12V LED strips

When do you choose 12V?

• Short lengths: up to about 5 meters per feed point the light stays even.
• Cabinets and furniture: small power supplies and plug-in adapters fit easily behind or inside furniture.
• Existing 12V installations: when a 12V power supply or system is already in place.

For longer runs and fixed installations, 24V is the better choice: at the same wattage half as much current flows, so you can run further. See the 24V LED strips.

Which 12V LED strip do you choose?

• SMD2835, 60 LEDs per meter: 4.8 W/m and about 480 lumens per meter. For ambient and cabinet lighting.
• SMD2835, 120 LEDs per meter: 9.6 W/m and about 960 lumens per meter. For task lighting under cabinets.
• SMD5050, 60 LEDs per meter: 14.4 W/m and about 1,200 lumens per meter, also in RGB.
• IP65: with a coating for bathrooms and damp areas. See the waterproof LED strips.

For cabinets and display cases you usually choose warm white or 4000K neutral white. See also the LED strips for cabinets.

The right 12V power supply

Use a 12V DC power supply and load it to 80% at most: add up the watts and divide by 0.8. Example: 3 meters at 9.6 W/m is about 29 W, so a power supply of at least 36 W. A plug-in adapter is handy in cabinets, a built-in driver for fixed mounting. See the LED strip power supplies.

Frequently asked questions about 12V LED strips

How long can a 12V LED strip be?

Usually up to about 5 meters per feed point. Longer? Feed power at both ends or choose a 24V strip.

Can I connect a 12V strip to 24V?

No, the strip will burn out. Strip and power supply must have the same voltage.

Is a 12V strip dimmable?

Yes, with an LED strip dimmer or controller between the power supply and the strip, also with a remote (RF 2.4 GHz) or a WiFi app. See the dimmers and controllers.

Are there complete 12V sets?

Yes, 5-meter sets with strip, power supply and connection. See the LED strip sets.