How to connect led strip to the power supply?
Match the voltage, size the power supply, then connect positive to positive and negative to negative:
- Use a 12V power supply for a 12V LED strip and a 24V supply for a 24V strip, with an input voltage that matches your country’s mains.
- Choose a supply rated at least 20% above what the strip draws: a 60W strip needs a 72W supply (the 80% rule).
- Small projects: a plug-in adapter with a DC plug. Larger projects: a hardwired supply with screw terminals, V+ to the strip’s + and V- to its -.
At SuperLightingLED we ship every LED strip with a matching power supply option, and connecting the two is the question we answer most. Here are the steps, the wiring diagrams our engineers use, and a quick way to size the supply.
How to connect LED strip lights to a 12V power supply, step by step
- Check the numbers. Strip voltage = supply output voltage (12V with 12V). Supply wattage ≥ strip wattage ÷ 0.8.
- Leave the supply unplugged until everything is connected.
- Connect the DC side. Strip red wire (+) to the supply V+, black wire (-) to V- (or COM). With a plug-in adapter, push the strip’s DC plug into the adapter, or add a DC jack connector to a cut strip.
- Connect the AC side (hardwired supplies only): mains live to L, neutral to N and earth to the ground terminal, or use an AC power cord. If you are not sure, ask an electrician.
- Plug in and test before you stick the strip down.
LED power supply wiring diagram
Drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team; wire colors follow our house convention (red V+, black V-/GND). Click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.
Several short strips on one adapter? Use a DC splitter cable. A long run? See feeding power at several points. Rather not wire anything? We can send a pre-wired plug-and-play kit.
What size power supply do I need for my LED strip?
Multiply the length by the watts per meter printed on your reel, then divide by 0.8 so the supply keeps 20% in reserve. Typical examples:
| LED strip | Strip power | Minimum supply |
|---|---|---|
| 5 m × 4.8 W/m | 24 W | 30 W |
| 5 m × 9.6 W/m | 48 W | 60 W |
| The 60 W example above | 60 W | 72 W or more |
| 5 m × 14.4 W/m | 72 W | 90 W |
| 10 m × 14.4 W/m | 144 W | 180 W |
Full method and formulas: how to calculate power for LED strip lights.
After receiving our led light strip and the power supply, many customers are puzzled about how to make these two parts work as one. To light up the led strip, you must supply power to it. All equipment that provides electrical energy to the light strip is collectively referred to as an LED power supply, some people also call it an LED driver because it drives the led strip to work. The power supply that can convert the voltage is called an LED transformer, such as converting a high-voltage 220V to a low-voltage 12V or 24V.
In order for you to better use the led strip light, we will take you to fully understand the knowledge between the light strip and the power supply and answer the questions that you get when you connect to the power supply. The following aspects need to be paid attention to if you want your led strip to run in the best condition.
What you need to know about led strip installation:
How to connect two light strips together?
How to wire single color led strip lights?
How to wire tunable white/CCT led strip lights?
How to wire RGB color changing led strip lights?
How to wire RGBCCT led strip lights?
How to wire addressable led strips?
Ensuring the working voltage and power first
Before you connect your led strip light to the power supply, you have to ensure the electrical compatibility between the light strip and the led driver power supply.
The output voltage of the led driver is generally 12VDC or 24VDC. The 12V led strip light needs to match the 12V led power supply, and so the 24V led strips. Note whether the input voltage of the led light power supply matches the AC power available in your country or region.
And the wattage of the led driver should be greater than the light strip’s, it is better to leave 20% power space to prevent the power supply from overheating and reducing the service life. For example, a 12V led strip light requires 60W, you should purchase a 72W power supply. This is called the rule 80%. You can use the led power supply calculator to calculate the power or choose the power calculation formula.
Plug-in power supply
Led strip with a female plug corresponds to the led driver with a male plug.
• DC5V Plastic Shell Power Adapter • DC12V Plastic Shell Power Adapter • DC24V Plastic Shell Power Adapter • DC5V MW UL-Listed Class II Power Adapter |
1. Led strip with bare wires
If the strip light does not have a plug, purchase a matching plug separately to establish the connection.
2. Led strip no wires after the cut
How to connect the plug-in power supply after the led strip is cut? Connect the led strip to the power supply with a solderless cable connector or by welding a light strip female plug.
The AC power plug can be directly inserted into the socket to supply power to the led light strip. It is convenient and suitable for small projects.
Related reading:
How to solder wires to led strips?
Lithium battery
The use of lithium batteries to power the led light strip does not require complicated wiring, and it is easy to carry around, very suitable for activities such as picnics and camping.
Our 12V lithium battery can carry 36W to 720W of power. The greater the power, the stronger the endurance and the longer the working time of the light strip.
Hardwired power supply
The hard-wired led power supply has certain requirements for operation. Once the wrong wire is connected, the led driver will not work normally.
How to hardwire led strip lights?
1. Both the led light strip and the led power supply have bare wires.
• DC5V Waterproof Power Supply • DC12V Waterproof Power Supply • DC24V Waterproof Power Supply |
Operation method:
Twist the two red wires together, then cover and tighten the wire nut. The same goes for the black line.
Note that the red wire needs to be connected to the red wire, and the black wire is connected to the black wire. It is wrong to connect the red wire and the black wire together. Did you make this error?
2. The led strip has bare wires, but the led light power supply has no wires and no plugs.
• LED Ultra Slim Mini Power Supply • DC5V MW UL-Listed Power Supply • DC12V MW UL-Listed Power Supply |
A screwdriver is required to operate the switching power supply. The screws of a new unused switching power supply are tightened. When connecting the led strip, it must be loosened before the connection can be started.
►Step 1. At this time you need a screwdriver to unscrew the screws on the led power supply.
►Step 2. Put the wires of the led strip into the corresponding screw holes.
The led strip power supply has marked the location of the wires you need to connect, and allows you to distinguish their functions.
Insert the positive wire of the light strip into the power output V+ screw hole, and the negative wire into the V- screw hole.
►Step 3. After inserting the wire into the screw hole, tighten the screw with a screwdriver, and then pull the wire by hand to see if the connection is firm.
►Step 4. Connect the AC power plug in the same way.
Can I connect multiple LED strips to the same LED power supply?
Yes, an led strip power supply can be connected with several led strips.
1. Series connection
When you connect several led light strips in series, there will be a voltage drop, the brightness of the light strip at the end will decrease due to the long distance. As the voltage decreases, the color gradually changes from white at the beginning to yellow, then turns to red at the back, and then disappears.
If you find that this phenomenon occurs during the installation of your led strip, don't worry. The way to solve the voltage drop is to supply power at both ends of the light strip at the same time to ensure the consistency of brightness and color.
2. Parallel connection
The uneven brightness of the led lights in the project is really annoying. Therefore, It is best to supply power to each light strip separately. These light strips can use the same led power supply or each light strip use a separate power supply.
The length of the bare wire of the led strip itself is relatively short. If you need to jump over obstacles or the led light power supply is far away from the strip light, the light strip extension cord is a good choice.
LED strip power supply FAQ
Can I use a 24V power supply on a 12V LED strip?
No. A 12V LED strip needs a 12V power supply and a 24V strip needs a 24V supply. Also check the supply’s input voltage matches the mains in your country.
How big a power supply does my LED strip need?
At least 20% more than the strip draws. For example, a 60W LED strip needs a 72W or larger supply.
How do I connect an LED strip to a plug?
Use a plug-in power adapter. A strip with a female DC plug goes straight into the adapter; a strip with bare wires or a cut end needs a DC jack or solderless connector.
How do I connect an LED driver to an LED strip?
Connect the driver output V+ to the strip positive and V- to the strip negative, then wire the driver input to the mains (L, N and ground) or an AC power cord.
Can I connect multiple LED strips to the same power supply?
Yes, as long as the total wattage of all the strips stays within 80% of the supply’s rating. Wire them in parallel, for example with a splitter cable.
LED strip power supplies
DC12V plastic shell power adaptersPlug-in, for small projects
DC12V MW Class II power adaptersUL-listed plug-in adapters
DC12V MW UL-listed power suppliesHardwired, screw terminals
DC24V MW UL-listed power suppliesFor 24V LED strips
DC12V waterproof power suppliesOutdoor and damp locations
Ultra slim mini power suppliesHide it in a cabinet
TRIAC 0-10V dimmable driversWork with wall dimmers
DC12V lithium batteriesPower without an outletTell us the strip model and length, and the SuperLightingLED team will match the power supply and connectors. Contact our team