear light fixtures, and shop lights. Each of these form factors can benefit different spaces and are generally easier to install. 

For example, some of our artist customers have let us know that the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures have been a great pairing for their studio spaces and artwork creation. By viewing the bottom of the product page, you will notice a few recent comments left by customers. 

Flicker-Free LED Lighting for Golf Simulator Swing Optix Cameras (Uneekor)

I am purchasing Swing Optix cameras from Uneekor (www.uneekor.com). Their cameras are at 165 frames/sec. They recommended your company for lighting. My question is what type of overhead lighting would you recommend? I am currently building a new home and am installing a golf simulator in the basement with a 10-foot ceiling. From what I have seen, their lighting is above, behind, and at the side of the golfer. The question how much lighting do I need given your experience? 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 5600K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which are designed with video capture and high CRI in mind. 

By inputting the dimension of the Golf Simulator space into our Lumen Estimation Calculator, including the ten-foot ceiling height, you will be provided with a recommended quantity of products to use in order to achieve optimal illumination. For example, you may only need 9 feet of the LED strip light products, which produce 450 lumens per foot, in order to illuminate a 10x10x10' area with 3,821 lumens. 

​For your installation planning, you might also find value in our Layout Maps, which provide configuration instructions, as well as links to the recommended connectors and power supplies. For mounting the product, you may also be interested in our aluminum channel products. 

I wanted to clarify the space I am illuminating. The lighting is needed to illuminate a golfer swinging a club. There will be a camera directly behind the golfer and another camera looking straight at the golfer. The high speed cameras (145 frames/sec) are used for swing analysis.

I wanted to provide an overhead layout of the golf simulator (attached). I am showing the 5700K Lumen Strip lighting, as you recommended. 

I have a swing camera directly behind the hitting zone (7 ft) and another camera perpendicular to the golfer under the 48" TV. The projector will not be on with filming the swing. 

Is this too much, too little or just right?  

Based on our review, it appears that the illumination area is roughly 4 x 8 feet, and would utilize 16 feet of LED strip lights, which can be accomplished with one divided reel of the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. 

For other installations that size, we would usually recommend ~2,599 lumens, which could be accomplished with only 6 feet of LED strip lights outputting 450 lumens per foot. By comparison, the mockup installation of 16 feet would output roughly 7200 lumens.

As the installation is designed for filming, having evenly-spaced, inward-directed light from the three sides does appear to be very beneficial, which prevents us from immediately recommending the utilization of fewer segments given the option for dimmer adjustment. 

​There is also the additional consideration that the surrounding area could benefit from additional illumination (via indirect light) in ways that our lumen estimation calculator tool, shared below, would not take into account. By increasing the illumination area dimensions to 7 x 12 feet to account for the immediate surrounding area, we quickly reach the maximum output of one reel (7380 lumens).

Lumen Estimation Calculator

Considering the above, it appears that one reel segmented into three lengths would be sufficient. That said, we would recommend performing pre-installation testing to ensure that the area is evenly illuminated for your video capture. Even if the combined output is too intense, the individual dimmers could easily be used to adjust the output to your preference for video capture. 

I was thinking about using 3 of the 3 m channels that bracket the hitting mat as shown in the layout drawing. These will be at 10 ft high, so I assume using the flat aluminum panels would be the preferred option. All three would be on dimmers.

Based on the layout provided, it does appear that the flat channels would be more useful than the corner channels for your installation. 

​Generally speaking, the corner channels are used for ceiling lines and wall washing, where the flat would alternatively allow for a broader diffusion of light being cast downward from the ceiling. 

Is it possible to have the dimmer switch incorporated into a regular wall gang box? I assume the dimmer switch is the on/off switch as well?

We are happy to confirm that when the lights are powered using an in-wall power supply such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, they are compatible with most wall dimmers. This includes compatibility with smart home dimmer systems such as Lutron Caseta, which are listed in the below compatibility guide.

In the case of the in-line FilmGrade Dimmer we can confirm that the dimmer also operates as primary power control, though this is not necessarily true when the product is connected to a wall dimmer. 

For your layout planning, we have also provided a configuration link below for the installation of connected LED strip light segments powered by a TRIAC power supply, controlled by a wall dimmer. For connecting the FilmGrade LED strip lights to the TRIAC power supply, you will also need connecters to convert the DC barrel jack plug to wires. 

Compatible Dimmer List

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

Can I use a different power supply for 365nm realUV LED strip lighting?

I would like to purchase a section of your 365nm realUV LED strip lighting. The application in which I am using requires about 4 sections of about 2" or 3". Do I really need that large of a power supply or can I purchase one from somewhere else?

So long as the third-party power supply is both 12V and compatible with the electrical specifications listed within the product specification sheet, we can confirm that the LED strip lights should function properly. 

We have attached a link to the specification sheet below, for your reference. This document contains information regarding the power requirements per foot of product, which we hope proves to be useful for your installation planning. 

realUV™ LED Strip Lights Specifications Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

Can we use the FilmGrade LED strips with another manufacturer's lighting channels?

We have specified Waveform FilmGrade LED strips to be used in another manufacturer's lighting channels. We are trying to determine the logistics for the procurement of all the necessary parts and power supplies. Do you have a service that assists with selecting parts & accessories? Do you have a service that helps select power supplies to suit a specific layout? Are there potential issues with compatibility if we used another supplier's power supplies?

Though we do not have dedicated services for part procurement beyond our storefront website, we would be more than happy to answer any product questions that you might have as well as provide general configuration advice over email. 

Generally speaking, so long as third-party power supplies are compatible and able to offer the appropriate amount of power for the quantity of connected LED products, they should be compatible. If it proves to be helpful, each of our product pages should have a specification sheet that lists the electrical requirements.

We plan to cut as well as join strips. Are there special waveform connectors for the connection/splicing of strips and the wire connection to power?

We are happy to confirm that by using the LED Strip to Strip connector (PN3072), the individual segments of the LED strip lights can be easily connected. 

That said, it might be helpful to know that our LED strip light products have maximum combined lengths of 16.4 ft (5 meters) for 12V versions and 32.8 ft (10 meters) for the 24V versions. When these products are connected to greater lengths than the above, they will likely encounter voltage drops and reduced performance. 

AC vs DC power: Which is better for LED Strip?

American green lights have very similar specs on their 95 CRI LED strips, with the exception, theirs are AC power and Wave form are DC. AGL says AC power is better on for the strips and adds life, among other things. Is this a true or falses statement? Looking at your (WFL) power supplies, I don't see one that can hook up to more than 16ft, ie one power supply for 32 or 64 continuous feet. 

Though we are not aware of the technical specifications of American Green Light’s products, we can confirm that our LED strip light products operate with DC power. 

We can also confirm that as each reel of our 24V LED strip lights utilize 90W of power, a 32ft run of the product would require 180W. Though this is higher than our own power supplies can offer, there are third-party power supplies available elsewhere that can offer a higher output. We have attached a power supply guide below in the hopes that it proves to be useful for your purchase planning. 

How To Choose A Power Supply For Your Led Strip Project

CENTRIC HOME LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential - 24V Specification Sheet

If you would like to share some additional details about the shop space with us, we would be happy to recommend a few products. In the interim, by using our lumen estimation calculator, it appears that the 120x20 space would be fully illuminated by 143 ft of LED strip lights (or nine 16.4 ft reels of product). 

For your shop installation, we would recommend the 24V 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, as the 5000K temperature is most recommended for shops and industrial purposes.

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. 

Exposed Roof Truss LED Lighting for Home Indirect Lighting

I am trying to provide roof truss lighting options to a client that wants to indirectly light home. 12v-24v LED. Could strip or bulbs on a fixture. Each should come with its own individual transformer. I can send pictures of the roof if needed. The ceiling interior height starts at 8ft and soars to 20ft at the ridge. 

In terms of space square footage, the home is 3000 sq ft. Each space would have a different amount of fixtures based on brightness, type of fixture, and amount of rafters in the space. My thoughts are to use the same fixture in the desired varying quantities in each space.

Though we do not have any spotlight fixtures in our catalog, the first bulb option that comes to mind would be our 3000K Ultra High 95 CRI E26 BR30 LED Bulb for Home & Residential, which is the most popular color temperature for common areas in homes. 

As an LED strip light option, we would recommend the 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential. I can easily imagine an installation where the lengths of the LED strip lights are mounted within our connected channels in the truss spans (or alternatively upon the trusses).

When installing the LED strip lights, the core considerations are the maximum combined lengths of the products (16.4 feet for 12V, 32.8 feet for 24V), as well as the amount of power being drawn per foot of product (5.5 watts per foot) in relation to the available output of the power supplies. 

​For the ceiling installations, we would recommend utilizing dedicated in-wall power supplies such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, which offers 120W for the 12V version, and 96W for the 24V version. 

​For example, if four 12V 16.4 ft reels (requiring 90.2 watts each) were installed within the channels, we would recommend four total power supplies, each being dedicated to powering one reel (as the 12V power supplies can offer 120W). Additionally, our power supplies are compatible with many smart-home dimmer products. 

For your layout considerations, you might also find value in our lumen estimation calculator, which can provide product quantity suggestions to meet the illumination needs of the space based on the dimensions. Additionally, our Layout Maps might be of value, as they contain links to the recommended connectors and power supplies. 

Does your ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip dimmable?

I want to make absolutely sure this product is dimmable: ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI - 16 ft / 5 m Reel Also, what amount of wattage is recommended for a total of 3 strips, and do you have a wiring design recommendation? 

We can confirm that the Absolute Series LED strip lights are dimmable when paired with a compatible dimming power supply, such as our 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip or the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. 

As each foot of the LED strip lights requires 4.2W, one full 16.4 ft reel would require 68.88W. That said, please note that the LED strip lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 feet, meaning that powering uninterrupted lengths greater than 16.4 feet will cause voltage drop and will prevent optimal output. 

Given the above, we usually recommend utilizing one power supply per full reel, though you also have the option of connecting wire segments totaling less than 120W of power draw in parallel to one power supply. 

We have attached a few configuration layout guides below, which I hope prove to be helpful for your installation planning. The first two guides utilize the DC power supplies, where the latter uses in-wall power and will likely require the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

I plan to wire twelve 4' sections in parallel (48' total). I see in the response that you are recommending having an independent power supply for each 16.4' section, however, if I use a 320W 12V supply, should that not be enough to power all 48'?

Utilizing a higher capacity power supply could indeed be a good solution for your installation, so long as the LED strip lights are run in parallel due to the aforementioned maximum run length of 16.4ft. 

We would also recommend ensuring that the amperage of the power supply is sufficient for providing current to that quantity of product. We have attached a link to the Absolute Series LED strip light product specification sheet below, which includes a guide for power supplies, in case it proves to be helpful. 

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip Specification Sheet

So if I have three full reels, how many amps are required? The spec sheet only hits up to one full 16.4 length. Does the requirement increase by 3x?

As each full 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel requires 6 amps at 12V, I can confirm that three full reels would require a power supply capable of outputting 18 amps. 

What is the size of SimpleColor™ Red LED Strip Lights?

I'm looking for LED light that has small light source dimensions that are around a couple of hundred micrometers or smaller. I wonder what is the SimpleColor™ Red LED Strip Lights LED source size, and please let me know if you have any recommendation products.

We can confirm that the LEDs used within the SimpleColor line of products are 2835 LEDs, which have a 2.8mm x 3.5mm footprint. As such, these LEDs may be too large for the preferred installation, and I do apologize for any impact this might have on your purchasing plans. 

Unfortunately, we do not have any alternative products that we could recommend which would match the measurements referenced. 

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

How many LED strips do I need to provide some indirect lighting for the 20 ft x 30 ft space?

I need help to determine which products to buy for my project. The space is around 20 ft x 30 ft with three areas of windows (one located off the picture to the right). I will be placing a 100-watt LED in the dormer that you can see in the photo and a 270-watt (3-light) fixture in the stairwell that you can see in the photo. My plan is place to LED strips on top of the beams in the center of the room. 7 beams are 8 feet long. The end beams are about 6 inches from the ceiling and the middle beams are about 3 feet from the top of the ceiling. The light currently on the beams will be removed and not replaced. I need assistance in figuring out how many LED strips I need to provide some indirect lighting for the middle of the room and what products I need to purchase to directly wire the LED strips to a dimming wall switch. 

By using our Lumen Estimation Calculator, it appears that the room would be fully illuminated with ~13,744 lumens, which can be achieved by using 31 total feet of our LED strip lights, which output 450 lumens per foot.

For this installation, we would recommend utilizing two full 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels of CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, which are available in the most common color temperatures for living areas, 2700K and 3000K. If cooler color temperatures are preferred, we have provided an infographic regarding color temperature selection below. 

To use two full reels, we recommend utilizing two units of the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, as each 12V reel requires 90.2W (at 5.5W per foot), and each power supply can offer 120W. I can also confirm that multiple power supplies can be connected to the same wall dimmer.

We have also provided a few links to our Layout Diagrams below, which list the required accessories for each installation type. For a list of our compatible wall dimmers, please reference the below document.

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Compatible Dimmer List for CENTRIC SERIES LED Power Supply (all within are also compatible with the TRIAC power supply)

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

For mounting the LED strip lights, we would recommend utilizing a set of flat aluminum channel products, which would allow for the lights to diffuse upwards towards the ceiling, allowing for indirect light. 

I just measured the space again and what I would like to do is to put an 8' strip on the middle ceiling beam and three 4' strips on the three beams on either side of the center beam. This would equal 32' in total length - 4',4',4',8',4',4',4'. Based on this design I am thinking that I could order two 16' reels (12v or 24v?) and cut them into sections. Can you help me determine how to wire this? Also how many power supplies I would need for this design? Lastly, I am curious about the junction box option for the power supply.

Based on the details provided, I might recommend utilizing a 24V installation, as it would be less prone to voltage drop. For more information about the differences between the 12V and 24V options as well as voltage drop, we have attached a few informative blog posts below. 

We have also attached an illustrated layout below, which we hope proves to be helpful. In this configuration, the installation has been evenly divided across two power supplies and connected in parallel. 

​As each foot of the 24V LED strip lights utilizes 5.5 watts of power, 32 feet would require 176 total watts. By dividing the layout in this way, each side would require only 88 watts and 3.8 amps, which can be easily provided by each power supply. 

Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V

LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator

Connecting LED Strips in “Series” vs “Parallel”

Additionally, the two power supplies could be connected to a single wall dimmer, as illustrated in the below diagrams. These LayoutMaps also include links to the recommended connectors and power supplies that you might need. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

What size wire should I be using to connect the strips to the power supply? Note that the power supply will be placed behind a wall thus the wire will be connected through the wall. I am not sure if that impacts the wire size. 

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing 16 AWG wires for connection between the lights and power supplies, which are sold on our storefront. Further, we might recommend checking with an electrician to be sure that the gauge is sufficient for your in-wall installation. 

16 AWG Wire for LED Strip Lights - 33 ft / 10 meters

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. 

Do you have fixtures that would use your LED Strip Lights?

I am remodeling a dental office. I am looking for options for general lighting in the treatment areas. The rooms have drywall ceilings that are 7 feet 8 in. I would like to have a 1' x 4'' LED panel that has CRI of 95 and 5000K temp. Your LED options seem to meet that requirement, but I'm having trouble finding a fixture that would work. It would need to be surface mounted in this situation. Do you know of a fixture that might work that uses your LEDs?

As we currently do not have LED panel products available in our catalog, you might alternatively be interested in our T8 LED tube lights which feature the same LED technology. 

You may also consider our LED-Ready T8 Fixtures, which are designed to be ballast-free and LED-ready for office installations. 

Absolute Series LED Strip TM-30 Ratings

I'm looking into building a lightbox for scanning color film, and I stumbled upon your Absolute Series LED strips. Is there any chance you have an updated photometric report with a TM-30 rating like you do for your Centric series lights? 

Below are the IES TM-30-18 Color Rendition Reports for the 5000K and 6500K Absolute Series LED Strip Lights. 

Do you have longer aluminum channel pieces?

Where can I get longer aluminum channel pieces? I need 4 ft and maybe 5 ft.

We can confirm that we currently do not sell our aluminum channels in sizes other than 3.3’ increments, though you may be able to find an alternative option through Klus Design. 

Though we have not tested their channels internally, some customers have recently informed us of finding success with their offerings. 

Klus Design - LED Extrusions

Lighting Options for Photography and Reptile Habitat Needs

I'm currently researching lighting options for a home addition that's currently in process at our primary residence. This is essentially a shop that's 30x20, but CRI and overall brightness are critical. I'm a breeder of high-end Leopard geckos (reptiles), and accurate photography (color representation) is an absolute must. I can only assume that I should be targeting a CRI of 90 or higher. With my photography, I tend to err more on the side of daylight or cooler about Kelvin and have a strong distaste for what I would consider 'warm' lighting.

We are happy to confirm that we have several products available which could be a great match for your photography and reptile habitat needs. Further, we can also confirm that the vast majority of our products offer a CRI higher than 95. 

As a starting point, you may find value in our Lumen Estimation Calculator tool. By inputting the dimensions of the room including ceiling height, as well as selecting the primary use of the room, the tool can suggest a total lumen output and suggest the number of products required to meet the illumination goal. 

In the interim, we might recommend the NorthLux line of products, which are designed with photography and capture in mind. You may also be interested in our 99 CRI Absolute Series products, which offer D50 and D65 light that is virtually indistinguishable from full daylight. 

Aluminum channel and diffuser for FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights

I want to embed your FiveSpect in an epoxy resin pour table. First, is it correct to assume that if I were to somehow epoxy enough channel/diffuser together to cover the seven foot length of the table that this now single channel would be no guarantee against seepage of the resin into the channel and onto the strip? It'd be an expensive strip to destroy. If that assumption is correct, what would you think about my extending the diffuser channel outside the end of the table during the pour, then using a jigsaw to cut off the end thereafter? Correct to assume there'd be enough additional end caps to seal it at the cut? 

As we have not performed any tests for how well insulated the aluminum channels would be against a resin or epoxy, we would not be able to ensure that the channels would be protected against either. 

​As a secondary consideration, the intended installation would likely make the replacement of any malfunctioning LED strip light segments more difficult. Further, please note that the channel end-caps are not designed to be water-tight or insulating. 

That being said, there might be third-party channels available from a company such as Klus Design that could work for your installation. Though we have not personally tested their products, we have been informed by other customers that they have found recent success in using them.

Klus Design - LED Extrusions

Dimmable and Flicker-free Lighting for Video/Photo Studio

I'm a videographer and I'm in the process of helping our contractor to convert an existing office space into several small video/photo studios as well as multi-person editing suite. 

Our needs are for the studio lighting to be daylight balanced (ideally 5600K), dimmable, and flicker free. 

1) Would this power supply allow flicker-free dimming using a standard wall dimmer from your dimmer compatibility list (e.g. LUTRON SCL-153PR-WH, LUTRON DVCL-153PR-WH) or would it require your FilmGrade Flicker-Free LED Dimmer?

2) Are your aluminum channels suitable for being suspended from a ceiling rather than directly mounted to a flat surface? If so, do you have any guidance on how that might be done? If not, are there any fixtures that you could recommend that are compatible to be fitted with your LED strips?

3) Finally, do you have any suggestions for how LED strips might be incorporated into a drop ceiling? 

We are happy to confirm that both of the referenced Lutron models have been tested as compatible with our power supplies. For a full list of compatible dimmers, please reference the document linked below. 

We can also confirm that we have not had any experience with suspending the aluminum channels from the ceiling as a lighting installation before. As such, we unfortunately might not have any helpful advice for this installation type. 

​As an alternative, you may be interested to know that our T8 LED tube lights feature the same LED technology as the LED strip lights. Further, we are introducing a line of LED-ready T8 fixtures that are designed for office and workspace installations.

We have also provided a link below to our Lumen Estimation Calculator tool, which can be helpful for determining the lumen requirements for different spaces. 

Lumen Estimation Calculator

Compatible Dimmer List for CENTRIC SERIES LED Power Supply

Are Lux24 and Ultra High A19 5W LED Filament Bulb available in E27 base?

Are Lux24 and Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb available in E27 base? What is the difference between CentricHome 3000K and FilmGrade 3000K? What is the M/P ratio for all CentricHome, FilmGrade, and Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulbs?

I would also like to know if there is a much smaller output and size of power supply for the LED strip available. I'm looking to modify my R7s wall lamp to use LED strips and the power supply must be small enough to fit at the back space of the housing.

We can confirm that the Lux24 and A19 Filament bulbs are not currently available with the E27 base. We apologize!

Also, the 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb and the 3000K FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulb are identical products that are provided with unique landing pages for marketing purposes. 

Further, the M/P ratios for the 2700K and 3000K are 0.49 and 0.55, respectively.

Lastly, we do not have any smaller power supplies, but third-party power supplies can certainly be used as long as they meet the minimum power capacity needs of the LED strip connection. Please see below for our online calculator which you may find helpful:

https://store.waveformlighting.com/pages/led-strip-power-supply-calculator-requirements

For LED strips, is flicker-free operation determined by the strips themselves or by the power supply? If the power supply is, what should I look out for to go with your LED strips for flicker-free operation?

We can confirm that the flicker-free functionality is a feature defined by the power supply, rather than by the LED strip light products. 

In searching for a third-party power supply that would allow for flicker-free operation, we would recommend comparing the power output against the details within our own power supply specification sheet. So long as the output is compatible, we would assume that the LED strip lights would be able to operate flicker-free. 

FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip Specification Sheet

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 I join two 16-ft LED strip lights together?

I have a bar wall that is 27' in length, I'm interested in your realUV™ LED Strip Lights for a menu wall. Can I join two 16' strips together, or do I need 2 power converters? Is there another product that would be better? Wall is 8' High. 

Though you might be able to find a higher output power supply than those that we offer, it might be helpful to know that the 12V realUV™ LED Strip Lights have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft. 

​When attaching additional lengths beyond the maximum, one will typically encounter lower LED light output and voltage drop. As such, we would recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per full reel (16-ft) of the product.

Do you have a D65 lighting with the exact color temperature?

Do you have a D65 lighting with the exact color temperature?

We are happy to confirm that we offer many D65 products, such as the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture and the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product. 

For more information regarding the D65 photometric reports for each item, please reference the downloadable PDF files found on each product page. For additional details regarding the D65 ISO standard, we have shared an informative document from our website below which I hope proves to be helpful. 

What is D65 and what is it used for?

Will the present absolute LED series support color measurements?

For more information regarding the color output of the D65 products, we would recommend reviewing the photometric data page. 

I am also curious to know whether you have a similar daylight source in the form of a fibre optic source.

We can confirm that we currently do not sell our D65 products in the fiber optic form factor. 

Will you be able to provide us with a sample say 10 cm for our initial trials?

We are not able to provide product samples, and I do apologize for any impact this might have on your purchasing process.

Can we also control the intensity of the LED source? If so, what would be the maximum and min Lux measurements

When pairing the LED strip lights with a compatible controller such as our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output, the output can be controlled with granular precision. 

Could you also please share the applications in industry where they are utilizing the same?

Unfortunately, we're not at liberty to disclose the requested industry details. 

Voltage Drop for CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights 

I am preparing my order and was reading online about LED strips. There is a fair amount of content, including on your blog, about voltage drop. Can you please confirm that your LED strip lights have sufficient copper such that (at 24V) there is no readily observable voltage drop over the 16ft strip if used in one continuous under-counter run when powered from one end?

We can confirm that diminished output or voltage drop would not be expected for a continuous 16.4 ft reel of the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product. We can further confirm that our CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential are designed with 4oz copper circuitry in order to reduce the risk of voltage drop. 

As one of the primary causes of voltage drop for most installations is the result of lengthy wire-connected gaps between the LED strip lights and the power supply, we have provided a link below for our voltage drop calculator in the hopes that it proves to be helpful for your installation planning. 

LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator

Flush Mount Drywall Channel and Diffuser for Custom Vanity Mirrors & Lighting

My wife and I are remodeling our home and having custom vanity mirrors & lighting installed. We’d like to use lighting like the Absolute LED strip (5000k) but need a recommendation for flush mount drywall channels and diffusers. Any suggestions? 

Though we currently do not have any channel products in our catalog other than the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip, you may be able to find a preferable channel model available from Klus Design. 

​Based on our review, they appear to offer a broad catalog of LED extrusion products that could be useful for your mirror installation. 

Klus Design - LED Extrusions: https://klusdesign.com/products/led-extrusions?category=1

In selecting the preferred channel, we would recommend ensuring that the inlay portion of the channel is wide enough to easily accommodate the 10mm width of the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights. 

Do you have high CRI 3000-4000k linear fixtures for under-cabinet lighting?

I’m doing a kitchen reno and I’d like to buy some high CRI under cabinet lighting. I saw you have these under-cabinet LED modules, but I’m worried about glare without a diffuser. Do you have any high CRI 3000-4000k LED light bars or linear fixtures? 

Though we would usually recommend the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures as a primary alternative, these products are not available in 4000K. As such, they may not be a good option for your preferred under-cabinet lighting. 

As a second option, we would instead recommend the 24V 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail. This product can be paired with in-wall dimmers (including smart-home dimmer systems) and powered using in-wall power supplies. Though this is a more involved installation process than the T5 linear lights, the product is able to offer some large advantages.

​Additionally, these LED strip lights can be placed within channels such as our 3.3' (1 meter) Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which ships with diffusor covers. In the event that the 3.3' length is not to preference, I believe that third-party channels are also available from third-party marketplaces. 

​For your reference, I have attached a few interactive LED strip light layout diagrams from our website below. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

Can the channels you mention be cut? I have a few smaller nooks (e.g. 18-30"). Would you recommend the flat or corner channels for under cabinets? I'd place them near the front of the cabinet.

In our experience, under-cabinet lighting typically aims directly downward onto the counter surface area. Although we could easily imagine an installation where the corner channel units are back-mounted, this installation does not seem overly beneficial for lights that are to be installed towards the front of the cabinets. 

​As such, we would likely recommend the flat version of the aluminum channels for your installation. 

I'd like to go with the LED strips, and my electrician is coming in soon so I would like to get all the components for pre drywall ordered immediately. For the power supply, do I need a junction box, and should I get 12V or 24V? I see that 24V is out of stock until June 21 and I may need it sooner than that.

Would you be able to help me get a list of all the supplies I need including wire, etc? I'm looking at about 13 linear ft of cabinets / shelving to run strips under, with two opposite walls to cover. I've attached my kitchen layout so you can see.

Based on our conversations regarding the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, we would recommend utilizing either the 24V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip or the 24V CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. 

As the two products are identical feature-wise, the primary difference can be found in the smaller dimensions of the Centric Series power supply, which can be beneficial for installations that require a smaller footprint. If the power supply is required ahead of the TRIAC 24V availability date, we would then recommend the Centric Series. 

As the LED strip lights require 5.5 watts per foot, and as the 24V power supplies can offer 96 watts, each power supply can safely provide power for a maximum of ~17 feet. As such, we would recommend utilizing two power supplies to independently power the two 13 ft segments. 

We have attached links to our LayoutMaps diagram pages below, which contain layout instructions as well as links to each of the recommended connector accessories. I have also shared a link to the list of compatible dimmers (including smart home dimmers) that our power supplies are compatible with. 

​You might notice that Layout 3001-1C illustrates an installation that utilizes two power supplies for two product reels that are connected to one wall dimmer, which might be of interest for your kitchen installation plans. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

Compatible Dimmer List for CENTRIC SERIES LED Power Supply

I have about 13 ft total of strips to run along the two walls combined, not 13 ft on each wall. That being said there will have to be wire inbetween, but does that require extra wattage just for connecting strips across the room or can I get away with one power supply?

Can/should I put these power supplies inside a cabinet, tucked under an upper cabinet, or in a toe-kick or something so they arent covered in drywall in case of replacement, etc?

What wire should I get and can my electrician substitute out some locally available wire? Which wire should I get and can my electrician?

If you are planning to utilize 13 total feet of LED strip light product,we can confirm that one power supply should be more than sufficient. 

We can also confirm that the power supplies can easily be tucked away inside of cabinets or toe-kicks for easy adjustment, and do not necessarily need to be installed within the walls except to have access to in-wall power and connection to any in-wall dimmers or light switches.

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing 16 AWG wiring to reduce the chances of voltage drop, which is available in our storefront. That said, this gauge of wiring is also very likely to be available from your local hardware stores. 

​Your electrician will likely be able to provide precise advice for the installation, though we generally like to inform customers that large wired gaps between the power supplies and products can cause some voltage drop, though this can be reduced by using a higher gauge of wiring. 

Recommended Color Temperature for Under Kitchen Cabinet Lighting

I finished my backsplash and I need a light that is soft to bring out reds, browns, and blues from slate. I was thinking 2700 before looking at your page. I have a place above a cabinet for the driver and a box for the dimmer switch below. One low-voltage wire goes down above the switch to a 32" cabinet bottom. Another low voltage wire goes up, to the ceiling, across the kitchen, and down below the cabinets (@20'), where I will have 23" 19" and 19" cabinets to light with a microwave to span over in the middle. I am stuck on 24V or 12V. Also, I am concerned about bringing the best colors out of the backsplash but also want a little more light on my counters for cooking. 

We can confirm that we generally recommend 3000K for kitchens and dining areas. That said, you may find that a warmer color temperature compliments the backsplash material better. we have provided a link below comparing the two color temperature options below, which we hope is helpful. 

To test which color temperature works best for your kitchen, we might recommend ordering some of our 2700K and 3000K A19 bulbs to make a direct comparison of the light output. 

We have also attached an informative article from our website below, which goes into the benefits of a 24V system over a 12V system. In short, the maximum combined length of the 24V version is greater than the 12V version, and 24V installations will encounter less voltage drop which can be helpful for installations where there is a larger wired gap between the power supply and lights. 

Choosing Between 2700K and 3000K

Advantages of a 24V LED system vs 12V

A large part of my concern is being able to do the two runs of tape lights off of one driver that will work with a dimmer switch preceding it.

One low voltage wire goes down @4' to a 32" cabinet bottom. Another low voltage wire goes @20' up, across the kitchen ceiling, and down to another row of cabinets: 23" 19" (30" span for microwave) and 19" 

We are happy to confirm that our LED strip lights can be wired to a power supply in parallel. We have provided a link to an instructional page from our website below regarding the topic, which we hope proves to be helpful for your installation planning. 

Connecting LED Strips in “Series” vs “Parallel”

The primary consideration will be ensuring that the lengths of wire between the LED strip lights and the power supply do not encounter voltage drop. That being said, the voltage drop can be minimized by utilizing the proper gauge of wire. To assist with reducing voltage drop, we have also attached a link below to our voltage drop calculator tool. 

LED Strip Light Wire Gauge & Voltage Drop Calculator

Centric Home LED Strip Lights for Porch Installation

I want to use a strip on my porch under the roof. However, it is possible during heavy rains that the strip would get splashed with water. Is this acceptable? Would it work better if mounted in the Al channel?

As our LED Strip Light products are not IP-rated for insulation and protection against water or rain, we would not recommend them for the described installation, even if they were installed within our line of aluminum channels. 

Generally speaking, any contact these products have with water could cause an electrical safety hazard and void the product warranty. 

That being said, we have heard from some customers who install our LED strip light products within third-party weather-insulated channels for boats and other exterior installations that may become exposed to the elements. However, please note that we have not performed any internal tests on those items. 

Lighting Solution for Color Matching and Custom Picture Framing Presentations

I am seeking a solution for our color matching along with our custom picture framing presentation areas. I am looking for a lighting solution for two areas of concern. Number 1 is a color-matching room as I would call it. The size is 10 ft x 10 ft which currently has a 2 ft x 4 ft fluorescent lighting that would serve as a neutral light area. I would be color-proofing original Artwork to my calibrated monitor and my printed images. The second is two sales presentation tables for picture framing designs that I would like to place a fixture over so that we have a neutral color cast over this area. The tables are approx. 4ft x 8ft sections.

By entering the dimensions of the color matching room into our Lumen Estimation Calculator, we estimate that the area would be fully illuminated for artwork and capture by ~7,963 lumens. We entered 8 ft as the ceiling height in my process, though you will likely find value in adjusting this to receive a more accurate estimate. 

For this space, we would recommend 5-6 units of the D50 5000K T8 LED Tube Lights for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product. These T8 tube lights offer 1800 lumens per tube light, as well as a CRI of 95+. If the fluorescent fixtures being utilized contain ballasts, we would recommend checking our compatibility list to ensure compatibility. 

For the presentation tables, you may be interested in the 5000K or 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixture product, which offers 4500 lumens per unit and is easy to install utilizing the included chain and hook. 

As an alternative, you may also be interested in the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, which has a CRI of 99, making them virtually indistinguishable from daylight. This item is available in both the D50 and D65 ISO standards and can be installed within ceiling-mounted channels, and paired with a wall dimmer via the in-wall TRIAC dimmable power supply. 

I have yet to progress further on this project and I am looking to expand my needs for this project. We have needed to reorganize the lighting area to a larger footprint 30’ x 26’ x 9’. I have attached a photo of the area and specifically the trusses that I hope to use to attach the lighting to. The trusses run the length of 30’ and there are 4 runs in total at 6’ apart. 

Since my main focus will be to properly evaluate a scanned piece of Artwork to what is printed the less color shift lighting brings the better. I look to your recommendation to best achieve this goal. Can you recommend a lighting package for this area?

For installations that require precise color accuracy, we usually recommend our D50 and D65 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips. These products can offer a 99 CRI, and provide light output that is virtually indistinguishable from daylight. 

​As you will note from the review section of the above product page, several of our customers have found success in using this product for art production and photo capture. We certainly hope that this product is helpful for your installation as well! 

In the hopes that they prove to be helpful, we have attached the photometric reports for each version below:

D50 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip 

D65 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip 

Would you have some install photos to see how these would be installed? Would these just get attached to the trusses and left exposed or I have seen on your website there is a trim package but would the covers affect the light in any way?

Unfortunately, we do not have any installation photos readily available that we could share. We apologize!

We usually recommend installing the LED Strip Lights into channels, such as our flat Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strips. 

​When installed within the channels, the light products can be easily adjusted or replaced if outages occur with more ease than if they were attached directly to trusses. These channels will also help to protect the LED light products from dust and residue that might cause operational issues in the future. 

The light covers will reduce the overall transmission by roughly ~10% as most polycarbonate diffusion panels will, though the color temperature and spectrum of output would not be expected to change. 

​

Can your FilmGrade white lights tolerate being inside an epoxy pour?

Can your FilmGrade white lights tolerate being inside an epoxy pour? I'm building a table and want lights in that location for chin lights. 

We, unfortunately, do not have any extensive data on the reliability of our LED strip lights inside of an epoxy encapsulation. That being said, from a thermal and electrical standpoint, we would not expect any issues as epoxy materials tend not to be electrically conductive, and compared to air, which is a very poor thermal conductor, epoxy would actually be a moderate improvement for thermal performance.

​Our one concern with longer-term reliability would be any VOCs that the epoxy material may emit over time, leading to oxidation in the LED emitter. Such issues would not lead to "catastrophic" failure, however, so depending on your ability to accept some light loss over time, your proposed installation may be worth a try.

Spectral Data of Absolute Series 99 CRI LED Strip

I am inquiring about data for your Absolute series of LEDs, specifically the 6500K versions. I would like to know if there is a spreadsheet available with the spectral data of the LEDs in the format of wavelength vs. spectral irradiance/intensity to compare with the spectral graph of sunlight. If there are other products/product lines that you sell that would be more useful for my purposes (replicating sunlight as closely as possible for simulation purposes) please let me know that as well. 

Attached are the 5000K and 6500K spectral power distribution for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs (both modules and strips use the same LEDs and therefore have the same SPD data).

​If you are looking for a light source that best approximates natural light, the ABSOLUTE SERIES would indeed be the best option. Strictly speaking, 5000K may be a better match for natural sunlight, whereas 6500K would be a better approximation for natural daylight.

I was wondering if you had data on the size of the module/strip used to gather this data as I need it to do some calculations.

The data provided has irradiance values in arbitrary units, so I'm afraid the SPD values would not be helpful in performing any irradiance calculations.

​We do have some test reports here indicating 3165 lux from a distance of 12 inches from our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules. This may be a helpful baseline measurement for extrapolating irradiance values.

Can I use of Battery Pack to power the Absolute Series LED Strip?

I was planning on using a battery pack to power a 5' strip of your Absolute CRI 99 product for use in the illumination of fine art photography artworks. I appreciate the need to manage maximum current and am taking that into account in my design. However, I am using 4 x LiFePO4 cells to achieve the 12V required. The cells have a nominal voltage of 3.2V (and up to 3.4V when fully charged) which means that I could potentially be trying to drive the strip with 13.6V and during discharge, the total battery voltage can fall as far as 11.2V. How critical is the 12V for driving your Absolute product and are there any implications for the kelvin value of the light or the lumens produced given the numbers above? 

We're happy to confirm that utilizing a power supply with an output slightly lower than 12V would not cause any detrimental effects to the product, and should not cause a substantial decrease in output per LED. 

​We have attached an informative blog post about the topic below, which we hope proves to be helpful for your purchase planning.

Can You Operate a 12V LED Strip at Less Than 12V?

Can you also address the over-voltage case please as the battery pack? I am intending to use can get as high as 13.6V. What effect (if any) will this "higher than 12V" voltage has on led strip operations/safety?

Though under-powering the lights is not a safety concern, some issues could be present with overloading the LED strip light products with a higher voltage, such as overloading the product circuitry and causing product safety issues or performance issues.

That said, there might be voltage regulators available online in a form factor that would match the portable battery and desired lighting installation. Based on my review, there appear to be several portable voltage regulators on Amazon, though I cannot personally speak to the quality of these third-party products. 

While we do not have any specific voltage regulators to recommend, the core issue with over-voltage is longevity reduction for the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights. 

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. 

What would be the end light measurement if you cut the LED strip to 39 3/8 long?

I made a lightbox for a 30 x 40" poster. I need the lights close to the edges to keep lighting uniform. I'm cutting strips at 39 3/8 to have the lights inward of this dim by 1/2" each end (38 3/8 to end LEDs) and have 11 strips total or 36 feet. Now I find I can light them all on one plug. So I'm looking to your company to basically start over with 24v lights. If you cut your 24v strip of LEDs to 39 3/8 long what would be your end light measurement? I need light to be within 1/2 of my edges or they are dropping off in light value. 

For starters, it might be helpful for your installation planning to know that we have not performed any transmission tests for how the light is perceived when cast through a canvas or print, which will likely vary depending on the thickness and material of the poster, as well as the printing technique used on the material. For example, a heavier card stock print may not be able to transit as much visible light as thinner poster material. 

​As such, we would recommend taking advantage of our 30-day return policy to ensure that the LED Strip Lights can appreciably deliver the ideal illumination through the material before installation. So long as the strips have not been cut or altered, including having the adhesive backing removed, we would be happy to provide a prepaid return label for their return. 

Additionally, please note that our 24V LED strip lights have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft, which means that lengths connected and powered that are longer than 32.8 feet will likely experience voltage drop and a decrease in light output per LED. As such, we would then recommend utilizing two high-output 24V power supplies to provide the power for the eleven LED strip light segments. 

​In the interim, we can confirm that as the 24V LED strip lights in our catalog offer 450 lumens per foot, a segment 3.28 ft in length would have an output of 1476 lumens. For 11 strips of uniform length, the total light output would be 16236 lumens. 

We have provided a few interactive layout diagrams below, for your review. Each of the below layouts utilizes segmented LED strip light products and contains information and links to the power supplies and connection accessories that we recommend utilizing. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B

High CRI 95 LED Track Lights for Art Studio Installation

I would like lighting for my painting studio that has a 95+ CRI rating, 5000K and 5000 lumens and I'd prefer to use in-track lighting so I'd need bulbs vs tubes. Please let me know if you have products to meet those specifications. I'd also like the track lighting if you carry that. 

For 5000K track lighting systems, we usually recommend the NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio products. This item can deliver full-spectrum light output and offers a high CRI of 95+, though these BR30 bulbs have an output of 800 lumens per light, which is much less than the 5000 lumens referenced.

As an alternative, you may also be interested in the NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio product, though the wider beam angle may not be ideal for all track lighting installations where a precise illumination target is preferred. Additionally, you may also find value in utilizing wall-dimmer-controlled track lighting of the 5000K 99 CRI LED strip lights installed within ceiling-mounted channels. 

I like the Northlux 95 e26 but I’d prefer it to be dimmable. Is there a way to make that happen? If so do you have track lighting that will work with them?

If not, I think I may be interested in the LED strips, with dimmer and ceiling-mounted channels since they can be dimmed. I have a few questions. How bright do they get? It was suggested that I need 5000 lumens so how many would I need for a 300-square-foot room? Also, how does one change the strips, and how long do they last? 

We are happy to confirm that the NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio product is indeed dimmable, and will work with both in-wall dimmers and fixture dimmers. 

Based on my estimates using the Lumen Estimation Calculator tool from our website, it appears that a 300-square-foot space would benefit from roughly 5,961 lumens. By inputting the ceiling height of the room within the calculator you will likely receive a more accurate estimate, as we input an 8-foot ceiling height in my calculation.

The above illumination target can be accomplished by utilizing 16 feet of the LED Strip Light products, which can output 375 lumens per foot. 

As the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips have a three-year warranty, please feel free to contact us if you experience any product failure within that window, and we would gladly provide a warranty replacement. 

When replacing the LED strip lights, we usually recommend utilizing the 3M ‘adhesive remover’ product, though some customers find value in additionally utilizing thin chisels to pry the adhesive off of the aluminum channels. 

​

Dimmable A19 Bulbs for Recording Studio

I'm looking for a solution in my recording studio to add a light just like yours but with the option to dim. Do you have any recommendations on how to accomplish this with your lights? (Maybe on a special dimmer? 

Though we can confirm that the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulbs are not compatible with dimmers, we do have a few other options that we might instead recommend. For example, the Full Spectrum E26 BR30 LED Bulbs feature the same high CRI of 95+ as the Centric A19 bulbs, while also being compatible with light fixture dimmers and wall dimmers. 

Another option, though more complex in the setup process, might be the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products, which are available in most of the same color temperatures as the above A19 bulb. This product can be paired with wall dimmers and in-wall power supplies, as well as 24V DC-plug power supplies and the LED Dimmer.

LED Strip Wall Dimmer Compatibility

I have a Waveform CENTRIC HOME 24V light strip that I'd like to connect to a 120V wall dimmer. I spoke to Lutron but I am not confident that I got the right answer. I was told that there is only one compatible dimmer (DVRP-253P). I was hoping I could get a confirmation or your assistance in choosing the right dimmer and the right dimmable power supply.

We are happy to confirm that our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply is compatible with many smart dimmers such as the Lutron Caseta system.

In the event that you know the exact Lutron model number, I have provided a link below to the list of dimmers that are compatible with the above power supply. If you are able to locate your Lutron system in the below document, then it would be safe to assume that the Lutron system is compatible with our LED strip lights and the TRIAC dimmable power supply.

Dimmer compatibility list for Waveform Lighting PN 7093/7094

Do I need a forward or reverse phase dimmer for the strip light? Any other technical info that will help me determine compatibility?

We are happy to confirm that when utilizing the TRIAC dimmable power supply, our LED strip lights are compatible with forward-phase, ELV/reverse-phase, and MLV dimmers. Most of the tested dimmers are forward-phase dimmers and the list of tested dimmers can be found below:

Dimmer compatibility list for Waveform Lighting PN 7093/7094

The dimmer that Lutron recommends DVF-103P is not in the compatibility list. They guarantee dimming performance if I use their driver L3D0-96W24V. Can you please confirm that both driver and dimmer are compatible? 

We are happy to confirm that our dimmable power supply is designed to work with all phase dimmers on the market, which includes the referenced DVF-103P dimmer. 

Though the DVF-103P product is not listed in the compatibility sheet, it might be helpful to know that this is simply the list of dimmers that we have internally tested for compatibility. As such, this list is not exhaustive. 

We can also confirm that we expect to receive an updated dimmer compatibility list by the end of next month, in case an updated resource is beneficial for your installation and purchase planning process. 

LED Lighting Setup and Accessories for Research Project

I’m looking to purchase a few lights for a vision accessibility study. I’m looking to get a few light strips that can all be controlled by a single dimmer switch. After looking through your products I was thinking the following would work, but I want to make sure it’s correct.

Connected the following way:

Power supply -> dimmer -> adapter -> wire -> light strip 1 -> wire -> light strip 2 

Is this the most cost-effective setup?

Based on my review, the configuration provided does indeed appear to be the most cost-effective layout. Though the Absolute Series D65 LED Strip Lights are less expensive per foot of product than the 5-Pack of linear modules, your configuration may not necessarily require 16.4 feet of strip light product.

The only optional addition that we could recommend would be the WAGO board-to-board connectors, which can be helpful with some installations.

Additionally, you may find value in the below installation guide for the absolute linear modules.

Assembly Instructions for LED Modules

LED Strip Light and Accessories for Under Cabinet Lighting

I would like to buy all the things I'll need to set up LED under cabinet lighting. The electrical is already run on a 3-way switch. I want to make sure I'm getting everything I need, but not more. I thought I would need three power supplies, but hubby says one will do.

For starters, the quantity of power supplies required for an installation is generally defined by the total amount of product that requires power. 

​For example, the majority of our LED strip lights utilize 5.5 watts per foot, for a total of ~90 watts per 16.4 ft reel. As the TRIAC dimmable power supplies offer 120 watts of power output, we would then recommend one dedicated power supply per reel.

That being said, it might also be helpful to know that each reel of LED strip lights has a maximum combined length of 16.4 feet, which means that powering more than 16.4 feet of product with a single power supply is discouraged, as it may overload the product, or prevent optimal output per LED.

​As such, if you have a known quantity of LED strip light products that your kitchen requires, finding out the ideal power supply quantity should be fairly easy. If the total amount of lights is not known, we have provided a link to our lumen estimation calculator below, which can provide insight into the amount of light output that the kitchen might require based on the room dimensions.

We have attached a few additional links from our website below, including a link to the interactive layout section of our website which provides multiple configuration illustrations and links to each of the recommended power supplies and connection accessories.

LED Strip Light Installation and Configuration Illustrations

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems

Dimmer Compatibility List

Lumen Estimation Calculator

Will the LED Strip Light works with the Lutron Caseta (PD6WCL)?

Will the waveform LED light strip work with the Lutron Caseta (PD6WCL)? What driver or transformer would you recommend for this setup?

We are happy to confirm that our LED strip lights are compatible with the PN PD-6WCL Lutron Caseta system when paired with one of our power supplies, such as the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip product.

We have attached two links below, which we hope prove to be helpful for your installation planning. The first is an article regarding the configuration for using our lights with a smart lighting system, while the second is a dimmer compatibility list. As you will note, the referenced Lutron model number "PD-6WCL" is listed within.

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems

Dimmer Compatibility List

LED Strip Light for Master Closet Shelving

I would like some assistance understanding which tape to use for our condo project's master closet lighting. My concern is the lighting being too bright with the number of shelves I'd like to illuminate. I can understand wanting to keep product inquiries to a minimum, but I'm getting ready to order the first (3) of (29) units, and would greatly appreciate some assistance in selecting the correct product. 

The first point of advice to comes to mind would be to reference our Lumen Estimation Calculator. By inputting the dimensions of the space as well as the purpose for the space (such as manufacturing, artwork creation, or living areas), the tool will provide a recommended quantity of products, as well as the recommended lumens for optimal illumination.

Further, it might also be helpful to know that LED strip lights can be paired with in-wall dimmers (as well as smart lighting systems) and dimmable power supplies. The combination of these products will allow for the output to be easily adjusted, which could be useful in ensuring that the master closet light output can be set to the preferred level of illumination.

We have also provided two layout diagrams below, which I hope prove to be helpful for your installation planning. These interactive diagrams contain configuration instructions as well as links to the recommended connector accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

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.

What power supply do you recommend on PN 3004.30 for under-cabinet kitchen lighting?

I am designing an under-cabinet kitchen lighting installation. The kitchen is a galley style so there will be strip lights on 2 sides. The physical wiring is like a Y after the wall dimmer with about 7 ft. of the total strip on each side of the Y in segments cut to be installed under each upper cabinet. I am using your 3004.30 LED strip running on 24VDC. Here are my questions: What power supply do you recommend? The numbers in your specs are confusing. Is there any problem wiring 2 branches off a single power supply as long as the total strip length is under 16'?

Based on the details provided, there does not appear to be any potential issues with using a Y-Splitter to power two lengths of LED strip lights utilizing a single power supply. We recommend the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, which can offer 120 W of power output. As 14 feet of the LED strip lights utilize 5.5 watts per foot for a total of 77 watts, one unit of the above power supply should be more than sufficient.

Additionally, you may also be interested in the below dimmer compatibility list, which lists all dimmers that are compatible with the TRIAC power supply, including smart home dimming systems like Lutron Caseta.

Dimmer compatibility list for Waveform Lighting PN 7093/7094

LED Lighting for Painting and Palette

I'm always in search of "perfect" lighting for the longest time. I have been using a combination of many things. I have incandescent fluorescents with a CRI index of 95 (I think). I've been using them in combination with Solux bulbs. I wanted to ask you what lighting you have that would be good for my studio setup. I require a lot of light, from the ceiling, on my canvas, and my palette. 

If you would like to utilize the highest CRI for your artwork creation, we might recommend the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, which features a CRI of 99, making it virtually indistinguishable from natural daylight. Additionally, it might be helpful to know that this product is available in both the D50 and D65 ISO standards, which many of our customers find useful for artwork creation.

The Absolute Series LED strip lights can be installed within wall-mounted channels and can be powered either through a DC power supply or paired with an in-wall dimmer and in-wall TRIAC dimmable power supply.

This is not for display. It is lighting for painting and palette.

If the installation is meant for artwork creation such as painting rather than simply display, we would likely still recommend the Absolute Series of LED strip lights. Additionally, it might be helpful to know that many of our customers have chosen to replace their fluorescent fixtures or track lighting with the Absolute Series LED due to the high CRI output, which can be beneficial for artwork creation.

Alternatively, you may also be interested in the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio product for your fluorescent fixtures, though please be advised that the T8 lights are not compatible with all ballasts found within fluorescent fixtures.

As such, we would strongly recommend confirming compatibility using the ballast compatibility list, which I have attached below.

T8 LED Tube Light Ballast Compatibility List: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/CD4020.txt

So, my setup is a bank of six 4-foot T12 incandescent fluorescents with a purported 94 CRI. I also have two Solex diffused bulbs and a Solex on my palette. I need a lot of light.

If you have a set light output in mind, we would recommend reviewing our Lumen Estimation Calculator tool, which we have provided a link to below. This tool is designed to recommend precise lumen output when the dimensions and purposes of the space are entered. I do hope that it proves to be useful for your installation planning!

Lumen Estimation Calculator: https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

High CRI LED Light for Paint Booth Lighting

I am looking to replace some lighting in a paint booth for spraying finishes on wood products. Looking for high CRI and possibly 5000k or 6500k for the ability to see colors well. What would recommend? These are 4' t12 fluorescent bulbs now but I'm willing to change or build any sort of panel needed to replace them.

Though our T8 LED tube light products are likely incompatible with the ballast and power output of the T12 fixtures, we are happy to confirm that our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio product is available in both 5000K and 6500K, and could to be a great option for your paint booth if you were to utilize T8 fixtures.

As such, you may be also interested to know that we have LED-Ready T8 tube light fixtures, which are designed to be compatible with our T8 LED tube lights without needing to consider potential ballast compatibility issues. 

Additionally, you may also be interested in the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, which has a CRI of 99, making it virtually indistinguishable from daylight, and is available in both the D50 and D65 ISO standards.

The LED strip lights can be installed within wall-mounted channels and can be powered either through a DC power source or paired with a wall dimmer and in-wall TRIAC dimmable power supply.

I am actually interested in the absolute series and I was curious about the spread of light as far as putting out an even dispersion of light. If I put 4 strips 4' long evenly spaced in a fixture that had 4, 4' fluorescent tubes would be a similar spread of light and possibly brighter overall? Also, would I need one power supply per 16' of the absolute series strips?

To confirm whether the output would be sufficient, we would recommend comparing the lumen output of each of the preexisting T8 tube lights with the below information. As the Absolute Series LED Strip Lights have a lumen output of 375 lumens per foot, that would mean that each 4-foot section would output 1500 lumens. 

​If you were to compare the 1500 lumens with the existing T8 light output (which should be listed on the outside of the tube light), then we would then have a better idea of the comparative output. Additionally, we can confirm that we generally recommend utilizing one dedicated power supply per 16.4-foot reel of the LED Strip Light products.

Three-prong DC power supply for LED Strip Lights

Your under-counter strip lights were recommended to me, the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip that was recommended to go with it has a 2-prong cord on the wall outlet side. I am sensitive to electric fields and was wondering if I could get a three-prong (grounded) power supply to be used with the light strip so there will be no electric field radiating from the power pack or its cord and it also will not radiate electric field down the length of the light strip. 

Unfortunately, we do not have any grounded plug connection option for our DC power supply units. We apologize!

In the meantime, if you can locate any third-party power supplies with a three-prong plug connection, I would be more than happy to review them for compatibility with our LED strip lights on the DC output side.

I had just been in touch with a supplier to see if they had a grounded power pack with the specifications to replace the ungrounded unit that is for the equipment I have, they did, but unfortunately, you would have to order 1,000 as a minimum order because all are custom made. Maybe you could give me the specifications that are needed on the DC side and I can run it past the second company.

The primary power specifications are:

The power capacity specification is the one variable specification that you'll want to make sure you have correct with the power supply manufacturer. The "watts per foot" requirement would be based on the total length of the LED strip light you plan on installing.

​For example, if you are installing 10 feet, the power capacity would be calculated as follows:

​5.5 watts per foot x 10 feet = 55 watts

+ 20% = 66 watts minimum power supply capacity

​Below is a detailed specification sheet that you can also reference:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_3002.27_3002.30.pdf

​Another thought I had is that the TRIAC dimmable power supply includes a grounded wire which may help with your concerns about a non-grounded power supply unit. These power supplies do not include a plug, however, and will require you to "hard-wire" them to wires in your walls.

T5 LED Linear Fixture vs LED Strips for Kitchen Lighting

I need to find linear lighting for my mom's kitchen and am having difficulty trying to find a solution that will fit our requirements for brightness, weight, and ease of replacement in the future. I am in between something like an LED T5 and LED strips. This will be for area lighting near the ceiling that will replace the current T12 LEDs. 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product. This product is available in the 2700K and 3000K color temperatures, which are the most commonly recommended color temperature options for kitchens and living areas.

Though the T5 Linear Light Fixtures are indeed convenient to install, it might be helpful to know that they can only be powered by DC wall plugs and utilize individual power switches. As such, they may not be convenient for daily use in high-traffic areas such as kitchens.

The LED Strip Lights can be powered by an in-wall TRIAC dimmable power supply and can be controlled using in-wall dimmers. They can also be easily mounted along the ceiling using the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which is available in both flat and corner versions. The LED strip lights also have a 3-year warranty and can be fairly easily detached from the mounting channels and replaced using rubbing alcohol in case they experience any failure or malfunction.

I have attached a few layout diagrams below, as well as other instructional posts from our website for your review:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LED Strip Lights Introduction

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?

Are your Absolute Series LED Strips dimmable?

I'm excited to be installing your Absolute LED strips but am noticing the product details don't mention dimming at all. Would be using one of your dimming power supplies attached to a Lutron wall dimmer, just want to be sure it'll work. 

We are happy to confirm that our LED strip light products, including the ABSOLUTE SERIES™, LED Flexible Strip product, are dimmable when paired with a compatible dimming power supply, such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. This is due to the treatment of power that the power supply provides to the lights, which is then adjustable via the dimmer. 

We have attached a link below for the list of wall dimmers that the TRIAC power supply is compatible with. This list includes many Lutron dimmers, which would lead me to believe that the configuration is likely compatible with your Lutron wall dimmer.

Compatible Dimmers: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

Recommended LED Bulbs for Puppy Photography

We’re having lots of trouble photographing our puppies and maintaining the correct color of the puppies. I came across your lights and I believe they were the answer to our problem. My question is we have a permanent area set up for taking pictures of our puppies? It is in a larger room so do I need to be concerned with just lighting up the area around the puppies or do we need to light the whole room? The room is 12’ x 20’ the puppy area is 5’ x 5’. The puppy photography area is raised off the floor about 3’. The ceiling is angled 7’ to 9’. Also, the best choice for bulbs?

In our experience, studio spaces for photography can be uniformly lit, though often the lights are adjustable and targeted towards the subject area of capture. In this instance, that would be the puppy stage.

In the interim, we would recommend the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulb, which is available in both tungsten and daylight color temperatures (3000K, 5600K) which are often used for film and photography.

By inputting the dimensions of the room into our Lumen Estimation Calculator, it suggests 24 units of the above A19 bulbs (totaling 19,111 lumens) for even illumination of the room for photography purposes. Alternatively, to light only the 5x5 stage area, you would only require three units of the above A19 bulb (totaling 1,991 lumens). 

Do we need an electronic transformer to avoid the LED Strip from blinking?

We would like to control 24V LED strips with a combined power draw of 800-1000W (part #3002.56) from one location. The LED strips are wired in parallel to minimize voltage drop and are well below the maximum length (more than 50% lower). We have verified they work correctly using a test on a subsection of the circuit using one of your power supplies (part 3092). 

However, when we switch to a 1000W magnetic low voltage power supply (Seagull Ambiance) we get flickering - more like blinking on and off because of the slow rate. We have tried several magnetic power supplies with no luck; do we need an electronic transformer to avoid blinking? If so do you have recommendations on a manufacturer? We would like to be able to add dimming capability through a dimmer at some point. 

Based on the information provided, I believe that our LED strip lights are installed correctly. As you mention, since they are connected in parallel and none of the LED strip sections are exceeding their max run length limits, it does seem that there is a compatibility or performance issue with the Seagull Lighting transformer.

We did a quick search for the Seagull Lighting 1000-watt transformer and was unable to locate any detailed specification sheets. It does seem, however, like an older product designed for incandescent lamps and not LED lamps. The reason this could be significant is that incandescent lamps typically use AC power, while LED lamps are designed for DC power. (If you have any additional detailed manufacturer documentation, please let me know and I'd be more than happy to review it.)

If my hunch is correct that the Seagull Lighting product outputs 24 volts AC, and not 24 volts DC, this may explain the blinking behavior you are seeing. This is because 24 volts AC is actually an average voltage rating (called RMS) and at certain points in the AC sine wave cycle, the input voltage actually far exceeds 24 volts (approximately 34 volts at the peak). During these peak voltage input timeframes, the LED strips are overdriven and exceed their rated power draw (> 1000 watts), potentially leading to the blinking behavior you are seeing.

Our recommendation would be to double-check the voltage rating and ensure that the 24 volts output by the Seagull Transformer is DC and not AC. If it is AC, we would recommend using an alternate solution that uses DC output.

You mention this is for a photo booth application, so in addition to avoiding magnetic drivers (which introduce line voltage flicker at 60/120 Hz), we would also recommend making sure you avoid PWM-induced flicker by choosing a flicker-free (high PWM frequency) power supply solution.

We do have several electronic DC power supply units with flicker-free output which may be of interest. The downside is that the power supplies are limited to 96 watts of output each (to meet Class 2 limitations) but each power supply can be connected to the same dimmer switch by connecting them in parallel. Below are product and layout configuration links that you may find helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

I have ordered some alternate supplies. Unfortunately, I need something bigger than what you offer but I am trying to get as high a PWM frequency as possible. I have two driver units on order and will test them in actual still photography settings. We have been and will continue to order lots of LED reels from you. 

​As you mention, we unfortunately limit the output of each power supply to 96 watts to meet Class 2 limitations, so while our products would be a perfect fit from the perspective of high PWM frequency dimming, the only workaround would be to use multiple power supplies connected in parallel.

Does your LED Strip Lights flicker-free?

I was told that only your FilmGrade LED strips are flicker-free and that the 2700 Centric Home strip has flicker, but I can find no info in either description. Are they different in this way? 

We are happy to confirm that all of our LED strip light models are flicker-free when paired with a flicker-free power supply, such as the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip product.

This is due to the fact that the power supply treats the power being provided to the lights in such a way that the refresh rate (the rate at which the lights turn on and off) occurs at a rapid enough pace that our eyes are unable to notice it.

As such, please feel free to utilize any of our LED strip lights for your flicker-free installations.

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

Are your RGB LED strip lights waterproof?

I have two tall (20' or so tall ) walls that I'd like to light up. Are your led color-changing lights waterproof? Also I can use any 120 to 12 v power correct? Do you have any exterior sign lighting ideas/recommendations?

Unfortunately, our RGB LED strip light products are not weatherproof or IP-rated. As such, they may not be the right product for your installation, and we do apologize for any impact this might have on your planning or installation purposes.

Currently, the only IP-rated product in our catalog is the realUV™ LED Flood Light product, though this item would not be able to output the preferred RGB spectrum.

FilmGrade LED Strip Light Accessories For Display Case

I have two IKEA DeTolf display cases and would like to run your FilmGrade WHITE (tungsten) LED Strip Lights vertically along the front of the display cases (5ft up on the left side, with about 15" gap/wire as it crosses the top, and then 5ft back down the right side. I would also like to incorporate your flicker-free dimmer. Power would come from a regular 120V outlet. What accessories would you recommend? Also, as the total length used in this case would be 20ft (5ft x 4), do you offer that length? What would you suggest? 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend two 16.4 ft reels of the LED strip light products. As it appears that the 5600-6500K options are common color temperatures for display cases such as the IKEA DeTolf, we would recommend the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights.

We would also recommend the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer alongside the 12V (or matching voltage) of the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

As the LED strip reels contain pre-attached barrel jack adapters, no additional accessories would be necessary beyond the LED Strip to Strip for connecting the segments. We have attached a diagram from our website below, which we hope proves to be helpful for your installation plans.

​Layout Diagram: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2260&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.09893617021276596

The LED Strip to Strip product you recommend appears to have a Wire length of 5.9 inches, whereas I would need approximately 15 inches. Do you have that length? You recommend a Flicker Free dimmer and a DC power supply. Would that work to power and dim both cabinets? Do you have a wiring diagram that would show how to power and dim two cabinets of light that would each have a 5ft strip + 15inch wire + 5ft strip?

If a longer length is needed, we might alternatively recommend utilizing a combination of the 16 AWG Wire for LED Strip Lights and the LED Strip to Wire accessories.

As 10 feet of LED strip lights would utilize 5.5 watts of power per foot for a total of 55 watts, one power supply, and one dimmer should be more than sufficient for your installation without reaching the 120W output maximum of the power supply. 

​We have attached two additional layout diagrams below, which show a configuration of LED strip light segments that are connected with the above accessories. Please note that the primary difference between the FilmGrade LED strip lights and the product in the first link below is that the FilmGrade product contains pre-attached barrel jack adapters. As such, no wiring adapters would be necessary for connection to the dimmer and power supply.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B - Uses Centric LED Strip Lights

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E - Uses FilmGrade LED Strip Lights

Can I power two LED Strips using one 24V Power Supply?

Can I power two of ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip with your 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply? I am currently using one of the LED strips with some other company's 12V power supply. I am also using Waveform's dimmer for the led strips. Have you tested using two 5m LED strips in 24V power supply at full power for prolonged periods? Are these LED strips/power supplies designed to be used at full power continuously for ~10hrs at a time for months on end?

Generally speaking, we recommend utilizing one power supply per full reel of LED strip lights, as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply is only able to support 120 W of power output.

As the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip requires 90 watts per 16.4 feet (at 5.5 watts per foot), using two reels with a single power supply would exceed the 120 watts of available output and is not recommended due to safety and operational concerns.

Further, please note that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips have a maximum combined length of 16.4 feet. This means that the product is not designed to be connected and powered in lengths greater than one full reel.

Given the above, we would recommend utilizing an additional 12V power supply in order to prevent safety hazards and extend the life of the products. It might also be helpful to know that as these products are designed at the circuit level for specific voltages, using a 24V power supply with 12V products could potentially be unsafe and may void the product warranty.

Do I need the Flicker-Free Dimmer?

I have an inexpensive LED RGB light strip installed on a video set that came with a remote dimmer. I've found that I get flicker in the camera even at full light output. I found a shutter angle on my camera that minimizes the flicker, but it's still visible. I'm wondering if running it through your Flicker-Free LED Dimmer would improve the issue, or not since there is a flicker even at full output? 

Generally speaking, the power supplies create the flicker-free output by treating the power being provided to the LED strip lights, where the flicker-free dimmer controls the output.

As such, we would likely recommend trying a flicker-free power supply such as the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip or the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip.

How adjustable are the colors of the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights?

How adjustable are the colors of the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights? I would like to choose some very specific colors for an experiment and am wondering how much I can fine-tune colors and whether these colors can be repeated, e.g. by inputting specific values for each of the three channels. 

In order to control the output of the ColorSpace RGB product, we would recommend utilizing a third-party RGB controller product.

These products generally allow for a granular level of control for the spectral output, though we currently do not offer such a product within our catalog. 

Compatible Power Supply and Dimmer for LED Strip

I am in the process of building a house with lots of LED strip lighting and would like to use your FilmGrade series in 3,200K and your Centric Daylight Series in 4,000K. I believe I can use these two dimmable power supplies. It isn’t quite clear to me what the difference between these two is. Could you please recommend a product? Also, in the list of compatible dimmers that are available for both of these power supplies, I did not see the Lutron Sunnata dimmer STCL-153PH-WH. I would expect this dimmer to be compatible. 

The primary difference between these two items can be found in the product dimensions, as the Centric Series power supply has a smaller footprint which can be helpful for some installations that have less available space. The secondary difference is that the TRIAC can offer 120W of 12V power, whereas the Centric can offer 96W of 12V power.

Compatibility-wise, we can confirm that either will work well with any of our LED strip light products and can provide flicker-free functionality.

Further, the Lutron Sunnata STCL-153P was tested and confirmed for compatibility. Please see the below document.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CD_3093.pdf

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules Flicker Rate

I was looking at the photometric reports on the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Modules and I had a few questions. 

The 6500k reports a flicker rate of 3Hz and the 5000k reports 115Hz. Is the 3Hz accurate? In looking at the flicker index I see it reported as 0.00. In my understanding the index is calculated as the area above the mean divided by the total area, I do not see how this could be 0, is the number accurate, or is my understanding of the calculation off? 

Though the flicker rate is indeed noted within the photometric reports, please note that the flicker-free feature is the result of the connected power supply rather than a result of the product’s bespoke performance. 

​In this instance, the module was connected to one of our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products. This flicker rate would change if the module was connected to a different power supply that was not flicker-free.

We can confirm that the flicker index is on a scale from 0-1.0, and is measured by the area above mean divided by total area. Further, the flicker index is a measure of the cyclic variation accounting for the waveform shape. As there is no altitude variation between the maximum value and the minimum value within the frame of one optical cycle, the flicker index of this product is 0.00.

By my reading, the Hz denotes that during 3 Hz (or 115 Hz) of refresh time, a minuscule change occurred that was negligible enough to not cause any adjustment to the overall flicker percentage or flicker index.

Can the LED Strip segments be soldered once cut?

I'm looking to make a 56-inch light bar. Solely out of ultraviolet light. Can they be soldered once cut? Can they wrap around and connect again? Not in succession but right next to each other, and does that cause a heating problem? If the light bar was 2 to 3 inches thick, how many stripes could I fit in that area? Would they be bright enough to drive at night at 15mph or 30mph or possibly 50mph?

We're happy to confirm that the realUV™ LED Strip Lights can be segmented and reconnected using solder or our LED strip-to-strip connectors.

We can further confirm that the LED strip lights are 10mm wide and able to be connected in parallel without the necessary for spacing to allow for heat dispersion. It may also be helpful to know that these products have a maximum combined length of 16.4 ft. As such, they are unable to provide power for the entire length if the total length is greater than 16.4 feet.

That said, please note that these UV-A products are not designed to illuminate as typical lights might, and will emit a barely visible amount of light. This is since the majority of UV-A output is invisible to the human eye.

As such, we would not recommend these items for any installation where they were expected to provide visibility.

Flicker-free LED Strip Lighting Options Preventing Migraine

I am highly sensitive to flicker - migraine caused by flicker eliminates short-term memory so I can’t work along with other debilitating symptoms. Would you please talk to me about some of the flicker-free options described on your site? I’d like to please learn more about the technical differences between some of the options. I need something that eliminates both brightness flicker and color flicker as much as possible. 

We can confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip can provide connected lights with flicker-free functionality. The TRIAC dimmable power supply has also been tested with the following wall dimmer products.

Dimmer Compatibility List: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We can also confirm that the FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5-Channel Output product can adjust the PWM frequency of connected light products between 500 Hz and 30 kHz.

You may also be interested to know that we are planning to release T8 Light Fixtures for use in office installations, which are designed to be compatible with our line of flicker-free, full-spectrum T8 LED tube light products, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights. 

​The benefit offered by these over-integrated fixtures is that if the T8 product encounters an outage within the 50,000 hours lifetime (5-year warranty), they can be easily replaced. Contrastingly, integrated features usually need to be entirely replaced.

Do you sell the Northlux 95 CRI LED Shop Light as a Light Strip?

The Northlux 95 CRI LED Shop Light is almost the product I need, but I need to install it in a room with a low ceiling. Do you sell that product as a light strip? or with a lower profile? I already have lots of linear light fixtures but want to get one brighter fixture for center of room.

Though we do not currently sell a lower profile LED shop light at this time, you might be interested to know that the shop light fixtures utilize the same LED strip lights which can be purchased separately in 16.4 ft (5 meter) reels.

These LED strip lights can be conveniently mounted within low-profile aluminum channels and can be powered with in-wall power supplies and adjusted using wall dimmers.

The ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product may also be of interest, as they are available in both 5000K and 6500K (D50, D65) while offering the extra benefit of a higher CRI value that is virtually indistinguishable from daylight (With a CRI of 99 vs 95).

Does IR LED strips have different output intensities?

I would like to know if IR LED strips have different output intensities (not sure of units, lumens?). Looking for the highest output to help penetrate seawater. Assuming too that 850nm would penetrate better than 950nm?

Unfortunately, we have not performed any internal tests regarding how the light output from these products is absorbed by saltwater or other liquids.

Based on our review of a visible light absorption spectrum article, we do believe that longer wavelengths (such as the infrared band) will have a higher absorption rate by water. As such, the infrared output may not be able to penetrate saltwater in the preferred fashion.

I'm trying to create a system we used many years ago using potted IR LEDs (Four heads, about 50 LEDs per head, see attached). The company that created them is no longer in business and I was hoping that I might get away with IR LED strips versus the potted method, which you can see does work. FYI, the field of view was about 1/4 meter squared. I'm curious to know, are all IR LEDs equal? As in luminance output, brightness? And what unit is used to describe?

We are sorry to say that underwater installations are likely not a good match for our LED strip lights, as they are not IP rated. As such, any contact with liquid or moisture will void the warranty and potentially cause electrical hazards. 

With white lights, we usually measure how similar the output quality is to natural daylight via CRI, which is a measurement from 1-100. For example, older fluorescent lights might have a CRI of 60, where our Absolute Series have a CRI of 99 and have an output that is virtually indistinguishable from full daylight.

The quality of IR is defined by the measure of the output, which is 1.9 watts in this instance. Quality is also measured by the accuracy of the output, which is measured by the emission spectrum (that is, the measured nanometer output within the wavelength of light) and the ‘full width at half maximum’, which measures the width of the spectrum curve. These two data points show us how precise the output is on the full wavelength spectrum.

I have attached a link to the product specification sheet below, which contains more information.

Specification Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7031.pdf

LED Strip Light for UnderCounter Lighting

I need a 4’ length. The order description says 16’. Can I use it in different places? One would be hard-wired and the others would be plugged in. I can’t tell you how to order that. Or can I order just 4’ long hardwired?

We can confirm that most of our LED strip lights are sold in increments of 3.2 ft (1 meter) and 16.4 ft (5 meters), and can be segmented but cut the product at the designed cut-points as illustrated on the product specification sheets. Each segment can be individually powered, either by utilizing a DC plug or through in-wall wiring with a power supply. 

We have provided a few layout diagrams below, which illustrate each method described. Depending on the LED strip light product preferred, the accessories and connectors may be slightly different. That said, the below guides contain links to all of the recommended accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2C?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

D65 "Task" Lighting for Work Stations

I have a customer asking for D65 "task" lighting for work stations in a large warehouse. The area in question performs a "cosmetic inspection" of product(s). They are specifically asking for a 4' something-or-other.

We can recommend the 99 CRI D65 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product.

Below is the related article for the Absolute Series LED Strip

https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

Absolute Series LED Linear Module in the Overhead Panel Fixture

I am trying to figure out how to build an overhead panel with these strips for a small proofing area. 4x8 table. Do you sell empty fixtures that could hang overhead for this application or maybe a suggestion? 

The proposed installation of the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules in the overhead panel fixture sounds like a great fit. Unfortunately, we do not have any specific solutions or kits that would be a direct solution, so you may need to do a bit of designing and assembly work to put this together.

Another approach using the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs that is very popular is to use the LED flex strip versions, as these can be cut to length to exactly the size of any panel. We've included the link below:

Our LayoutMap for the UV LED strip light, which is electrically very similar to the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED flex strips, can be found at the link below and may be helpful in designing an array-like installation.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-3319.0133296602653&py=-2390.3020629520524&pw=1821&ph=2309&s=0.15267534477002126

Aluminum Channel Width

Do I read the diagram for the aluminum channel correctly that the total width is 0.69”?

For the flat aluminum channels, the outer width is 0.69 inches and the inner width (inside the channel) is 0.47 inches.

How to connect the cut segments of the LED Strips?

I can't find pricing and I am curious how after I would cut a piece of the strip would I get it to light up. I am trying to make a relatively small light box and wouldn't need a lot of the strip. 

We can confirm that the realUV™ LED Strip Lights are designed with barrel-jack connectors at each end, which are designed for power supply connection.

If the cut segments are to be individually powered, we recommend utilizing the LED strip-to-wire product combined with a barrel-jack adapter for connection to the 12V power supply.

We have provided a link to our layout diagram below, for your reference. This diagram contains a configuration description, as well as links to the recommended connectors and accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 7021_4C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

​

High CRI 6500K bulbs for Digital Photographic and Color Matching Applications

I need a few Hi CRI, 6500K bulbs for 2 separate uses:

1) Digital photographic slide capture and then editing on a 6500K color-corrected monitor. I have one of your 6-inch, white sample LED strips to try for lighting behind the monitor. I need Edison bulbs for indirect room lighting. I've looked at your website and found a few 6500K CRI >90 bulbs that might work, including some with high R-9 ratings. Do these bulbs need to be D-65 rated? What is your recommendation for this use?

2) Color-matching fabrics and buttons, etc. Can I use the same type of bulb or is a D-50 bulb more appropriate? Suggestions?

I noticed several dimmable Hi CRI bulbs listed, but I could not find their R-9 rating. Can use 1 & 2 be accomplished with a dimmable bulb, or does that add too much variability to the lighting?

As we currently do not offer 6500K filament bulbs at this time, we might alternatively recommend the Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip for D65 Bias Lighting product, which is D65 calibrated and designed for bias lighting for monitors intended for color-correction.

Regarding the benefits of D65 vs D50 for your fabric sample color matching purposes, I have provided two links below from our blog, which each include sections comparing the benefits of the two for working with color. 

​Regarding the R-9 value, the specification sheets and photometric reports linked within each product page will be able to provide the R-9 output details.

What is D50?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/color-matching/what-is-d50-for-graphic-arts-printing

What is D65?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/color-matching/what-is-d65-and-what-is-it-used-for

I'm confused by the photometric test reports, or perhaps I don't understand your part numbering system. This makes it look like the D-50 calibrated bulb is the same as the Centric 5000K bulb(based on the report PDF) and the same as the NorthLux 5000K bulb based on the web page part number listing.

We can confirm that the D50 5000K A19 LED Bulb for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product and the 5000K NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio are identical products which are provided unique landing pages for marketing purposes. This can be noted by the shared part number of 4005.D50.

As such, you can expect that the performance will be identical across both items. We would like to sincerely apologize for any confusion that this might have caused.

Avian Full Spectrum Light with UV-A & UV-B

What would be the most optimal setup regarding my situation and needs? I have a background as a lighting designer and have experience in LED fixtures and concepts with implementing UVA and UVB but using HO Fluorescents to create the output or affective properties. At that rate, it’s a product that requires special care and consideration. 

With that said, based on the current market availability, would you say your line of lamps holds its own at the top for full spectrum and benefit in health, and intended purpose in Avian Supplemental Lighting?

Within the visible spectrum, I can confirm that our LED products can offer a high-end CRI output of 95-100. This CRI number defines how similar the spectral output is to full daylight.

That being said, please note that these products do not have ultraviolet output. If UV-A and UV-B output is necessary for your application, we might recommend utilizing a third-party option that offers UV-A/B output as the primary light or utilizes a UV-A/B product in tandem with our high CRI products.

For the A19 form factor, we would recommend the Avian Full Spectrum E26 A19 LED Bulb for Birds product, which offers a CRI of 95.

As an alternative, we might also recommend the 6500K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip, which offers a CRI of 99, making it virtually indistinguishable from daylight. A customer that I recently corresponded with chose this product for their own avian installation, thanks in part to the high CRI output.

I have also attached links below for two layout guides, which illustrate how the absolute series LED light strips can be configured. This page includes links to the optional and required accessories, as well as additional instructions.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3C

For LED Strip, I don't need 16’ of it and saw you have it per foot. I don't remember off hand how many watts/ft they were, but I'm sure 4’ is all I need. If we take that and couple it with what? what would your suggestion be in lamps for producing the UVA & B that we need? Are you familiar with the %’s that are safe and targeted for, in my case, exotic birds (large)? 

Though many of our other LED strip lights are available in 3.2 ft increments, the absolute series 99 CRI LED strip lights are currently only available in 16.4 ft reels. We apologize!

To power a 4 ft length of the LED strip light, we would recommend a single 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. As the strip lights contain pre-applied barrel jack adapters, no additional connecter accessories would be required.

Further, as our expertise is limited to our own products we currently do not have any UV-B product that we could recommend and are not aware of the safe UV-B exposure levels that avian species might require.

LED Strip Configurations for Office Lighting

I want to light my office with this LED strip: 

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip

Is it possible to connect more than one strip to this power supply? 

FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply

The office is 8' x 8' and I want to build a soffit near the ceiling. I intend to line the inside of the soffit with these strips with the lights facing out into the room. I need 2x 16' strips to make it around the room. I want to use the film-grade dimmer (I have one). 

We typically recommend utilizing one power supply per 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of LED strip light products, as the power supplies would not be able to afford sufficient power for more than one reel.

As a further consideration, the LED strip lights have a maximum combined length (defined by the hardware) of 16.4 feet. As such, powering additional lengths can lead to performance issues.

Due to this, your installation might benefit from using a second dimmer, or alternatively utilizing a single in-wall dimmer and in-wall power supplies such as the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip.

We have attached a link to a layout diagram below, which we hope proves to be helpful for your installation planning. This page also contains installation suggestions and links to the recommended accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

So, each 16' strip would require one in-wall power supply and an in-wall dimmer?

So my setup would look like this:

(2) 16' LED strip

(2) In-wall power supply

(1) In-wall dimmer

Can you recommend a good dimmer? Will the dimming be as good and variable as the 'film-grade dimmer?

We can confirm that each reel would require a dedicated power supply. I can further confirm that the TRIAC dimmable power supply is compatible with forward-phase, ELV/reverse-phase, and MLV dimmers. 

Can I surface mount the LED shop light fixtures and control them with a wall switch for garage lighting?

I’m looking to light my garage with some high CRI light fixtures. I came across your products and feel like they are a good fit. However, I’m having trouble finding out if I can surface mount your led fixtures and control them with a wall switch. For reference, I was looking to get 6-8 of your 4ft led fixtures for a bright and cleanly lit workshop.

Though not necessarily designed for surface mounting, I can confirm that the LED shop light fixtures can be daisy-chained together, and would be compatible with an installation where the powering plug is connected to a wall switch for power. That said, they are not designed to be direct-wired, which might not be ideal for your installation.

For installations where dimming using wall controls is preferred, we might alternatively recommend utilizing our LED strip lights within mounted aluminum channels, powered by a TRIAC dimmable power supply. ​

I have attached diagrams of the LED strip light installation options below, in case they prove to be useful for your planning purposes.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

4’ length LED Strip Lights for Under Counter Lighting

I need a 4’ length. The order description says 16’. Can I use it in different places? One would be hard-wired and the others would be plugged in. I can’t tell you how to order that. Or can I order just 4’ long hardwired?

We can confirm that most of our LED strip lights are sold in increments of 3.2 ft (1 meter) and 16.4 ft (5 meters), and can be segmented but cut the product at the designed cut-points as illustrated on the product specification sheets. Each segment can be individually powered, either by utilizing a DC plug or through in-wall wiring with a power supply. 

We have provided a few layout diagrams below, which illustrate each method described. Depending on the LED strip light product preferred, the accessories and connectors may be slightly different. That said, the below guides contain links to all of the recommended accessories.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2C?px=-2244&py=-2231.5&pw=1488&ph=1463&s=0.1

Can I run a 24V LED Strip with 25.2V-29.4V lithium battery?

I am trying to source some LED strips and a controller that can run on a "24v" lithium battery power system, with an actual nominal voltage of 25.2v, and a charge voltage of up to 29.4v. (I can lower it to 28.8, if necessary). I also plan on doing photography and video in the space, so a decent CRI and low-flicker operation would be great. I largely need a tungsten white and a red, but some kind of RBGW would be pretty awesome if possible. No DMX; simpler is better. 110v is only occasionally available. 

As our LED strip lights (both the 12V and 24V products) are designed with specific voltage in mind, connected power sources that exceed the voltage will cause damage to the product hardware, could incur electrical risks, and will void the product warranty.

As such, we would likely recommend implementing a voltage regulator, if possible, for your 24V battery installation.

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the 24V FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, as they contain both tungsten 3200K LEDs, as well as RGB output. That said, please be advised that the product is currently out of stock, with an expected availability date of May 10th.

Further, we would recommend checking for compatibility between the FiveSpect and the controller of choice, to ensure that the individual colors can be adjusted to your preference. 

Is there any documentation on your lighting products that do give an allowable forward voltage rating? I'm an engineer, and always find it helpful to know the boundaries between nominal and actual to help make design decisions.

We can confirm that the maximum allowable and nominal voltage levels are 12V and 24V, respectively.

As such, we, unfortunately, do not have any documentation available for how our products would perform when supplied with a voltage that exceeds the maximum allowed by design.

LED Strip Light for Bathroom Renovation

I am considering having my electrician install a Waveform Centric Home LED strip light during a bathroom reno. 

Do I have everything I need if I order PN 3070, PN7094, PN 7095, and the Centric Home LED light strip? 

The light strip will be located 7-9 feet away from the power source. Is there enough wire included (I thought I read somewhere on your site that there are only 59 inches of wire with the light strip?). Or is this something the electrician would supply? 

We have attached two layout diagram links below for the Centric Home LED Strip Lights product, which contains itemized lists of all of the recommended connectors, power supplies, and accessories for those installations.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A

Though the PN3070 LED strip-to-wire is recommended for connecting the wiring to the LED strips, as well as a high gauge wire such as the 16 AWG wire, the female and male DC power adapters (PN7094, PN7095) are likely unnecessary unless a DC-plug power supply is being used for power, as the in-wall TRIAC dimmable power supplies connect to the LED strip lights directly with wiring.

Regarding the distance between the power supply and the LED strip lights, though you may encounter a small amount of voltage drop at 7-9 feet of distance, I do not believe that it would be enough to cause performance issues. If it proves to be helpful, I have attached a link below to our voltage drop calculator tool.

Voltage Drop Calculator: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/led-strip-light-wire-gauge-calculator-requirements

Absolute LED Strips with PSU and Dimmers for Photographing Fabrics

I´m thinking about ordering two Absolute LED strips with PSU and Dimmers for photographing fabrics. Also 8 LED bulbs. 

I just bought a Aputure 300x bi-color LED (300w) fixture and although it's a very nice and flexible LED I'm not happy with the green tint at daylight and the yellow tint at low kelvin settings. I guess one Absolute 6500 k LED (5 meters) and one Absolute 5000 k LED (5 meters) would be great for getting both a nice working light and two dimmable lights at slighty different tempetures, right? (I have soft boxes for diffusion).

Based on the details provided, we believe that the 5000K and 6500K Absolute series LED strip lights could great options for your photography installation.

As alternatives, you might also be interested in the FilmGrade line of LED strip light products, which are available in the 3200K and 6500K color temperatures, which are often used for photography and film capture.

For flicker-free, dimmable installations, the aforementioned LED strip light products are often paired with the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip (compatible with global input voltages of 100 - 240V AC, 50-60Hz) and the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product. Please note that we recommend ordering a power supply and strip lights of matching voltage (12V or 24V) for compatibility.

If I would want some more power than what I’m getting from one 5 m absolute led, what would you recommend? I want the cleanest colors

We're happy to confirm that the Absolute Series of products offers the most color-accurate output among the items in our catalog. As the product offers a CRI of 99, the light output will be virtually indistinguishable from natural daylight.

We have provided a link to the product photometric report below, which contains data on the output produced.

5000K Photometric Report: https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

6500K Photometric Report: https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.65.pdf

We can also confirm that the 16.4 ft (5 meters) Absolute Series LED strip light offers 1250 lumens per foot, for a total reel output of 20,500 lumens. If more lumens are required for your installation, we may recommend purchasing more than one reel.

What corner connectors should I be looking for your FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strips?

I am looking to order your FilmGrade Hybrid LED Strips. The application it will be going in with has 90-degree angles, which I know there are tons of adapters out there, but they specific what LEDs they are for (2835, 5050, etc). What corner connectors should I be looking for for your film hybrid strips?

Due to differences in design and measurement, as well as the location of the solder pads, we are unable to guarantee that all third-party corner connectors would be compatible with the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights. Further, we unfortunately do not have any specific models to recommend at this time.

That being said, we can confirm that the product uses 2835 LEDs. We have provided a link to the product specification sheet below, which provides the dimensions of the strip light, which might be helpful in your search for a compatible connector.

We have also provided a link to a blog post below, which describes the configuration and control methods for the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights.

Product Specification Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_3002.HY.pdf

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products: https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography/how-to-connect-hybrid-cct-tunable-led-products

Flicker-free and Dimmable LED Bulb for Poultry Farm

I am having an issue right now with low-quality LED light. The chickens are getting extremely nervous because of the flickering. I have tried many lights, and have changed my light controller with specific LED controllers. The chickens are so nervous that I am starting to see some mortality because of that. I need a 100% dimmable, flickering-free LED bulb. Is there any recommendation you could give me?

Although we do not currently have any bulb products which are both flicker-free and dimmable, we do wonder if an installation utilizing our high-CRI LED strip light products is an option for your poultry farm.

Our LED strip light products can be both flicker-free when paired with our DC-plug or in-wall power supplies, and are also compatible with dimmers. These products are also available in a wide variety of options, including the 99CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, which is designed to closely simulate the light output of natural daylight.

​Though the installation would likely be slightly more involved than one utilizing light bulbs, I would be more than happy to provide you with more information and configuration resources in the event that this was of interest.

Can you produce 5mw/cm2 over 240mm² area to be cured at less than 400nm wavelength?

Can you produce 5mw/cm2 over 240mm by 240mm area with a 2cm gap to the product to be cured at less than 400 nm wavelength? Are these UV strips used to cure materials or coatings? Can they operate for 10 hours at a time in a hot (100°C) environment?

First of all, our LED strip lights are not rated for hot environments, with a maximum recommended ambient temperature of 50°C. As such, if the 100°C ambient temperature is a firm requirement, our products will unlikely to be a good fit.

As far as irradiance is concerned, our UV LED strips produce approximately 0.23 mW/cm² from a distance of 12 inches. (This is our closest measured value). If the distance is reduced to 2 cm (< 1 inch), the irradiance will increase significantly and will likely meet your irradiance needs.

Our LED strips have a peak wavelength of 365 nm, which should work well for your curing application.

Can I use LED strips to replace the bulbs in the fixtures?

I just moved into a home with a huge basement. I think each room has 6, 2x4 Fluorescent fixtures. Would one of your flicker-free strips work as a means to replace the bulbs in the fixtures? If so, what would I need per fixture to make them dimmable? 

Generally, we recommend installing our T8 LED tube lights as replacement lamps for existing ceiling fixtures. I do note that you are looking for dimmability, however, and that is unfortunately not supported with our T8 lamps at this time.

Our LED strip lights could be installed in ceiling fixtures as a retrofit solution, though we, unfortunately, do not have any instructional literature or detailed guidance on accomplishing this. From an electrical standpoint, this could certainly be achieved using a combination of our TRIAC dimmable power supply with our LED strip lights.

For example, please see below for a layout diagram showing how these can be connected:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

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 cut the LED Strip into shorter lengths?

I found your site searching online and I see the 16' roll of strip lights. My question is can those be cut into shorter lengths? I saw what looks like a push-on connector where the + and - marks are along the strip. I need to replace some 5' fluorescent lamps rated at 35 watts each at 6500k color temperature. There are six of these lamps in place. The ability to dim the strips is a possibly needed feature as well.

We can confirm that some of the LED strip light products that we offer contain a pre-installed barrel jack adapter, such as the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip. Alternatively, other products, such as the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, would require an adapter such as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter.

When ordering a reel of the light strip, will it come with the connector to mate with the barrel plug on the power supply? On the spec sheet, I see under mechanical where it's noted as a connector on each end. So it's complete?

We're happy to confirm that the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights product (PN3002.65) contains pre-installed plug connectors at each end of the reel. As such, no additional connector accessories would be required for powering the product. That being said, connectors may be required for installations where the reel is segmented, as illustrated in the below layout diagram.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2230.5&py=-2231.5&pw=1461&ph=1463&s=0.1

Do you recommend LED Strips or Tubes for an Office Space?

I will be working in a very small 8’ x 10’ office space, an enclosed room with no windows. This is not an art studio, just office space but lighting is so important to me.

Do you recommend LED strips or tubes? I suspect they may prefer to use tubes, but willing to advocate for strips if you strongly recommend that. If we go with tubes which fixtures do you recommend? Looks like your LED tubes are compatible with any T8-type fixture, but I am not familiar with ballasts and so forth. Better to get without the ballast? What k rating would you recommend?

As our T8 LED tube lights use the same LED light emitters as the LED strip lights, the selection between the two generally comes down to preference. While the LED strip lights can be installed in many more configurations (such as within channels or fixtures), they do require accessories and power supplies.

Alternatively, the T8 LED tube lights are easy to replace and configure while offering the same quality of light and high CRI. The downside to the T8 LED tube lights is that they, unlike the strips, are not compatible with dimmers.

Though we do not have any specific T8 fixtures to recommend at this time, a key term that might be helpful in your search is ‘LED ready’, as these products do not contain ballasts. Based on my review, it appears that Home Depot has many LED Ready fixtures available. That said, the ballast bypass installation method referenced in the below guide allows for any T8 fixture to be usable with our tube lights.

For office lighting, we generally recommend 4000K as it offers a neutral, balanced white color that isn’t too cool or warm.

T8 LED Tube Light Installation Guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4020.pdf 

If two light LED-ready tube fixture is installed is it possible to have only one light in the fixture? Or must there be two lights in the fixture to make it work? The bottom line here is if two tubes would be overpowering could I take one out and possibly augment with some of your lamp bulbs more at desk level?

The answer would depend on the electrical layout of the fixture, though we generally assume that LED Ready T8 fixtures are designed such that a single light should work without needing a second to be installed.

Recommended Light for High-End Color Grading Room Bias Lighting

I am a film colorist at Technicolor Postworks NY and we are building out several rooms for which we need very high-quality D65 bias lighting. It needs to match the output of a Sony X300 reference display outputting D65 light that will be falling on a wall painted with GTI N8 Munsell gray paint. We are looking at FilmGrade White, FilmGrade 5in1, or ColorSpace RGB tunable, or potentially a combination of both, for example, one strip of Filmgrade white and one strip of RGB tunable to be able to trim. We do not need the flexible/black PCB mount as this will be hidden. What would you recommend as the best product for us? 

Based on the details provided, we might recommend a combination of the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip for high-quality D65 output, as well as the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights.

Alternatively, in the event that having Tungsten output is beneficial for the installation, we might recommend the FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights instead of the ColorSpace RGB product.

LED Strip Lights for Glass Display

We have a glass display case (see images below) which will house actual dinosaur fossils. The intention is to install a line of light front and back top glass, inside the display case with the LED strip in a diffuser. 

On the wall, slightly above the display is an informative sign with a light bar which diffuses light downward on the sign. There will be an ‘L’ bar which hide the LED light strip from the onlooker.

At each of the 12 displays there will be a wall outlet which the display light and signage lights will be plugged into. Each power cord should have an inline on/off toggle.

The color of light should be natural day light and there is no need for a dimmer. One setting, one color. I hope that is enough detail. Here are the specs and drawing.

Based on the details provided, we would recommend either the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail product, or alternatively the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip item in the event that true daylight simulation is preferred.

For power, we would recommend the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip in a matching voltage (12V or 24V). That said, our power supplies do not contain an in-line power control. As such, you might prefer a third-party option for this installation.

RGB LED Strip Lights Wavelengths

What are the wavelengths emitted by the RGB LED Strip lights?

Please see below for the RGB wavelengths:​R 620-625 nmG 520-525 nmB 460-465 nm

Are there LED strips that can be used for a small aviary?

Are there LED strips that can be used for a small aviary? I thought there was something easier to find while reviewing your product about a month ago. 

Though not specifically marketed for avian installations, you might be referring to the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product, which is listed and referenced within the avian product hub page on our website.

This product can offer light output that is nearly indistinguishable from daylight, which could be a great option for your installation.

I can send you a picture of our inside aviary for the two parrots we have currently. We will probably need to cut the strip into four(4) foot lengths to start. From there, we will need to know what is required to power each or all of them; and/or how to connect the strips at the top of the six(6) foot tall, eight(8) sided cage. 

In the interim, we have provided some advice below that I hope proves to be helpful for your installation planning.

The LED strip lights are designed to be segmented and can be connected using the LED Strip to Strip or LED Strip to Wire accessories. These segments can be connected to the same power supply, though we do not recommend exceeding max runs over 16.4 feet due.

We have provided a few configuration layouts below, which we hope prove to be illustrative and helpful in your planning process. The below also contains links to each of the recommended accessories or connectors.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2224&py=-2231.5&pw=1448&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2224&py=-2231.5&pw=1448&ph=1463&s=0.1

Can I make FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer Programmable

I'm developing an environmental chamber for lab experiments and I'm interested in using the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI. The only issue is that I need to incorporate flexible dawn-dusk dimming. Is there a way to incorporate a programmable feature with this light strip or to make the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer programmable? 

As the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product contains a physical dial for adjustment, it is unlikely to be compatible with an automated system where it assists in adjusting the output.

That being said, you might alternatively be interested in our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product, which can be paired with a third-party DMX Controller for programmable output and granular lighting control. 

Can the LED strip be cut into shorter lengths?

I found your site searching online and I see the 16' roll of strip lights. My question is can those be cut into shorter lengths? I saw what looks like a push on connector where the + and - marks are along the strip. I need to replace some 5' fluorescent lamps rated at 35 watts each at 6500k color temperature. There are six of these lamps in place. The ability to dim the strips is a possibly needed feature as well.

We're happy to confirm that our LED strip lights are designed with designated cut points. For example, the 16.4 ft FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights product has 200 cuttable segments which contain three LEDs and are 0.0984 in (25 mm) long.

Each product page should have a product specification sheet available that displays the markings and measurements, such as the below link.

​6500K 12V FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights specification sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_3001.pdf

RGB Color Output Wavelengths

I wanted to ask if you guys would be able to make a custom LED light with just red and violet. If not, then does the RGB light display the same wavelength as the single color lights?

We can confirm that the RGB LEDs found on the multi-color and five-color products do not provide the same wavelength output as those found on the SimpleColor line of products. However, I have provided RGB output wavelengths below, for your reference.

R 620-625 nm

G 520-525 nm

B 460-465 nm

Further, we unfortunately do not have the ability to assist with custom products at this time. We apologize!

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

Sidelit Mirror LED Strip Lighting for Master Bathroom

I need 33' total for our master bathroom (Large mirror). Any recommendations?

Generally speaking, LED strip light products are not designed for installations where they come into contact with excess moisture or condensation, as this will cause an electrical hazard and void the product warranty.

As such, this product might not be ideal for master bathroom installation unless it has been installed within an insulated channel product (sold separately). 

If an insulated installation is located, we would then recommend the 2700K or 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential products.

We have included two installation guide links below, which list all of the recommended power supplies and accessories for each suggested installation style.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2231.5&py=-2231.5&pw=1463&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2A?px=-2220&py=-2096.5&pw=1440&ph=1193&s=0.1

Will intermittent voltage as high as 18-volts harm a 12-volt LED Strip?

Will intermittent voltage as high as 18 volts harm a 12-volt LED? I am thinking of using them on my boat whose charging system voltage can vary this high.

As our LED products are designed at the circuit level with a specific voltage in mind, we do not recommend utilizing a higher voltage power supply with a 12V LED strip light product. 

​Generally speaking, connections that could lead to over-voltage can permanently damage the LED strip lights and void the product warranty. We do apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning.

LED Flex Strips and Accessories for Under Cabinet Lighting

I am interested in Waveform LED Flex Strips for under-cabinet lighting in our kitchen and have a few questions. 

Can the strip-to-strip and strip-to-wireless solderless connectors only be used with Centric Home or Daylight LED Strips, or can they be used with FilmGrade White & Hybrid Strips?

The strip-to-strip connectors are available in two versions: those meant for single-color, and those meant for 5-color LED strip lights. As such, the Centric Home, Centric Daylight, and FilmGrade products utilize single-color connectors, whereas the FiveSpect utilizes the latter option.

If we wanted FilmGrade White or Hybrid Color Tunable, or perhaps even RGB Color Changing so that we can change the color temperature or color, can these strips also be cut and connected in series (including 16 AWG Wire for longer sections between strips) and connected to a single Power Supply and dimmer? Is the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply and in-line FilmGrade Flicker-Free LED Dimmers the only options here? 

We can confirm that the LED strip lights can be segmented and connected together by the 16 AWG wiring to a single power supply. I can also confirm that third-party dimmable power supplies are likely compatible with our LED strip lights. Please feel free to utilize such a product in your installation.

For the Centric Home or Daylight with an appropriate 3rd part wall dimmer, then I believe my parts list is as follows:

Part 3003.27; or Part 3004.40 (1), PN 3096 (1), Part 3070 (4), Part 3071 (2), Part 7098 (1)

We can further confirm that the parts list provided is compatible! I have attached a link to our LayoutMap below, which illustrates a similar installation that I hope proves to be useful.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2071.5&py=-2231.5&pw=1143&ph=1463&s=0.1

Can you tell me if any of the following would be an acceptable alternate parts list to that in Item 3 above? Part 3001.32 (1), Part 3002. HY, or Part 3021.

Will the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply (PN 3094.096) allow the use of a 3rd Party Wall Dimmer? Or is PN 3092 + DC Adapter PN 7094 + an in-line dimmer required?

We believe that the 3200K FilmGrade White (Part 3001.32) would be a great alternative, as it would allow for the preferred color temperature while also being compatible with the other items in your parts list. The FilmGrade Hybrid and Color Space RGB products are different, in that they would require different connectors and potentially additional controllers for adjusting the light output.

Our products are designed for use with modern phase dimmers, though they are not designed for use with older dimmers such as rheostat dimmers.

Unfortunately, our various strip-to-wire and strip-to-strip products are not compatible with the Hybrid and Color Space products, as the solder pads are located in slightly different places than the other products they are designed to be compatible with.

For the Power Supply, if we are using a modern phase wall dimmer, can we use the Film Grade DC Part 3092 and connect directly to the female DC Jack on the Film Grade strip?

Is it required (or preferable) to use the Centric Series Dimmable Power Supply (24V) TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply (Part 3096) with 1 Part 7095 Male DC Barrel Jack Adapter?

We're happy to confirm that the 3200K FilmGrade product is single-color, and can be used with the PN3070 & PN3071 connectors.

The answer to the second question really depends on your preference. For installations that are not permanent, the DC power supply is a great option. 

However, the DC power supply cannot easily be connected to a wall dimmer. If a wall dimmer is preferred, we recommend the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply paired with the PN7095 adapter.

I believe this is my required parts list For the 3200K Film Grade White:

Part 3001.32 (1), PN 3096 (1), PN 7095 (1), PN 3070 (4), PN 3071 (3), PN 7098 (1)

Regarding your list, I noticed that the power supply and LED strip lights are of different voltages. I would recommend selecting the matching 12V or 24V voltage products for your installation, depending on the preferred voltage.

The (slightly) updated parts list would be:

PN 3002.32 (1), PN 3104 (1), PN 7095 (1), PN 3070 (4), PN 3071 (3), PN 7098 (1)

Do you have LED Strip Light with white color for growing plants?

Do you have LED strip light with white color for growing plants? If not can they be Custom made? If so, what is your acceptable minimum quantity?

We can confirm that our horticulture-focused products have a high-CRI white light output, and are designed to assist with plant growth. I have attached a link below for an article that describes the benefits that our full spectrum lighting has on plant growth, if it proves to be useful.

LED Grow Lights for Horticulture: https://www.waveformlighting.com/horticulture

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with custom product fabrication at this time, and we do apologize for any impact that might have on your installation plans.

LM80 for the Absolute Series D65 CRI 99 LED Strip

I would like to use your lighting in our product but we need to specify reliability for our components. Can you give me an LM80 for the D65 CRI 99 light strip? Also, are there any tests on vibration? 

We, unfortunately, do not have any test data on vibrations, but as a solid-state semiconductor product, we do not believe that vibrations would significantly reduce the expected lifetime. For large-scale or long-term installations, we would suggest testing and validating before deploying this solution.

Our internal 6000-hour tests have shown lumen maintenance of approximately 96%, which extrapolates to > 75k hours for L70.

Can I wire your LED Strips to a 12V relay on my boat instead of using a power adapter?

I am looking for 2/ea 16ft led strips for my boat and I have a few questions about your product. Can I wire your LED strips to a 12v relay on my boat instead of using a power adapter? Are your strips recommended for a marine application? Do you have a black PCB version available? 

We are happy to confirm that our LED strip lights should operate well with the 12V battery, though we would recommend checking the product specification sheet to ensure that the battery can supply the proper output. However, we do not sell these products in black PCB versions at this time.

Further, our LED strip light products are not IP rated and are not designed for installations where they may come into contact with moisture. Doing so can create a safety hazard, and void the warranty. 

Spectral Power Distribution Data for D50 and D65 LED Strips

Would you happen to have spectral power distribution data for your D50 and D65 LED strips?

Please see below for our photometric tests for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs, which include the SPD charts.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.65.pdf

How well the Aluminum Channel works to diffuse the light?

I am wondering if you can please tell me how well the Aluminum Channel works to diffuse the light. 

The aluminum channels include a diffuser cover which works very well to create a softer, more evenly distributed light source.

​Here is an article that goes into further detail which may be helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/aluminum-channels-for-led-strip-lights-are-they-worth-it-an-in-depth-look

LED Strip Lighting for Soffit and Kitchen Overhead Installation

I'm installing LED strips in a couple of locations and hoping you can help me select them. Can you recommend the right power supply and controller? 

1) In a soffit pointing down running along both walls in the living room (30 ft per wall) 

2)Installed overhead in the kitchen in a recessed channel instead of overhead halogen downlights. 

Our CENTRIC HOME 3000K LED strip lights sound like a great fit for the installation.

​The easiest way to test this set up would likely be a set of the following:

1) CENTRIC HOME 24V 3000K LED Strip Light

2) TRIAC dimmable 24V power supply

​Below is an installation diagram showing how this should be wired to a wall dimmer. (The setup could of course be tested without a dimmer and wired directly to a branch circuit).

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Both components can of course be used in the final installation as well.

Can I use 28V power supply instead of 24V?

Regarding the LED strip PN 3002.32, can 28V be used instead of 24V? 

As our LED products are designed at the circuit level with a specific voltage in mind, we do not recommend utilizing different voltage power supplies.

In general, connections that could lead to an over-voltage can permanently damage the LED strip light circuitry, and void the product warranty. I do apologize for any impact this might have on your installation planning process.

32ft LED Strip Light for a Building Entry

I’m looking for a 32ft LED strip for an entry of Bldg. 3200k. I will also need a power supply. Do you carry diffusers that will work with these? The lights will be on around the clock and need to be long-lasting.

We are happy to confirm that the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights are available in 3200K. Further, the 24V version of the product has a maximum combined run of 32.8ft. As this 24V product has a power draw of 5.5 watts per foot, we would recommend utilizing a power supply that can accommodate at least 180 watts of power output.

​These products can also be mounted within products such as the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip, which is available in both flat and corner versions. However, please be advised that these channels are not IP-rated or weather-treated. 

LED Strip Layout and Installation for Artwork Illumination

I am trying to illuminate a piece of artwork over a mantle. The work is 84”wide, 24” tall. There are 2 LED recessed fixtures above that provide OK illumination for most of the work. It needs to be up lighted as well to bring out all the colors. Should the LED strip be mounted at an angle, or would flat be OK? Can the connection be made at the center of the strip rather than at the ends? What color temp best for dark rich colors that seem to go almost black in normal room lighting?

We do hope that the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail from your recent order works well for your installation. As some artwork is designed to be displayed under 3200K Tungsten lighting, as is often used in galleries, please let us know if you wind up preferring a different color temperature for the artwork illumination and we would be happy to issue a prepaid return label. So long as the LED strip lights have not been cut, they can be easily returned. 

​The same is true for the aluminum channels. In the event that the corner-version product emits light that isn't directed as preferred, let us know and we would be glad to help.

Regarding installation options, though the LED strip light products are usually connected to power at the ends, it is possible to connect two wings of strip lights connected to a centrally-located power source. For this, we might recommend purchasing a splitter so that the two lengths can be connected to the same power supply. Alternatively, a dedicated power supply could be used for each length.

​Based on my review of your order, it appears that an adapter (such as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter) will likely be required to connect the wires of the LED strip light with the barrel jack connector of the power supply. I have also attached two links below, which illustrate the various configurations for the product, in the event that it proves to be helpful.

​LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2A?px=-2212&py=-2096.5&pw=1424&ph=1193&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2B?px=-2212&py=-2096.5&pw=1424&ph=1193&s=0.1

RGB LED Strip Specs and Accessories

I'm having a hard time understanding the difference between the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights and FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. I need the LED strips to create a light panel (25x27 in.) that can emit blue, red, green, and anything in between, but with high spectral specificity. I also need the lights to be able to switch from one wavelength to the other in approximately nanosecond timing (probably by the use of an Arduino controller). 

The primary difference between the ColorSpace RGB LED strip lights and the FiveSpect LED strip lights is that the FiveSpect includes two additional white channels - warm white (2700K) and daylight white (6500K).

​It sounds like the ColorSpace LED strip lights may be a better fit for you since you are not looking for any full-spectrum white light output. Do keep in mind that the red, green and blue wavelengths are fixed, and any kind of colors "in between" would be the result of color mixing rather than discrete monochromatic light output.

Below is our LED spectrum simulator which may assist in providing additional insights into how the LED channels would mix together to create various color outputs.

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

We unfortunately do not have any data on the timing of the controls, but as solid-state semiconductors, we would expect the LEDs to be nearly instantaneous in terms of response time.

I was also wondering about the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights: What is the difference between the 12 V and 24 V options. Does this correlate to brightness output? 

From the website, I see that the max output brightness is 96W per 16.4 ft for both voltage options - if I mount these strips parallel over a 25x27 inch board, will they provide an intensity of at least 400 uW/cm2 on a surface that's within a foot of the panel? 

The difference between the 12v and 24v versions is mainly a preference question. Both offer the same amount of total power and brightness (the 24v has half the current but twice the voltage to equal the same total power as the12v).

Please see below for an article going over some of the differences as well as the advantages of the 24v:

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

We unfortunately do not have any irradiance measurements for the LED strip lights so it's a bit difficult to convert our LED strip specifications to your irradiance requirements. If our UV LED strips are any indication, however, we have measured 228 µW/cm² from a distance of 12", so I do believe we are approximately in the ballpark given roughly similar efficiency levels of our RGB and UV LEDs.

Is there significant heat generation if the full 5 meters of LED strip are powered on at max brightness for extended periods of time (e.g. 12 hours)? If so, would it help dissipate the heat if the LED strips were mounted on a large aluminum heat sink? 

I'm considering using an optical diffuser to help equalize the irradiance of the LED strips - is there a recommended material to use that would minimize distorting the spectral composition of Red, Blue, and especially UV-A (365 nm) light? 

We don't expect any significant issues or temperature increases for the LED strip lights, even when operated for 12 hours straight. We have measured a typical temperature rise of 54 F (30 C) over ambient temperatures. In other words, for an LED strip in a typical room temperature environment of 75 F (24 C), you can expect the LED strip to reach a temperature of 129 F (54 C).

​

An aluminum channel may assist in helping to dissipate this heat somewhat, but it is by no means necessary.

For the optical diffuser, the most commonly used material is polycarbonate. Unfortunately, polycarbonate and UV do not "mix" well due to the high absorbance factor of the UV material. As such, we would not recommend using the UV-A channel with any kind of diffuser if possible.

What is the minimum power supply capacity needed to power up 1) each individual color LED over the 16.4' strip at full power, and 2) all three LEDs over the 16.4' strip at full power? 

​We can confirm, however, that the power draw for the product is 96 watts for the entire reel for all colors combined. For each color individually, the power draw would be 32 watts for the entire reel.

We generally recommend using a power supply unit that has a capacity that is 20% higher than the power draw requirements. For all three colors, for example, we would recommend a capacity of at least 115 watts (96 watts x 120%).

​

LED Strip Design for Home Security System

I am looking to redesign how home security lighting is done and add just purely aesthetic characteristics to a previously fairly unattractive security feature for the home. The short description is that I want to create windows that have motion sensor LED strips around the edges of them that could be bright enough to, for example, light up a potential intruder if they pass the window or sliding door. 

What are the options for how many lights/meter that you would recommend for something like that? And what about watts/power/lumens? Can a strip be manufactured in 90-degree angles so that it is a single strip that basically forms a picture frame?

While your LED strip application in security systems sounds very exciting, the scope of our ability to provide support for specific use cases such as this quite limited and I do apologize in advance.

As a general starting point, we would perhaps recommend using our lumen estimation calculator to determine how many lumens (and therefore feet/meters) of LED strip lights would be needed for sufficient illumination. I am no expert in security systems, but I would imagine most cameras have relatively good image quality in low-light environments as well, so perhaps the total brightness needs would be quite low, in line with a standard residential installation.

​I've linked to the lumen estimation calculator below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

​As far as motion sensors and the connectivity of it all, we would recommend researching third-party solutions as our product offerings are limited to the LED strip light and basic power supply units (without such features). 

Do you have dimmable 75W-100W A19 Bulbs?

I'm looking for a "dimmable" A19? or similar Approx 75-100W equivalent to be used in bedside lamps operated by Lutron RA2 Dimmers (RRD-3LD). Can you provide it?

Unfortunately, the closest option we have for a dimmable A19 lamp would be our filament lamps, which are only available in 40-watt equivalent.

​I also need to purchase LED Flex Strip (4000K) in both 12V and 24V. I do not see 400K Strip in 4000K in 12V on your site.

The 4000K LED strip is only available in 24 volts. We unfortunately do not offer a 12-volt version.

​​Do you sell cut lengths of IP67 Rated Silicon LED Strip? 

We do not offer any IP67 or outdoor-rated LED strip lights at this time.

LED Strip Light for Camper Van Installation

I would like to use your Centric Home LED strip light in my camper van. I would be replacing an LED strip light that is connected to a dimmer. Can I use your strip light without adding any other components between the light strip and the 12v LED dimmer I have? 

Based on the details provided, it is difficult to say whether or not the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product would require additional accessories for your installation. We could easily imagine that some wiring adapters could be required to connect the LED strip light wiring to the power source, depending on the installation.

Generally speaking, there should not be a need for any additional hardware components between the LED strip lights and the dimmer. However, we might recommend reviewing the product specification sheet below to ensure compatibility with your system.

12V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential Specification Sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_3001.27_3001.30.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

LED Lights and Components for Under-Cabinet and Floating Vanity Lighting

We are currently planning to install under-cabinet lighting under some kitchen cabinets and a floating vanity in our bathroom. Your centric home strip lights have great reviews in terms of color quality. What is all of the components that we would need to buy to have diffused, even lighting that is dimmable? 

We have provided a few links from our website below, which I hope prove to be helpful for your installation planning. Each of these links contains an interactive diagram of the configuration options available for the Centric LED strip lights product. These diagrams also contain layout descriptions and links to each of the recommended accessories.

Waveform Lighting LayoutMaps™: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2223.5&py=-2231.5&pw=1447&ph=1463&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2231.5&py=-2231.5&pw=1463&ph=1463&s=0.1

In order to diffuse the lighting, we might recommend our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which includes a high light transmission diffuser and is available in both flat and cornered options.

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.

Flicker-free Power Supply for non-Waveform LED Strip Light

I'm interested in the FilmGrade DC Power Supply for LED Strip as well as the Flicker-Free Dimmer. I already have LED strips in my studio that are causing significant flickering problems when filming them and was wondering if I could just get the Waveform Lighting DC Power Supply and use that instead of the AC adaptor provided with my LED strips? I was also checking out your Dimmer but I don't really need dimming capabilities, I'm just looking for a flicker-free power solution. In that case would your DC Power Supply fork for my needs? 

Based on my review of the product manual, it does appear that the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product could be compatible with the lighting product referenced.

That being said, I do not see a listed voltage for the OLS Home Accent Multi-Color Pro Series Lighting Kit product.

As such, we would recommend checking the pre-packaged A/C adapter to confirm voltage compatibility prior to purchase. Generally speaking, utilizing an incorrect voltage can cause product damage and create safety hazards.

My current power supply outputs 12V and 2Amps, does that sound like this would work as a replacement then, and should I consider the 12V version over the 24V version? Also will this for sure resolve the flickering issue I currently have when filming my LEDs?

Based on the details provided we would recommend a 12V power supply product for your installation over the 24V, as utilizing a higher voltage power supply with 12V products can overload the product circuitry and cause hazardous product issues. We would also recommend reviewing any safety guides that your LED strips may have come with to ensure compatibility.

Flat Spectrum Light Source for Hyperspectral Imaging

I lead the NASA OSIRIS-REX Asteroid Sample Return Mission. We are planning for laboratory analysis of the returned samples. One goal is to perform hyperspectral imaging from 350 nm - 950 nm. We need a light source for this imaging. The preference is for a "flat" spectrum, meaning equal emission at all wavelengths, or as close as possible.

We currently do not offer any products that would be able to meet the requirements for such a wide range of wavelengths.

​For the visible wavelength range, our ABSOLUTE SERIES would be the best match, with coverage between 420-650 nm. 

Please see below for the photometric report:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

​To supplement the low and high end of the spectrum, additional wavelength LEDs would be needed, but it would be quite difficult to achieve a fully flat or complete spectrum across the 350-950 nm wavelength range.

​Below are our 365, 395, and 850 nm wavelength LED strip light options, respectively:

As an alternate approach, a key objective is to perform spectral imaging under conditions similar to those that we obtained of asteroid Bennu’s surface using the MapCam broadband photometer. MapCam has four color filters (b, v, w, and x). The MapCam bands are b′ (440 to 500 nm), v (520 to 580 nm), w (670 to 730 nm), and x (820 to 890 nm) as indicated in the figure below. Can you provide light sources focused on these bands?

As far as your lighting requirements are concerned, we can certainly look into providing narrow-band sources that focus on each of those bands as an alternative to a wideband source. The only one I do see a challenge with would be the "w" channel. Please see below for my recommendations:

​b′ (440 to 500 nm): SimpleColor 460 nm

v (520 to 580 nm):​ SimpleColor 525 nm

w (670 to 730 nm): closest match would be SimpleColor 630 nm

x (820 to 890 nm): Infrared 850 nm

Please let me know if you have any questions regarding this proposed solution.

As an alternative, have you looked into using an incandescent light source with a set of optical filters? This would be beyond the scope of our LED offerings, but based on your requirements, may be worth looking into for the original broadband approach.

High CRI LED Light for Video and Photography

I want to buy high-CRI lights for photography and video. I don’t know what exactly I need, and if you sell ready-to-use lights. If you can please give me some recommendations and prices that would be great. 

We're happy to confirm that we sell both lighting fixtures and light products such as A19 bulbs and LED strip lights on our storefront website.

If you would like to let us know a little bit more about the ideal light fixtures for your studio space, I would be more than happy to provide some product recommendations.

In the interim, the first products that come to mind are our FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulbs, which are available in 3000K and 5600K for cinema and video applications.

If you would rather utilize LED strip lighting in your studio space, we might alternatively recommend our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which are available in multiple color temperatures while offering the same high CRI of 95 as the above A19 product.

Do I need a Junction Box in the Power Supply for LED Undercabinet Lighting?

Just want to make sure I get the power supply correct, when do I need the junction box vs not? Pairing it with the 16m 3000K LEDs, figure I need some of the small tool-less connectors as well, since they're in multiple sections, will be separating and reconnecting them. Assume I can pair all of this with an ELV/MLV Caseta dimmer for 120 bucks. Does that all sound correct? 

The junction box for the dimmable power supply is generally recommended for in-wall installations to protect the unit from inadvertent exposure and contact with debris and other in-wall wiring. We would recommend consulting with your local NEC inspector to determine what regulations, if any, exist in your area.

​The TRIAC dimmable power supply is compatible with forward-phase, ELV/reverse-phase and MLV dimmers. Most of the tested dimmers are forward-phase dimmers and the list of tested dimmers can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We do offer several solderless connectors such as PN 3070 and PN 3071 which you may find useful in connecting separate LED strip runs together. Please see below for a configuration diagram showing how these components can be used:

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel in Multiple Panels Configuration with DMX System

As each of the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel products has a power draw of 50W per color, it might be safe to assume that each panel would require a 100W power output in any installation where both color temperatures are being used simultaneously.

This could either be accomplished by connecting the panels to a 24V power supply which could provide 100W+ of power output per connected panel, or by using a dedicated power supply per panel such as the 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product.

For example, a configuration utilizing four panels with one power supply would require 400W+ of power output, whereas a configuration using three panels on one power supply would require 300W+ of power output.

To configure your installation, I have attached an illustrated installation guide for the product below. This guide explains how to utilize dimmers within your installation, as well.

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products: https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography/how-to-connect-hybrid-cct-tunable-led-products

Lighting Solution to Narrow Red Spectrum for Manufacturing Operation

I am looking for a lighting solution between 620 and 700 nm. Other wavelengths must be blocked or severely restricted. This is for a manufacturing operation where the chemicals are photosensitive to other wavelengths.

Based on the details provided, the first recommendation that comes to mind is our SimpleColor™ Red LED Strip Lights product, which is designed with a 630nm output.

However, it might be helpful to know that the dominant wavelength of this product is listed as 623nm, with a full width at half maximum of 15.5nm. As such, there is a possibility that the output could stray from the precise range specified in your email.

LED Strip Lighting Accessories and Installation Layout

My wife and I plan to build a new home. The house includes a cathedral ceiling area 32 feet wide and 20 feet deep. We plan to illuminate the gambrel arch cathedral ceiling using Centric Home 24V DC 3000K LED Strips. Since the 20 feet is longer than the 16 feet of your strips, we plan to use two each 10 feet strips with separate power supplies for each strip and two dimmers, one for each side of the room. We want to use corner aluminum channels so the light is aimed at 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal. May I please speak with someone about the list of components I should make sure to have on my order? 

As you mention correctly, the 20 foot span is unfortunately too long for a single power supply, so I agree that the approach to "split" this into two sections of 10 feet, each with its own power supply, would be the best approach.

​Furthermore, the "corner" aluminum channels should provide you with exactly the type of 45 degree light angle and should work very well for you.

​Below are the list of items needed for this installation:

​2x PN 3004.30

2x PN 3094.096

2x PN 3061

​You may also find our configuration diagram helpful in thinking about the layout and wiring:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

​We do also agree that the LED strip lights would be the optimal choice here. While traditional lamp form factors such as spots and floods are convenient and familiar, for a new home installation, the LED strip approach will provide for the "latest and greatest" in terms of efficiency and versatility.

From the side of the room where I would mount the LED strips to the apex of the ceiling is a straight line distance of 22.4 feet. Now, we would mount LED strips on both sides of the room, so there would be two strips- one on each side of the room- aiming at the apex of the ceiling. Still, given the 22.4 feet distance, will there be enough light reaching the apex to illuminate it? I do not need a "bright" illumination, but I want to avoid any dark areas on the ceiling. How do I determine what the ceiling illumination will look like?

We unfortunately do not have a good answer for you here, as the light spread would depend on the exact layout and would require complex computer simulations to provide any accurate recommendations.

​The 22.4 ft distance is quite far, and while I do not believe it will be completely dark, it may appear dark when compared to the ceiling areas closer to the LED strips.

If you have the ability to locate the LED strips closer to the center (such that they are situated closer to the point beneath the ceiling apex) that may mitigate some of the concerns you have.

It might also be helpful to know that the LED strip lights emit light at a 120 degree angle, with the most intensity at the center of that beam. This may give you an additional data point in determining to what extent the light spread would be affected by the angle of the pitched ceiling.

Full Spectrum LED Bulbs for Small Aquariums

I saw your aquarium T8 tube on your site. I love your lights and hope to somehow use them on small aquariums. I was wondering if I could use your A19 or BR30 or LED strips that could be as close a comparison to the aquarium T8 tube as possible. So full-spectrum small lights, not tubes. I would really appreciate your advice on this. 

Our BR30 and LED strip light products also feature very high CRI (95+) and could very well be used for your aquarium!

I've included the product links below:

Connecting Multiple LED Strips in One Power Supply

I need a very long LED strip. Is it possible to connect several of your strips using just one power supply? If so, how many could you connect?

While we can confirm that our LED Strip Light products can be connected together, it might be helpful to know that these products have a maximum length that can be connected and powered by a single power supply.

For our 12V LED Strip Light products, the maximum combined length is 16.4 feet (5 meters). For the 24V LED Strip Light products, the combined length is 32.8 ft (10 meters). As these products cannot support being powered in lengths greater than the above, we would not recommend installations that exceed these lengths. 

Do you offer Custom LED Aluminum Channels?

I'm wondering if you can offer custom aluminum-led channel and diffusion sizes. Specifically your corner channel. I can see on your website they're offered only in 3.3 ft. lengths. 

Though we unfortunately do not have the ability to offer custom sizes of the product at this time, we have recently heard of other customers who have utilized a hacksaw in order to create smaller segments of the aluminum channels.

However, there may also be third-party channels available elsewhere that would fit the 10mm width of our LED strip lights while offering different sizes.

Is there a 3rd party company you recommend that could provide a relatively low profile corner and diffusion channel?

You may want to check the Klus Design for their broad catalog of LED extrusion products. They appear to have many good options and accessories available.

Klus Design - LED Extrusions: 

https://klusdesign.com/products/led-extrusions?category=1

LED Panel that Mimics Sunlight for Bacteria Growth Research

For our research on light-dependency of bacteria growth we are searching for a lightning system that mimics sun-light the best. Therefore I would be happy, if you could recommend on some products that you offer that meet this demands the best. We do not work with plant but with bacteria. The light should fit the spectrum of natural sunlight the best. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI line of products, as the 99 CRI (Ra) value of these products means that the light output is virtually indistinguishable from daylight. We have included the product links for below for your convenience.

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCB: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/absolute-series-99-cri-led-linear-module

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI - 16 ft / 5 m Reel: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/absolute-series-led-flexible-strip-99-cri-16-ft-5-m-reel

For more information regarding this line or 99 CRI products, you might find value in the below article from our website.

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ New Spectrum LED Technology: https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

Installation Configuration for Kitchen Lighting

We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and need advice. On our current configuration, we have a 3 ft cabinet, then an opening for the microwave, and then a 2 ft cabinet corner followed by a sink and a 2 ft cabinet. I would like a direct wire, dimmable led configuration. We want a continuous bright setup along the countertop and backsplash. With the spaces with the microwave and sink what would be a good choice for us?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our 3000K CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product for your kitchen installation.

If you would like to install this product utilizing the wall wiring, we would recommend a matching voltage TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip product. When installed within a junction box or wall cavity, this product can be paired with wall switches and dimmers for light control. For mounting the LED strip light product, you might also be interested in our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product.

Using the measurements provided, it appears that your installation would require about seven feet of LED strip light product. As such, one 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of the CENTRIC HOME™ product should provide more than enough lighting for your installation.

However, please note that our LED strip light products are not designed to come into contact with water. If your installation runs across the sink backsplash, your installation might encounter enough moisture to cause product failure or create a safety hazard. That being said, many customers have connected similar lighting segments using hidden 16 AWG wiring behind the drywall, safely away from potential hazards.

We have included some links to our layout diagrams below, which we hope prove to be useful for your planning purposes. This link provides a configuration description and includes links to each of the connector accessories. As you can see, the individual segments can be pretty easily connected to a single power supply.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1 

LED Dimmer Dimension and Wiring Length

I recently purchased: 3 x 3001.56 LED strips and 2 x 3093J Power supplies I'm trying to find a single gang wall switch with two rotary knobs. (I for each power supply). Assuming the need for forward phase dimming I'm not finding anything suitable. I'm thinking it might be best to buy a 2 x 3081 flicker-free LED dimmer. Can someone send the dimensions of the dimmers so I can look into building a desktop enclosure? Also, how long are the input/output wiring leads? The LEDs will be installed and used for safety step lighting in a reference-grade color correction theater (post-production). 

While we generally recommend utilizing an in-wall dimmer for installations which includes the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply, I believe that the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer would be compatible if a barrel-jack adapter is installed between the supply and dimmer products.

There may also be third-party dimmers available online that could be utilized for individually controlling the segments of light strips, such as Lutron Caseta products. Though I do not have any specific products to recommend at this time.

We have attached a marked-up image below, which contains the rough dimensions for the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. We can also confirm that the two wires of the product are each 4 ft (1.2 meters) in length.

Are the 24V TRIAC power supply compatible with Lutron Caseta LED dimmers?

I am interested in purchasing LED strip lights to use with the Lutron Caseta LED dimmers in residential kitchens and baths. Are the 24V TRIAC power supply and Centric Home LED strip the best option for this? Or 12V? Or something else? 

Based on our familiarity with the Lutron Caseta system, we are happy to confirm that 12V or 24V installations should be compatible.

As such, it does not appear that the Lutron Caseta system has any limitations regarding one option being preferred over the other. That being said, there might be some voltage considerations depending on the class or circuits used within your home. To that end, we might recommend reaching out to a local electrician for information on the electrical systems utilized within the residence.

Generally speaking, we strongly recommend selecting the compatible voltage for the lights and power supplies within installations. In case they prove to be helpful for your planning purposes, we have attached two blog post links from our website below, which discuss the options in detail.

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

Pros and cons of a 12V LED system https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/12v-led-system

We are happy to confirm that the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential could be a great option for your kitchen lighting. We generally recommend 2700K for living rooms and bedrooms, or 3000K for kitchens and dining areas. 

I am going to place an order for the Centric Home LED and TRIAD power supplies along with some aluminum track and have a couple more questions. What is your expected shipping time for these products and accessories? Would you be able to provide any promo or coupon code for trying this product out?

Based on my review, it appears that both items are available to be shipped without delay. Further, we unfortunately do not have any special promotional pricing available at the moment, and we do apologize for any inconvenience this might cause.

Regarding accessories, you might find value in the below links from our website. These pages contains illustrated, interactive guides that describe the common product layouts and link to the accessories that we recommend for them.

LayoutMaps™ by Waveform Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2198&py=-2213.5&pw=1396&ph=1427&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-2190&py=-2213.5&pw=1380&ph=1427&s=0.1

12V vs 24V Power Supply

I am building some bookcases and am looking for a 16' roll of led lights and accessories. I am using a wall dimmer, but not sure of the difference between using the 12v dc power supply or the 24v power supply. Why the two offerings?

Generally speaking, there is not an extremely significant difference between 12V and 24V systems so long as the correct accessories are chosen. For example, we would discourage the use of a 24V Power Supply when using a 12V LED Strip Light product.

For more information regarding the differences and disadvantages of each type of system, you might find value in the below articles from our website:

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

Pros and cons of a 12V LED system: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/12v-led-system

Recommended Lighting that Best Resembles Daylight

I am working on trying to find the best lighting for a test I am working on. Basically, I need to find a light that best resembles daylight due to the regulation I working on. It looks like the 99 CRI could work but I was wondering if the conditions make sense. 

We're happy to confirm that the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ products produce light output which is extremely similar to daylight. 

It might also be helpful to know that we offer a 30-day return policy for all orders. If these products wind up not being the right fit for your tests, simply let us know and we would be happy to issue a prepaid return label so that the items can be returned for a refund.

Can you please provide the photometric reports? I believe this will greatly help me in my decision on finding a product that could work for my testing. Also, is there anything special I would need to purchase to use the bulbs (ie certain setup or can I put in a normal lamp?)

We have attached the links for the 99 CRI photometric reports below, as requested. Please note that, unlike our traditional A19 and BR30 bulbs, these products are not designed for standard lamp bases, and will require additional power supplies such as the 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module - 99 CRI - 1 ft / 280 mm MCPCB: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/absolute-series-99-cri-led-linear-module

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI - 16 ft / 5 m Reel: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/absolute-series-led-flexible-strip-99-cri-16-ft-5-m-reel

5000K Photometric Report: https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

6500K Photometric Report: https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.65.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

LED Lights that Simulates Sunlight and UV Output

I'm an avid salmon fisherman. I tie a lot of flies and painting lures for salmon. I'm looking for a light that best simulates sunlight but also has UV down to about 350nm. Do you have a light that would work? 

While we can confirm that many of our products (such as the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip) offer light output which closely simulates direct sunlight, these products generally do not offer UV output as well. 

As such, we, unfortunately, might not have the ideal lighting product available at the moment.

I was looking for a simple bulb. I have a light box I built where I can put different colored filters to simulate different watercolors. However, currently, it just uses a standard bulb. About UV, is there a single 350-400 nm light you guys sell?

If your light box is designed to utilize an E26 base lightbulb, we unfortunately might not have the ideal ultraviolet product form factor available at the moment. However, depending on the dimensions and design of the lightbox, you might also be able to utilize our 365 nm realUV™ LED Strip Lights. This product is designed to output UV-A light which is centered within the referenced range.

Recommended LED Products for Under Cabinet Lighting

I plan to install under-cabinet lighting in our kitchen and need assistance selecting the proper products - 4 sections need lighting. The first section is 50 inches. It is separated from section 2 by a sink and window. The second section is 50 inches and connects at the right angle to a smaller 30-inch section. The fourth section is separated from the third section by a range hood. I assume I need one standard reel of 2700K LED strip lighting. How many power supplies/DC converters do I need? Do I need just one coupler? 

Based on the details provided, it appears that a total length of 130 inches of LED strip lights is required. As such, we believe that one 16.4 ft (5 meters) reel of the 2700K 12V LED strip lights product should be sufficient for your installation. 

​If the length of the fourth segment is known, we would be happy to check to ensure that the single reel contains a sufficient length for the four combined segments.

Further, we believe that your installation would only require a single DC Power Supply if it utilizes four segments of strip lights, connected by lengths of wiring.

Though many of our customers prefer to utilize the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products for discretely mounting their lighting products, the 3.3 ft length of the item may not provide convenient housing for the 50 and 30-inch lengths of lighting which you mentioned. As such, we might recommend a third-party mount that could be trimmed to more precise lengths.

If you would like to utilize wall-wiring with this installation, you might find interest in our 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products. This product has the benefit of being compatible with wall dimmers. Alternatively, our plug-in 12V DC Power Supply product is an easy solution for most installations.

If it proves to be useful, I have attached a layout map below which illustrates the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply installation method. This link also includes information regarding the various connectors recommended for the installation.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2239.5&py=-2209&pw=1479&ph=1418&s=0.1

I neglected to mention that the 4th section is 24 inches. I still don’t understand how the single power supply unit and its connections will be inconspicuous. I would like the lighting to be wired in, but not being an electrician, I don’t know where or how the power source would be mounted. Sections 1 and 2 are separated by a sink with a window. Sections 3 and 4 are separated by a range hood. I don’t understand how the long wire connections you propose can be installed without being visible. 

Based on the length provided, we believe that the single 16.4 ft reel would still provide ample product for the four segment installations.

Generally speaking, these TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products are installed within the wall (such as installed behind the drywall in a junction box or cavity) and are directly connected to the housing wiring to power the lighting products.

If the sections are divided by range hoods and other barriers which might make a continuous connection difficult to inconspicuously install, we would then recommend utilizing a dedicated power supply for each section. For your installation, this might look like ordering four power supplies which would be installed to independently power the sections of strip lights. ​

Film Grade LED Panels for Photographic Printing

Film Grade LED Panels for Photographic Printing

I am a professional photographic printmaker and require High CRI High R9 value print view lighting to just prints. I print using 5000K print view lighting but many times also view the print with 3200K lighting which is closer to the gallery and museum lighting. It looks like your Film Grade 9.5" x 18.9" flexible LED dimmable panel would work well for my needs. My print viewing area is 36" high by 60" wide. I want to determine if I need 1 Film Grade Flexible panel or 2 Film Grade Flexible panels to cover my print viewing area with even illumination. I will also want to be able to select 5000K precisely using the dimmer device. 

Our FilmGrade LED panels would certainly meet your color point needs, but unfortunately, we currently do not have any dimming solutions that would meet your requirements. (We currently support DMX only, for use in TV studio / theatrical installations).

​We do apologize for the inconvenience!

​As an alternative, we would perhaps build a panel using our single-color LED strip lights which can be used with our in-line dimmer. For example, please see below for an example layout:

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

Is your Strip Lighting UL Certified?

We are happy to confirm that many of our LED strip light products are UL Listed, such as our CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential products.

Full Spectrum LED Lighting for Big Aviary and Horticulture

I would like to confirm that your CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light can be used for lighting in my indoor aviary (dimensions: 80" H, 86" L, and 62" D). I cannot use the Full Spectrum BR30 LED Bulbs 4000K / 5000K / 6500K as I would need several of them and my ceiling is glass (the aviary is inside the sunroom). If my assumption is correct, can the tubes be plugged in or are they only hard-wired? I can only plug them in based on my setup. If there is no plug-in version of the tubes, are there alternative LED strips I can use that are full-spectrum? Finally, are the horticulture tubes hardwired or can they be plugged?

We can confirm that the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights are compatible with 4 ft fluorescent tube light fixtures which utilize the G13 base.

However, it might be helpful to know that these lights are not compatible with all ballasts present within fluorescent fixtures. Generally speaking, product incompatibility with ballast models may cause flickering, or a lack of functionality. For a full list of ballasts that have been tested as compatible, please review this link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/CD4020.txt

For further instructions regarding the installation methods available for these lights, we have provided a link to the product specification sheet below.

Product specification sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

If you would like to let us know which light fixture models you intend to use for the indoor aviary, we would also be more than happy to check to see if they are compatible with these lights.

Are the Aluminum Channels trimmable?

Are these channels trimmable?

 While the aluminum channel product is not specifically designed to be trimmed, we've heard of other customers who have utilized a hacksaw to create smaller segments of the product for installations.

Red LED Lights for Gym Lighting

We have fluorescent bulb lighting in our gym. Approx 3500 sq ft. We wanted a safe red light for night classes and to avoid using fluorescent and blue-green spectrum LED lighting. What would you recommend for us? Whether it’s bulbs or LED strips?

Based on the details provided, we might recommend our SimpleColor™ Red LED Strip Lights product. These strip light products are compatible with dimmers and can be easily mounted in spaces within channels such as the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products.

How many strips would I need to fully light the 3500 sq ft room?

As the SimpleColor Red LED Strip Lights are generally not used for visibility, it can be difficult to estimate the item quantity that would be required to allow for full visibility in the space.

Generally speaking, we would say that a 3500-square-foot exercise space would be fully illuminated with 130,981 lumens. This light output would be possible through utilizing seventeen 16.4 ft (5 meters) reels of LED Strip Lights such as our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which offer 450 lumens per foot. However, as the lumen output of the SimpleColor LED strip lights is quite different, that quantity may not directly track.

For your installation, we might recommend purchasing a smaller quantity and testing the output in the space order to see whether a larger order quantity would illuminate the area to your liking, and provide the ideal level of visibility.

Do the Centric LED Strip Lights require the Centric Power Supply? 

Do the Centric strip lights require the centric power supply? Or would the Film Grade power supply also work (for half the cost)? Alternatively, would any SMPS do the job as long as it provided the correct voltage and current? (16ft of 24V centric strip requires a minimum 3.75A @ 24V (90 watts)

You are correct that any 24 volt constant voltage power supply (including commonly available switch-mode power supplies) would work with our 24 volt LED strip lights as long as the power capacity of the power supply is sufficient.

​The FilmGrade power supply is a great option and will work fine and may even be more convenient if you are looking for a wall-plug solution rather than a permanent hard-wired installation.

Color Critical Lighting for Cultural Heritage Field

I would like to know if you have a product using the Toshiba TRI-R LEDs. We are involved in the Cultural Heritage field and need a better solution for lighting than currently available products. I am looking for a lighting solution similar to your flexible panels with the lighting spectral quality of the TRI-R-led specifications for proof of product assembly. 

We are not affiliated with Toshiba but we do have a line of 99 CRI products that may closely approximate the color rendition performance you are looking for.

​Below is our product page showcasing our ABSOLUTE SERIES 99 CRI products - please let us know if this is something that may work for your needs, and we would be more than happy to assist with any additional questions or concerns!

https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

From your link, I think we would need the equivalent of 52 strips to make 2 panels approximately 22”x 11” with full coverage over the area. Is there a connector solution that would work for that? Or do you have an option for the absolute series in an already-made panel about that size?

I would also need a power supply/driver to power 2 panels about that size. As well as a dimming module to work with to set output.

​Unfortunately, we do not have any panel-type products, although I completely agree that this would be an ideal use case for such a product.

​As such, the best alternative would be to use an array of LED strip lights as you suggest. In back-calculating from the suggested quantity, it appears that you would be looking at 26 rows of 22-inch length LED strip sections per panel.

This works out to approximately 48 feet or three reels of 16.4 feet each.

The general limitation for LED strip wiring is 16.4 feet (one reel) per power supply and dimmer connection. This is due to the current carrying capacity limitations in the LED strip as well as those of the power supply.

​As such, your single panel will require three separate sets of power supplies and dimmers, which may or may not be an issue for you from a feasibility perspective.

Each LED strip reel can be cut into as many shorter sections as needed; so each 16.4 ft reel, for example, can be cut into 9 separate sections of 22 inches each, and then re-joined using our solderless connector accessory PN 3071.

(For a visual overview of the components, here is an example layout for a similar configuration using our 24 volt / 95 CRI product which operates nearly identically from an electrical perspective: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E)

LED Lights in Overhead Soffit to Reflect Off the Ceiling

I generally sit in that recliner at the far end to read. Want to put sufficient light in the overhead soffit to reflect off the ceiling and illuminate the read. The table lamp shown is decorative the task light, barely visible by the chair, is what I use now. Has an LED bulb in it. Glares for the wife seated on the couch. It works well if I bring it down close to the read (magazine or newspaper) bulb is white.

It sounds like we have a few lighting fixtures in your space. To start, are you able to confirm what type of lamps or bulbs your fixtures can accommodate?

​For example, the soffit looks like it may accommodate fluorescent fixtures, but it's a bit difficult to tell from the photo.

​Similarly, are the table lamp and task light standard fixtures that use medium-screw Edison bases (E26)? (E26 is the most commonly seen, traditional screw-in lamp type with a base that is approximately 1 inch in diameter).

Once you can let us know what types of lamps may be compatible with your existing fixtures, we'll have a better idea of what options we have available for you. 

​Additionally, can you let us know what challenges you're facing with your existing lighting - is it the color, clarity, brightness, or a combination of these factors?

​The soffit has a string of incandescent mini lights, circa 1992. We do not use the table lamp but it and the task light use standard e26 screw-in bulbs, the problem is insufficient illumination. The task light if I bring it close to the reading material will work but is ungainly and if it is set higher is not quite enough light but glares at anyone sitting on the couch. I had thought that linear LEDs in both soffits above the chair reflecting off the ceiling might work but leave that to your expertise. Using dimmers they could also provide illumination for the room. The soffit runs on three sides of the room.

We are in full agreement that improving the brightness from your soffit lighting fixture would be the best approach here to simultaneously increase brightness without causing additional glare issues.

​Unfortunately, despite their ubiquity, standard light bulbs induce significant amounts of glare due to their high brightness levels from a relatively small size.

Our first thought here would be to recommend our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights in 3000K. These LED strip lights emit approximately 450 lumens per foot, which is approximately equal in brightness to a 40-watt incandescent bulb. 

It's a bit difficult to determine from your photo, but my best guess would be that your soffit is approximately 10 feet long. If you were to install the LED strip lights across the entire soffit, this would provide you with approximately 4500 lumens, or 400 watts worth of incandescent bulb brightness.

The LED strip lights could of course extend and span multiple soffits across the three sides of the room as you suggest.

The LED strip lights do require some in-wall wiring and assembly work, but I do believe that this would be an excellent option for you. Below is an example wiring diagram that shows how the LED strips can be wired to a wall dimmer:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Sometimes sitting on the end of the couch to utilize the halogen Torch which almost does the job but could be better. The new light needs to be dimmable, and maybe the color change? 

Each one of the curtains is approx 6 ft across giving us approx 12 ft of the strip light. Approx 5500 lumens per your calculations. You mentioned 3000 Kelvin. Is that overly yellow for reading? Are your strip lights disabled and what dimmer do you suggest for the best performance? 

Is there an approved dimmer for 3-circuit control? I note that LeGrand makes a couple although I am partial to Lutron. 

I personally do not believe that 3000K is "too yellow" although that would certainly be within the realm of personal preference. Do you know what the color temperature of the lamps in your current space is, and what your thoughts on those might be? (Incandescent bulbs are typically 2700K and lower).

To cover the distances you quoted, you will likely need three sets of 16.4 ft LED strip reels, each with its own dimmable power supply. The cost estimate is as follows:

CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential: $99 ea

TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip: $139 ea

​We do not have any three-circuit control suggestions, but we do have a list of tested dimmers which are available here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

The reading lamp has a 790-lumen GE REVEAL built therein. It is I think overly bright white. If I bring it clues to the reading material it works but is glary with poor contrast and if further away not bright enough but not heavy. The soffit has a string of very old very small incandescent. I think we might try one set in the two soffits over the Chair to see how this indirect lighting works. 

We believe the GE Reveal lamps use a modified 3000K spectrum. If you find the incandescent lights in the soffit to be acceptable from a color perspective (i.e. not too yellow), then 2700K could also be a good option for you.

Below is an article that might help choose between the two options:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/choosing-between-2700k-and-3000k

LED Strips for Space Lighting Upgrade

I'm trying to decide what I need to set up your product in my space. Currently, I have fluorescent tubes in a 500 ft. workspace. I would like to replace these with your 99 CRI LED strips and hardwire them to my existing wiring and use a dimmer. I'm not sure if I need 12 or 24, or if I need the Junction box on my power source. 

Our 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES sounds like a great option for upgrading your space's lighting! The flexible LED strip version is available in 12 volts only, so you will want to use the 12 volt TRIAC dimmable power supply to power the LED strip.

​Below is the direct link to the dimmable power supply:

If you intend to install the power supply unit directly inside the fixture, I do not believe that there will be a need for the junction box; typically the junction box is used when the power supply is mounted in an interior wall location.

If you are comfortable with and able to solder your own wires, that would perhaps provide you with the most flexibility and cleanest wiring installation, however, if not, our PN 3070 and PN 3071 connectors may be convenient options for you.

I am replacing five T12 tubes in this space (2500 lumens each), and it seems to be about 60% as bright, even though the lumens should be very close. 

The strip that is wired to the power source is brighter than the second strip, which is wired to the first strip. 

The brighter strip also seems very noticeably brighter closer to the connection that goes to the power source. The channel is also quite hot close to the connection, and warm at the other end. The second strip channel is not warm. 

The brightness drop you are observing may be caused by voltage drop, which can occur during longer LED strip installations. Can you provide some additional detail on how the two LED strip reels are connected?

For voltage drop and safety reasons, the maximum run length specification for any LED strip section is 16.4 ft. Therefore, if you are attempting to connect multiple reels to a single LED power supply, this would likely cause the voltage drop and reduction in brightness you are observing in the second reel.

​As such, we generally recommend connecting each 16.4 ft reel to a separate power supply unit to ensure that the maximum run length is not exceeded.

Can you point me to where in your documentation you recommend using a separate power supply for each 16 ft strip? 

Please see below for the datasheet which indicates the "max run" specification of 16.4 ft.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7101.pdf

How much LED Lights are needed for Office Lighting

I have a 12x12 home office. I’m wanting to run your LED lights (power supply, connectors) around the perimeter of the office, but I’m unsure of how many complete systems (LED lights, power supplies, connectors, etc) I need to order. From what I see the strips come in 16’ sections, and if I need to go around the entire perimeter I’d need 3, of your complete systems, but I need to how bright the three systems would be would it be better to split one or two up? The LED lights need to be dimmable. 

I've plugged the 12 x 12 foot dimensions into our lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator), which suggests a total brightness of 5850 lumens for an office space (approximately 40 footcandles).

​Our LED strip lights emit 450 lumens per foot, so 14 feet would be sufficient (just short of 1 reel) to meet this brightness level.

If you plan on installing a dimmer, however, there is no such thing as being "too bright" since this can always be dialed down if needed, and having the LED strip lights installed along the entire perimeter of your office space on each side might be a nice way to provide even and well distributed lighting.

One more thing, just so I understand what I need to do to get this operational, could you please provide me with a simple diagram from power in to the LED the entire diagram of this project. Would you suggest breaking the 16' strip into 4 equal parts or even 8 equal parts and place around the perimeter. Also, can you tell me how soon you can ship once we know exactly what is needed?

Below is a simplified wiring diagram showing two 16-ft reel circuits connected to a single dimmer. In your setup, you will want to replicate this a third time for the third circuit.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

​I would recommend installing the LED strips as three equal parts at 16 ft each. The reason is that if we do four equal parts (or more), that would potentially require installing four separate power supplies (or more) as each power supply is limited to powering a maximum of 16.4 ft for any given connection.

​Given the dimensions of your space, turning the corners at each 12 ft mark may be a bit of a challenge depending on the configuration of your interior. An additional diagram link below shows how the LED strip sections can be cut into shorter segments and rejoined using our various accessory items. I suspect that PN 3071 may be helpful for you when turning the corners of space.

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

​Below is an preliminary shopping cart I've put together for you which includes the three sets of LED strip reels and corresponding power supplies. I've also included a 10-pack of the aforementioned PN 3071 accessory.

https://store.waveformlighting.com/27932316/invoices/96f20fd5f0df2415844ff452f475d2dd

​Our order turnaround time is typically 1-2 business days, and we do offer complimentary standard shipping which is typically delivered within a 5-10 business day timeframe. We also offer expedited shipping options for an additional charge; expedited shipping times and costs are calculated at checkout, but I would be more than happy to assist in calculating those for you if you can confirm your shipping address and cart contents.

Does the ColorSpace product produces white light?

Can this light strip produce "white" light (2800K - 6500K) as well as the color spectrum?

Yes, the ColorSpace product can produce white light by mixing the red, green, and blue channels in a specific proportion. (Do keep in mind though, that the spectrum and CRI values would not be ideal for indoor lighting applications). The controls would need to be accomplished through an external control system such as DMX.

What is the SMD diode size of Film Grade LED Strips?

Can you please tell me what size SMD diodes are used on the Film Grade White LED strips?

The diode dimensions are 2.8 x 3.5 mm.

Layout Design for Tape Light Installation

If I provide you with a sketch of my planned tape light installation, can you provide information regarding the appropriate transformer and all other parts? 

​In the meantime, I've linked to our layout maps page which shows several sample installation configurations and may be a helpful starting point for you:

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

Attached is a draft of my layout. I plan on hard-wiring the power supply to a wall dimmer switch. I'm sure you will have questions. If you do let me know.

​Your layout looks great, and I do not see any issues apart from a potential power capacity limitation.

​From your drawing, I see five sections of 46 inches each. If I've done the math correctly, this works out to approximately 19.2 ft in total.

​Each foot of our LED strip light draws approximately 5.5 watts. This equates to a power capacity requirement of approximately 106 watts.

The drawing does not indicate the voltage (12 or 24 volts), but this will likely determine what is permissible here. While the 12-volt version of our TRIAC dimmable power supply will be able to support up to 120 watts per connection, our 24-volt version is limited to 96 watts. As such, the 12-volt version would be the only way to connect the entire circuit to a single power supply.

The only downside to the 12-volt version is greater susceptibility to voltage drop and the fact that the circuit would not comply with NEC Class 2 power limitations, making electrical code compliance potentially a bit more challenging (if that is a concern).

Based on the LED length per segment being less than 4 feet and the feeds being relatively short (max 72 inches) I do not foresee any voltage drop issues even with the 12-volt version.

Finally, we do not have any in-house products/adapters to join all five segments near the power supply, so you may need to create your wire junction or utilize third-party products for this connection point.

Please elaborate on what you meant by the fact that the circuit would not meet NEC Class 2 power limitations making the electric code compliance potentially a bit more challenging.

Would this cause a problem with house inspections, hard wire connections to a wall dimmer, etc?

If so, how could the design be changed?

When it comes to building inspections (typically subject to NEC standards), our LED strip lights themselves are rated for use in Class 2 circuits only. As such, the use of our LED strips on a Class 1 circuit would technically be a violation of the NEC rules and regulations. We would therefore recommend staying with a Class 2 installation.

At a basic level, our 24-volt TRIAC dimmable power supply (96-watt capacity) is a Class 2 power supply that can power up to 16.4 ft of LED strip lights. As such, as per my calculations, you would be able to connect up to four segments of 46" each, as that would total 15.3 ft, which would be below the 16.4 ft limit.

Recommendation on LED White and UV Lighting for Imaging Application

For one our research projects on inspecting meat products, we are using different technologies to assess quality of fresh produce. in one of them we use RGB camera as an visual assessment in visible length, and also as contamination/disease assessment using fluorescence effect. We do need the lighting system both in visible white and UV for this. This will be done through an inspection dark tunnel, were samples are in trays (~600mmx400mmx150mm size), tray moving on a conveyor passing through the tunnel. When it reaches the RGB camera (stand off of ~500mm ), tray stops, white light turns on for one image in visible range, then white lights turns off and UV light turns on to take another image, then UV light turns off. 

We believe that for your application, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights would be the best fit for your needs. I've included a link to the product below:

​Each reel can be powered with our 12 volt power supply, which can be found below:

​The LED strip lights can then be cut into shorter sections and rejoined using the PN 3071 connectors:

Can I purchase a separate power supplies with dimmers to connect the cut LED strips?

I'm excited about your products and I want to purchase FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights. I need a 16ft LED strip but I need to cut it into small pieces, and separately control the lights by dimming them. Can I purchase separate power supplies with dimmers, so I can connect the parts that I cut? 

We are happy to confirm that the LED strip light segments can be individually powered and connected with dimmer products. 

Below are some product configurations from our website, which could be useful for your planning purposes.

Configuration Links:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E​

LED Strip Lighting Recommendation

I'm looking for LED strip lighting gotten 12volt lights approximately 18" each it is for an RV and the current lighting is strenuous on the eyes.

We are happy to confirm that we sell many 12V LED strip light products, such as the 5600K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights.

These products can be installed in several ways, are available in many color temperatures, and are compatible with dimmers.

However, it might be helpful to know that 12V RV and vehicle batteries can potentially output up to 14.4V. By exceeding the recommended voltage, these LED strip light products may encounter performance issues that could void the warranty.

Under Cabinet Lighting

Would you mind informing me when the undercabinet lighting will be available for purchase?

Though we currently do not have plans to manufacture under-counter lighting products at this time, I am happy to confirm that several customers have utilized our LED light strips and aluminum channels in order to mount lengths of under-cabinet lighting.

Are the FilmGrade White LED Strip Lights dimmable?

I just ordered film grade white led strip lights 5600K and 3200K. My question is are these dimmable? 

Yes, our FilmGrade LED strip lights are indeed dimmable when connected to a dimmer. Please see below for an example layout:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

Here is a direct link to the dimmer product:

What I was looking for was a Hybrid version that had both 3200K and 5600K LEDs on the same strip. Do you have anything along those lines?

The closest option we currently have would be our hybrid LED strip at 3200K/6500K - please see below and let me know if this will work for your needs.

The controller setup will be a bit difficult without a dedicated DMX control system, however, so if you do not have that we would perhaps recommend staying with the two separate LED strip reels controlled individually.

LED Strip Lights Components Installation Layout

We are new to LED lighting and need help in selecting the necessary LED components for a home project. We have a simple drawing we can send along to show what we are doing. 

I've evaluated the LED layout sketch and would be more than happy to provide some information and recommendations on your proposed layout.

​First of all, unfortunately, the "splitter" approach you describe is certainly feasible from an electrical perspective, but it would be not supported with the range of components and adapters that we currently offer. You will need to convert the power supply output plug to bare wire, and then purchase some third-party wire splitters such as the one shown below:

​https://www.homedepot.com/p/Ideal-In-Sure-Push-In-Wire-Connector-3-Port-Orange-10-per-Bag-Standard-Package-is-6-Bags-30-1333S/203734796

One alternative, depending on the location and wiring distance, would be to connect the LED strip light sections in an end-to-end configuration. Please see below for an example layout diagram, as well as a list of products needed to accomplish this installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

We offer both a 12-volt and 24-volt power supply, which will need to be selected based on the LED strip light voltage that you choose to use (both 12 and 24 volts are generally available). The power supply includes the plug-in wire which is 4 ft long.

​There are no switching features on the power supply or cable, so you will need to use a switched power outlet, or install an inline switch between the power supply and wall outlet.

For your suggested layout, it would not work in getting from one shelf down to the next and then over to one on the other side of the stove to the third shelf. We would have wires tacked to the wall. We were looking for these to be mostly hidden under the underside of the shelf and with minimal wires tucked inside a wall track we have. 

Our neighbor had what we are describing and it was done with one manufacturer, they just don't remember what manufacturer, and it was done about 3 years ago. The electrician also explained how LED is not really a common trend yet and probably not a DIY project. 

The splitter method is actually very much a viable option with our LED system - the only issue is that this will require the use of third-party components which we are unable to support directly.

Many of our customers have found that their local electricians have quite a bit of experience installing LED systems, so that may be another option for you should you want to consider that.

​

LED Light Panel for PBR Material Scanner

Were developing a material scanner here that we use in-house, it's a box with 6 light panels illuminating a subject. The top panel has a circular cutout for a camera lens. Stumbled upon the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ and I'm wondering if one could custom-order that in a matrix in the dimensions of 45x45 cm? Or is there some other product that would that you would recommend? The key points for the panel are -High CRi -even lightspeed, -45x45 cm illuminated area. -power consumption of each panel shouldn't exceed 50W

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate custom requests at this time, however, I do believe that some quick and light assembly will be able to achieve the 45 x 45 cm matrix configuration you are looking for.

The 50-watt power consumption is a crucial starting point for the recommended configuration, as this can tell us the maximum number of rows we can install.

Each 45 cm long section is approximately 6.5 watts in power consumption. Therefore, to stay below the 50-watt limit, you will need to stay under a total of 7 rows. These rows can be spaced approximately 5.5 cm apart to achieve even illumination.

​Each of the individual sections can then be connected end-to-end using our PN 3071 solderless connectors, which I have linked to below:

Below is a sample configuration diagram for our FilmGrade 95 CRI product which utilizes a similar "matrix" concept by joining shorter sections together. This may be a helpful guide in providing you with a concept-level overview of how the installation could be configured.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2199&py=-2552&pw=1398&ph=2104&s=0.1

on without worrying about the spectrum and CRI just yet.

I bounced this with our engineer here and think we could possibly go up to 100W if we change out some components here, but he was worried about the distance from the bedsheet to the diffuser to get a perfect even illuminated area. The panels we're using right now are about 15 mm thick and I don't think we could go over 30mm in our construction. Do you have some recommendations on what distance from the LED to the diffuser would be needed for an even illumination? And is there something that can be done to reduce it? lenses for the LEDs or anything?

Our current led manufacturer for our side-lit panels stated that an 8 mm LGP would be needed for an even light distribution as well but would you say it could be possible for a thinner one and keep quality? If we would go for a side-lit setup in the next version that is. 

Based on the 120 degree beam angle of the LEDs, one quick rule of thumb would be to place the diffuser no closer than the distance between the LED strip rows. So, for example, if the LED strip rows are spaced 5.5 cm apart (as per our previous layout), the diffuser should be placed no closer than 5.5 cm away.

​This ensures that the light falling onto the diffuser surface is relatively distributed; even the best diffusers will be unable to create a smooth light surface if the LEDs are too far apart relative to the distance away.

​As you mention, the performance of the diffuser panel will also come into play and while I understand the limitations on thickness, I do believe that other factors such as the "diffusion angle" and transparency will also come into play here so these may be good questions for your diffuser supplier to see what options are available without increasing thickness.

In my experience, empirical testing is also a very effective tool in this type of situation for determining light distribution. I might even suggest that if you have some low-cost LED strip lights (non high-CRI) available for purchase locally, that might be a good starting point just to see how the light is distributed in your installation without worrying about the spectrum and CRI just yet.

Can you assemble the individual segments of the LED Strip?

Can you assemble a 4 (1m) section with disconnect pins? If I had to remove one section.

We are happy to confirm that the individual segments of our LED strip light products can be reassembled using several different configurations.

While some customers prefer to solder the segments together, we also sell the ‘Solderless Gapless Connector for Single Color LED Strip’ product which could be valuable for your installation.

Full Spectrum and Flicker-free LED Strips for a Dark One-Bedroom Apartment

I want to put hidden lights all around the ceiling of a dark one-bedroom apartment. I like a full-spectrum LED. Please help me understand and choose the right product. 

We believe that a great first step would be utilizing our standard bulbs in the lighting fixtures in your space.

Based on the details that you provided, we believe that replacing the existing light bulbs could make a large difference at a significantly lower cost than the LED strip light products. As such, we have provided some product links below.

Due to the stated preference for lighting which is similar to direct sunlight, we recommend the 5600K color temperature option of the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free A19 LED Bulb. 

​This product can be easily installed into standard lighting fixtures, has a 3-year warranty, and offers full spectrum lighting that will appear visually identical to that of natural sunlight.

Product link: https://store.waveformlighting.com/collections/a19-bulbs/products/filmgrade-flicker-free-a19-led-bulb?variant=16011563991142

ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Datasheet

I'm interested in your ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip but couldn't find a datasheet. Is there some more information about the lights, especially the peak wavelength of the RGB LEDs?

Unfortunately, we do not have a datasheet for this product complete yet, but we can confirm that below are the wavelength ranges for the ColorSpace RGB LED strip light:

Red 620-625 nm

Green 520-525 nm

Blue 460-465 nm

Proper LED Products for Art Studio Lighting

I am an artist and have been on a long quest for proper lighting for my easel that will not distort colors. I have an east-facing window. I have read through much of your fantastic website, which is well done and very informative. I have a few questions:

Noting that I have an east-facing (not north) light source and think I would like the dimmable NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio Edison bulbs would you recommend the 5000k or the 6500K?

​Both color temperatures should work well for your needs; however, 6500K is generally a better fit for north-facing windows. As such, you may prefer the 5000K for your east-facing window setup. 

​Please see below for additional insights from our blog:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/art-painting/difference-between-5000k-and-6500k-bulbs

​What would 800 lumens equate to in incandescent wats? I couldn’t find a scale to show me how lumen output compares to incandescent wats, which is what I am used to when comparing light brightness. If I get two of these which are 800 lumen or 60W halogen will these give me essentially 1600 lumens on my painting surface (depending on the distance of course)?

​800 lumens is approximately equal to a 60-watt incandescent bulb. You are exactly right that two bulbs would add up directly to 1600 lumens and provide twice the brightness.

​Do keep in mind, though, that incandescent lamps emit a much warmer 2700K color tone, so it can be a bit difficult to compare brightness when discussing daylight-calibrated bulbs. Nonetheless, it is certainly a good ballpark estimate when it comes to relative brightness levels!

​There are so many different light sources to consider when creating a painting: reference source (photo, print, iPad, computer, life), natural outside light (weather dependent), studio light (intensity, color, placement including projection on both paintings and palette), photographing final work for publication and giclee printing, and gallery or home viewing of the finished painting. I read on your site that a device’s screen can emit blue light. So, is it probable that this is the first point where color can become distorted?

​That is exactly right - most digital displays will be calibrated to D65 (6500K) but of course, depending on the level of sophistication and quality, the calibration may or may not be accurate. Even natural daylight, as you mention, can change depending on the weather and season, so that can be difficult to navigate as well.

​That is where high-quality studio lighting comes in and can provide some consistency and accuracy. I have seen some customers even block out their windows and replace them with our lamps because the natural lighting was too inconsistent due to changing weather and time of day. Ironically, the only way to ensure consistent lighting would be to only use a high-quality, full-spectrum artificial light source, day and night.​

​If an artist is working primarily from an iPad should they choose the 6500K light because it matches the blue light from the iPad or goes with the 5000K because it will color compensate?

​Unfortunately, it does not seem that Apple likes to publish technical data about their iPad product and I was unable to confirm if their screens are calibrated to D65 (6500K). That being said, I believe almost all digital displays are calibrated to D65, so there is a strong likelihood that the iPad product line is also D65 calibrated.

​If so, the 6500K light source will be a better match to the iPad, since as you mentioned correctly, the 5000K will be a bit "warmer."

​(Here is some additional information on D65: https://www.waveformlighting.com/color-matching/what-is-d65-and-what-is-it-used-for)

​So many questions, but your team seems to have the technical expertise to answer them and for the various combinations of light. If these bulbs and your recommendations turn out to be the Holy Grail of Art Studio lighting, I would like to share it or see it as a feature article or workshop with my local, national, and international art society membership because many artists seem to struggle with this lighting issue because it is such a science complicated by the ever-changing variety of bulbs and diverse lighting comparison scales. Also, would you have any discounts available for our membership? 

We would be honored to have you share your experience working with our products! As a general policy, we do not offer any group or membership discounts, but I would be more than happy to share the opportunity with our team at that time.

Are the NorthLux 95 CRI T8 LED Tube Bulbs Dimmable? 

Are these NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube dimmable? Are you aware of any clamp-on, swing arm, or drafting table-style fixtures that would accept this 4' T8 bulb? I have a large 63" wide drafting table which I use for drawing/painting. I am looking for two clamp-on swing-arm style lamps which I can position on each side of my table to illuminate the whole surface evenly with one of your 5000k high CRI lamps. But am having difficulty finding the right fixture/lamp combination. 

Unfortunately, the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio products is not compatible with dimmers. Though we would love to recommend a compatible lighting fixture for your drafting table, we are unaware of any products which match the description provided at this time.

That being said, our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures might be of interest to you as well. Though these products are also not dimmable, they can be conveniently installed, are available in 5000K, and do not require fixtures or power supplies for functionality.

Please feel free to reach out if we can provide any further product information or recommendations, and we would be glad to help!

For your T5 Linear Fixture, how would you propose those be installed for my application? Do you have compatible clamp/swing arms to hold two or three in a desk lamp configuration? Or some other way to hold and manipulate them for drafting table use?

As the linear light fixtures can be linked together end-to-end to share one power supply, I imagine that a connected set could be mounted together as one length to an adjustable swing arm above the drafting table. 

​If a stable arm was found, we believe that the included mounting accessories could make such an installation easily re-configurable. Unfortunately, we do not have a specific clamp or swing arm that we could recommend.

However, you might also be interested in installing a length of LED strip lights onto a fixture above your drafting table. These products are compatible with dimmers and can be mounted within fixtures such as our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products. I have linked to a great article from our website below, which explains how to get started with LED strip light products.

LED Strip Lights - Everything you need to know before you buy: https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-strip-lights

How is the CRI of the LED strips affected when mounted inside the channel with the diffuser? 

Based on our experience, the diffusers do not affect the CRI values of the products mounted within. Further, we have found that the effect that this diffusor will have on color temperature is small, likely resulting in a difference of +/- 25 kelvin.

LED Dimmer and Installation Questions

I am installing the CENTRIC HOME™ 3000K / 12V DC with a TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply. Can you suggest the best dimmer to use? In terms of this installation, I plan to reuse the existing wiring from my old under-cabinet fixtures. I think that I may need to attach leads to the old wiring so that the wire is stepped down to a size small enough to solder on the LED strips - any advice/tips/tricks for a neat(er) install? This install will have 7 discrete lamp sections ranging from 8" to 32" in length - altogether it's under 12' - all lamps will be housed inside the channel that I purchased from you too. Is the power supply I selected capable of driving this load? Lastly, the track comes with 5 end cap pairs - can you provide an additional 5 pairs so that I have a few extra for the installation? 

First of all, with respect to dimmer compatibility, our TRIAC dimmable power supplies are designed to work with virtually all phase dimmers so you should not have any significant issues with compatibility.

That being said, below is a list of the dimmers we have tested and their dimming range results:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We do see that the Lutron DVCL series is a popular choice among our customers and we have not received any reports of flickering or other compatibility issues.

Second, for soldering, I do not believe there should be any significant challenges regardless of the incoming wire type or size. Since the solder pads are quite large, they should take solder quite readily without any issues.

One recommendation, however, would be to consider using our PN 3070 solderless connectors. The two wire ends can be joined together using standard twist-on wire connectors (aka "wire nuts")

As long as the total connection length is at 16.4 feet or less (you mentioned 12 feet), you will be fine with the single power supply unit.

We, unfortunately, do not have any additional mounting hardware on hand for the aluminum channels, but I'll be more than happy to see if we have any extras available to send to you!

I’d prefer solderless connectors but I think I read in your literature that they don’t fit inside the tracks. can you clarify this - or perhaps send a photo of an install so I can plan for it?

You are correct that the solderless connectors are too wide for the aluminum channels, unfortunately. I'm sorry for the oversight here as I had not realized that the LEDs would be installed in the aluminum channels (I should have reviewed your order in greater detail!)

​The "workaround" would be to have the LED strip protrude from the end of the aluminum channel by about half an inch, thereby allowing the connector part of the solderless connector to connect outside of the aluminum channel. I would imagine that this would not be ideal from an aesthetics perspective in most cases, but at a practical level, this would technically work.

Otherwise, the alternative solution would be soldering the wires directly onto the copper pads, as was originally proposed.

Acceptable Thermal Rise for FilmGrade White LED Strips

I recently installed your 24V FilmGrade WHITE LED Strips to the underside of a plastic shelf. A thermocouple pressed to one of the LEDs reads 155F in a 77F ambient room. Is this an acceptable operating temperature? Is it severely degrading the LED's life? 

Our test measurements have shown that the LED strip circuit board can increase in temperature by up to 50 degrees (F) during operation.

​Your measurement of 155 degrees is a bit on the high side but is well within the maximum allowable temperature of 185 degrees (F) and therefore we would not expect any issues with reliability or longevity.

What is the CRI value of 3000K LED strips under an Aluminum Diffuser?

What is the CRI value of your high CRI LED strips at 3000K when used in an aluminum extrusion with a diffuser? It has been my experience that aluminum profiles with diffusers specifically worsened the appearance of warm color temperature high CRI (95+)LED strips. What material are your diffusers in the aluminum extrusions and how does it affect light quality as described above?

We can confirm that the diffusors are made with a polycarbonate material. Based on our experiences, the effect that this diffusor would have on color temperature is small, likely resulting in the difference of +/- 25 kelvin. Further, these diffusors do not affect the CRI values of the products mounted within.

Dimmable Power Supply Compatible with Centric Home LED Strip Lights

I'm building a light fixture for my dining room, which is roughly 10' x 10' x 15' high (it's an open space). I've calculated that I need 1,673 lumens and that 3' of your CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential will provide that. What dimmable power supply do I need (assuming I use a Lutron or Leviton wall dimmer)? 

You are correct that the 3-foot section will provide approximately 1650 lumens, which should be sufficient for your needs. Do keep in mind, however, that depending on the design of your fixture, you may want a bit more brightness depending on the orientation of the LED strip lights as well as the fixture.

​As far as connecting the LED strip lights to a dimmer switch, you will want to use our TRIAC dimmable power supply product. we've included the product link below for your reference.

​https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/triac-dimmable-power-supply-for-led-strip?variant=27978821435494

Additionally, our layout map for the product may be helpful in understanding how the product can be wired to your dimmer circuit: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Can you specify one or two specific Leviton or Lutron wall dimmer switches that are compatible with my order? 

We've tested a wide range of Lutron and Leviton wall dimmers for compatibility. Some of the most popular include the Lutron DVCL-153 series, which we have linked to below:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Diva-LED-Dimmer-Switch-for-Dimmable-LED-Halogen-and-Incandescent-Bulbs-Single-Pole-or-3-Way-White-6-Pack-DVCL-153PR-6-WH/301353737

For further reference, you may want to review our list of tested dimmers, which can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

Power Supply and Voltage Drop

I received and installed the CENTRIC HOME LED Strip Lights, FilmGrade™ 24V Power Supply, and Aluminum Channel. I have a couple of questions:

For turning the light on and off is it ok just to switch the 24 VDC output or would it be better to switch the 110 VAC input? 

The on/off switching on the 24-volt DC side or the AC line voltage side is both acceptable.

​We do agree that the only difference would be the concern for "stand-by" power consumption if switching on the DC side. Unfortunately, we do not have the stand-by power specification, but we believe it to be very negligible if not completely 0.

​On the other hand, we have noticed a short delay when switching the power on from the AC side, so if this is a concern for you, switching on the DC side may be preferred.

From the power supply to the furthest light tape is about 20 ft(16 ga wire), so the voltage drop is 0.60.V resulting in the voltage to the furthest tape being 23.4 VDC. Are these 0.6 volts going to make these furthest lights noticeably dimmer? 

Based on some informal testing we have conducted, we would estimate that the voltage drop of 0.6 volts would equate to a power/brightness drop of approximately 10%.

​This estimate is based on the chart shown in the article below titled "Input Voltage vs Power Draw (24V Rating)"

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/can-you-operate-a-12v-led-strip-at-less-than-12v

Do keep in mind that the 10% reduction would apply only at the extreme ends where the voltage drop is most significant. Across the majority of the LED strip run, your actual voltage drop is likely less than 0.6 volts, and would therefore be well below a 10% brightness drop overall.

Power Supply Needed for LED Strip Light Installation

I will be installing 2 16ft reels of the Centric Daylight 4000K LED strips for my business. I am curious as to how many power supplies I will need. Will a single 24V power supply power 32.8 ft of these two LED reels? I also will be installing the RED LED 16.4 ft reel, which I notice has a 12V requirement. Would a single 12V power supply for the RED plus a single 24V volt power supply do the trick? Or might I need 3 power supplies? 

Though the 24V LED Strip Light products have a maximum combined length of 32.8 ft, at 5.5 watts of power draw per foot, two 16.4 ft reels would require 180.4 W power output, which is greater than the 120 W power output of our power supply.

As such, we would recommend utilizing a dedicated power supply for each reel of the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Light product.

However, there may be third-party power supplies available elsewhere which might be capable of powering two full 16.4 ft reels of product.

How do you change the colors on the RGB LED Light Strip?

The color space RGB color changing LED strip because I don’t know if you provide a remote or use an in-app controller

We're happy to confirm that the ColorSpace™ RGB Color Changing LED Strip Lights product can be controlled using several third-party apps and Bluetooth controller systems, such as the Lutron Caseta system.

However, we, unfortunately, do not have any guides which describe these configurations in detail available at this time.

What are the minimum bend radius and cut length of the LED strips?

We are interested in your LED stripe products. What is the minimum bend radius of the strips? What is the minimum cut length of the strips? We are mainly interested in 365, 415, and 450 nm wavelengths.

The minimum bend radius is 0.8 inches, and the minimum cut-length interval is approximately 1.0 inches.

​For your convenience, I've included the product specification sheets below.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7041.pdf

Ripple Specification Using a 24V LED Strips

I'm specifying your LEDs into a retrofit application. The power supplies are full wave rectified and smoothed toroidal from Q-train and I would like to know your specification for a maximum 120 Hz ripple voltage when using your 24-volt strips.

Our 24 volt LED strip lights are rated for DC and PWM waveforms only, however, I do not believe that there should be any issues with using a magnetic LED driver with our products as long as the maximum voltage does not exceed 24 volts at any point during the input signal cycle. (I.e. < 24 volts absolute, rather than < 24 volts RMS or otherwise).

On a related but separate note, we have received numerous customer inquiries concerned with flicker produced by magnetic LED drivers at 2x line voltage frequency. Should you have any requirements with respect to flicker performance, we may recommend reviewing those specifications in the context of using the existing magnetic LED drivers.

Is it best to be using the 95 CRI products for Art Lighting?

We are wrapping up a project with an art wall for a special piece of art and need to light it with even light intensity and would like to learn more about your products. 

To light art, it is best to be using your 95 CRI products right?

Yes, the higher the CRI, the better the appearance of the colors in your artwork.

What is the difference between a Centric Home 3000K strip (3003.27) vs. a film grade 3200K tungsten strip (3001.32)?

The primary difference between the CENTRIC HOME and FilmGrade LED strip lights is the color temperature. The former is offered in 3000K, compared to the latter, which is offered in 3200K. The CENTRIC HOME at 3000K will be a closer match to halogen lighting used in art galleries, whereas the FilmGrade at 3200K is closer to tungsten lighting used in TV and movie sets.

It would seem all the strips have a max light intensity of 450 lumens per foot, are there higher lumen strips in the 3000K - 3200K color temp range?

Unfortunately we do not have any brighter LED strips. If more light is needed, we would recommend "doubling up" the number of rows.

How much lumen can be expected to be lost if used behind the lens of the corner aluminum channel?

We generally observe light loss of 10-15% when the diffuser cover is applied over the LED strip light.

Safe to assume all the strips are dimmable?

Yes, all LED strip lights are dimmable as long as they are connected to a dimmable power supply unit. (See below)

For about 13.5’ of stip lighting, what’s the best power supply to get and do you guys offer a hard wire remote transformer product to power the lights?

Please see below for the product link for our dimmable power supply which can be hard-wired to a dimmer circuit. One popular solution for controlling this power supply is using the Lutron Caseta dimmer system.

Below is some additional guidance on using the Lutron Caseta system with our LED strip lights:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/dimming-led-strip-lights-and-led-bulbs-using-smart-lighting-systems

For dimming of the light strip, what’s the best wall mount switch type dimmer to get that won’t cause flicker?

As long as you use our dimmable power supplies, you will be able to achieve flicker-free output regardless of the wall dimmer model or manufacturer.

​

Corner Aluminum Channel Dimensions

My Flex strips are RGB-W and are 12mm in width. Please let me know if your corner channels can accommodate my LED strips. 

Our corner aluminum channel products are designed to accommodate for the 10mm width of our LED strip light products. Unfortunately, this may mean that your 12mm flex strips may not fit comfortably within these channel products.

What would be the downside if it’s used? Do you have a product that would accommodate my strips? 

A 12mm LED strip is unlikely to fit within the 10mm space allocated for the product within our aluminum channel products due to the fact that there would likely be issues in properly seating the light strips within the inset mounting channels.

As can be noted by the illustration found on the product page, these channels were not designed with an excess of clearance that could accommodate the installation of light strips wider than 10mm.

Product page: https://store.waveformlighting.com/collections/led-strip-connectors-accessories/products/aluminum-channel-for-led-strip

LED Strip Lights in Creating a Vanity Mirror

I’m in the process of creating a jewelry box in solid oak, and I’m exploring the possibility of putting a vanity mirror in the lid of the box which contains a mirror. 

​From what I can see, do you have a dimmer built into the vanity mirror? The dimmer must be really small. Is that one you sell separately?

​We, unfortunately, do not sell and separate dimmers, but would perhaps recommend something like our FilmGrade inline dimmer, which we have linked to below:

​Do you use LED strips for the lighting? - Can the LED strips be in direct contact with the wood or will I need to place a strip of aluminum or plastic behind for safety reasons? 

​LED strip lights can certainly be used for such an installation. There are no significant safety concerns with direct contact on a wood surface.

​I’d like to use USB as my charger but can’t find any USB chargers on your website. Do I need a transformer to build in to use USB for charging?

​We, unfortunately, do not have any USB-based products or chargers, as all of our LED strip lights are based on 12 volts or 24 volts DC. You will instead want to use a standard 12 or 24-volt power supply to operate the system.

It seems to me that the biggest advantage of a 24V LED is that one can have long lines of LEDs using the same charger. Would you choose 24V or 12V for a project like this?

​That's correct, although, for a small installation, the maximum run length would be less of a concern. Here is an article going over some additional details:

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

​Many of the vanity mirrors out there has a feature that enables their users to choose between different light levels. Is this simply done with a light diffuser?  

​The best way to adjust light levels would be through the dimmer, as discussed in your first question.

Do you have the TLCI and TM-30-15 data of the Absolute Series 99 CRI LED Strip?

Do you sell the "99 CRI" LEDs used in your Absolute Series individually? I'm asking as currently you only offer packaged strips. I need a product that can produce a nice and compact beam for macro photography. 

Unfortunately, we do not sell the individual LEDs used in our LED strip lights at this time.

Do you have results for one or more of these additional standards: CRI Re, TLCI, TLMF, TM-30-18, and SSI?

Below are the TLCI and TM-30-15 data exports for our ABSOLUTE SERIES 6500K LED products.

LED Strip Lights for Photographing Artworks

I'm looking to create a lighting setup for digitally photographing artworks (mainly paintings) and then printing the files. 

I intended to make 4 panels around 40x50cm from 2-3 5m led rolls cut to lengths and attached to a backboard. I would like to be able to dim these panels also.

​This sounds like a great approach and excellent use case for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. The LED strip lights include double-sided adhesive and should allow for quick installation onto the backboard.

​For dimming, we recommend our FilmGrade flicker-free LED dimmer, which can be installed in between the LED strip lights and the power supply. Please see below for the product link:

​I am looking at the 99% absolute series and would like advice on how much light I may need (how close to space led strips on the panels?) and which driver I may need for say 7.5-meter strip cut to lengths.

​The amount of light needed would depend on the brightness needed for your photography (perhaps determined by your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings) as well as the distance away from the artwork. As a general ballpark estimate, each meter emits approximately 1250 lumens, which is equivalent to a 75-100 watt incandescent bulb.

​The maximum run length for the product is 5.0 meters. If connecting 7.5 meters per panel, you will need two separate power supplies (and perhaps, unfortunately, you will also require two separate dimmers for the separate circuits). The link to the power supply is shown below:

​Our general recommendation for spacing is to space the LED strip lights no farther apart than the distance from the illumination surface. In other words, if the panel is to be placed 20 cm from the illumination surface, the LED strips should not be spaced farther than 20 cm apart.

​Also, would the absolute series be good to record digital colors from paintings? I may install a linear polarizing sheet across the front of the panels also. They will likely be set at 45 degrees to paint.

​Yes, the ABSOLUTE SERIES is a great option for digital image capture! The 99 CRI rating is the highest that is currently available in the industry and informs us that the color accuracy as captured by your camera would be nearly perfect.

​The polarizing sheet, as well as perhaps a diffuser sheet, can help ensure even and smooth light distribution across the paintings.

​I notice a beam angle referenced in preassembled lighting panels - can you briefly explain this? and is it possible to recreate it with the strip LEDs?

The beam angle refers to the angle at which the light is dispersed. Our LED strip lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees, which you can think of as being a very wide conical light dispersion angle.

An led strip shows a lumen output of 6250. What would be a comparison in Lux at 1m or 3m? I suspect I am a little underpowered at 6250 lumens / 416 watts approx.

​A single row of LED strip lights will provide approximately 300 lux at 1 meter, and 25 lux at 3 meters. If using multiple rows, however, you would be able to add these lux values up in a linear fashion to determine the illuminance on that particular surface.

​You mentioned a space of 20cm between strips at a 20cm distance. I had guessed placing led strips at around an 8cm gap (mainly for estimated panel size using a 1x 5m reel, but I think I may need the strips much closer. 

Closer together than the 20 cm distance I had somewhat arbitrarily suggested is not an issue at all.

​I think I may need 4 panels of 5m strips cut to lengths (with a driver and dimmer for each panel) although this becomes pricy. Would you concur that with your products a 5m strip is the maximum for the drivers and dimmer?

Unfortunately, the maximum run length would indeed be 5 meters due to the power supply capacity as well as the limitations of the LED strip circuitry.

I generally understand CRI and the wavelengths of color and your absolute series seems to be as good as a "roto light" or "Gemini lite panel" and possibly as good as it gets. I see another figure being used for color perception and described as TICI. Do you have a rating for the Absolute series and what is TICI? (can't find it on google)

TLCI is the Television Lighting Consistency Index, frequently used in TV and broadcast environments in Europe. Similar to CRI, the TLCI determines color accuracy in the context of cameras and photography. Our ABSOLUTE SERIES has been tested to 99 TLCI (please see attached).

Are your LEDs flicker-free? I presume 4x 5m reels could all be exactly the same intensity and color? And the best color accuracy would be from a fixed-temperature LED. I note the preassembled panels from others have control over temperature, intensity, and hue in some cases.

Our LEDs are flicker-free when used with a flicker-free power source. All reels are calibrated to the same brightness and color point and are not adjustable, unfortunately.

​Would you happen to know what the import charges would be?

Unfortunately, import charges are quite variable and it is difficult to provide estimates up front, as these can depend on the specific port of import as well as customs officer discretion.

​If you would like to inquire with local customs authorities in advance, you might want to check on the estimated costs for products with HTS code 8539.50.0090, which is what is typically used for LED strip lights.

Compatible Dimmer & Power Supply for 24V LED Strip Lights

I am putting an order together for two of your 5m 24v 4000k 95 CRI LED light strips and need your help choosing a MeanWell 24V 150W Power Supply to drive an 18.5-foot segment. I am considering the MeanWell ELG-150-24AB and Lutron Caseta Wireless ELV. Will this work with these strips? Is there a better 150W power supply?

We've reviewed the product literature for the Meanwell product model numbers supplied, and all of them appear to be compatible with an 18-ft installation of our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT 24-volt 4000K LED strip lights. The primary electrical requirements for this installation would be 24 volts DC constant voltage output and a power capacity of at least 120 watts (5.5 watts x 18 ft = 99 watts, 20% overhead added).

​All three of the Meanwell products you mentioned appear to have the ability to provide this output, so they should be compatible; for further differences and recommendations between those options, we would recommend reaching out to Meanwell to better determine the best fit.

We did notice that you're looking to use a Lutron Caseta dimmer, which uses a phase-cut dimming signal. From what we understand, Meanwell products are NOT compatible with phase-cut dimmers and therefore may present some compatibility issues, so we would recommend reviewing this as well.

Can UV-C LED Strip Light be daisy-chained?

I see that you only offer this product in lengths of 3.2 ft. I suppose that is sufficient for most applications (i.e. air ducts). I am trying to do a similar space but the length I am interested in is roughly 50 to 60 feet. What are the engineering challenges when implementing this product at such lengths? This would be something I would be interested in pursuing long-term at large volumes. 

​The UV-C LED strip light can be daisy-chained using the PN 7096 daisy-chain connector up to 5 reels at a time. As such, you should be able to span distances up to 16.4 ft for each installation unit.

​Unfortunately, due to power supply and circuitry constraints, we would not be able to support longer distances. Therefore, a longer run of 50-60 feet would require multiple installation units (perhaps 3-4 separate runs).

Choosing between T8 LED Tube and LED Strips for an Existing Electrical Boxes

I'm trying to choose between tube and strip lights and I need info on how I can hook it into my existing ceiling outlet box. 

While each installation can differ, we generally recommend using our LED tube lights if there is an existing 4-ft fixture already in place. Our LED tube lights can be used without a ballast and therefore can be used without any additional electronic components.

LED strip lights, on the other hand, can provide you with some additional versatility and installation options. This approach, however, will require additional wiring and configuration, including power supply units and LED strip assembly.

I have six separate track lights on separate dimmer switches. The reasons they interest me are that they look to be very low profile and you have a 99 CRI strip light but only 95 CRI tube lights. Are there any other advantages or disadvantages I should be aware of for strips vs ubes? If I go with the strip light option, what do I need to do? How does it connect to the end feed and will the extra transformer fit inside the end feed? Will I need new dimmer switches? I currently use these(Lutron CTELV-303P-WH Skylark Contour 300W Electronic Low Voltage Single Pole / 3-Way).

Since you don't have a fluorescent fixture at all, the LED strip light option is definitely worth considering.

The challenge with installing an LED strip light in a location like this is that the existing track systems operate at a completely different voltage type and level. Typically, they are 120 volts or 12 volts AC, while the LED strip lights require 12 volts DC.

As such, the electrical wiring and systems inside the track lights will not be useful here and will need to be bypassed completely.

Below is a configuration diagram for a simple LED strip setup:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

You will see the TRIAC dimmable power supply, which is the key component here that you will want to determine where you can fit this in your current installation. It is a somewhat bulky device and you will want to ensure it is installed in a location compliant to local electrical code. (Most frequently, it is installed inside of a junction box mounted inside of the wall).

The TRIAC power supply appears to be 9 inches, so it won't fit in the current electrical box in the ceiling. Could I just purchase your junction box and attach it to the ceiling? Do you sell it in white? Alternatively, I could install the TRIAC in the attic near the switches, but then it would need to feed into the current wires that run to the ceiling position. I'm thinking that those standard wires must be different than the ones needed for the DC, is that right? If so, I guess the TRIAC has to go right next to the strip lights. 

We are not sure about the electrical code requirements and considerations of mounting the junction box on the ceiling, so that is something you will want to confirm before going down that path. The junction box is unfortunately not available in any other colors.

The concern with installing the TRIAC dimmable power supply far from the LED strip lights is that large distances between the power supply and LED strip lights can result in voltage drop, whereby the brightness of the LED strips become diminished by the reduction in voltage supply. Generally, we recommend keeping the LED strip sections within 32 feet of the power supply unit to reduce the impact of voltage drop.

My understanding is that your tube lights are not dimmable, is that correct? 

That is correct. We agree that the LED strips would be the best option for a dimmable + flicker-free lighting solution.

​Do you sell L pieces for the aluminum channel so I can turn corners with the flex strips?

Unfortunately we do not sell any "L" shaped corner pieces. The best way to accomplish this would be to solder wires directly between the LED strip segments that meet at the corner. The aluminum channels can also be cut at 45-degree angles to create a gapless 90-degree turn.

​Do I need the centric series power supply rather than the triac to get flicker free? 

​The most recent batch of TRIAC dimmable power supplies is also now rated flicker-free. Therefore, you will be able to use the TRIAC dimmable power supply and achieve flicker-free and dimmable light output.

​Do you sell a junction box that covers the centric? 

​We do not sell a junction box for the CENTRIC SERIES power supply. We would recommend going with the TRIAC dimmable power supply since it also provides flicker-free light output.

Can I connect two separate 8 foot strips to one power supply? 

Yes, they can be connected "in parallel" - please see the blog post below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/connecting-led-strips-in-series-vs-parallel

I'm just about ready to order the absolute strip. I'm still trying to decide on whether to go with 6500k or 5000k. What connector will I need for that? 

Both the 5000K and 6500K should be good options for you. Here is an article, in case you haven't had a chance to yet see it, that might help you make a more informed decision one way or another:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/art-painting/difference-between-5000k-and-6500k-bulbs

Once the LED strip is cut, it cannot be re-joined using the pre-mounted female DC cables. They can be re-joined using the PN 3071 accessory that you have correctly identified.

Difference between NorthLux and D50 A19 Bulbs

I ordered the NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio - 1-Pack / 5000K and D50 5000K A19 LED Bulb for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) - 1-Pack / E26 (North America). Are they the same product? 

Regarding the products mentioned, we can confirm that the NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio and the D50 5000K A19 LED Bulb for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) are the same product.

We do apologize for any confusion caused as the product is shown on multiple pages for marketing purposes. This can be noted by the shared part number (4005.D50) listed in the item description for both products.

I have a new question about the aluminum channel for LED Flex Strip. How are the corner channels mounted? I only see the mountings pictured for the flat channel.

We're happy to confirm that the Aluminum Channel for the LED Flex Strip product arrives with installation accessories, including ten mounting brackets and screws that can be used for affixing the channels upon a surface.

Does High CRI LED Strip Light Flicker-free?

Does high CRI LED strip flicker-free? In that, if we use the dimmer, it will be flicker-free or not? We need to use your LEDs for our test equipment and we need to control the lux level with your diffuser, will it be recommended that any other products be available with you? 

We're happy to confirm that our LED Strip Lights are flicker-free when paired with a flicker-free power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip, as well as our FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer.

Please note that as our LED Strip Light products are available in both 12V and 24V versions, it will be important to select a compatible 12V or 24V power supply. 

LED Strip Lighting Layout

I am only putting the best into this place, so that means quality lighting. I am in a 19 x 16' space with 10' high ceilings and am curious as to what layout would be best. I plan on installing both the 4000k LED strip lighting alongside the red LED strip lighting for nighttime sessions. I will likely have both on during the day to put some Red back into the spectrum. When I install them, what is the recommended spacing between the two? Or have them right next to each other? I want what looks best and most balanced. 

Based on the measurements provided, we calculate that the space would be sufficiently illuminated by 14,960 lumens. As such, we might recommend utilizing 34 feet of LED Strip Lights in your studio space, which is just about two 16.4 ft reels of the LED strip lighting products, which emit 450 lumens per foot.

It might also be helpful to know that our 12V and 24V LED strip light products have maximum run lengths that can be powered by a single power supply. The maximum length for 12V is 16.4 ft, whereas the 24V maximum length is 32.8 ft.

As such, depending on the product selected, you will require a dedicated power supply of the matching product voltage. Further, each dedicated length and power supply will require a dedicated dimmer unit, in the event that you would like to dim the connected lengths of strip light products.

​We have attached a link below, which illustrates a common LED strip light configuration that utilizes multiple connected segments.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2201.5&py=-2227.5&pw=1403&ph=1455&s=0.1

Regarding light configuration, you may find that the ideal distance between the red and 4000K white LED strip lights may come down to personal preference and layout. As such, there is unfortunately not a precise alignment recommendation that we could make.

That being said, it might be helpful to know that many customers choose to install these lights along the ceiling perimeter to wash the walls in light.

While these LED strip lights can be installed in multiple ways, we also sell the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product which can be used for mounting the lights within corners or flat surfaces.

Do you have an Emission Spectra Data of LEDs

Do you have data on the wavelengths your LEDs emit? I am interested in something that emits a little bit of UV as well as visible light, ideally with varying intensity.

We do provide the spectral data on our LEDs which can be found on the Photometrics page, found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/

​We unfortunately do not have any products that simultaneously emit UV and visible light.

​For such applications, we would recommend using our UV LED products in conjunction with our standard white LED products. 

My application is in research and I am trying to get diffused, full-spectrum lighting in a small chamber (a paint bucket) to study varying fluorescence in biological samples. This also has to work in conditions with a lot of water, so I need to figure out a mobile power supply and computer controls if possible.

I will probably need around 4 strips in total. Is it possible to do a call where we can discuss setting up a power supply and perhaps which strips work best for this application? The most important part is consistent light output and ideally some control over intensity.

Our LED strip lights should be a great option for your needs. We do offer several options, including our ABSOLUTES SERIES in calibrated 5000K/6500K color options as well as our realUV LED strip lights which can provide the 365 / 395 nm wavelengths for the fluorescence effects you are looking for.

You also mentioned that you are after the ability to vary the intensity, and this is also something that can be accomplished via our flicker-free LED dimmer:

Below are some installation diagrams that you might find useful:

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

RGB LED Strip Light Solutions for Residential Lighting

I am interested in your RGB strip lighting solutions for a new home I am building. If I understand correctly, your 24V ColorSpace RGB may be a good solution for me. However I am a bit confused about a few aspects: This light strip only does one color at a time, correct? And if I connect multiple light strips together, they will all show the same color at the same time, correct? Can the strip also produce white light? If so, at what Kelvin and CRI? How many lumens/feet does this strip produce in various colors? Besides the power supply, what accessories are required for this strip light? Is a DMX controller required to control the color settings? I could not find the associated accessories on your website. Can you please show them to me?

First off, our RGB LED strips are not individually addressable. This means that the entire strip will emit one color at a time.

​Secondly, the LED strip is capable of emitting white light, but the color rendering and color temperature value precision would be inferior to a standard white LED. We would perhaps recommend our 5-in-1 LED strip as an alternative:

​The 5-in-1 LED strip light emits approximately 180 lumens per color (warm white / daylight) and has a 95 CRI rating, in addition to full RGB control. The product can be used with a DMX controller or a third-party 5-channel controller such as the one linked below:

​https://www.amazon.com/GLEDOPTO-Controller-Compatible-SmartThings-Lightify/dp/B07R32CS17

Each 16.4 ft reel should be connected to an individual power supply. The power supply is linked below:

Width of LED Strip Lights

How wide are the LED strips?

Our LED Strip Light products are designed to have a width of 0.394 inches (10 mm). 

Does Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light RoHS Compliant?

Can you advise if part number 7031.85 is RoHS compliant?

We are happy to confirm that the Infrared 850 nm IR LED Strip Light product (PN7031.85) is RoHS compliant.

Will the voltage drop be visible at 24V and 20-ft run of Centric Home LED Strip Lights?

My power supply will sit at one end of my light strand only. If I run these strip lights a total of 20 feet at 24V, will the voltage drop be visible from the beginning of the strand to the end of the strand? Would you recommend that I run two legs from the power supply in parallel to cover the 20 feet? 3 legs? If so, what gauge of stranded wire would you use for the leg(s)? 

The 24-volt versions of the CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights are rated with a maximum run length of 32 feet. As such, we do not anticipate any voltage drop issues for a 20-foot run. We use 4-oz copper for the LED strip circuits, which allows for a much higher current carrying capacity, thereby reducing the potential for voltage drop that you may have seen with lower-cost products available elsewhere.

​The product draws 5.5 watts per foot, however, so we would recommend ensuring that the 20-foot run is powered by a power supply with approximately 120 watts or higher capacity (5.5 watts/foot * 20 feet * 110% overhead).

​Depending on the installation location, you may also need to consider Class 2 circuitry compliance, for which the primary requirement is that a circuit does not exceed 96 watts in power draw. 

LED Strip, Power and Control for Under Cabinet Lighting

I wanted a tunable light under the cabinet. My preference would be if could dim the lights at the switch, but control the "color" of the light with an app. Is this possible? We have three individual cabinet areas: 1) 80" span with a 30" gap over the stop and then continues for another 18" (we would not need to light under the stove) 2) 52" span (nothing special here) 3) 74" counter span (nothing special here, either) What products do we need to accomplish this? 

Our FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights are designed for cinematography applications, but they could certainly be repurposed for an under-cabinet installation.

A very nice feature of the FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip lights is the ability to change the color temperature of the lights between 3200K (warm white) and 6500K (cool white). This will, however, require some additional third-party controllers to achieve, and would not be compatible with a wall-dimmer installation.

For under-cabinet installations, most of our customers utilize a single-color LED strip light installation using our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights. While this product is fixed at a single color temperature, this product may be better suited for an under-cabinet installation as the color temperature options of 2700K or 3000K are better suited for residential installations. Additionally, it can be hard-wired to a wall switch, and also includes UL safety ratings for permanent residential installations.

Below is a link to an example installation diagram along with a parts list, which you may find helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

Based on the cabinet dimensions we have approximately 18' linear feet of cabinets in three unique areas that will need lighting. Do we need three reels and three power supplies or could we do two reels and three power supplies?

The LED strip reels can be cut into shorter lengths, so the two reels with three power supplies sound like a better option for you!

​The two reels will provide you with sufficient length to cover 32.8 ft, which is more than the 18 feet required for your cabinet dimensions.

​In fact, a single reel will provide you with 16.4 ft, so if you are OK with shortening the LED strip lights for some of your cabinets (the LED strip lights most likely do not need to go all the way from one end of the cabinet to the other), that might also save some of your cost as you would be able to use just a single reel instead of two.

Here is an example layout diagram that you may find helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

We're not sure if we need the 12V or 24V, and also do we need a junction box with the power supply?

I also want to confirm our dimmer switches will be compatible with this. Below are two different dimmer switches I'm planning to purchase:

Lutron MACL-153M-TP Maestro

Lutron MRF2-10D-120-TP Maestro 

Both the 12-volt and 24-volt versions will work OK for your installation, but generally, we recommend our 24-volt versions as they perform slightly more efficiently than their 12-volt counterparts. For additional details, you may find our article below helpful:

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

The junction box is an optional accessory for the power supply but can be useful for mounting the power supply safely and securely.

In terms of dimmer compatibility, our dimmable power supplies are designed to work with the majority of Lutron and Leviton dimmers. Below is a list of all dimmers we have tested for compatibility:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We do see both the MACL and MRF2 series dimmers on our tested list (I believe the letters and digits that follow are designators for non-electrical variations such as color, etc), so I do believe that either of those options should work well for your installation!

I don't believe we have any further guidance or recommendations, but you may want to review the following layout map for a visual preview of what you have in mind for the installation configuration:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

Full Spectrum LED Lights for Home Gym and Film Studio

I am converting a barn into a home gym that will also be used as a film studio to create content. I've been told that full-spectrum LED lights would be ideal. Hoping you can guide me to determine if your products are right, and which ones to choose. 

Based on the details that were provided for your gym and studio space, there are a few products that we might recommend. We would be more than happy to provide further details and advice about each product mentioned upon request, as well.

For example, we sell the NorthLux™ 95 CRI LED Shop Light Fixture, which is a great option for installations where non-permanent lighting options are preferred, as it can be easily re-arranged and mounted using the included hanging chains and hooks. This integrated product requires no accessories and can be daisy-chained with other units, but it is unfortunately not compatible with dimmers.

If you would prefer to utilize new T8 tube light fixtures in your space to have the benefit of easily swappable lighting, we might recommend the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio products.

Further, we also offer our LED strip light products. As an overview, these products are sold in reels and are compatible with in-wall power connections and wall dimmers. These strip lights can be configured in multiple ways and can be mounted using products such as our aluminum channels. These lights are also compatible with third-party lighting systems such as Lutron Caseta.

For more information regarding our LED strip lights, we have attached an article from our website below.

LED Strip Lights: Everything you need to know before you buy: https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-strip-lights

By using our lumen estimation calculator tool, we estimate that the space described would be fully illuminated by 18,821 lumens. As each product emits a different amount of light, we might recommend either 5 LED shop light fixtures (at 4200 lumens emitted per fixture), 11 T8 LED tube lights (at 1800 lumens emitted per light), or 42 feet of LED strip lights (which emit 450 lumens per foot) for your space as options.

How to cut the LED Strips into smaller segments?

I'm trying to build a small light panel, and am wanting to cut the LED strip into smaller segments. However, I am wanting to cut at every soldered joint for the build. I'm wondering if it's possible to do so without needing to desolder the joint and if just plain cutting will make it hard to resolder those ends with wires for the end product. 

While most of the LED strip cut lines do not have any solder on them, the LED strip reels are assembled in approximately 19.6 inches (50 cm) sections at the factory, and these cut lines will have solder on them.

Directly cutting through the solder is certainly an option and will not affect the reliability or longevity of the product. You will likely want to ensure that the scissors or knife that you use are sufficiently sharp, and as always, please be sure to exercise caution when cutting.

The solder can then be re-used to connect wires and other accessories. If using our solderless connectors, the solder will prevent the LED strips from sliding into the connectors, so we would recommend avoiding this cut-line altogether.

I keep getting confused by series and parallel wiring methods for LED strips, so I have come up with a wiring diagram that I'd like to run by you.

I have attached the diagram below, and it is one Hybrid tape reel split into 10 x 50cm sections that are cut at the soldered points. From what I have gathered from your website, it is still a parallel circuit, even though it appears to be a series circuit with daisy-chained soldered points. It looks like the easiest and most effective way to connect the small strips so far, so please let me know if this is actually very wrong!

We have indeed confirmed that this is what we would call a "series" wiring configuration, though as you correctly mention, the LED sections are still wired in parallel from an electrical circuitry standpoint.

This is the exact wiring configuration that comes to mind when one suggests connecting 10 x 50 cm hybrid LED strip sections, in "series." We do not foresee any issues with this configuration and I think you are good to go!

As we had discussed before, unfortunately, the 50 cm sections will overlap exactly with the pre-soldered ends, so you will need to cut through the solder and solder those wires onto those sections.

Do you have a flicker-free controllers for the RGB LED strip lights?

I have epilepsy so I’m very interested in these flicker free LED’s. I want the RGB color changing LED strip. Do I have to get the FilmGrade one to get the flicker free or does the ColorSpace give me flicker free as well? 

Unfortunately we do not offer any flicker-free controllers for the RGB LED strip lights, so that this will be much more challenging to accomplish a flicker-free LED strip set up.

​On the other hand, the FilmGrade White LED strip lights can be controlled with our FilmGrade power supply and FilmGrade LED dimmer, providing for completely flicker-free light output. Please see below for a installation diagram for your reference:

​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

LED Strip Lighting for Floating Shelves

I want to use strip lighting on 4 individual shelves, 2x2ft, and 2x3ft. Two shelves are mounted on either side of the TV. I want to use the existing wall switch for on/off and feed power from the attic down as I’m on the slab. Ideally, I would like to have voltage conversion in the attic and feed 12v/24v wiring out a hidden hole behind each shelf to led strips. Can you provide suggestions and equipment list? 

Based on the details provided, it appears that your installation can be accomplished using one unit of the 16.4 ft reel of LED strip lighting product divided into the 2 and 3 ft segments, as well as one unit of the TRIAC dimmable power supply in order to connect the LED strip lights to the wall switch and wall wiring. 

​It might also be helpful to note that our LED strip light products are available in both 12V and 24V. As such, it will be important to select the appropriate power supply voltage option.

​You may also find value in the below wiring products, which can be utilized for connecting the power supply to the LED strip lights, as well as connecting the LED strip segments together. 

​16 AWG Wire for LED Strip Lights - 33 ft / 10 meters: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/16-awg-wire

LED Strip to Wire: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/led-strip-to-wire-solderless-connector-for-single-color-led-strip-10-pack-1

LED Strip to Strip: https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/led-strip-to-connector-solderless-connector-for-single-color-led-strip-10-pack

I have also attached a link to a layout map below which illustrates the configuration closest to the description provided. ​

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2255.5&py=-2110.5&pw=1511&ph=1221&s=0.1

LED Strips and Accessories for Under Cabinet Lighting

For under cabinet lights, I believe I have everything needed. Please check this and make sure I have everything needed and recommend any additional items or different items that would be better. The kitchen lights would have two zones, each turned on and off individually. Off of one power supply and one dimmer, there would be two parallel light loops each with its own on/off switch. 

PN 3003.27 (16 ft), PN 3092 , PN 3081 , PN 7094 , PN 3060 

We've reviewed the proposed purchase list and confirmed that the items are sufficient for your installation. During checkout, please be sure to select the correct 24-volt LED strip light option (PN 3004.27) to pair with the 24-volt power supply (PN 3092).

​In terms of the required components and parts, it appears that our installation diagram shown in the link below would be the closest representation of the proposed installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2D?px=-2154&py=-2089&pw=1308&ph=1178&s=0.1

​The main difference, of course, is the single LED strip run as opposed to the two separate runs you have in your proposal.

​With respect to the two parallel runs that are to be switched separately:

I plan on using a 110V AC wall switch as with a shallow box it tucks up underneath the cabinet, is hardly visible, and works very well. I don't see any switches like this on your website so if this switch won't work could you suggest a switch (with a mount if necessary) that will fit under the cabinet?

Would the power supply be harmed if the output is an open circuit?

As for the power supply, FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip 3092, can it mount in the cabinet above the microwave?

Can extra end caps and mounting brackets be purchased?

From an electricity perspective, I do not see any concerns and agree with you that the switch should be able to handle 24 volts and 5 amps. If there are electrical code compliance concerns, however, I would be sure to double-check as I know there tend to be some strict requirements in terms of product fit, even if it may be deemed safe from an electrical and fire safety perspective.

We, unfortunately, do not sell and switch products, but I would perhaps recommend searching for a third-party supplier for a dedicated DC switch. I do recall seeing a few "DC inline style" switches that could be used, for example, this product here (please check for max current limitations).

Next, if we have understood your question about the open circuit correctly, there will be no issues in terms of power supply damage or reliability. The open circuit would be electrically equivalent to powering the power supply without plugging it in anywhere (as is common with laptop chargers, etc).

Generally speaking, the power supply does require open airflow for sufficient cooling. However, if running the LED strips at 48 watts, the heat generated will be limited and should not be a concern for the suggested installation.

Yes. We do sell extra mounting brackets and end caps as separate items. Please see the product page below:

Do you have different product variants that allow the LED strips to lower brightness? 

We are interested in purchasing an LED strip we previously bought an LED strip with 9W 24V and 3000K. But after fitting it inside the LED profile and fixing it inside a kitchen cabinet it's still too bright that we have to cover it with silicon inside. Kindly advise if you have something suitable for our needs.

​Unfortunately, we do not have any different product variants that would allow for lower brightness. We would recommend one of two options:

LED Tube vs Strip Lights: Which should I choose?

I'm trying to choose between LED Tube and Strip Lights, and I need info on how I can hook it into my existing ceiling outlet box. 

While each installation can differ, we generally recommend using our LED tube lights if there is an existing 4-ft fixture already in place. Our LED tube lights can be used without a ballast and therefore can be used without any additional electronic components.

LED strip lights, on the other hand, can provide you with some additional versatility and installation options. This approach, however, will require additional wiring and configuration, including power supply units and LED strip assembly.

I actually have six separate tracks on separate dimmer switches. They connect to the ceiling wiring through the standard round plastic end feed box that is recessed into the ceiling. Are there any other advantages or disadvantages I should be aware of for strips vs tubes?

If I go with the strip light option, what do I need to do? How does it connect to the end feed and will the extra transformer fit inside the end feed? Will I need new dimmer switches? I currently use these (Lutron CTELV-303P-WH Skylark Contour 300W Electronic Low Voltage Single Pole / 3-Way).

Since you don't have a fluorescent fixture at all, the LED strip light option is definitely worth considering.

The challenge with installing an LED strip light in a location like this is that the existing track systems operate at a completely different voltage type and level. Typically, they are 120 volts or 12 volts AC, while the LED strip lights require 12 volts DC.

As such, the electrical wiring and systems inside the track lights will not be useful here and will need to be bypassed completely.

Below is a configuration diagram for a simple LED strip setup:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A

You will see the TRIAC dimmable power supply, which is the key component here that you will want to determine where you can fit this in your current installation. It is a somewhat bulky device and you will want to ensure it is installed in a location compliant to local electrical code. (Most frequently, it is installed inside of a junction box mounted inside of the wall).

The TRIAC power supply appears to be 9 inches, so it won't fit in the current electrical box in the ceiling. Could I just purchase your junction box and attach it to the ceiling? Do you sell it in white?

Alternatively, I could install the TRIAC in the attic near the switches, but then it would need to feed into the current wires that run to the ceiling position. I'm thinking that those standard wires must be different than the ones needed for the DC, is that right? If so, I guess the TRIAC has to go right next to the strip lights. 

Do you all plan to offer tube lights with 99 CRI soon?

We're not sure about the electrical code requirements and considerations of mounting the junction box on the ceiling, so that is something you will want to confirm before going down that path. The junction box is unfortunately not available in any other colors.

The concern with installing the TRIAC dimmable power supply far from the LED strip lights is that large distances between the power supply and LED strip lights can result in voltage drop, whereby the brightness of the LED strips become diminished by the reduction in voltage supply. Generally, we recommend keeping the LED strip sections within 32 feet of the power supply unit to reduce the impact of voltage drop.

​We are hoping to be able to incorporate our 99 CRI LED technology in our LED tube lights in the future, but we do not have any firm release dates on that at this time.

Are the FilmGrade LED Strips able to be cut into shorter sections?

Are the FilmGrade LED strips able to be cut into shorter sections? And if so, what accessories would I need to make each section work independently? Would each segment need its power source, or could I link them, if so, what would I need to purchase to achieve that? Lastly, is there a way I could synchronize or program multiple strips together? 

Our FilmGrade LED strip lights can indeed be cut into shorter sections, in 1 or 2-inch intervals (depending on whether you select the 12-volt or 24-volt option). They can be reconnected using our solderless connectors, or ordinary low-voltage wire and solder.

Below is a connectivity diagram showing how multiple sections can be joined together to a single power source:

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

If you do need the sections controlled independently (e.g. one section is off while the other is on), you will require separate power supplies for each section.

Addressable LED Strip Lights

I didn't read on your website that the LED strips are individually addressable. Could you please confirm that it's the case? I'm particularly interested in true strips. 

Thank you for reaching out. Unfortunately our LED strip lights are not individually addressable. This means that all of the LEDs will be synchronized in terms of brightness and color, and cannot be individually controlled.

LED Lights with Motion Sensor Integration for Staircase Lighting

I'm looking for help with the product and layout (motion sensor at the top and bottom). I would like to run up one side, cross over (remodeling staircase) up the other handrail, and snake thru the wall to the adjacent room with the power supply. 

We currently do not have any motion-activated products, but we do offer a range of 95 CRI LED strip lights that should be a great fit for your staircase installation. Please see below for the product link:

Additionally, we have some configuration illustrations which may help determine which components should be installed. I suspect that our Layout Map 3001-1B may be a close match to the installation you have in mind. Please see below for the link:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

Dimmable LED Lights for Kitchen Cabinet Installation

I have an electrician coming after the first of the year to install uplighting above my kitchen cabinets. Any suggestions? Would like it hardwired. Dimmable too? 

Our LED strip lights have been a very popular option for under and above cabinet lighting installations. Please see below for the product link.

This installation can indeed be hard-wired and dimmable. Please see below for an installation diagram that shows the components and configuration needed:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

High CRI and R9 Lighting for Textiles and Leather

I make handbags that incorporate textiles and leather. I need to get accurate color when photographing my pictures. I am taking pictures myself and am not a professional photographer. Is there any LED lighting that you can recommend? I’m taking pictures indoor. I also have an adapter that can fit LEDs into a soft box. I’ve tried natural light but I’m trying to get consistent pictures for my online website. 

Based on the details provided, there are a few products that we might recommend depending on your ideal installation method.

The primary product that we might recommend is the 99 CRI ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product. This product feature light which is virtually indistinguishable from natural daylight, which could prove to be useful with your photography.

Alternatively, in the event that you would prefer to use traditional light fixtures, we might recommend our NorthLux™ 95 CRI BR30 LED Bulb for Artwork & Studio products. However, please note that this product is currently backordered.

As a final recommendation, our NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixtures can be easily mounted in multiple configurations, and contain integrated lighting within the product housing, which reduces the amount of required accessories.​

Lifetime (L70) of FilmGrade LED Strips

What is the LED lifetime (L70) for your FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights (3200K and 6500K)? 

Our tests for the FilmGrade White LED strip lights show an expected L70 lifetime of > 36k hours based on TM-21 projection methods.

Can the Centric Series Power Supply handle (2) units of 16' LED Strips?

We would like to connect two 16' CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights in series to one CENTRIC HOME Flicker Free Dimmable power supply. Can the CENTRIC SERIES Flicker Free Dimmable power supply handle this, or would we need two power supplies (one for each 16' strip light)? 

We can confirm that the 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product has a power output of up to 120 W.

Further, we can confirm that the 24V CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential have a maximum combined length of 32.8 feet (10 meters).

As such, a power supply that has a greater power output than our 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip products could be used to supply power for a combined 32.8 feet of the 24V LED strip lights.

Alternatively, as mentioned, you may want to consider a dedicated power supply for each 16.4 ft reel of the LED strip light product.

LED Strip Lights for Living Room Installation

I'm trying to buy "CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential". I'm planning to use "Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip - 5 PACK" Can this be set up by someone like me? And what other products do I need to purchase?

The CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential product is available in both 12V and 24V. As such, it will be important to select a compatible 12V or 24V power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

​It might also be valuable to know that the LED strip lights have a maximum combined length that can be powered, which varies depending on the voltage selected. For the 12V product, the maximum combined length is 16.4 ft (5 meters). For the 24V product, the maximum combined length is 32.8 ft (10 meters).

If you would like to dim the lights, you can utilize the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product, which can be connected between the LED strip lights and the power supply.

To connect the LED strip light segments, you can combine both the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter as well as the LED Strip to the Wire product.

I have attached a link below that illustrates the configuration I have described in greater detail:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2B?px=-5007.5&py=-4686.5&pw=1511&ph=1221&s=0.125

Temperature & Humidity Rating of DC Plug Adapter (PN 7095)

I'm looking for the temperature and humidity rating/ranges on your Male DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapters (PN 7095). Also, do you have any spec sheets, drawings, etc. on this product?

The operating temperature range for PN 7095 is -25˚C to +85˚C , and the humidity range is 45~85%.

​Unfortunately we do not have any additional drawings or technical specs on the product at this time. 

LED Dimmer Compatible with Centric Daylight LED Strips

I have one Centric Daylight Strip that I would like to be able to dim without flickering. There is a possibility that I may add more strips later and I would want to be able to dim all of the strips at the same time. Can film grade dimming be accomplished using a standard wall dimmer or is there a way to gang the Film Grade Dimmers?

The FilmGrade dimmer is a standalone dimmer unit, so it would not be well-suited for use in an installation where synchronized dimming is required.

​As an alternative, we would perhaps recommend our TRIAC dimmable power supply units, which can be wired in parallel and synchronously controlled from a single dimmer switch. The product provides the flicker-free output and you should see comparable flicker performance. Please see below for an example layout of how this can be accomplished:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

LED Strip Lights for Stair Lighting Installation

I have a staircase with 16 steps. Each step is 32" in length. They need to be hardwired to 120V. I want to have a timer so that they come on in the evening (7:00 pm) and off in the morning (6:00 am). Single color with blue being prefer, but white will also work. I'm having a difficult time putting this package together. Can you help by recommending the items that I would need for this project? 

To start off, our SimpleColor Blue LED strip lights sound like a great option for you. These LED strip lights feature just a single color light output and should provide you with the simplest lighting installation. Below is the product link for your reference:

In terms of spanning each of the 16 staircase steps, the configuration will require a bit of careful planning due to some limitations in the "maximum run length" per LED strip light.

​For the SimpleColor Blue LED strip lights, the maximum run length is 16.4 ft. If I have done the math correctly, this means that each run can cover 6 steps at a time (6 steps x 32 inches / step = 16 ft). In order to cover all 16 steps, you will require three separate runs, each powered with an independent power supply.

Depending on the distance between each of the stairs, you will likely want to use PN 3071, or a combination of PN 3070 + PN 7098.

​The power supply we would recommend in this installation would be our TRIAC dimmable power supply, which is designed to be hard-wired to the wires in your wall. To control the lights on a timer, you may want to consider using a "smart home" type dimmer switch such as the third-party Lutron Caseta, which can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times during the day.

​Below is a configuration diagram for our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights, which uses the same 12 volt low voltage architecture and may be useful for better visualizing the wiring needed to complete the installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C

Please note that you may want to consider using PN 7095 to connect the power supply output wires to the LED strip DC input jacks:

Finally, should you prefer a plug-in approach, our FilmGrade LED power supply can also be a nice alternative that can also be programmed using a third-party electrical timer similar to those used for Christmas tree lights.

Is the Film Grade DC Power Supply Compatible with different LED Strips?

I looked at the 24V plug-in transformer, and I noticed that it seemed to be specific to film-grade products. It is compatible with other strip lights such as the 95 CRI or 99 CRI 5000K products. The application I am using it for is a display cabinet that will not be hardwired. 

The 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip products is compatible with the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products.

However, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI - 16 ft / 5 m Reel product utilizes 12V, and would not be compatible with the 24V power supply.

Additionally, please note that an adapter such as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter would be required to connect the 24V CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights product wires to the barrel jack of the 24V power supply.

Will the CRI change when the LED Strips are dimmed?

If I reduce the brightness of a LED strip (dimming) will be the CRI the same as before? Or the CRI is a constant value, like a feature or how to define, a "passive skill" so does not matter that I reduce a 20W LED strip consumption to 10W and reduce the brightness highly, the CRI will stay constant, and the same as before? 

When LED strip lights are dimmed via PWM, the LEDs are pulsed "on" and "off" at a very rapid rate. During the "on" phase, the LEDs will exhibit the same color and spectral properties as when the LEDs are at full power. During the "off" phase, the LEDs are completely turned off.

(Here is some additional information on the PWM frequency as it relates to flicker-free dimming).

​With PWM, various brightness levels are achieved by adjusting the ratio of the time between the "on" and "off" phases (aka PWM duty cycle). Since the quality of the light during the "on" cycle remains the same regardless of the PWM duty cycle, we also see that the CRI value will remain constant across the dimming curve.

What if I use another dimming way, like resistance with a potentiometer? So when we control the current or voltage they will get, then what does happen with CRI? If so, then the only good way is PWM, but does PWM work only with a PWM receiver or can it work without a receiver? 

If you are looking to implement your own dimming solution, using a potentiometer or voltage splitter can be an option. With high-power LED strip light installations, however, this is known to be tricky due to the high amounts of energy that must be dissipated. (This is why PWM is usually the preferred method for dimming in high-power LED installations).

For an example of a PWM dimmer, please see our inline dimmer product below:

If you were to reduce the brightness of the LED using current or voltage reduction, you may see some changes to CRI. Based on the data I have seen, however, the changes are typically in the 1-2 point range and are not significant.

Do you have UV-B LED Light Strip Lights? 

I'm wanting to know if light strips in the UV-B frequency range are available. If so, what hardware might I purchase to power and control these?

Unfortunately, we do not have any LED strip lights in the UV-B wavelength range. All products are either in the UV-A or UV-C range. 

Absolute Series LED Strip Lights Testing Samples

I am looking to place an order for the Absolute Series flexible strip 16ft. The application will be for a custom product photography box. I need the best color production possible in my photos to represent the depth of the colors themselves. It seems the 5000k temp may be best for my applications but I can't decide between the 5k or the 6.5k temp. Do you have small samples of the LED strip of both temperatures you could send me so I could test them in my photo box? 

Unfortunately, we do not have samples of our products available at this time. We do offer a 30-day free returns policy and would recommend purchasing both to test!

RGBW LED Strip Light for Slat Wood Panels Wall

I'm planning on building a wall with slat wood panels. The slats will have a profile on the side which will house the RGBW lights. I'll need around 30 runs of 2.4m RGBW strips so the total length would be approx 80m. What's the best voltage to use on such a long length? Should I go for 12v? Also, can I power everything with just a 1500w power supply? 

Unfortunately, we do not currently sell RGBW LED strip light products at this time. Further, our LED strip light products have a maximum run length that varies between 16.4 ft (5 meters) for our 12V products, to 32.8 ft (10 meters) for our 24V products.

Due to this, our products would not be capable of being powered in a combined run of 80 meters.

Centric Daylight LED Strip Lights voltage drop questions

On this LED strip, if I power only one end with 24V, how far along would I see a brightness or color difference due to the voltage drop? Can I get 8 ft to look even/consistent without injecting power somewhere in the middle or tail end? Also, what would be better for a conference room? 4000K or 5000K?

Based on my calculations using our voltage drop calculator tool, it appears that the total voltage drop for an 8 ft length of this 24V product, which has a power draw of 5.5W/ft, would be approximately 0.029V.

At this voltage drop amount, we do not believe that there would be any diminished light output. Further, it might be valuable to know that the distance between the LED strip light reel and the power supply, as well as the gauge of wiring, will affect the voltage drop.

Do you have a 12mm Aluminum (corner) Channel?

Do you have a 12mm aluminum corner channeling for LED light strips? If you do, do they come in 3 ft or 6ft? 

Unfortunately, our aluminum channels are only available in 10mm at this time. 

Avian LED Strip Lights for Racing Pigeons

I raise racing pigeons. I need some Avian Strip Lights. I have 2 -4x8 sections for breeding that do not get enough natural lighting. I do have 2 ceiling lights I could put two screw-in bulbs for natural lighting in. What do you recommend at the price? Also, I would like to install a couple of strip lights. What do you have for that? 

Based on our calculations using our lumen estimation calculator, it appears that each 4x8 ft space would benefit from roughly 1,524 lumens. This means that your space should be sufficiently illuminated with 2 of the 6500K Avian Full Spectrum E26 A19 LED Bulb for Birds items, which each have an 800-lumen output.

If you would like to add additional lighting, we might recommend the 12V 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights, which match the 6500K color temperature of the avian bulbs. This product also has the benefit of being used with dimmers, which might be valuable for your installation. These light strips can also be mounted within our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products, which are available in flat and corner-shaped options.

Please note that this product does require the use of a 12V DC power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product.

However, as an alternative, we might also recommend the 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture products.

These products are designed for easy installation, can be daisy-chained together for power, do not require additional housing or power supplies, and contain LED lighting within the integrated fixtures. This option could also be less expensive than the LED strip lights after the additional costs of power supplies and mounting accessories are considered.

High CRI LED Strip Lights for Light Boxes

I have a design client that I'm working with on a living room update. The short story is that a series of 5 clerestory windows have had to be covered over because of a roofing change. I'm looking at the idea of converting the 'empty' overhead windows into lightboxes using high CRI-led strips to simulate the same overhead lights. I'd appreciate some guidance to make sure I spec the right products. 

Based on the details provided, there are a few different products that we might recommend.

If your client would like to simulate the different stages of natural daylight, we might recommend the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights product, which can be controlled remotely to achieve any color temperature between 3200K and 6500K.

This product can be controlled and adjusted using several different methods, such as an RF remote or Bluetooth app, which are described in the following article: https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography/how-to-connect-hybrid-cct-tunable-led-products

Alternatively, if a single color temperature output is preferable then we might recommend the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights.

Wiring Multiple UV LED Strip Lights

I have an application where I need to daisy chain 112ft of UV led strips (7021.95.5M) in 31" lengths in area 30" x 35". This would take 8 x 16.4ft lengths, but what's the power requirement of this, and what would be the best way to wire this? What other product numbers would I need? 

Our PN 7021.95.5M LED strip lights are very easy to set up and require just a plug-in power supply unit. Each power supply has a DC plug that can connect directly to the LED strip reel.

​Below is an example layout showing our 3.2 ft short reel (the 16.4 ft long reel would be configured the same): https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4A?px=-2155&py=-2617&pw=1310&ph=2234&s=0.1

​We've linked to the power supply product below:

Unfortunately, the LED strips cannot be daisy-chained past the 16.4 ft length per run. As such, you will need to utilize 8x separate power supplies to power the 8x reels of 16.4 ft. This is due to the internal circuitry as well as power supply capacity limitations when running low voltage electronics.

LED Lights Recommendations for Digital Photo Studio

I'm converting a utility room in our garage to be a dedicated digital photo studio. As such, I know I need much more controlled/accurate lighting. Note, that I do not plan to shoot photos/video in the room, just edit, evaluate, and display.The skylights have remote-controlled blackout shades. My initial thoughts about your products are as follows:

I was thinking of using your 16' LED strip mounted in an aluminum channel on the ceiling ridge, e.g. Centric Daylight strip 5000K. For the LED strips, do your aluminum channels have a system to interlock end-to-end or would you recommend other types of aluminum channels for reasonably diffuse light?

While the linear light fixtures could allow for an easier installation than the LED strip lights, the linear light fixtures are not dimmable. As such, your space might benefit from the LED strip light products, which allow for dimming functionality.

Further, the aluminum channel products unfortunately do not feature the ability to interlock. However, there may be third-party products available elsewhere which would allow for a continuous length of mounted LED light strips for installation along the trusses of the room.

I was thinking of using your FilmGrade Hybrid LED strip mounted in your corner aluminum channels mounted under the bottoms of the trusses in the photo to illuminate the right side wall where I would hang/display prints. How accurate are the hybrid strips in simulating various color temps, etc.? Equally important, what's a simple solution for a controller that would allow me to specify the desired color temperature and it would set the appropriate LED values? Is this doable, what would you recommend?

The FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights could be a great option for your space, and I am happy to confirm that this product can be used to simulate any color temperature between 3200K and 6500K by adjusting the intensity of each color temperature.

However, it might be valuable to know that a LED strip light product featuring a single dedicated color temperature is able to emit more light per foot than the individual colors of the HYBRID LED Strip Lights are able to. For example, the HYBRID LED strip lights emit 225 lumens per foot, per color, whereas the single-color FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights emits 450 lumens per foot.

This product can be controlled using several different methods. Though the easiest implementation would likely be to utilize a color tunable LED controller, which would allow for you to easily adjust each color point. The below article contains detailed descriptions for each configuration method available for the product.

How to Connect Hybrid CCT Tunable LED Products: https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography/how-to-connect-hybrid-cct-tunable-led-products

You sell your T5 Linear light fixtures (D50) in 4 ft. I was thinking of using a couple of those to set up a dedicated print viewing station. Your website says they are out of stock but will ship on 12/14. Is availability still accurate as I would like to go ahead and order them to start experimenting?

We can confirm that the 5000K 4-ft NorthLux™ 95 CRI T5 LED Linear Light Fixture product is currently expected to be available by December 14th. In the event that you would like to place your order prior to that availability date, we would process the shipment as soon as the items become available.

Do all of your 5000K lights actually meet D50 spec or only where specifically indicated?

Not all of our 5000K color temperature products are designed to be compliant with the D50 standard. However, if you had a specific product in mind, I would be happy to review the item to check for D50 compliance.

Anything else you would advise or suggest that I consider?

Regarding installation suggestions, the primary consideration which comes to mind would be to test the LED strip light products within the space prior to cutting the product into segments or installing them completely, as we are unable to accept returns for these products as soon as they have been cut or altered.

Our second suggestion is to keep in mind that the FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Strip Lights requires a 24V power supply.

Third, the HYBRID LED Strip Lights product has a maximum run of 32.8 ft, and draws a variable amount of power per foot depending on the color point adjustment. Details regarding this can be found on the product specification sheet. As such, you may want to consider a power supply which is capable of outputting enough power to accommodate the power draw needs of the lengths of your installation.

On the FilmHybrid LEDs, I saw the referenced setup with the two dimmers. But to use that, I need to figure out the dimmer settings that correspond to different Kelvin temperatures. I'm assuming to do that I would need to have a spectrophotometer that can measure incident light which I don't have. Is there another 3rd party solution that you could recommend that wouldn't be too complicated or expensive that would allow me specify the color temp and then set the appropriate values on the two LED channels of the hybrid film strip?

Any 3rd party aluminum channel manufacturers you recommend that might have interlocking sections? I'm still going to take a look at yours as well.

Unfortunately, the dimmer uses an analog dial to control the relative brightness levels of the two channels, so there is no way to digitally map the two output levels to a specific color temperature level. You may want to think of this as being similar to a traditional shower faucet, with one for hot and one for cold, without the ability to set a specific water temperature.

We are not aware of any third-party products or solutions that could incorporate our LED strip light to achieve the lighting controls you are looking for, but do hope to be able to offer such solutions in the near future. For the time being, we may recommend searching for cinematography and photography lighting products such as those manufactured by ARRI or Kino Flo, although these will likely be a much higher price point.

I've got a few questions on your 24V dimmable transformer that I purchased:

Is this designed to be driven at 100% rated load (96W) for a prolonged period of time? Is there any issue with splicing a pigtail and plugging it into an outlet (that has an AC dimmer upstream)? Is there a minimum load requirement on the transformer? Any issues if there is a GFI on the circuit?

The 24 volt dimmable power supply load is de-rated at 100% (full 96 watt capacity) until ambient temperatures exceed 105 F. Maximum allowable ambient temperature is 140 degrees F, at which the power supply output load is de-rated to 60% (59 watts capacity).

​We do not maintain a minimum load requirement on the power supply unit, but all dimmer tests are performed at 85% load.

With respect to your questions regarding installation through a wall outlet and the use of GFI components, I would consult with an electrician for further recommendations. From what I understand, there may be code compliance issues arising from:

From a pure electrical standpoint, I do not believe there would be any performance issues, but such installation methods would be beyond the scope of our safety and reliability assurances.

.

Recommended LED Lights for Building a Tower Floor Lamps

Building tower lamps pseudo shoji style with lighted section 34" high behind a 5.5" sheet of acrylic on all four sides. Either white or a remotely adjustable color would be kind of cool. Could you recommend your products I should look at? 

It's a bit difficult to provide exact recommendations given the unique nature of your lamps, but it does sound like our high CRI LED strips could work very well for you. The LED strips are offered in a wide range of color temperatures, all of which offer 95 CRI or higher, providing excellent color quality both highlighting the Shoji material as well as illuminating the surrounding area.

Unfortunately, we don't have any solutions for remotely controlled color temperature, though that is certainly something we would like to see implemented in the near future!

If the floor lamps are for residential and home use, we would generally recommend our 2700K and 3000K options, which I have linked to below:

For commercial or office spaces, you may want to consider a higher color temperature such as 4000K or 5000K:

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. 

Beam Angle of Centric Daylight LED Strip

I would like to know the beam angle of the Centric Daylight LED strip. I’m trying to light a display that’s 30” deep and approximately 24” below the valence holding the strip of LEDs. The valence is about 6” in front of the display shelf.

Our LED strip lights have a beam angle of approximately 120 degrees.​The math works out such that the coverage width is approximately equal to the distance away from the light source.​For example, if the LED strips are mounted 24 inches away from the illumination surface, the width of the illuminated area will also be approximately 24 inches.

If we've understood your installation location correctly, you're looking to illuminate a 30-inch width from 24 inches away. As such, we would perhaps recommend using multiple LED strip rows spaced apart, so that you can achieve even illumination across the 30-inch width.​This would be especially important if the objects on your shelf have any substantial height, as the effective distance between the top of these objects and the LED strips would be far less than 24 inches.

FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel - Transformer & Dimmers

Our architect specified your product - FilmGrade™ HYBRID LED Flex Panel. We have already purchased one panel and would need to order 7 more. We are also looking for a transformer that would be able to power 8 panels at the same time and two dimmers - one regular and one for switching the colors. 

Can you please advise on the product that would be suitable for this project? 

Our LED flex panel requires 50 watts per color to operate. If both colors are to be operated simultaneously, each panel will require up to 100 watts.​As such, 8 panels will require 800 watts to operate. This is a very high power capacity level and we, unfortunately, do not have any products which can support this configuration. Instead, we would recommend operating each panel with an independent power supply unit.

If we follow your recommendation and operate each panel with an independent power supply unit, would you be able to provide this unit?

Can you please advise on the quantity we would need and a price per one? 

Each power supply unit costs $49, and the link to the product can be located below.

Each of these power supplies would be sufficient for one panel. Therefore, for 8 panels, you will require 8 power supply units. You will also need a third-party controller to vary the color and output of the panel. (The sample setup you have from the one panel should simply be replicated by a factor of 8).

Can you please also advise if this power supply unit will work for dimming and color-changing? If not, will it be compatible with Lutron Caseta dimmer? 

Unfortunately, our product will not achieve the color-changing features you are seeking.​Do you have information on how you had the single-panel sample unit set up? Please let me know and I can assist in replicating that setup for you.

You mentioned earlier, that we would need a third-party controller to vary the color and output of the panel. Can you please advise if this device from your website can be used for dimming and color-changing? 

If not, can you recommend a different product? 

We want to be able to dim 8 panels from one dimmer at the same time, and also change the colors on all 8 panels from one device at the same time. 

We would recommend daisy-chaining eight of our DMX decoder units, controlled from a single DMX controller. Below is the product link:

LED Lighting and Dimmers for Laundry Room Lighting

I'm hoping you can help me a little with my laundry room lighting. Here are the specs: basement location - 1 small window in a well (almost no natural light). Room is 7.5' by 11.8', ceilings is 7.5' high (currently lit by a 4 t8 tube troffer fluorescent light in a drop ceiling). Block wall is off white -all wiring is surface wiring in conduit. 

Our high CRI LED products sound like a great fit for your retrofit installation, and the use of our LED strip lights in your fluorescent fixtures sounds like a great idea.​I don't foresee any issues from a performance perspective, but if there are any electrical code or inspection concerns, we would recommend confirming that this is a permissible installation method as regulations can differ depending on the specific inspectors as well as authorities having jurisdiction.

One alternative option would be to keep the fluorescent fixtures in place and utilize our T8 retrofit lamps, which offer the same level of color quality.

Should I use 2 strips or 4 by my calculations 4 would be giving me almost 8000 lumens, and this is not a baseball field. Will 2 strips look like 2 long blobs up there? or will I have even light over the troffer? 

I inputted the provided room dimensions into the lumen estimation calculator (https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator). Based on a target of 60 footcandles (which should provide you with a very nice level of brightness for most laundry-related tasks without being overly bright), the recommended lumen output for the lights would be approximately 6000 lumens.

​Your calculations are correct that four 4-ft rows of the LED strips would provide you with approximately 7200 lumens (450 lumens per foot * 16 feet). I do not think this is an unreasonable amount of light, especially if you have a troffer diffuser that will reduce the light output a bit.

I'm a little confused about dimmer options...I see that you have a triac dimmer compatible power supply. Are all wall dimmers triac? or just the standard incandescent ones. Do I still need to get an LED or other specialty dimmer from Lutron etc...i.e. low voltage electronic dimmer?

Most wall dimmers utilize TRIAC phase dimming, and our TRIAC dimmable power supply is compatible with most standard residential wall dimmers. Some of the most commonly seen wall dimmer brands include Lutron and Leviton. Please see below for a list of dimmers which we have tested compatibility for: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

 I was thinking I would use the 24 v option since I might like to run some of the strips in the hallway outside the laundry room and that would require a little more distance between the power supply and strip light. Does that make sense? I will be having an electrician do the actual installation.

Generally, 24 volts is almost always a better option when running longer wire connections. This is because a higher voltage option requires lower amperage, which is typically what causes voltage drop issues. For additional information on voltage drop, please see our article below: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/what-is-led-strip-voltage-drop

In order to connect my troffer strip to the next strip out in the hallway, I would use your 16 gauge wire that you sell by the spool, I believe. Would I be using the strip to wire pigtail connector that you sell? If so, how do I join the two wires? wire nuts in a junction box? or is there a way to solder the wire to the strip at either end and add a cover for protection?

The best way to accomplish this connection would be to use our PN 3070 solderless connector, joined to the 16 AWG wire using wire nuts. Please see the screenshot below, taken from the layout maps found at this link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

You may of course also forgo the PN 3070 component and solder the 16 AWG wires directly onto the LED strip copper pads as needed.

Also, is it possible to buy smaller quantities of the various connectors? I don't want to buy 10 if I only need two.

Unfortunately the connectors are pre-packaged packs of 10 and we would have no way to offer just two of them. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Aluminum Channel Dimensions

I am looking for the outside and inside (maximum width of the light strip) dimensions of both the corner and flat aluminum channel. 

Below are the dimensions of the product you requested:​Flat Channel - 0.43" inside, 0.69" outsideCorner Channel - 0.43" inside, 0.63" outside

LED Lights for Volumetric Lighting

I need to light a volume about the size of a phone booth. Besides the task lighting, I want to include some indirect lighting that can be adjusted to fill the volume. I also need that lighting to have the capability of reducing the blue wavelengths for sleep prep. Our current design would place LED strips behind diffusers or some barrier along all the interior corners of this box. Can you recommend something?

The 95 CRI 2700K LED strip lights have a relatively low amount of blue light and should be a great option for the current design. The product link is below:

One option that would further reduce blue light exposure would be to use our amber or red color LED strip lights, which contain no blue light whatsoever. I've included those product links below:

Recommended LED Strip Lights with a brightness level equivalent to a Retail Showroom

I am interested in the LED strip lights to light an area 15m long by 6m wide and 2.8m ceilings to a brightness level equivalent to a retail showroom. The calculator says I will need approx 42,000 lumens however I want to confirm that the led strip lights will be suitable. The purpose of the room is mostly storage for area rugs; however, customers regularly request more photos, so colour-accurate lighting throughout the entire area would be ideal. If I was to run two lines of the led strip lights from one end to the other which would equal about 6 reels total, would this actually light the area to the required level? Other than the 6 reels what else would I need to install this? 

To confirm, I've also run the numbers on my end based on the dimensions provided (converted to approximately 50 x 20 ft = 1000 square feet).

​The 42,000 lumens would provide you with approximately 40 footcandles, which is a great brightness level for general color evaluation, especially for larger surface areas such as rugs

Each reel emits approximately 7500 lumens, so the 6 reels sounds like a great target (7500 lumens per reel x 6 reels = 45,000 lumens). Each 16.4 ft (5 meter) reel requires its own power supply, so you will also need to purchase 6 power supply units.

I've linked to some example layouts which show how the power supplies can be connected for a non-dimmable, and dimmable setup, respectively:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2A?px=-2183&py=-2023&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.1

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C?px=-2183&py=-2023&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.1

Going with the same target of approx 43,000 lumens and using the linear light fixtures I would need 24 fixtures however I am not sure of the difference between the Northlux 95 CRI and the D50 for color matching, is there a benefit of one over the other for my use case?

Both the NorthLux and D50 T5 linear lights are actually the same product listed on different product pages for marketing purposes (PN 4026.4F.50) - sorry for any confusion!

We will also be creating content for social media, photos and videos (will the lights flicker?).

Our next batch, expected to be available in Feb 2021, will be 100% flicker free and will be suitable for photography.

We would like to have the warehouse look like it is a bright naturally lit room, and are considering the 5000K colour temperature.

This sounds like a great choice! 5000K is generally a nice, neutral light color that approximates noon sunshine. (6500K would be closer to north-facing blue sky).

We will be running the fixtures down two rows the length of the warehouse approx 1.5m from the sidewalls, if we ran 12 along each side would this create the evenest lighting or is there a better method? 

The best way to achieve even lighting would be to space out the fixtures as evenly as possible. Of course, with wiring and aesthetics that may not always be realistic. If I recall correctly, you had mentioned that the width of the space is 6 meters, so running the fixtures 1.5 meters (or perhaps 2.0 meters) from the walls would indeed provide sufficiently distributed light.

How many lights can be daisy-chained together? how many fixtures can be grouped per power plug, and do you have international plugs available at all?

The maximum connection is 70 feet (21 meters). If using the 4-ft fixtures, this would work out to approximately 17 fixtures per daisy-chain link. Unfortunately, we do not provide any additional plug converters, but you may also want to consider locating a C8 plug wire locally, should you prefer avoiding the use of a plug adapter.

LED Strip Lights for Copying Film with DSLR Camera

I'm planning on replacing the fluorescent tubes in the 24"x36" light table I use for copying film negatives and positives with a DSLR camera. High CRI is important and I want to stay in the D50 or 5600k color temperature range. Do you have any recommendations or know of customer experiences for this kind of application? I'd like to do some tests with the FilmGrade and Absolute series, but I don't see a sample kit for the Absolute D50 lights.

Our D50 and 5600K light sources with 95/99 CRI sound like a great fit for your needs. While we do not have any specific case studies that we could point you towards, I'm confident that these specifications will optimize for color fidelity and accuracy in image capture.

You mention that the dimensions of the light table are 24" x 36" - in which case, it may not be feasible to fit our 4-ft T8 LED tube lights in the fixtures unless your light fixtures happen to be 48".

As you mention, our LED strip lights may be a great alternative option. While some additional assembly and wiring will be required, our ABSOLUTE SERIES D50 LED strip lights, or our FilmGrade 5600K LED strip lights could be installed into your current fixture and provide you with a nice improvement in color quality.

We unfortunately do not offer a sample kit for the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights. We do offer a free returns policy, however, so you may want to take advantage of that to test and compare the two products. All we ask is that you keep the LED strips in tact, including keeping the adhesive liner in place.

When evaluating the options for the Absolute LED series the linear modules 5 pack made the most sense for my application, both from a cost stand point and installation in the light table. The listing for the Absolute module 5 pack says they are individually packaged, but they are all on one board. There’s no way to properly compare the FilmGrade strip and the Absolute modules in the light table without separating the modules. Also there’s no information about how to separate the modules.

What should I do? I feel the Absolute linear module listing on the web site is misleading. From the listing I expected to get 5 separate Absolute modules. That would be easy to compare to the FilmGrade by putting two Absolute modules on each side within the light table and running the FilmGrade strip around the perimeter inside the light table. With the 5 modules on a single board it will be very difficult to get even lighting to compare to the FilmGrade strip.

The 5-pack of the ABSOLUTE SERIES are joined together along the long-edge, and can be separated by bending the modules along the score-line. They can be a bit difficult to separate, and may require a bit of force before they begin to loosen a bit.

The 5-pack modules are eligible for return even after they are separated into individual modules, so please feel free to proceed with the installation for testing. Should there be any need to return the modules, we would be more than happy to accept your return.

LED Grow Lights for under-cabinet and herbs and sprout seeds

I remodeled my kitchen and want perfect under-cabinet LED low profile strips but I want to grow herbs and sprout seeds on my kitchen counter, so am looking for full spectrum as close to daylight bright lighting. Which accessories do I choose of yours to build the perfect lighting in (4) 24” lengths and one 18” length? I have a dedicated switch on the wall to control them.

Based on the details provided, we can recommend our 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products. The 5000K light which is emitted by this product will be very similar to that of natural, bright daylight. 

To connect the individual LED strip light segments, we recommend the Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip products.

When this product is paired with the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, it can be adjusted and controlled using a wall dimmer product.

Here is a LayoutMap which illustrates this configuration, which might prove to be useful.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2321&py=-2245.5&pw=1642&ph=1491&s=0.1

We also offer the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products which can be used for easily mounting the LED strip lights. However, the lengths currently available may be too long for the LED strip light lengths that were described. As far as we can tell, one 16.4 ft reel of the LED strip lights, as well as one unit of the dimmable power supply, should be sufficient for your installation.

Absolute Series D65 LED Flexible Strip for Color Matching

Can your Absolute D65 modules be used for color matching? I see you offer D50 T8 lights for color matching, however, we require D65 for textiles. Do you have any plans to offer this light in D65? 

We're happy to confirm that our 6500K ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product is D65 Illuminant-compliant, and can be used for color matching.

We can also confirm that the 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio product is compliant with the D65 Illuminant standard as well.

LED Lighting Suggestion for Photography

I am looking for an equivalent of 50 W bulb D65 to screw in (for a dim room lighting 8'x13'x8'), another one around 75-80 W D50 also to screw into my desk lamp to hard proof my prints, and another one of around 3700K also for prints evaluation. 

While we, unfortunately, do not offer D65 bulbs that would into traditional lamp fixtures, we do offer the D65 ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Linear Module product, which might be an alternative depending on your installation.

We also offer the D50 5000K A19 LED Bulb for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product, as well as the D50 5000K T8 LED Tube Lights for Color Matching (ISO3664:2000) product, which may also be worth consideration. However, these D50 calibrated products are currently only available in the 5000K color temperature.

If I understand correctly, your lights are “full spectrum” eg 6500 K seems to be not far away from D65. Would it be wrong, if my display is on D65, to use one of your bulbs for my ambient light? centric? Northlux? Ultrahigh 95 jewelry? Avian? I do not see any difference between them except that one of them is Flickr-free but same price. 

If this does not work (800 lm could be too bright), and those LED are not dimmable without any further installation, another option could be bias lighting. I have an NEC PA302W: it is a 27.1 x 18 monitor on a stand. Should I use the sidewinder reels? How many? I understand a portion of 24” horizontally, and half of a foot on both sides with 1 reel. Will it be OK like that? Will it be necessary to use a dimmer? I have a black curtain on my window, so it is pretty dark when the door is closed.

We're happy to confirm that the majority of our products are indeed a full spectrum.

Further, we can also confirm many of our products are quite similar. If you have a specific set of products in mind to compare, I would be more than happy to explain the differences between them.

Regarding bias lighting, the Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip for D65 Bias Lighting product could be a great option for your space.

Based on the measurements provided of your monitor, we recommend two 3.2 ft (1 meter) units of the Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip product to wrap the back of the display in lighting, depending on the layout that you choose for installation.

This product can also be paired with a dimmer, in the event the level of the emitted light is too bright for all use cases. We recommend pairing this product with the 24V DC power supply, as well as the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product.

I am looking for a D65 bulb for the ceiling but that will be probably too bright as ambient light and this will send some light directly to my computer screen. Moreover, they are non-dimmable or necessitate an installation too complex for me. Anyway, there is a bulb over there, and I will choose one which is adapted; I am a photographer. Flicker-free? 

1. What is the difference between the lights?

Based on the details that have been provided of your space, the A19 bulb that I would primarily recommend would be the 6500K NorthLux™ 95 CRI E26 A19 LED Bulb for Art & Studio product, which was designed to be D65 Illuminant-compliant. This means that the product strictly aligns with a global standard designed for color work. However, please note that while many of our A19 bulbs are flicker-free, none of the A19 bulbs previously mentioned are dimmable. As such, these products may not be beneficial for your space.

That being said, we can confirm that some products are indeed the same item, such as the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ A19, as well as the Ultra High 95 CRI A19 bulb. This can be noted by the shared product number, listed as PN 4005.65. This is also true for some other products that we offer. 

​We do apologize for any confusion which may have arisen, as these products appear on multiple pages for marketing purposes.

2. How to connect the 2 strips: daisy chain? connectors?

We're happy to confirm that the Sidewinder™ LED Flex Strip product is designed with plugs on each end of the reel, which allows for the product to be daisy-chained together without additional hardware. I have attached a photo of the product, which may prove to be helpful. That being said, please note that a compatible 24V DC power supply, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product, would still be required.

3. What do you mean about “depending on the layout you choose for the installation”?

We do apologize for any confusion caused by my wording. Some bias lighting is installed as one horizontal strip behind the monitor. If this was the installation that you would prefer, we might recommend one unit of the Sidewinder product.

Alternatively, we have seen other bias lighting installed as three strips of lighting. Two vertical strips are applied to the back of the monitor parallel to the sides, and one horizontal strip is applied to the back of the monitor which runs parallel to the top. If this is the installation that you would prefer, we might recommend two units of the Sidewinder product.

How much UV Light does ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip produce?

I have this product- ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip, and it is great. I just want to know how much UV light it produces. How does this compare to the amount of UV light from the sun?

The ABSOLUTE SERIES products do not produce any measurable UV output when defined as energy < 380 nm. Below is our photometric report which you can reference and verify:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/TR_7001.50.pdf

Do you have White Light Diffuser and partial reels of CRI 99 LED Strip for Light Pad Design

I am designing a tiny light pad to rest on a 35mm negative film holder resting on a 35mm camera lens hood. (The camera is facing the ceiling.) 

1. Need a neutral white light diffuser that is grainless/textureless/featureless/tintless. Do you offer this?

We, unfortunately, do not offer any light diffusers as a standalone product. The closest option I can think of would be our aluminum channels, which include snap-on diffusers.

2. Don't know how many LEDs the light pad would need, maybe only one, or at what lumen. The negative, in its holder, is 1 inch from the lens. I desire an LED with a CRI of 99 and a similar R9, neutral white, ie, not an off-white with a blue, yellow, or green tinge. (Keep in mind that negatives have an orange tint that I don't want to worsen. Maybe there is an LED that lessens it?)

The best product from a photometric perspective would be our ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs, which offer 99 CRI and R9 > 90. The D50 / D65 color points should be a great fit for your needs, especially with respect to your concerns about color tint.

3. Then I have a concern that the LED light may damage the camera's CCDs, like when photographing the sun. So, what's the minimum lumen that would reveal all shadows and highlight details in a negative photo? 

We, unfortunately, do not have any data on this but believe that with sufficient distance away from the LEDs, damage risks should be minimal.

4.  If I don't need a $55 16-foot reel, can I order just one 1.6 inch segment, the connectors and appropriate power supply? If not, please point me to your retailers that do sell a short strip of your CRI 99.

We sincerely apologize, but we are unable to offer partial reels as we are not equipped to manage this from an inventory management as well as quality assurance perspective (LED strip reels are factory-sealed to reduce moisture exposure during warehousing and transit).

Also, we are a direct-to-consumer company and do not work with any retailers.

Do you have a 24-volt DC solution for the cleanUV UV-C LED Strip Light?

We have only 24V DC available in place, where we are planning to use this UV-C light. Do you have a 24V DC solution for this UV-C strip light? 

Unfortunately, we do not have any 24-volt DC configurations of our UV-C LED strip light products. If you do not have any other viable option, you may want to consider the following approach, which is not officially supported but may be workable, depending on your needs:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/pcb-designs/using-a-12v-led-strip-in-a-24v-system

Also, I have to ask for your help with UVC-dose calculations. You have very good specifications and data sheets, but this is a new thing for me. With this led strip, what is UVC-dose in a 50cm distance within 20 minutes? Do you have some program or formula to share, on how I could easily calculate UVC dose for shorter LED strips?

For the UV-C product, the exposure dosage charts can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/BP_7026_EXPOSURE.pdf

The nearest data we have is 30 cm at 15 minutes, for which the exposure dosage is 171 J/m2. For additional calculations, you may find our exposure dosage calculator below helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/uv-c-led/uv-unit-calculator

UV LED Strips Lights for Screen Printing

I am looking to build an exposure unit for screen printing. I am looking for strips of UV LED lights. I am not sure of the specs of the lights I need, but do you guys have any idea? Also, would I need a controller or anything from you guys for them?

We, unfortunately, don't have any official documentation or support for building a screen printing exposure unit, but we would be glad to offer suggestions and recommendations to the best of our ability.

We certainly have had customers successfully utilize our LED strip lights for screen printing applications. For example, here is a photo provided by one of our customers. Other product reviews on the product page may serve as an effective starting point or inspiration.

​It's a bit difficult to know "how much" UV is needed, as this can depend on a variety of factors such as the distance from the screen printing surface as well as the type of emulsion being used. If the emulsion material manufacturer has any discrete data on irradiance (typically expressed in mW/cm2) we may be able to provide additional guidance here.

While we do not have any test data on hand, we believe that 365 nm would be the superior choice given that it is a strong UV-A wavelength that should provide far more energy than 395 nm for curing and other photochemical processes. For further information, please reference our article comparing 365 nm to 395 nm.

The only essential components needed for the installation would be the LED strip reel itself, as well as a 12-volt power supply. The power supply can plug directly into the LED strip reel, and no controllers or any other equipment would be needed.

​If you were looking to build an array of LED strip lights, you may want to use our PN 3071 solderless connectors to join the cut LED strip sections. Our layout diagram along with product links can be found below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C

LED Lights to Stimulate Daylight for Winter Depression

I am looking for a lamp that simulates daylight as accurately as possible to combat my winter depression. 

I'm not sure exactly which light fixtures are being used in my house. They appear to be standard spot lights. I sincerely doubt there is anything special about them. I am looking for a colour temperature of about 5000K - 6500K.

I'm interested in your full-spectrum products. Whatever reproduces the spectrum of sunlight must be the best. Let's take the LED strip as the starting point and figure out a solution around that. I would also like it to be dimmable if possible.

The closest measurement I can get is 13 metres for my small room and 30 for my large room.

Based on your needs, it seems as though the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs at 6500K would be the best fit for you. From a spectral and chromaticity standpoint, this is the product that most closely resembles natural daylight at noontime, and should be an excellent choice.

​To address some of your questions about the technical aspects of the product:

Regarding the power supply, we can confirm that the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product would require a DC power supply for every 16.4 ft (5 meter) of length, such as our 12V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip. Our DC power supply is compatible with global input voltages (100 - 240V AC, 50-60Hz), though you may require an additional wall socket adapter. 

​Further, the ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip product can be paired with the FilmGrade™ Flicker-Free LED Dimmer product for additional dimming capability. 

Depending on your installation, we might also recommend placing the LED strip lights within an enclosure which features a diffusor, such as our Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product, which is available in 'flat' and 'corner' options.

​For a detailed illustration of the configuration options available for this product, the below links may prove to be useful:

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3D: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3002_3E: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2252.5&py=-2245.5&pw=1505&ph=1491&s=0.1

It is going to be pretty difficult to install a power supply for every 5 metres of strip. If I run a strip around my whole room, I'm going to have a huge number of power supplies everywhere. Is there some way to hide them?

Unfortunately, we don't have a proper recommendation to hide the power supplies. However, the cords for the DC Power Supply products are of a decent length, and could be helpful in hiding the power supply some distance from the LED strip lights.

Difference between FilmGrade and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI 5000K (D50) / 6500K (D65)

What is the difference between Film Grade vs. ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI 5000K (D50) / 6500K (D65)?

The primary difference between the FilmGrade and ABSOLUTE SERIES LED product lines is the color rendering index. The FilmGrade product line has a CRI rating of 95, while the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products have a CRI rating of 99.

Furthermore, the FilmGrade product line is offered in 5600K and 6500K, while the ABSOLUTE SERIES LEDs are offered in 5000K and 6500K.

Are these lights DC powered?

Yes, our LED strip lights and LED modules are powered via 12 volts or 24 volts DC. They will require a dedicated power supply to operate.

Do either of these lights flicker? 

If the LED strips and/or modules are powered via our power supply units, they will not produce any flicker.

Can I wire these lights in parallel (2 1-foot strips side by side)?

Yes, they can be wired in parallel, as long as the total connected length does not exceed the maximum power capacity of the power supply (e.g. do not exceed 16.4 ft for LED strips, in total). For additional information, please see our article below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/connecting-led-strips-in-series-vs-parallel

Or must I have a power supply for each strip of lights?

As long as the total power draw remains below the power capacity of the power supply unit, you should not see any issues. Below is a calculator which you may find helpful:

https://store.waveformlighting.com/pages/led-strip-power-supply-calculator-requirements

How can I order a sample 6-inch strip plus a power supply?

Please see below for the direct link to the 6-inch LED strip sample pack, which includes a power supply unit:

How can I link separate strips together? Do you have a picture of this showing the connector? I want to link 4 l foot strips side by side.

You may find our Layout Maps helpful. Specifically, see below for an illustration showing how multiple sections can be connected:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3E?px=-2183&py=-2023&pw=1366&ph=1046&s=0.1

Do the link connectors come in the 16-foot reel kit? 

The LED strip reel includes DC power ports pre-installed on both ends, so you will be able to connect the power supply directly to the DC port without any issues.​The PN 3071 solderless connectors can come in handy if you're looking to cut the LED strip reel into shorter segments and are looking to reconnect them.​Finally, the 6-inch sample pack also includes all of the components to set up a short 6-inch demo circuit.

Does Waveform make housings for these lights? Can these be cut?

Please see below for our aluminum channels which would be a great option for housing the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights:

Cuttability is not an officially supported feature of the aluminum channels, but I have had customers report that this can be done quite readily using a hacksaw.

Do you have a 23 foot long pure white LED Strip?

I have a wall that is 23' long. I want to place the aluminum Channel for the LED Flex Strip on the floor along the bottom of the wall using just a bright pure white LED. No blueish or warm tones. Just plain white. Do you have the length I am looking for in the LED? 

Depending on your installation, we might recommend a few options:

For example, one option could be to order two 16.4 ft (5 meter) reels of the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail product. While these products have a maximum run length of 32.8 ft which cannot be exceeded, you could connect two reel segments together in order to meet the 23 ft length required.

In this installation, we would also recommend selecting a third party power supply which can meet the 126 watt power requirement, as our 24V DC Power Supply products only offer 120 watts, and is therefor incompatible with the power requirements for the length described.

As another example, you could purchase two reels of the 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail product, as well as two units of our 24V FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product. In this installation, each LED strip light length would be powered by a power supply.

​We have recommended the 5000K color temperature option due to the cool white light which is emitted. This color point is typically perceived as being neither too warm, nor too blue. However, please note that we are happy to offer a 30 day return policy in the event that another color temperature winds up being preferable. 

In order to fully occupy the length of the 23 ft wall, it appears that 6 units of the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip product should be sufficient. However, as each unit of the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip is 3.3 ft (1 meter) long, we can imagine that there would be some amount of gap present.

Do you sell Absolute Series LED Products?

I'm looking for an LED to use in a measurement tool that we're building internally. We found your ABSOLUTE series which, looking at the spectral characteristics would be a great fit, due to the uniformity of the spectrum and how quickly it ramps up around 400nm. Do you sell individual LEDs with these characteristics? And if not, how viable is it to buy a strip and desolder them? Can you provide some technical information on these LEDs - like the physical dimensions of individual ones, their electrical characteristics, etc? 

We unfortunately do not sell the individual emitters on our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products, and correspondingly, we do not provide any technical documentation on the LED emitters.

While I unable to provide any further guidance in an official capacity, I can attest to having de-soldered some of the LEDs from the LED strip lights and can share that it is definitely doable if you are able to heat up the substrate sufficiently.

​Furthermore, you should be able to reverse engineer the drive current information by looking at the resistor values used on the LED strip lights. Below is an article that might help: https://www.waveformlighting.com/pcb-designs/when-and-why-do-leds-need-current-limiting-resistors

Do you have a D50 5000K and 4000K in 90+ CRI?

We are interested in your D50 5000K model 4026.2F.50 light fixture, T8 tubes model 4024.50.4P, or perhaps the Flexible Strip 7101.50 mounted to the aluminum channel and quite possibly a combination of all. Key is D50 5000K 90+ CRI. Also looking for something similar in 4000K

​The ABSOLUTE SERIES is not available in 4000K, but the T8 lamps and T5 integrated fixtures are available in 4000K. The part numbers are 4024.40 and 4026.2F.40, respectively.

We are concerned about UV and IR from the above lamps. I realize output in these regions would be low, but is there a way to quantify what level is considered damaging to artwork, photographs, documents, etc.

We do not have any data on hand for this, but I would expect that this can certainly be quantified in irradiance units (e.g. mw/cm2) accompanied by a wavelength range (e.g. UV-A), or 340-400 nm). If your customer has any specific requirements in terms of irradiance, that would be very helpful for us to verify compliance; if not, a starting point may be showing them our photometric reports which show essentially no energy emission in the UV and IR regions.

Absolute Series LED Strip Lights Installation Questions

I’m working on a prototype product, which is a Lightbox for photographing original artwork and/or printed materials, color accurately. I need help with some technical questions.

I must be doing something wrong because only half the strips light up.  

Upon looking at the photos provided, it appears that the "3-LED jumper" segment is connected in reverse. In other words, it looks like the positive wire (red) is being connected to the negative copper pad on the LED strip segment. If you can simply flip the LED strip segment by 180 degrees and reconnect the sections, that should immediately resolve the issue!

Can I just cut those wires and splice them together without the small strip of lights in between? 

I completely understand why the 3-LED jumper is there due to the limitation of the cable length. You certainly can connect other wire components to achieve the same electrical connection here, and we would recommend looking at our PN 7098, which can also be used with our PN 3070 wire connectors. 

For an illustration showing how those components can be used, I would recommend referencing our Layout Maps diagram. Linked below is a diagram for a slightly different product, but the connectivity demonstration remains the same: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-4112.152690063189&py=-5318.5634471544645&pw=1806&ph=1814&s=0.458662083452406

My question is, if we add more lights will we get more lux? And, is there a way to calculate how many lights I might need to achieved the desired lux at the surface (which is the bottom of the box).

Yes, that is correct, and the nice thing is that lux is a linear measurement. In other words, if you are at 500 lux now, doubling the light quantity will get you 1,000 lux. If you have an existing lux measurement, a quick "scale factor" calculation could be the best way forward here.

We’ve already gone ahead and ordered 2 more strips with 2 more DC power supplies yesterday. I’m wondering, though, if I need a DC power supply for each strip or if I could connect 3-16’ strips together with 1 power supply?

Unfortunately, each LED strip reel (16.4 ft) will require its own power supply. This is due to the current carrying limitations in the LED strip lights, as well as the power capacity limitations in the power supply.

Running these lights at 100%, how much voltage are they using and how long will they last? And, what is the core temp of each LED?

When operated at 12 volts DC, the lights are rated to last 50,000 hours. As long as the LED strips are not subject to any voltage fluctuations (such as those introduced by battery systems), you should not have any issues with longevity. The product is also covered by our 3-year warranty.

The LEDs are designed with thermal management in mind, and will therefore not require any heatsinks or additional components.

Based on the photos provided, there do not appear to be any issues or concerns with respect to longevity or reliability.

LED Strips Lights that provides similar output to Avian Bulbs

I would like to know which of your LED strips provides output most similar to your Avian bulbs. I would also like to know the same info about your LED tubes. 

Because our products offer a 95 CRI color quality level, virtually all of our 6500K color temperature products will provide light quality similar to those in our avian line.

For example, please see below for the LED strip lights and LED tube lights that best match:

Below is a link to all of our 6500K products:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/color-temperature/6500K

TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply Compatible with Centric Home LED Strips

Can I use the TRIAC dimmable power supply with Centric LED strips?

Yes. We're happy to confirm that the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip products is compatible with our CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential and CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products.

Below is the layout guide, which illustrates the configuration of these products.

LayoutMaps™ LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1A: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1A?px=-4896&py=-3269.5&pw=1464&ph=1491&s=0.125

Power Supply Needed for (3 lengths) of 5m 365nm LED Strip Light

We are wanting to purchase and then join 3 lengths of 5m LED strip light together to form a 15m length. What is the best option to power this? If a single 5m length requires a 12V, 108W power supply, would a 12V, ~360W power supply work to power the 15m length?

Our 12V LED Strip Light products have a maximum run of 16.4 ft (5 meters). These products are not designed to carry current beyond that 16.4 ft maximum length. Unfortunately, this is the case even if you were able to locate a third-party power supply with a higher power capacity of 360 watts.

As such, each 16.4 ft (5 meters) length would require a dedicated power supply and would be unable to support additional lengths.

For the installation described, we would recommend pairing each 16.4 ft reel to a dedicated power supply product, such as our FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip.

356 nm UV LED Strip Lights for Cyanotypes Application

I am trying to make a UV lightbox for making cyanotypes. I want to make a box that will print up to 16x20, Will 9 strips at 20" long spaced to fit the 16" wide box be enough to print cyanotype? That would be using your largest roll. 

Our UV LED strip lights sound like a great fit for the cyanotype application. Unfortunately, however, our experience and data on cyanotype exposure are limited, and we would not be able to provide any definitive answers about whether or not a certain amount of UV exposure would be sufficient for your needs. If you do have any data on UV exposure values (typically measured in mW/m2, for example) we would be more than happy to assist in calculating this for you.

On the other hand, if you have any previous experience with fluorescent UV bulbs, that may be a good starting point for estimation purposes. Our UV LED strip lights emit approximately the same amount of UV as a fluorescent bulb on a per-foot basis. Therefore, if we calculate out the 9 rows of 20 inches, that works out to approximately 15 feet, which would be around the same amount of UV output as four 4-foot lamps.

We see that you've settled on the 365 nm wavelength, which is most likely the most effective wavelength so that certainly sounds like a good choice.

Can you provide a custom LED strip light with a CCT of 9000K or similar?

I'm interested in purchasing an LED light strip similar to the one in the link below but with a CCT of ~9000K. Are you able to provide a custom product? https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/absolute-series-99-cri-led-linear-module

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any customized color temperature products at this time. That being said, if you can let us know a bit more about your requirements, we would be more than happy to see what other options may be available.

Essentially I’m looking for an LED lighting solution ~9000K similar to the product in the link below in terms of the form factor and I’m flexible on the CRI requirements.

As mentioned, we are unable to accept any custom requirements at this time, and that would include the 9000K color temperature requirement.

The best alternative we can recommend would be to use the existing ABSOLUTE SERIES LED module product with a blue LED strip light, which can lower the effective color temperature. Please see below:

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip for Photographic System for Meat Product Image Analysis

We would like a set of lights with a more accurate representation of daylight, and ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strip - 99 CRI seems the best option. We would like to mount it in a black box, so we need to standardize lumens in the whole box, without reflections, is it possible to use these LEDS flexing them in a circle of around 60 cm diameter? If not, we should go for the bulbs, in this case, which one of them would you recommend to us? 

Our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights indeed sound like a great fit, as they will indeed provide you with the most accurate representation of natural daylight.

​The one challenge I foresee with the product is that while it is flexible in an up/down direction, it cannot be made to curve in a left/right direction. As such, creating a circular design with the product would be quite challenging.

​If you can work with a polygonal shape that approximates a circle, such as a polygon with 8 sides or more, you may want to consider using the LED strips in short, straight runs joined together using a connector such as our PN 3071.

For similar lighting quality, we would perhaps suggest our NorthLux A19 lamps, which can be found at the link below:

About the power supply, since we are in Europe, so maybe is better if we buy a European plug, or do you have this option? I understand we need a 120W 12V 10A output. So the female barrel jack and one of the strip-to-strip connection is enough to make the connection, is it right?

You can certainly utilize a European version of the 12-volt power supply. As you mention, the primary requirements are electrical (120 watts, 12V/10A) and to ensure that the output plug is compatible with the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip light barrel jack DC connector (included on both ends).​Our North American version can also be used in Spain but will require a plug adapter for the wall outlet ​which you will need to purchase from a third party locally.

As mentioned above, the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip light includes the DC connector pre-installed on both ends of the reel. As such, PN 7094 is likely unnecessary.

PN 3071 is the correct accessory to join the cut sections back together at any angle needed.

What temperature range does Centric Home LED Strip Lights operate in a sauna?

I am considering using Centric Home LED light strips in a sauna. The sauna will operate at 200 degrees Fahrenheit. What temperature range will these strip lights operate in?

Unfortunately, our LED strips are not rated for use in a sauna. Due to the high heat and humidity, our LED strips would likely exhibit severe reliability problems.​Generally, the maximum recommended ambient temperature for our LED strip light products is 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

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.

Connectors and Wires Required for Absolute 6500K LED Strip

I am interested in getting set up with a set of Absolute 6500K LED strip lighting. I need help with the type of connectors and wires required. I plan to purchase the 5m roll of strip lighting because it’s the best deal. I will be photographing my artwork with these lights. The plan is to set up two sets of lights 6 feet on either side of the painting when photographing. 

We currently offer two types of ABSOLUTE SERIES products - one in a rigid module format, and another in a flexible LED strip format.

It sounds like you're after the flexible LED strip as you mention needing the 5-meter reel. In this case, the installation accessories will be quite straightforward, as the LED strip lights include a plug on both ends of the reel that is pre-installed.

To power the flexible LED strip, all that you need is our 12-volt power supply, which I have linked to below:

The LED strip lights can be cut to length based on your needs. If you need to re-connect any sections together, we would recommend our PN 3071 connectors.

Unfortunately, we don't have an exact layout map for this product, but you may want to reference an electrically similar product for some ideas. Below, I've linked to our FilmGrade LED strip light product using a similar layout, which may be of interest:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_3D

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

LED Strip that runs from Warm Glow to Midday Sun for Conservatory Building.

I am building a conservatory and looking for an LED strip that runs from the warm glow of sunrise to the midday sun of 5000k and back to the glow of sunset. And with a high CRI during mid-day. The area I want to light is 2m x 3.5m from a height of 3.5m (approx 6ft 6" x 11ft 5"). In which case can you recommend your product to meet the 5000k and high CRI? 

Currently, we don't have a product that will accomplish the color temperature tuning "out of the box," but we do have some suggestions which may help achieve what you are looking for.

​First off, our 5000K LED strip lights should be a great fit for your mid-day sun, high CRI requirement. We have a 95 CRI and 99 CRI option, for which I have linked to below:

Then, to simulate a warmer color tone (while maintaining high CRI), you may want to consider our 3000K or even 2700K color temperature LED strip lights:

Our recommendation would be to use these two products with a pair of dimmers that can adjust the relative amounts of brightness of each, thereby simulating various natural lighting conditions. Please let us know if you have any questions on dimming and we would be more than happy to assist further with parts and accessories needed. In the meantime, you may find our layout maps helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps

Finally, in estimating the total brightness needs, we would recommend using our lumen estimation calculator, which can help in determining the total amount of LED strips needed for the dimensions you've provided:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

(For your reference, natural daylight will generally range from 100 - 1000 footcandles during mid-day, depending on the weather).

Accessories and Guide for Individual LED Strip and LED Strip to Power Supply Connection

I'd like to place an order for some LED strips. My question is, I need some adaptor cables: while I cut strips from the reel and plug to the female DC power plug that I ordered. I like to have (10) pcs, can you tell me how to order?

I have provided explanations below describing the method for connecting the LED Strip Lights to power supplies, as well as the method for connecting the LED Strip Light segments using connector accessories. Included below are product links for the recommended accessories, as well as guides that further illustrate these configurations.

For connecting the LED Strip Light segments to the DC Power Supply, we recommend using a combination of the LED Strip to Wire product (PN 3070, sold in 10-Packs), as well as the Female DC Barrel Jack Plug Adapter (PN 7094, sold in 4-Packs).

Configuration guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2D?px=-2063&py=-2245.5&pw=1126&ph=1491&s=0.1

For connecting individual LED Strip Light segments, we recommend using the LED Strip to Strip product (PN 3071, sold in 10-Packs). Please note that our 12V LED Strip Light products, such as the ‘CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential, have a maximum run of 16.4 ft (5 meters). As such, these LED strip light products cannot be powered in runs that exceed this length.

Configuration guide: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-7151&py=-4861.5&pw=1126&ph=1491&s=0.125

Lighting Systems Suggestion for Aquaponics Product Development

I am developing a new aquaponics product and I would like to use your lighting systems in it.

Would a diffuser reduce the growth potential of the lights within? And are you able to have these made and finished to custom lengths?

At the moment, we do not offer any customized services, so we would recommend working with the standardized offerings that we have. Our aluminum channels will certainly reduce the amount of light due to the transmissivity loss of the diffuser cover. While I understand these may be preferred for aesthetics purposes, they will likely hinder light output by 10-15%.

We don't have any specific "light recipes" for different species, as this will also depend on the light intensity, distance, temperature, and grow medium/nutrient supply. In general, however, we believe that full spectrum lighting that mimics natural daylight (i.e. 95 CRI or higher) is a great starting point given that plants generally thrive under natural daylight.

We would perhaps recommend experimenting with several of our LED strip lights to determine which colors and wavelengths work best for your device. Please see below:

Can you tell me what the process would be to cut long reels down into 30cm lengths that can then be wired into a plug socket? 

How would it be best to cut down the length of the diffusers if we decided to use them?

If the diffuser reduces the light by <15%, would it work to simply use a stronger light to counter this effect or does it not really work like that?

Which of those products do you think may be best as a general grow light?

Also, do you provide products that can be used with a light strip to control cycle lengths and to turn up and down the intensity of the light?

The LED strips can be cut into shorter lengths as needed, generally in 2.5 or 5.0 cm intervals using a pair of scissors. They would then need to be connected to a power supply using a layout similar to the one shown below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2C

The diffusers are not designed to be cut into shorter lengths, but our customers have reported success using a hacksaw. A stronger light would indeed mitigate the effect of the lower light output. For example, a 100-lumen output reduced to 85 lumens could be counteracted with 115 lumens of light output being reduced to 100 lumens.

It does sound like you are in the initial conceptual design phase for your product, for which we unfortunately are not equipped to provide extensive assistance. We would suggest working with a product design specialist or determining the lighting requirements for your system after which we would be more than happy to suggest the best products that would meet your needs. 

Can you point out one specific product that mimics natural light most closely as well as the necessary strength that we have discussed?

Here is our ABSOLUTE SERIES product line which has a 99 CRI rating, indicating that this is as close of a match to natural daylight as possible:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

The strength of the light would depend on a variety of factors such as quantity, placement, and distance away. We would perhaps recommend starting with a target lux or PPFD requirement and we can assist from there.

LED Lighting and Dimmers for Entertainment Center

The plan is to recess the LED strips behind the face boards. The part that I am finding most difficult is the dimmer (or maybe I’m just screwed up on everything). The LED lights need to have the ability to select a color including white. I need the width of the LED strips to be 10mm or less and the height to be as low as possible. We want a remote-controlled dimmer that can be used to change the colors and brightness of the LED lights. Can you please review and provide me with an itemized list of the materials that I need to complete this project?

Unfortunately, we currently do not have any remote-controlled dimmers or power supplies available which would be capable of changing the color and brightness of the LED strip lights. Most of our customers that utilize our color-changing LED strip lights are in the entertainment or theatrical industries, where DMX systems are commonly used.

​For a more consumer-friendly remote-control solution, we would recommend searching for third-party providers of such products.

In terms of our LED strip options, our ColorSpace RGB LED strip light may be a good fit for your needs. The product features an 8 mm width, high brightness, and very narrow wavelength tolerances to ensure consistency within and among LED strip runs.

Furthermore, you may also find that our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED strip lights may be of interest to you. This product is designed to have a high level of customized light spectrum output with the inclusion of a warm white and daylight white channel, in addition to the standard RGB channels.

To connect the LED strip lights to the power supply, we recommend our Solderless Connector Cable for a 5-in-1 LED Strip product.

Regarding the mounting of the lights within the structure, we currently do not offer mounting channels which would accommodate the 12mm width of the FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights. That being said, there may be third-party options available that could diffuse the light.

LED Strip Lights Compatible with Lutron Caseta Dimmer

I have a Lutron Caseta dimmer connected to rope lighting in a tray ceiling. I am having trouble finding LED strip lights to replace the rope lighting. Do you know if your LED strip lighting will be compatible and fully dim with the Lutron Caseta dimmer switches?

We are happy to confirm that our LED strip light products are compatible with the Lutron Caseta system.

To integrate our LED strip lights with the Lutron Caseta system, they will need to be connected to a dimmable power supply, such as our TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip. The dimmable power supply will then need to be connected to a dimmer, such as your pre-existing Lutron Caseta dimmer switch. During our testing of this configuration, we found that the dimming range was 0.2%-100%. 

​However, there are certain limitations to consider. For instance, not all dimmable power supplies are compatible with the Lutron Caseta system. Further, the Lutron Caseta system only works with single-color LED strip lights, and can only provide brightness control.

For more information regarding the integration options, we recommend the below article from our website.

Dimming LED Strip Lights and LED Bulbs using Smart Lighting Systems: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/dimming-led-strip-lights-and-LED-bulbs-using-smart-lighting-systems

Desktop Viewing Station for Prints

I am looking for a desktop viewing station and would like to get one that uses your lights. Can you tell me which manufacturers make such products using your lights?

Unfortunately, we are unable to disclose our partnership details.

That being said, we are happy to confirm that our lamps can be used within viewing booths, so long as they are compatible.

I will have a bit of calculation and juggling to get the right distances for the light strips from the print position. Do you happen to have a reference to some guidelines for this calculation? I would build one for a viewing area of 27" x 13". Do you have a diagram for the diffusion pattern for the diffuser that is on the channels?

Are your power supplies quiet? I installed over 30 feet of strip that could be dimmed and color temp changed in a large room. Sadly, the power supply had a rather noisy fan. 

Unfortunately, we do not have any calculations or references that would be applicable for the installation described.

Further, we unfortunately do not have any diagrams related to the diffusion patterns of our aluminum channels. However, we can confirm that the use of the diffusors does assist in reducing uneven illumination and hotspots created by the LED strip light segments.

Further information regarding the aluminum channels can be found at the link below, which may prove to be useful.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/aluminum-channels-for-led-strip-lights-are-they-worth-it-an-in-depth-look

Personally haven't noticed any noise being emitted by the DC Power Supply units while connected to a reel of the LED strip lights. It is possible that the previously used power supply may have utilized a CPU-style fan, which is not a feature of our DC Power Supply products.

Soldering Segments of Absolute LED Strip

Can cut segments of Absolute strip LED be connected into a chain using soldered wires on the brown (copper?) pads rather than using slip-on connectors?

Yes, the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights can certainly be connected together via soldered wires. The copper pads are located in 3-LED intervals and include a positive and negative terminal.

ABSOLUTE SERIES™ 99 CRI LED Flexible Strip for Dental Practice Installation

We are establishing a dental practice. I am very interested to have Absolute series LED in our practice, I would like to have your recommendations on ceiling design ideas in terms of the covers we can use while maintaining the high CRI. 

Our ABSOLUTE SERIES 99 CRI LED strip lights sound like a great fit for a dental office where high CRI and full spectrum coverage would be essential.

​The recommended housing and fixture solution for this product would be our aluminum channel. I've included the product link below. Our measurements indicate that while there is a minor shift in color temperature, the CRI values are essentially unchanged.

We are establishing a dental practice, and we are planning to relay on these LEDs to lighten the inside for of the operating rooms. Is there a recommended number of meters of LED to have to cover a square meter?

While your specific brightness needs will depend on the installation location, room layout and even personal preference, we would recommend a starting point of 50 footcandles. This works out to approximately 5000 lumens for every 10 square meters.​At 1250 lumens per meter, you would then need approximately 4 meters installed for every 10 square meters of space.

The 4 meters/ 10 square meters would allow to depend on these LEDs as the only source of my lightening?

The estimate of 4 meters per 10 square meters of space was based on a 50 footcandle requirement. This is a generally sufficient amount of lighting for a brightly lit office space, but for dental work we would imagine additional lighting near the patient would be desired.

​Of the projects we work on, the brightest lighting requirements are up to 100 footcandles for applications such as art and photography studios. In this case, you will want to more than double your lighting budget to 8 meters per 10 square meters of space.

Does it matter if install 2 LED stripes in a 5 cm width profile? Or is it preferred to have single stripes in narrower profiles?

Installing two rows of LED strip lights in.a 5 cm width should not be a problem. The only concern would be if there are any aesthetics concerns, as larger gaps between LED strip rows can result in dark spots that are visible on the diffuser.

We are installing the absolute series LEDs. We are facing problems with the available profiles with same dimensions as yours, as we are seeing the dots. Therefore, we will instal deeper profiles (by 5mm- total 12 mm in depth). Do you think this would affect the quality and strength of the light? 

We have not tested any deeper aluminum channels, but we would not expect any significant changes in color quality. Light intensity may diminish slightly, due to the increased distance between the LED strip and the diffuser layer, so we may recommend testing prior to any permanent installations.

The profile your company sells doesn’t have the dots issue, is that guaranteed? 

The ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights have a lower LED density, so the dots are likely to be visible if one looks directly at the diffuser cover.​We would recommend either using a higher density LED strip light, or a deeper aluminum channel as you suggested in our prior email exchange.

The dots will be reduced significantly, but not completely hidden with the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED strip lights.

Black Light LED Strips for Industrial Applications

Looking for a fixture manufacturing that is making linear LED black lights for industrial applications

We don't have any "linear" fixtures, but a close alternative product may be our UV flood lights. Below is a link to our realUV LED flood light, available in 365 nm and 395 nm. Please let us know what questions you have and we'd be glad to assist further!

Do you have a UVC LED 12v or 24v or 110v DC 60-watt strip?

We currently offer a 12 volt LED strip light that operates at 14.4 watts per reel.

​Multiple reels can be linked together to reach the 60 watt level as needed. Please see below for the product link:

Full Spectrum Strip Lights for Bathroom Installation

I am in the middle of a master bathroom renovation. Are the 4000k Centric Daylight strips full-spectrum? If not, is there any custom strip that can be made or can you recommend any other product or manufacturer for my application?

We can confirm that the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail product feature an ultra high 95 CRI, offering a full spectrum of light output which is extremely similar to that of natural daylight.

In case it proves to be useful for your installation planning, further information regarding CRI and full spectrum can be found at the links below.

Full Spectrum Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/full-spectrum-led-lighting

High CRI LED: https://www.waveformlighting.com/high-cri-led

cleanUV™ Ultraviolet LED for Food Container Interior Sterilization

Your info on cleanUV™ Ultraviolet LED Technology mentions that "Additional form factors are in development and will be released soon." I am interested in a form factor that could be used to sterilize the interior of food containers.

We are indeed working on a few MCPCB form factors that are 6 x 6 inches as well as 2 x 12 inches. We do not have an ETA at this point, but do hope to have this available in the near future.

Unfortunately, we don't have any application-specific advice or recommendations that may apply to the food container sterilization application.

realUV LED Flood Light Safety Risks

Can you tell me if there are any safety risks with working around the UV flood lights? Other than looking directly into them that is. Can prolonged exposure to the light result in any damage? If so, what is the safe time frame? 

Each application will entail different levels of safety risk and we recommend performing some rigorous analysis prior to any installations.

We are aware of the following guidelines published by the ACGIH which you may find helpful:

For the UV-A or near ultraviolet spectral region (315 to 400 nm), exposure to the eye should not exceed 1 milliwatt per square centimeter (1.0 mW/cm2) for periods greater than 1000 seconds (approximately 16 minutes).

For direct comparison of these exposure limits to our flood light UV irradiance values, you will want to reference our UV irradiance charts below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/BP_7022.pdf

How to Connect LED Strip Light to Connector?

How to Connect LED Strip Light to Connector PN 3071? 

Attached is a video link which displays the method for attaching the PN 3071 product to the light strip segments.

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR_ML49gBlI

We also attached the link to a LayoutMaps™ diagram below, which further illustrates the methods for connecting the LED strip light segments using the PN 3071 product.

LayoutMaps™ LED Strip Light Layout 3002_2B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2B?px=-10111&py=-2838.5&pw=1002&ph=1221&s=0.125

One thing that we have found can help improve the reliability of the connection is to remove a quarter inch or so of the adhesive from the end that is being inserted into the connector piece. The added thickness of the adhesive can prevent the LED strip from being inserted fully into the connector piece, resulting in poor connections in some cases.

Other than the solderless connectors, we, unfortunately, do not have any alternative solutions, apart from soldering wires directly onto the copper pads.

Do you have a selection of “T” connectors?

Unfortunately, we do not have any T-shaped connectors for the LED strip lights available at this time.

Flicker Free LED Strip Lights

Do you offer LED strip lights that are flicker-free? I'm considering Filmgrade White LED and Absolute Series LED strips. Are these flicker-free? Am I correct in assuming that the benefits of the Filmgrade flicker-free dimmer apply only when the light is dimmed and not at 100% output?

When any of our LED strip light products are paired with the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip product, they gain the ability to be flicker-free.

When the LED strip light products are paired with both the FilmGrade™ DC Power Supply for LED Strip as well as the Flicker-Free LED Dimmer, they gain the ability to be both flicker-free as well as dimmable.

In this configuration, the LED strip lights will remain flicker-free at any level of dimming, from 0% to 100%.

LED Strip for Warehouse Lighting

I need 38016 inches of led strips to place under shelves in a warehouse environment. Can you tell me the brightest lights available? How many strips can link together, and how many power sources are required?

Our brightest LED strip lights are our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT LED strip lights, which linked below:

If we've done the math correctly, the 38016 inches works out to a total installation length of 3168 linear feet. Approximately 193 reels of our LED strip lights (16.4 ft each) would be needed to cover this distance.

The maximum run length is 32 ft, so you will require approximately 97 separate power supply units if they are equipped with sufficient power capacity. For Class 2 installations, you would be limited to 16.4 ft per run, so the power supply needs would be double (193 power supply units).

FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights Recommendations

I am building my own LED Tube Lights, and would absolutely love to use your FilmGrade LED Strip Lights for my build. Few questions: 

1) I am building 4-foot tube lights. Can the 16-foot LED reel you sell be cut into four, 4-foot sections?

2) Would one, 4-foot LED strip be adequate for creating one tube light? Or would you recommend doubling up strips to get better brightness?

3) Can your LED strips be controlled via Bluetooth? Is there an app, specific software, or hardware controller(s) that works seamlessly with your product?

Our FilmGrade 5-in-1 LED strip lights sound like a great option for your DIY project!

​The LED strip lights can be cut to length in approximately 2-inch and 4-inch intervals for the 12-volt and 24-volt versions, respectively. Therefore, either one should work well for your needs to be able to create a 4-ft run.

​One foot emits approximately 180 lumens per white color, which works out to approximately 580 lumens per 4-ft tube. Most 4-ft T8 tube lights will emit approximately 1800 lumens, so you may want to double or even triple up if you are looking to get the same amount of brightness as a typical 4-ft T8 tube light.

​Most of our customers use the product via DMX, but if you're interested in a smartphone / Bluetooth controller, we would recommend searching for third parties who may have such products.

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). 

Dimmable 3000K (>90) CRI 3000K Strip Lights with Triac Dimmer Switches for an Open Staircase Installation

I wish to put Strip Lights on an open staircase under each tread. I need help in determining the correct method to instruct the fabricators to install wires and what combination of power supplies/dimmers to use. I have 17 treads, each will have 48" of illumination - for a total of 21M. 

I intend to have each tread individually drop wires to the basement so that I can wire them all independently (would you recommend this?). I would like to do white, dimmable strip lights with high (>90) CRI, and so I’m looking at the centric home, 3000K strip lights. What’s the best way to do this? The Triac Dimmer switches indicate 150W only – so how would I use multiple power supplies (each at ~120W) with a single dimmer?

Our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights sound like a great fit for your staircase installation. The 3000K and 95 CRI colors will be sure to add some excellent lighting to your space while highlighting your staircase.

There are several ways the proposed installation can be accomplished. The constraint, however, will be in the power capacity limitations of our TRIAC dimmable power supplies, which are 120 watts and 96 watts, for the 12-volt and 24-volt versions, respectively. Converting that into the number of stair treads, it looks like each power supply will have enough power to cover approximately 4 stair treads (5.5 watts x 4 ft x 4 stair treads = 88 watts).

As such, you will likely need 4 or more separate LED strip runs to be able to cover the entire staircase, with each run being powered by its own TRIAC dimmable power supply. The good news is that the 4 TRIAC dimmable power supplies can be connected to a single dimmer switch so that all of the LED strip runs can be dimmed in unison. For a connectivity diagram, please see our layout diagram below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1C?px=-2395&py=-2315.5&pw=1790&ph=1631&s=0.1

Additionally, in connecting the separate 48" sections between the stair treads, we do offer a variety of connectors that you may find helpful. Please see below for a similar diagram but with separate LED strip segments being rejoined using our various accessories:

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

It's mentioned that I can use a single Triac Dimmer to control 4 dimmable power supplies. However the dimmer indicates only ~100W for LED - and each of the power supplies would be ~100W x 4 =400W total.

Your calculation and interpretation there is correct. If the dimmer manufacturer recommends only a minimum of 100 watts, we certainly would not recommend exceeding that level.

We have generally seen that many dimmers support up to 600 watts, with a list of supported dimmers located here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/DC_3093.pdf

We have found that dimmer manufacturers have been providing two different wattage levels for incandescent / halogen and LED / CFL systems. We are not sure what their reasoning for this is, as we believe that our dimmable LED power supplies behave similarly to dimmable incandescent loads and therefore should not be significantly different.

​To ensure safe operation, however, we would recommend following the guidance of the dimmer manufacturers as they may have their reasons for the maximum ratings.

Are the UVC LED Strip Lights waterproof or submergible?

I would like the enquire about the UVC LED Strip Lights: 1.) Are the LED lights waterproof or submergible? 2.) Is the back of the strip adhesive? 

Unfortunately, the UV-C LED strip lights are not waterproof and cannot be used in any water or damp locations. The back of the LED strip includes a pre-applied layer of 3M VHB double-sided adhesive.

Absolute Series LED modules for a color matching to a Pantone swatch book and small item product photography.

I am interested in the Absolute series LED modules, I just realized the modules won't fit into the aluminum channels you offer, so I'm not certain what to mount them on or use as a diffuser. Do you have any recommendations? Is the type of diffuser material likely to affect the CRI at all? 

I was also wondering about the brightness - each module produces 800 lumens. 

I am also thinking about getting one of your dimmers, is the panel with 2 modules likely to be too bright to use at full strength? 

I was also thinking about trying the North Lux light bulbs, but wasn't sure about the socket type - I'm in the UK. I noticed the Centric Daylight bulbs have an E27 European option though, are those actually the same bulbs as the North Lux? What is the actual CRI for either of these bulbs? The item page says they have a CRI of 95+, and an R9 of 80+, but the photometric report seems to suggest both of these are much higher. Am I reading it wrong? 

I was planning on getting the D65 modules as I'm used to working with natural daylight color temperatures. The Pantone color bridge I'm using says to use D50 for color matching, is the D65 fine for this? Pantone has further confused me by using M1 lighting for the color bridge guide, but M2 lighting without UV for the online color finder - do the Absolute series modules qualify as M1 lighting (the D50 version anyway)? 

First of all, our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED modules sound like a great option to give you an excellent "building block" for building your own light panel. The 99 CRI is an excellent fit for many color viewing and color-critical applications.

​Whether or not you will need a diffuser will depend on whether there will be any potential for glare. If, for example, you plan on shining the modules directly at the illumination subject, there should not be any issues. For more information, we would recommend our blog article here: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/aluminum-channels-for-led-strip-lights-are-they-worth-it-an-in-depth-look

​If you do decide that the aluminum channels and diffusers are indeed necessary, you may want to consider our flexible LED strip version of the ABSOLUTE SERIES as they will fit inside the aluminum channels without any issues.

Each module produces 800 lumens. It's a bit difficult to provide any recommendations as to whether this is sufficient or excessive for your needs, but you may want to take a look at our lumen estimation calculator, which you can find here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

​Alternatively, a useful rule of thumb is to remember that 800 lumens are approximately equal in brightness to a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

​Transitioning to our household lamp form factors, the NorthLux is not available in an E27 socket variant, so we would recommend our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions instead. For more information on E26 vs E27, you may want to reference our article here:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/e26-vs-e27-bulbs-are-they-interchangeable

The CENTRIC DAYLIGHT versions also offer an excellent 95 CRI color rendering at 5000K and 6500K, either of which should work well for you. The only minor difference (as noted by their part number including or not including the letter "D") is that the NorthLux is calibrated to D50 and D65 color standards, which may be of interest to you.

The actual color rendering values will depend on the specific bulb. Our guaranteed values are 95+ and 80+ for CRI, respectively, but depending on the specific bulb, these values may fluctuate. CRI, for example, can be anywhere between 95 and 98.

Since you'll be using the lamps for digital arts (rather than printing and visual assessments) with monitors calibrated to D65, our 6500K or D65 product options sound like the best option for you.

Is there a recommended type of material for this, or will any type of translucent plastic do? Are there any materials that look appropriate but I should actively avoid them due to them compromising the CRI too much? If I use completely transparent clear plastic just for a protective 'lid' over the module, will this affect the color temperature or CRI at all? My gut says no on this last one, but thought it was worth checking in case there's something I'm not aware of.

Unfortunately, all materials will absorb and reflect a small portion of the light energy across the spectrum in slightly different ways. We generally recommend using polycarbonate, acrylic, or glass, as these materials generally alter the spectrum to the smallest extent. Some anecdotal testing on our end indicates that polycarbonate diffusers can affect the color temperature by 200-300K. CRI is generally not affected.

I was hoping you might be able to give me some quick advice on setting up the modules - I've made a basic diagram of my plan, but I don't have much experience with this sort of thing, so I was hoping you could take a quick look and see if it makes sense.

I've reviewed the drawing you kindly provided, and everything looks good and reasonable.

Hopefully, this makes sense, if not, let me know! I will most likely put 3 modules on one panel and 2 on a separate one, but I am making the basic assumption that even if I put all 5 on the same panel using the same power supply, it should be ok, as the power supply is 24v, 60W, 2.5A, which seems to cover the minimum requirements for 5 modules, plus a bit extra - is it ok?  

Yes, the power capacity appears to be perfectly fine for this installation. The only thing to be careful of would be to make sure that the wires used to connect the modules have sufficient thickness. Generally, if you're just connecting a single module, you should be fine with 20 AWG or thicker.

Is it okay to use an inline switch sold as a 12V switch, as long as the amp rating is high enough? I found some that say 2 amp max at 12VDC, and one that says suitable for 5-24V but doesn't mention amps... They're all very basic barrel jack connected on/off switches that look identical, but I've read conflicting information online about this issue, mostly regarding the possibility of arcing with higher voltage, so I thought I'd better ask even though most people say it's ok. I'm guessing the current that will go through the switch will only be the 420mA / 10W for a single module though, given how it will be set up.  

There should not be any significant safety issues here, but we would recommend checking with the switch manufacturer to ensure that operation at 24 volts would be permissible. I believe that both the arc voltage, as well as current ratings, would both be of concern here.

Not too bothered about having to replace the switches if they break, but I don't want anything bad to happen to the LED modules. And I'm assuming that connecting and disconnecting the modules via just unplugging any of the connecting wires between the individual module and PSU while it's all switched on is a bad idea? This sort of thing is generally frowned upon, hence my idea about adding inline switches for each module for some brightness control... Sorry if any of these are silly questions, I'm learning this on the fly! 

There should be no issues with the modules, as long as they are not suddenly flooded with voltage or current.

As for the A19 style bulbs, does the article you linked basically mean it's always unsafe to use E26 bulbs in an E27 socket, even when they are compatible with 240V AC?

That is our assessment based on the dimensions and input voltage levels.

Would it be safe to use a NorthLux E26 bulb with a B22 (bayonet socket) to an E26 adapter at 240V? (E27 to E26 doesn't seem to be a thing...) Given that the product page says it's compatible with 240V AC, I assume I wouldn't have to use a step-down transformer or anything?  

Yes, the product is compatible with global input voltages and will operate with 240 volts AC despite having an E26 base.

Do you know if NorthLux bulbs (the D50 version anyway) conform to the M1 lighting standard at all? 

Unfortunately, our D50 products do not conform to the MIUV metamerism requirement for UV fluorescence. As such, you will see our conformance is limited to ISO 3664:2000 and not any of the later standards.

Do the lights emit anything into the UV range at all, or are they closer to the M2 UV-excluded type lights in that respect? Doesn't help either that the bridge guide uses M1 standards and photoshop uses M2 when the paper the guides printed on is full of OBAs.

All of our products do not emit any UV (defined as < 400nm) except for our realUV products.

Except for our ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products, the LEDs are based on a royal blue 460 nm emitter with phosphor downconversion, so virtually no energy is emitted below 430 nm or so.

I saw the section about white rendering on the Absolute series product page, does this mean they can activate the OBAs in paper and textiles, at least somewhat? 

You are correct that the ABSOLUTE SERIES LED products do have some potential to excite OBAs to improve white rendering. This is due to the underlying emitter being based on a violet emitter which peaks at 420 nm. You'll notice, though, that this is still well within the visible range of the spectrum and does not produce enough ultraviolet energy to provide meaningful improvements to MIUV rendering.

One thing you may want to look into is the realUV LED strip or floodlights​ in combination with our existing visible wavelength range products to improve UV rendering. Unfortunately, we don't have any test data or full solutions here, but this may be worth experimenting with on your end.

Can I solder the PN 7041.592 directly to a 12V battery with a flasher relay?

I am looking at your PN 7041.592. Can this be soldered directly to a 12V battery with a flasher relay? Or does your power connector need to be used? Also, is this the brightest amber LED you have? The application is for use in a directional signal.

We currently only have one amber LED strip light (PN 7041.592), but it does sound like a great option for your installation with a 12-volt battery.

The power connectors are there for convenience only, and they can be cut or desoldered as needed. You can directly solder wires to the copper pads on the LED strip lights, or if you prefer not to solder, you can also consider several of our accessories such as the ones shown below:

How bright is it? I am not sure how to compare the brightness of various LEDs using the provided Specs. What spec should I be looking for to assess brightness?

The amber LED strip lights have a brightness of 185 lumens per foot. A 40-watt incandescent bulb emits approximately 450 lumens, so that might be a helpful comparison point.

Below is the specification sheet should you require any additional technical information:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7041.pdf

What is the beam spread angle of the White LED Film Strip?

Regarding your White LED Film Strip product, I’m thinking about mounting and housing. What is the beam spread angle of these lights? More specifically, at 3cm from the source how wide does the “fixture” opening need to be?

Our FilmGrade WHITE LED strip lights have a beam angle of 120 degrees.​Based on some simple geometric calculations, the beam would span approximately 10 cm, if measured 3 cm from the source.

3M VHB Tape Datasheet

We are considering using your "24V LED Strip for Commercial & Retail" in an industrial system that we are designing. I was wondering if you had any information on what the particular tape family or product number is for the 3M VHB tape that you use. I would like to be able to reference 3M's data sheets for the tape. Our main concern is heat. Our system will be at 100 degrees Fahrenheit all the time and we would like to know if these LED strips and their tape would be able to survive in those conditions for years. 

Our LED strip lights and 3M adhesive should not have any performance or longevity issues at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.​Below is the datasheet for the 3M VHB adhesive that is used on the product.

What do I need to connect the 365nm UV LED 16 ft strip to a spare battery in the trunk of the sidecar?

I want to mount these in the sidecar of the motorcycle. What do I need to connect this to a spare battery in the trunk of the sidecar? Can my alternator power it? I do have a 12V receptacle. The strips are DC powered, so I don’t see why I would hook it up to your AC transformer.

It is correct that the LED strips operate on DC 12 volts, so if you have an existing 12-volt battery source, such as an automobile battery, you can go ahead and skip the AC power adapter altogether.

Our LED strips come with DC barrel jacks mounted on each end. We may be incorrect, but we assume you have a 12-volt receptacle that is the size of a traditional cigarette lighter. While we don't sell any adapters, a third-party adapter such as the one below may work to connect the LED strips:

If you do intend to connect an entire 16.4 ft length, be aware that the high power draw may be an issue for battery capacity as well as the wires and components used in any third-party products.

Can you give me an idea of the amperage needed to power the whole 16 feet?

The LED strips draw approximately 0.4 amps per foot. So, for an 8 ft section, that would be approximately 3.2 amps.

Do I need to have a DC-DC step-down buck converter between the LED strips and the 12V DC marine system illuminating the boat's engine room using LED strips?

If I want to illuminate the engine room of my boat with your LED strips, do I need to have a DC-DC step-down buck converter between your LED strips and my 12V DC marine system? Oftentimes, the 12V system is cranking out as high as 13.7V.

Our 12-volt LED strip lights are not rated for use above 12 volts and use with a 12-volt battery that outputs more than 12 volts would unfortunately reduce the reliability and lifetime of the product. As such, we would recommend using a step-down voltage converter to ensure the LED strip input does not exceed 12 volts at any point.

Do you sell a step-down?

Unfortunately, we do not sell any voltage step-down or any similar DC-DC equipment. We would recommend searching third-party suppliers for appropriate equipment.

Are the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube and FilmGrade™ White LED Strip Lights flicker-free for shooting video?

I’m wondering if two of your products are flicker-free for shooting video:NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio flicker-free for shooting on video? & FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights

We can confirm that both our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights and the NorthLux™ 95 CRI T8 LED Tube for Art & Studio product mentioned is flicker-free.

If a light isn’t mounted in a ballast, is there another solution in which I’d be able to operate a bank of lights of a switch in a similar way to a typical shop-light setup?

For installing our T8 LED tube lights into fixtures, such as ‘shop light’ style fixtures, we generally recommend that the fluorescent ballast is removed. Alternatively, these bulbs can be installed using the ballast-bypass method.

The instructions for both installation options can be found in the link below.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

Alternatively, the FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights can also be mounted within lengths of our flat Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products.

Acceptable RH/Temp environment for Absolute Series 5000K strip lights

I am considering using some of your Absolute Series 5K strip lights in an indoor sunroom where I grow plants. It is not a wet (condensing) environment and the temperature and humidity are generally controlled between 50-85 degrees F and 65-80% RH, though some days peak out at 95 degrees F and 90% humidity for a few hours over a few days. I would be running the lights for a maximum of 8 hrs/day, mostly during daylight hours. Would there be any problems using this product in these conditions?

As long as the elevated humidity is a temporary situation, you should not see any significant issues.​In personal experience with LEDs for personal grow projects, the only issues seen are when large leaves begin to grow directly into the lights and shelves above them.​The leaves themselves, of course, end up shriveling up where there is direct contact due to the heat, but a more concerning issue observed is that the leaves that are in direct contact with the LED circuit board produced lots of condensation onto the LED circuit board surface via transpiration. As a result, there were rusting and circuit damage caused by this particular situation.

Over what wavelength range does the light output for the 365nm LED?

I'm a little confused by the spectrum test report for the 365nm LEDs. Over what wavelength range does the light output?

Our 365 nm UV LEDs have a peak wavelength value of 365 nm. The FWHM is approximately +/-10 nm, which indicates that there is a significant amount of UV output between 355 and 375 nm.​The "TYPICAL EMISSION SPECTRUM" charts are shown on our product specifications page below.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

Do you have a bigger vision of the typical emission spectrum?

Also, I have seen FWHM listed sometimes as a number, rather than as a ±. For example, we have a light filter with an FWHM of 16nm. Is that equivalent to ±8nm?

Unfortunately, the LED strip lights are flexible only in an up/down direction and cannot be curved to create turns to the left or right as shown in your diagram. The closest alternative would be to use our solderless connectors to create U-turns at the end of each LED strip section.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C

Using the solderless connectors, can we place the side of the strip by side? Or is there a thermal limitation for how closely the strips can be placed?

While the LED strips do warm up a bit during operation, their proximity to each other should not have any significant effect on their longevity or reliability.

Is there a way to waterproof the 365 nm strips?

I'm interested in your 365nm strips - any idea if there's a way to waterproof those? Or would putting them into some kind of plastic sleeve block the UV produced?

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with waterproofing. The intended usage as described is beyond the scope of what we do, as we do not offer waterproof enclosures.

We discourage the use of our products in any installations where they may come into contact with water, including submersion. Doing so introduces safety hazards, and any contact that this product has with moisture will void the warranty.

As a final note, it has been our experience that plastic sleeves do indeed block the UV being produced by the realUV™ LED strip lights.

Does the plastic diffuser cover cut down or mitigate the 365 nm strip LED output?

I'm interested in using your 365nm strip and am wondering if the plastic diffuser cover cuts down or mitigates the LED output. I'm using this in resin curing for headlight restoration purposes. 

The plastic diffuser is likely to absorb the peak wavelengths of the 365 nm LED strip light, so for maximum efficacy, we would recommend removing the diffuser cover if at all possible.

Do you have LED panel lighting for a television show?

We need lighting for a television show and will require a lot of LED panels in the ceiling.

Our FilmGrade product line sounds like a great fit for your upcoming TV production.

https://www.waveformlighting.com/film-photography

Can we control them on a professional dimmer, and what do we need in between the lights and the dimmer? How many can we loop together to limit cables all over?

The LED panel can certainly be controlled via a professional dimmer, and we do not need any additional components between the lights and the dimmer. You will of course, require a power source at 24V to ensure we are able to power the entire system.

How many panels can we use a 24V source power ?

We would recommend using no more than two panels per 24V power supply.

LED strip lights for under-cabinet lighting: 12V or 24V?

We are installing LED strip lights for an under-cabinet application. There are two 8-sections that are approximately 10 feet apart, for a total of 16 ft. Should we use a 12V or 24V setup?

Both 12V and 24V LED strips should work fine, as long as the corresponding power supply voltage is selected.

For your setup, however, 24V may be preferable as it will reduce the risk of voltage drop (lower brightness at the far end of the LED strip). Since you do have a 10-ft span between the 8-ft LED strip segments, the 24V might be a better option.

To further reduce the risk for voltage drop, we would recommend using sufficient wire gauge for the 10-ft wire span. For example, see our 16 AWG wire (PN 7098) available here.

The only significant downside of the 24V versions would be the longer intervals between cut lines. The 12V versions can be cut every 1 inch, while the 24V versions can be cut every 2 inches.

For further reference, we recommend referencing the following:

Diffusers' effect on LED strip light output

I'm very interested in your range of high-CRI LED strip lights. For my application, I will also need diffusers to "soften" the light, but I'm concerned about color quality (color shift / CRI reduction) due to absorption or filtering of the diffuser. What can you suggest?

You are correct that poly-carbonate and acrylic diffusers do tend to alter the light spectrum. In our experience, however, most diffusers and plastics will absorb the light in a "full-spectrum" fashion in which energy attenuation occurs across the entire spectrum. As a result, while light intensity may be reduced, there is no significant loss in light quality.

If you are working with a very narrow tolerance color requirement (e.g. D50), diffusers may cause enough color shift to be of concern; otherwise, the magnitude of color shift is generally acceptable. Our tests show that generally, daylight color temperatures can be reduced by approximately 200-500K, depending on the diffuser.

LED strip power supply capacity with dimmer

I have two reels of your 2700K 12V 95 CRI LED strip lights. I will be using the entirety of both reels, so a total of 33 feet, which based on my calculations, will require 178 Watts at 12V (5.5 watts / ft x 33 ft). I plan on connecting the system to a wall-dimmer to reduce the brightness. If I don't ever plan on exceeding 50% on the dimmer setting, can I get away with using just one power supply, even though it can only supply a max of 120 watts @ 12V?

While we completely understand the the logic behind this, the LED strips and power supplies do not work in this manner. The LED strips operate at a fixed power, voltage and current, so there is no way to adjust this, even if the LED strips are used with a dimmer. As such, you will need two separate power supplies for your two LED strip reels.

We know this is counter-intuitive, so below is a technical explanation of why this is the case.

If you operate the LED strips at a 50% dimmer setting, you will indeed get 50% of the brightness and use only 50% of the power. This is accomplished via a mechanism called PWM (pulse-width modulation). In PWM, the light output is actually "chopped up" into short bursts of on/off periods.

During the "on" period, the LED strips operate at 100% power, and during the "off" period, the LED strips operate at 0% power. The power supply adjusts the perceived brightness level by adjusting (i.e. "modulating") the proportion of "on" vs "off" time. Even at a 50% dimmer setting, the LED strip will draw its maximum power during 50% of the time period, and will cause the power supply to exceed its power capacity.

Below is on the product page, you will find the wiring diagram for the multiple power supplies connected to a single dimmer switch:https://store.waveformlighting.com/collections/power-supplies-and-dimmers/products/triac-dimmable-power-supply-for-led-strip

LED strip layout for cove lighting

I have a room with dimensions 15' x 15' and vaulted ceilings that go to 17'. I would like to line the perimeter of the room with LED strip lights. There is a "cove" space for lighting and I will utilize this space to install the LED strips. What layout and parts would you recommend for a dimmable setup?

Our LED strip lights sound like a great fit for an indirect lighting application. Assuming room dimensions of 15' x 15' and that you want to install LED strip lighting along the entire perimeter, this would require a total of 60 feet of LED strip lighting.

Each 16.4 reel of LED strip lights requires a separate TRIAC dimmable power supply. To cover 60 feet, you will likely want to use 4 reels and 4 power supplies. Each power supply can be connected to the same wall-dimmer as shown below:

Finally, inputting room dimensions and ceiling height into our calculator below, we can confirm that the 60 feet of LED strip will provide more than sufficient levels of brightness for all activities.

UV LED strips that don't emit purple or violet light

Ultraviolet (UV) LED strips I have purchased in the past emit a lot of purple / violet light. Does your product emit any purple or violet light?

We would recommend our realUV LED strip lights with the 365 nm wavelength option to minimize the amount of visible purple or violet light. Many LED strips on the market will market themselves as a UV light strip but will have an actual peak wavelength at 400 nm or higher. The result is a significant amount of violet and purple light emission.

We also offer a 395 nm version, and you can read more about how wavelength affects the amount of visible light emitted: https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/what-is-the-difference-between-365-nm-and-395-nm-uv-led-lights

Our 365 nm LED strips emit most of their energy in UV region, which is not visible to the naked eye. A trace amount dull, bluish-white light can be observed from our 365 nm sources.

What is the current draw on the line voltage side (amps at 110V) for each LED strip reel?

Our electrician needs to know the amperage draw for each LED strip reel (16.4 feet) connected to our electrical system (110V). How is this calculated?

The simplest way to calculate this is to calculate the power draw of the LED strip. Waveform Lighting's LED strips draw 5.5 watts per foot, so 5.5 watts multiplied by 16.4 feet gives us approximately 90 watts.

Then, to determine amperage draw at 110V, we simply divide the wattage by 110 volts.

Amperage draw at 110V = 90 watts / 110V = 0.82A

Keep in mind that the amperage draw on the 12V or 24V (low voltage DC) will be a different value.

LED strips at 90 degree angles to fit in corners

How can LED strips be easily cut and reconnected at 90 degree angles to fit in corners?

LED strips are flexible and can be bent, but not laterally. While this is usually not an issue, you may need to turn a corner or otherwise change direction within an LED strip run.

For the 90 degree turns, PN 3071 would be the perfect accessory item.

This product includes clip-on connectors on both ends of a cable, which allows you to cut the LED strip segment, and then simply rejoin the segments again quickly and easily without having to use solder. The cable is approximately 6" in length and can be bent at an angle to turn corners and change direction.

Power supply and voltage selection for a long run of LED strip lights

I need to install a 19-ft run of LED strip lights am confused about whether I should pick 12 or 24 volts.

The LED strip spec sheet for the 24 volt version says it can have a max length of 32 ft, but when I calculate out the wattage for the 19-ft run, it comes to 105 watts, which exceeds the power capacity of the 24 volt power supply (96 watts). Your 12 volt power supply has a capacity of 120 watts. Should I choose the 12 volt versions instead?

In terms of the run length and power draw question, there are two separate limitations that we will need to consider.

First, the 12 volt LED strip lights to have a recommended max run length of 16.4 feet. Exceeding this 16.4 ft maximum length may lead to safety risks, resulting from the excess heat generated by the higher levels of electrical current that a longer run length would require. While the 19 ft run does not exceed the 16.4 ft limitation by much, we would nonetheless not recommend exceeding this length for safety reasons.

On the other hand, as you mention, the 24 volt LED strip lights can safely be used at a 19 ft length, as their maximum run length specification is 32.8 ft.

(The reason for the higher max-run length specification is that the 24 volt versions operate at half the electrical current, which is the limiting factor).

Secondly, we will want to take a look at the power draw and capacity of the power supply units. The 24 volt TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has a maximum capacity of only 96 watts, which is unfortunately insufficient for the power draw needs of a 19 ft length of LED strips lights. The reason for this specification is to allow for installation as a Class 2 power supply, which is a commonly designated electrical code rating.

Although the 12 volt version of the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply has a capacity of 120 watts and could theoretically power the entire 19 ft length, due to the maximum run length mentioned above, this would unfortunately not be a recommended option either.

This may not be a convenient solution, however, for maximum safety, we would recommend installing separate sections that do not exceed 16.4 ft, or depending on the flexibility of the installation, modify the run lengths to two runs of 16.4 ft each. Alternatively, a third-party 24 volt power supply with a capacity of 105 watts or higher may also be an option.

How bright are LED strip lights?

Brightness, of course, is one of the most fundamental and important aspects of an LED strip lighting installation. Most of our LED strip products will provide 450 lumens per foot (see individual product pages for further detail). Check out our interactive lumen estimation calculator, or see our general guidelines below:

1 ft LED strip = 450 lumens = 40 watt IncandescentEvery 450 lumens gives you approximately the same amount of light as a 40W incandescent bulb. If, for example, you're trying to reproduce the brightness of 4x 40 watt incandescent bulbs, make sure you have approximately 4 ft of LED strip lighting.

1 ft LED strip = 450 lumens = 1-ft T8 Fluorescent4-ft T8 fluorescent lamps emit approximately 3000 lumens. However, because it emits light in all directions, much of it is "lost" in the fixture. When replacing T8 fluorescent lamps with an LED solution such as LED strip lights, we recommend budgeting 450 lumens per foot as a direct replacement. For example, a 2-lamp 4-ft T8 fixture would require approximately 3600 lumens (8 x 450 lumens).

1000-2000 lumens Per 100 Square FeetIf you're lighting up a new space or don't have a reference point to compare with incandescent or fluorescent lamps, you can also estimate your lighting needs by square footage. Determine the total square footage of the space, and divide that number by 100, and then multiply the result by a value between 1000 and 2000, depending on your brightness needs. 1000 lumens is sufficient for low-light level areas such as living rooms and lounge areas, while task-oriented spaces may require up to 2000 lumens.

Finally, keep in mind that we offer a free returns & exchanges program. We encourage customers to test out our LED strip lights prior to installing them to make sure the brightness and color meet or exceed their expectations. As long as the LED strips are in their original condition (e.g. segments uncut, adhesive liner not removed), we will gladly accept returns and exchanges of LED strip lights. See our full return & refunds policy here.

What is the difference between 12V and 24V LED strip lights?

You will see that many of our LED strip options are available in both 12V and 24V. Unsure which one to choose?

If you are installing the LED strips into a system with a fixed voltage, you will want to choose whatever makes the most sense for that application (e.g. 12V LED strips for an RV with a 12V battery system).

If you are purchasing new power supplies as well, you may be wondering which is a better choice. The short answer is that while the light output of both systems are the same, 24V systems will run a bit more efficiently due to the lower electrical current. The only downside is that the cut-line intervals for 24V LED strips will typically be twice that of 12V LED strips (e.g. every 2 inches vs every 1 inch).

The light output specifications of the 12V and 24V, in both brightness and quality, are identical. We offer both options to accommodate customers who may have an existing electrical system (e.g. 12V battery in an automobile).

If you do not have any existing voltage level requirements, we generally recommend 24V as this allows for longer runs (see below) and reduced voltage drop.

For further information, take a look at our blog post on LED strip voltage selection.

How to dim LED strip lights

All of our LED strips are fully dimmable, but to successfully implement a dimmable system, they must be paired with the correct accessories.

If you are looking to dim your LED strips from a traditional wall-dimmer switch (e.g. Leviton/Lutron brands) you will need a power supply that is "TRIAC dimmable."

Alternatively, you can also dim LED strips using an in-line PWM dimmer. For example, see our FilmGrade Flicker-Free LED strip dimmer.

For further information, take a look at our blog post on LED strip dimming.

What kind of power supply do I need for LED strip lights?

Waveform Lighting's LED strips all operate on low voltage DC current. Therefore, they cannot be directly plugged into a wall outlet and require a power supply unit that converts AC 120V to the correct DC 12V or 24V level.

When choosing a power supply unit, you must ensure that the output voltage matches the LED strip voltage (i.e. DC 12V or DC 24V), and that the power supply capacity is sufficient to operate the length of LED strip.

The power supply capacity needed is determined by the total length of LED strip connected. Each 1 foot section consumes 5.5 watts of power - so, for example, a 10 foot section will consume 55 watts of power, and we would therefore recommend a minimum power capacity of 55 watts.

Additionally, the power consumption of an LED strip system must not exceed that of the power supply's capacity. The power consumption of an LED system is determined by the LED strip's power draw per foot, multiplied by the length of LED strip in the system.

See our LED strip power supply calculator here.

Testing LED strip lights while keeping them eligible for return & refund

Waveform Lighting proudly offers a 30-day free returns policy, which also includes our LED strip lights.

If for whatever reason, you find that the LED strips you purchase from us will not work for your project, we would be more than happy to pay for return shipping and offer a full refund.

All we ask is for you to keep the LED strips in their original condition, meaning that the adhesive liner must not be removed, and that the LED strips must not be cut into any shorter sections or otherwise altered.

Keeping the LED strips "in their original condition" can be a bit of an obstacle when it comes to testing LED strip lights, since many of our customers' projects involve cutting and mounting the LED strip lights into their final installation location.

While there certainly are some limitations, we recommend using masking tape, or painter's tape, to temporarily mount the LED strip in the desired location and position to get a rough approximation of the brightness, color and overall feel.

Painter's tape will typically not leave any adhesive residue upon removal, which will help to prevent any damage to the LED strip or its components. This will also ensure that you do not damage or leave any adhesive residue on the mounting surface.

Covering several of the LED emitters with masking tape should not cause any thermal or electrical issues as long as the setup is temporary, and care is taken to ensure that the surface of the LED emitters is not exposed to any excess force or pressure.

Finally, we recommend testing at various times of day and ambient lighting conditions, as this can have a significant effect on how we perceive the same lighting installation.

How to wire and power a long LED strip run (100 ft+)

I am looking to install LED strip lights across a 100 ft section. How many power supplies do I need, and should I use 12 volts or 24 volts?

Our recommendation is to set up six separate LED strip runs of 16.4 ft each. We would recommend our 24 volt LED strip lights, and each of the 16.4 ft runs should be powered by a TRIAC dimmable power supply. All of the power supplies can be connected to a single wall-dimmer so that the entire 100 ft section can be controlled from a single dimmer switch.

If you're wondering why we need a separate power supply for each 16.4 ft run, see our article below which should provide some additional insights, as well as some third-party options:

Which is safer - DC 12 volts or 24 volts?

Do 12 volt LED strip light systems also have lower shock risk than 24 volt? I have heard that "it's not voltage that kills, it's current" - in which case the 12 volt LED strips would appear more dangerous given that it has twice the amperage.

Generally, we believe that "shock risk" increases as the voltage increases. At a very basic level, this suggests that 12 volt LED systems would have the lowest possibility of causing an electric shock, while 24 volt would be slightly higher but still relatively low, and 120 volt line voltage would be much higher in terms of the possibility of causing an electric shock.

Shock risk, however, is not the same as the potential to cause bodily harm or injury. The zap from static electricity that you feel on a dry winter day, for example, has a very high voltage of tens of thousands of volts, but does not cause any harm due to the inherently low amount of energy (as you mention, it lacks the "current which kills").

The primary reason lower voltage systems have a lower shock risk, is simply due to the fact that low voltage systems generally lack the voltage potential to overcome the high electrical resistance in our human skin. Therefore, a 12 volt system, even one with a higher amperage rating, is seen as generally lower risk because the 12 volts is usually insufficient to penetrate skin and other objects.

Low voltage systems do have a lower risk, but that is not to say they are risk-free. Please use caution and consult with an electrician when installing any LED systems you are not familiar with.

Are 24 volt LED strip lights brighter than 12 volt LED strip lights?

Many of our LED strip lights are offered in a DC 12 volt and DC 24 volt option. We're accustomed to thinking that higher voltage means higher power, so it's quite natural to assume that our 24 volt LED strip lights are twice as bright as their 12 volt LED strip light counterparts.

While it is true that 24 volts does provide twice the voltage of a 12 volt LED strip light, this does not necessarily correspond to an increase in brightness. In fact, both our 12 volt and 24 volt LED strip lights generally produce the exact same amount of brightness.

How can this be?

The reason is that voltage is only part of the equation when it comes to power and brightness. You may remember learning the following equation in high school:

Power (watts) = voltage (volts) x current (amps)

As the equation suggests, we need to consider the current of an LED strip light as well as its voltage, to determine the total power output, and therefore brightness output.

Our 12 volt LED strip lights have twice the current draw of our 24 volt LED strip lights. For example, our CENTRIC HOME LED strip lights have the following specifications per reel:

Both variants have the same 90 watt power consumption, because the 12 volt version draws 7.5 amps per reel, which is 2x the current draw of the 24 volt version, which only draws 3.75 amps. As a result, both offer the same amount of light output and similar performance.

The next logical question, then, might be: what's the point of having two voltage options if they produce the same light output? The reason here is that the two voltage options are offered for our customers who have an existing power system in place. For example. our customers who are installing LED strip lights in an RV may have an existing 12 volt battery system. For such installations, 12 volt would be much easier than having to convert the 12 volt power feed to a 24 volt input, specifically installed for the LED strip lights.

Generally, we recommend 24 volt systems for a slightly higher efficiency boost. We recommend reading our article which goes over the advantages of our 24 volt LED strip lights over the 12 volt versions.

How to span a long distance in between LED strip sections

I'm installing the CENTRIC HOME™ LED strip lights in my kitchen, and I have a 10 ft distance I need to span, in between cabinet sections. I would prefer using the same power supply, because the total run length is still less than 16.4 ft. What is the best way to join these sections together?

We offer a 32-ft spool of low-voltage wire listed under PN 7098, which should be a good option for you. The wires will essentially act as a "jumper cable" to bridge the distance between the LED strip sections to carry power to the next LED strip section. The wires can either be soldered directly onto the LED strip ends, or be connected using solderless connector accessories such as PN 3070 in conjunction with twist-on wire connectors.

Below is a chart from our LayoutMaps™ diagram which should help visualize our recommendation.

 As you mention, as long as you keep the total LED strip run length below 16.4 ft, you will be able to stay within the maximum run length limits. The wire span length is not included in the max run length calculation.

LED strip light options for photosensitive manufacturing environment?

I am searching for LED strip lights to install in an inspection booth at our manufacturing facility. The products that we are inspecting are photosensitive and cannot be exposed to any light less than 500 nm. What are my options?

Many industrial materials and components are indeed sensitive to blue and even green wavelengths of light, so these environments require specialized lighting solutions to ensure adherence to these blue light exposure limits.

The two product options that come to mind are the SimpleColor™ LED strip lights in Amber (592 nm) or Red (630 nm). Both of these color options will ensure that your lighting environment does not contain any blue or green wavelength energy.

The important thing is that even warm white LEDs contain some blue light energy, so despite their warmer appearance, they will still not be appropriate for a photosensitive manufacturing environment.

Are your LED strip lights flicker-free?

I see your CENTRIC HOME™ A19 bulbs are rated as flicker-free. I don't see the same designation for your LED strip lights. Are they also flicker-free?

All of our LED strip lights are flicker-free, when used with a flicker-free power supply. The reason we do not show a flicker-free rating for our LED strip lights is due to the fact that flicker performance with third-party power supplies depends on the power supply unit, rather than our LED strip lights.

Our own power supply units and dimmers provide flicker-free power and are an excellent choice for our LED strip lights. You can be assured of flicker-free LED strip light performance with any of the following combinations:

Are your LED strip lights UL listed?

We currently have UL listing obtained for the following LED strip light products:

The following LED strip light product lines do not have UL listing at this time:

Can I get more brightness by supplying more voltage to an LED strip?

Can I operate your 12 volt LED strip lights at a higher voltage to get more brightness? For example, can I use a 15 volt power supply to get more intensity?

Our LED strip lights are designed to be used at a specific voltage level (the "rated voltage") and exceeding this voltage level will likely cause damage and lead to premature LED failure. Therefore, a 12 volt LED strip light cannot be operated by any power supply units that exceed a 12 volt output.

The best way to get more brightness from an LED strip installation is to install multiple rows of the LED strip. With twice the number of LED strip rows, you will be able to directly double the amount of brightness.

Operating a TRIAC-dimmable LED power supply from wall outlet

Can a Triac-dimmable power supply such as the CENTRIC SERIES LED power supply be connected to a wall outlet and controlled by a wall-dimmer?

Electrically speaking, this could be accomplished. However, this would not be an advisable configuration from an electrical safety standpoint. This is because, in general, a wall dimmer should never be connected to a wall outlet.

Wall outlets are used for a wide range of non-lighting related electrical appliances. If a non-lighting product is inadvertently plugged in and "dimmed" from the wall-dimmer, there may be some catastrophic failures and/or safety issues that arise. For example, a microwave oven is most certainly not designed to be "dimmed" from a wall-dimmer, and could potentially lead to some serious issues.

As an alternative, we would recommend using an in-line PWM dimmer in conjunction with a plug-in power supply.

Protecting LED strip lights for avian applications

We would like to use your LED strip lights to build a flicker-free lighting array for our bird cages. However, we can't have any lighting parts in contact or within reach of our animals as they will destroy them, so I am curious what suggestions you might have as to how to mount these behind the wire/mesh screening.

Our LED strip lights indeed sound like a great option for your needs. Paired with our flicker-free power supplies, you will be able to achieve a nice, flicker-free light output that fits the specific mechanical dimensions of the installation location.​

We understand the concerns with respect to mounting and keeping the LED strips away from your animals. The best immediate solution that comes to mind would be our aluminum channels, which will provide a certain degree of mechanical protection and act as a housing for the LED strip lights. Please see below for the product link:

https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/aluminum-channel-for-led-strip

Do your LED strip lights require heat sinks?

Do your LED strip lights require heat sinks?

Our LED light strips do not require heat sinks. That being said, they will warm up quite noticeably during operation. Aluminum channels can be helpful in dissipating some of the heat.

Eye safety for realUV LED strip lights

I was wondering under what conditions either the 365 nm or 395 nm realUV LED strips could present an eye safety hazard. Are there viewing conditions that could be hazardous with a short LED strip segment?

Generally speaking, it's a bit difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly, so we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have specific concerns.​

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.​

That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:​

The use of a short segment should present a relatively low risk given their correspondingly low energy output. We would recommend ensuring that the LED strip lights are pointed away from any people, and perhaps install them as far away from eye level as may be practical.

LED strip light material composition

I am looking to install your LED strip lights in a manufacturing environment which prohibits the use of any glass. Do your LED strip lights contain any glass in its composition?

With the exception of our cleanUV LED strip lights, none of our LED strip lights contain any glass.

(Our cleanUV LED strip lights require a special quartz glass seal to allow the UV-C wavelengths to pass through without causing any material degradation).

12 volt LED strip light with an unregulated battery source

I would like to connect your 12 volt LED strip lights to an unregulated source such as a 14.4 volt or 11.2 volt battery. Would this be permissible?

Unfortunately, our 12 volt LED strip lights have a voltage input limit of 12.0 volts. Exceeding this voltage can result in reliability issues and reduced longevity. Operating the 12 volt LED strip light at voltage input levels below 12.0 volts would not cause any longevity or reliability issues, but will result in lowered light output.

We would recommend using a voltage regulator to ensure a stable 12-volt input to prevent any damage or stability issues.

Do you offer an 380 nm LED strip light?

I have a project which requires a strip of LED lights that produce 380 nm wavelength UV energy. Do you have a product that meets these requirements?

We currently offer UV LED strip lights that emit at 365 nm and 395 nm. We, unfortunately, do not have any products that specifically target 380 nm, but based on a reading of the spectral power distribution, we do see some residual energy output at the 380 nm level.

I've included a link below to our specification sheet, which shows the emission spectrum:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_7021.pdf

LED strip lighting for a chroma key background

We are trying to figure out how brightly your FilmGrade WHITE LED strip lights would illuminate a chroma key background surface approximately 8 ft away.

I've checked on our end, and based on measurements taken in the past, our estimated illuminance at a 4-ft distance is 20 footcandles. Our estimated illuminance level for an 8-ft distance, based on this measurement and the inverse-square law, would be 5 footcandles.

The illuminance requirements for a chroma key background would likely depend on the relative contrast levels between the foreground subjects, but should you need a higher brightness level, we would recommend using multiple rows of the LED strip light to increase the amount of illuminance falling on the chroma key background.

UV LED strip lights at 350 nm for photochemical sensitive printing papers

Do you have UV lighting products that use LEDs of the primary output of 350 nm for photochemical sensitive printing papers?

Unfortunately, we do not offer anything at 350 nm. The closest product we offer hags a 365 nm peak wavelength value.​

I've included the product link below for your reference.​https://store.waveformlighting.com/products/real-uv-led-strip-lights?variant=12339996721254

Putting LED strip lights on the backs of shelves in a three section book case

I am putting lights on the backs of shelves in a three section book case. There are a total of 4 shelves on each section and a section in the middle with one shelf to light. The tape light I choose is 3000 K. The shelves each are all 30 inches with the exception of the one in the middle being 40 inches. Total length of lighting needed is 24 ft. There is about 18 in of jumpers needed between the shelves.

Would you recommend two 12 volt power supplies in 2 parallel 16 ft runs, or one 24 volt power supply in one 24 ft run wired in series?

Generally speaking, our LED strip lights are limited to 16.4 ft per run due to power supply and/or maximum run length constraints. For your installation of 24 ft, you will likely want to install two separate LED runs​, while ensuring that neither run exceeds 16.4 ft.​

Below is a link to one of our layout diagrams which you may find useful in determining the configuration and components needed for this setup:​https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B

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