When we install LED light strips, especially when wiring, a key issue to consider is the “voltage drop” effect. In a DC power system, the voltage is not transmitted at a constant level, but gradually decreases as the current flows through the wires (or the LED light strip itself). If the LED light strip has a voltage drop, it will cause one end of the light strip to appear brighter than the other, thus affecting the overall lighting uniformity.
So during the planning and installation process, we need to find ways to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of voltage drop on LED light strips.
What is LED Strip Lights Voltage Drop?
LED light strip voltage drop refers to the phenomenon that when the current passes through the light strip, the voltage gradually decreases along the light strip due to resistance or other obstacles in the circuit.
This voltage drop can cause various problems, such as LED dimming, flickering, or even premature failure. In addition, the voltage drop will cause the brightness of the LED at the end of the light strip to be lower than the brightness of the LED at the power supply end, affecting the overall light effect of the light strip.
Why does the LED light strip have a voltage drop?
In fact, there are many reasons for the voltage drop of LED light strips, such as resistance, too long power cord, power supply voltage, etc. Next, let’s analyze the reasons in detail, so that we can better reduce the occurrence of voltage drop in advance.
Wire Resistance
Wires have a certain resistance, and a small voltage loss occurs when current flows through them. The longer the strip, the more significant the resistance of the wire.
LED Strip Length
The longer the strip, the farther the current has to travel. The greater the voltage loss. Therefore, we do not recommend connecting very long LED strips together.
Supply Voltage
LED strips with lower voltages (such as 12V strips or 5V LED strips) are more susceptible to voltage drops than strips with higher voltages (such as 24V strips) because low-voltage systems are more likely to have greater voltage losses over long distances at the same current.
Power Cord Specifications
The thickness of the wire used in a circuit affects its resistance. The thinner the wire, the higher the resistance, resulting in a greater voltage drop. Use thick copper wire whenever possible.
Wire Length
The longer the power cord, the higher the resistance and voltage drop. So the LED strip cannot be too far from the power supply.
Power Supply
An insufficient or faulty power supply can cause a voltage drop, especially when driving longer LED strips or multiple lamps.
What is the Effect of Voltage Drop on LED Strip Lights?
Once the LED light has a voltage drop, there will be a series of effects, and all of them will affect the quality and life of the light strip. Some common manifestations are as follows:
Uneven brightness at the beginning and end
When the voltage of the light strip drops, the brightness of the light strip will gradually decrease from the power supply end to the end. The brightness of the LEDs close to the power supply is higher, while the brightness of the LEDs far from the power supply is lower, resulting in inconsistent brightness of the overall light strip.
Significant reduction in brightness of the LEDs at the end
The voltage drop causes the LEDs at the far end of the light strip to not receive enough voltage, resulting in a decrease in light efficiency. The brightness will drop significantly, and the light emitted by these LEDs will become uneven and poorly scattered.
Color distortion
Many colors will be distorted, especially RGB or multi-color LED light strips. Some colors may be affected earlier than others, resulting in inaccurate or distorted colors, especially in the part far from the power supply.
Flickering or unstable
When the voltage drops to a certain level, some LEDs may flicker or be unstable, showing as flickering light, especially at the end of the light strip.
Increased temperature of the light strip
Due to the current imbalance caused by the voltage drop, the LEDs with too much current in the light strip will heat up more, causing local temperature increase, which may shorten the life of the light strip. In severe cases, permanent damage may occur to the light strip. This overheating phenomenon is usually caused by voltage imbalance, which is another manifestation of voltage drop problems.
Do All LED Strips Experience Voltage Drop?
Not all LED strips experience voltage drop when you use them. LED strips are usually 5 meters long, and the longest can be 10 meters long. Otherwise, there will be a voltage drop.
The amount of voltage drop depends on a variety of factors, including the gauge and length of the wires, the number of LEDs in the strip, and the quality of the power supply. If you don’t want the LED strip to experience a voltage drop, you can try to use shorter LED strips, thicker wires, and enough power supplies that are less likely to experience significant voltage drops.
How to Avoid Voltage Drop in LED Light Strips?
To avoid voltage drop in LED light strips, which affects the performance of LED light strips. The following methods can help minimize the voltage drop problem and ensure the stability and light effect consistency of the light strip:
Choose a higher-voltage LED strip
Using 24V or higher voltage LED strips can effectively reduce voltage drop. Compared to 12V strips, 24V or 48V systems can maintain a stable voltage over longer strips and reduce voltage loss. If you don’t know how to choose the voltage, pls read How to Choose 12V vs. 24V LED Strip Lights?
Shorten the length of the light strip
Avoid using LED strips that exceed the recommended length. For example, the length of a 24V LED strip is not recommended to exceed 10 meters. If you need to use a longer light strip, you can add a power connection point every other distance to ensure that the voltage of the entire light strip remains stable by using segmented power supply. What is a power supply, pls read What Does An LED Driver Do?
Use parallel connections
If you need to install multiple LED strips at once, using parallel connections instead of series connections can effectively reduce voltage drop. In a parallel connection, each section of the strip has an independent power line, which ensures that each section of the strip receives a consistent voltage.
Use thicker power cords
The thickness (resistance) of the LED strip wire affects the efficiency of current transmission. Using thicker wires (such as 16AWG or lower specifications) can reduce resistance and reduce the occurrence of voltage drop. Try not to install the LED strip too far from the power supply.
Provide power at both ends of the LED strip
For long-distance LED strips, we recommend that if it is a 10-meter strip, consider connecting the power supply at both ends of the strip or multiple locations in the middle to form a multi-point power supply. This ensures that no matter how long the strip is, the power supply is relatively short for each section of the strip, thereby reducing voltage drop.
Use constant current LED strips
If you are running very long distances, we recommend that you choose constant current LED strips with built-in constant current drive circuits to ensure that the current flowing through each LED remains constant regardless of voltage fluctuations.
Through these methods, the voltage drop problem of the LED light strip can be effectively avoided or reduced, thereby ensuring uniform brightness and consistent color of the light strip, extending its service life, and improving the overall lighting effect.
Suggestion
By understanding the causes and effects of LED light strip voltage drops, you can take steps to prevent voltage drops and maintain the performance of your LED lighting system. This allows the LED light strip to keep the same light, stable, and comfortable. So if you want to buy led strip, pls read How to Choose the Perfect Flexible LED Strip Lights?
Do you want to learn more about specific solutions to LED voltage drop problems? Contact us directly. We are a manufacturer of LED stripes.