When you use LED strips in your lighting project, you need to plan how to link them ahead of time. Or when you are ready to start connecting them. If you have multiple LED strips and plan to connect them to a power source. Then, at this time, you will have a question: Should these LED strip be connected in series or parallel? So we need to understand the basic principles of circuits, especially when we need to connect LED strip in series and parallel connections.
How to Connect LED Strips “In Series”？
Connecting LED strips in series means that we connect all the strips so that the current flows through each LED in turn. This means that each LED in the series receives the same current, but there is a problem that is, the voltage will drop. How to avoid the voltage drop, pls read How to Avoid LED Strip Voltage Drop?
When we connect LED strips in series, we need to ensure that the voltage and current requirements of each LED are compatible and that the total voltage of the strip does not exceed the maximum rated voltage of the power supply.
2 Tips When Connecting LED Strips In Series:
- When connecting LED strips in series. First, connect the positive terminal of one strip to the negative terminal of the next strip. This will form a continuous loop with all the strips connected to form a complete circuit.
- When connecting in series, the voltage requirements of each LED strip are cumulative. For example, if each LED strip requires 12 volts and you connect three strips in series, the total voltage requirement is 36 volts. However, the current in the entire circuit remains constant. Which means that the power supply must match the total voltage requirement.
Pros and Cons of Using LED Strips in Series
Pros: Series circuits of LED strips offer many advantages. These include simple wiring and easy troubleshooting. Because current continues to flow through each LED, a faulty LED can be easily identified and replaced without interrupting the rest of the circuit.
Cons: However, series circuits also have some disadvantages. If one LED fails, it can cause the entire circuit to fail; another important disadvantage is that if many meters of LED strips are connected in series. It will cause voltage drop problems. This will result in reduced light output from the LED strip farthest from the power source.
How to Connect LED Strips “In Parallel”？
In a parallel circuit, each LED strip is directly connected to the power supply. Which means that the positive terminals of all strips are connected together and the negative terminals are also connected together.
The main feature of a parallel connection is that the voltage on each strip remains constant. While the current is divided between the individual strips. This way, there will be no voltage drop issues with LED strips connected in this way.
2 Tips When Connecting LED Strips In Parallel:
- To connect LED strips in parallel, you need to connect all of them to a power source individually. This method allows each strip to operate independently. If one strip fails, the remaining strips will continue to operate normally, making maintenance and troubleshooting easier.
- With each additional strip in a parallel circuit, the total current draw increases. Which means you need to make sure the power supply can handle the total current load.
Pros and Cons of Using LED Strips in Parallel
Pros: Parallel circuits of LED strips offer many advantages over series circuits. Since each LED works independently, the brightness of the strip is not limited by the performance of a single LED. And since each strip is directly connected to the power supply, there are no voltage drops. In addition, if one LED fails, it will not affect the rest of the circuit.
Cons: However, parallel circuits also have some disadvantages. They can be more complicated to wire than series circuits, and require a power supply that can provide enough current for all LEDS at the same time.
When Is It Better to Connect LED Strips In Series?
Above, we have analysed the difference between series and parallel connection of LED light strips, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel connection. Then we also give customers suggestions on what lighting projects are better for LED strips in series.
Short distance and low power solution
When you need the LED strip to be shorter (for example, 1 meter per strip, and the whole group does not exceed 5 meters). At the same time, when the power is small, a series connection usually does not cause too much voltage drop or brightness inconsistency.
Use high-voltage strips (such as 110v or 220v LED strips)
The high-voltage LED light strip itself is a structure composed of series modules, which can be directly connected to the mains for use, and is suitable for long-distance installation in series.
Applicable scenarios: large outdoor contour lights and linear lighting of industrial plants, etc.
Constant current LED strip
If the constant current light strip is designed with a constant current drive or voltage stabilising module, series connection within a certain range will not cause obvious brightness differences, and safety can also be guaranteed.
When Is It Better to Connect LED Strips In Series?
Long-distance installation
When the installation length of the light strip exceeds the continuous power supply length allowed by the light strip voltage. For example, for low-voltage light strips, we recommend that 12v LED tape should not exceed 5 meters, and 24V LED tape should not exceed 10 meters.
Keep brightness consistency at both ends
If multiple light strips are connected in series, the farther the distance, the lower the voltage, and the darker the light strips at the back. Using the parallel method. Each section of the light strip has an independent power supply circuit to ensure consistent overall brightness.
Use high-power light strips
If high-power light strips (such as more than 15w per meter) are connected in series, it will cause power overload or wire overheating, while parallel connection can disperse the current load, which is safer and more stable.
Need to control or dim multiple sections at the same time
The parallel structure makes it easy to connect each section of the light strip to a separate controller or dimmer. Even if one circuit has a problem, it will not affect the work of other light strips.
Multi-point power supply solves the voltage drop problem
Parallel connection with multi-point power supply allows voltage to enter the light strip from multiple points, so we can reduce some voltage drop problems and improve overall efficiency.
Conclusion
In summary, the series circuit is simple and easy, but the brightness and fault recovery ability may be limited. The parallel circuit is brighter and more stable, but the wiring may be more complicated when you install the LED strip. So you need to plan LED strip for both series and parallel circuits. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific application and the requirements of your lighting project.