Apologies this is much later than expected. Life happens, right?
If an admin wants to reformat or move or add to documentation, please feel free, because a lot of indenting was lost when pasted from Word. Otherwise, I'll improve format later. --cb4
LED Strip Intro
Deciphers all the jargon when looking at led strip specifications. If you know it already or don’t care, skip to next section.
- Two types of led strips: digital and analog
a) Digital (also called addressable)
i) Simultaneously displays multiple colors and hundreds of programmable effects
ii) Brightness increases by sending a signal to the chip
iii) One chip controls from one to dozens of leds – this is a zone
iv) Common chips used: WS2811, WS2812, WS2815F
v) Can be IC, COB, or FCOB
b) Analog (also called PWM):
i) Displays one color or temperature at a time but cannot do effects
ii) Brightness increases by increasing the voltage (that’s PWM = Pulse Width Modulation)
iii) Can be COB or FCOB - Main styles of led strips
a) IC – Integrated Circuit (also, pixel)
i) Zone = 1-3 leds/chip
ii) Typical density is 30, 60, and 90 led/m; high density means 144 led/m
iii) Can see individual leds in slow-running effects (on purpose)
iv) The fine-grained control makes for very smooth motion in fast-running effects
b) COB – Chip on Board
i) Zone = 10-20 leds/chip
ii) Higher density than IC, such as 640 led/m and 720 led/m
iii) Better heat dissipation than IC
iv) Creates a continuous strip of light,
v) Can see individual leds at low dim levels (not on purpose)
c) FCOB – Flip-Chip on Board
i) Similar to COB in most respects, but with better heat dissipation - Colored strips – RGB
a) A strip that does one color has R or G or B leds or some combination; for example: R and B leds at different intensities will make different kinds of purple
b) A strip that does many colors has R and G and B leds; different intensities of each make millions of colors including white
c) The white from an RGB strip is usually not as accurate (CRI rating) or as bright as a white led strip - White strips – W or CCT
a) The Kelvin temperature scale is used to define different whites, from more yellow to more blue
b) A strip that does one temperature has one type of led fixed at that temperature, like soft white at 3000K
c) A strip that does many temperatures is called “tunable white” or “CCT” and typically has two leds, half at 2000K and half at 6000K; to make 4000K white, turn on all the leds [(2000+6000)/2 = 4000]
d) Hubitat Kelvin names (anyone care to finish this?)
i) 2000 = Sodium
ii) 3000 = Soft White
iii) 3100 – 3299 = Warm White
iv) 3500 – 4100 = Moonlight
v) 4500 = Horizon
vi) 5000 =
vii) 6000 = - Combinations in one strip
a) RGBW = RGB + one temperature White
b) RGBCCT = RGB + CCT - Lots of good, technical info on current led strips at https://quinled.info/ and his YouTube channel (even if you don’t buy his controllers)
LED Strips Tested
-
Digital BTF Lighting RGB FCOB 720 led/m $31
a) WS2811 chip
b) 100 x 2” zones = 50 mm/zone; 1 zone = 36 led/IC
c) Lumens: 8925 = 1785 lum/m (estimated from avg 85 lum/W; needs exact spec)
d) Dimensions (LxWxH): 16’ (5m) x 0.47” (12mm) x 0.1” (2.5mm)
e) LEDs: brainboard total = 1200 std led = 240 std led/m = 720 total led/m ÷ 3 leds, 1 each for R, G, B
f) Volts: 24
g) Amps: 4.4 = 105W / 24V
h) Watts: 105 = 21 W/m * 5m
i) To configure in WLED, set these options in Led Preferences:
i) Disable automatic light limiter or won’t get full brightness
ii) WS281X
iii) 100 leds = addressable lights = zones
iv) Order: RGB -
Digital BTF Lighting CCT FCOB 576 led/m $28
a) WS2811 chip
b) 60 x 3” zones = 82.5 mm/zone; 1 zone = 48 led/IC
c) 24V, 2A for 5m
d) CRI 90+
e) Lumens From BFT tech support (in email)
i) 292 lum/m @ 2700K: 65 lum/W * 4.5W/m for 288 leds/m
ii) 675 lum/m @ 4000K: 75 lum/W * 9W/m for 576 leds/m
iii) 360 lum/m @ 6500K: 80 lum/W * 4.5W/m for 288 leds/m
f) Power each 5m strip directly
g) Will need a diffuser – can see individual LEDs at lower brightness
h) MY LUX TESTING
i) 64” directly below strip (countertop height 32”)
(1) Warm white 100% =
(2) Daylight white both 100% =
(3) Cool white 100% =
ii) Floor – 96” below strip at 1’ to 5’ from 0 angle
(1) Warm white 100% =
(2) Daylight white both 100% =
(3) Cool white 100% =
i) To configure in WLED, set these options in Led Preferences:
i) Disable automatic light limiter or won’t get full brightness
ii) WS281X
iii) 60 leds = addressable lights = zones
iv) Order: GRB (or color temperature is backwards) -
Analog BTF Lighting RGBCCT FCOB 960 led/m $42
a) 24V, 4A, 5m
b) Lum/m from BFT tech support (in email)
i) 140 lum/m R: 35 lum/W * 4W/m for 192 leds/m
ii) 360 lum/m G: 120 lum/W * 3W/m for 192 leds/m
iii) 45 lum/m B: 15 lum/W * 3W/m for 192 leds/m
iv) 340 lum/m W (2700K): 85 lum/W * 4W/m for 192 leds/m
v) 380 lum/m C (6500K): 95 lum/W * 4W/m for 192 leds/m
c) LUX TESTING
i) I tested for lux. Lumens = lux * area in square meters. When area = 1 sqm, then lumens = lux.
ii) Led strip connected to Gledopto GL-C-008P controller
iii) Controller paired to Hubitat with zigbee advanced RGBW bulb driver
iv) Use Mode button on remote to set exact color and white temperatures
v) Use Hubitat to set level to 100% since not as accurate from remote
vi) 1 meter of led strip enabled
vii) 64” directly below strip at countertop height of 32”
(1) Warm white 100% = 106
(2) Daylight white both 100% =109
(3) Cool white 100% = 118
(4) Red 100% = 51
(5) Green 100% = 113
(6) Blue 100% = 119
viii) Floor – 96” below strip at 1’, 2’, 3’, and 5’ from 0° to ~45° angle
(1) Warm white 100% = 36, 38, 35, 28
(2) Daylight white both 100% = 37, 40, 35, 30
(3) Cool white 100% = 39, 42, 36, 31
(4) Red 100% = 19, 20, 18, 15
(5) Green 100% = 37, 39, 34, 28
(6) Blue 100% = 36, 39, 32, 28 -
Analog BTF Lighting FCOB CCT 640 led/m $19
a) Lumens: 3600 = 720 lum/m = 220 lum/ft
b) Model: 640 leds/m
c) Dimensions (LxWxH): 16’-5” (5m) x 7/16” (10mm) x 5/64” (1.8mm)
d) LEDs: 640
e) Temperature: 2700-6000K
f) V: 24
g) A: 3.5 = 80W / 24V (add 10% for power supply calculations)
h) W/m: 16W/m (8W cool + 8W warm) = 80W
i) CRI: 90
j) Beam Angle: 120 degrees
Controllers Tested
-
QuinLED Dig-Octa Brainboard-32-8L + 50A power board
a) How many strips per brainboard?
i) Based on power:
(1) WS2811 RGB @ 5A = 10
(2) WS2811 CCT @ 2A = 25
ii) Based on total leds on 8 data lines
(1) Max is 2000 leds
(2) WS2811 RGB @ 100 zones = 20
(3) WS2811 CCT @ 60 zones = 33
b) Buy from
i) Allnet $72 ($47 shipping from China)
ii) Drzzz $43+ $39 + shipping
c) Output: 24V, 50A
d) To add a new led strip, add a virtual device then select WLED for the driver
e) Choosing a color, with color picker or entering numbers, then clicking Set Color button, turns light on
f) Same with Set Level
g) For individual control of multiple leds on dig-octa controller
h) On WLED, separate into segments
i) Each segment added to hubitat as its own device
j) You can have different effects on each segment. -
Gidealed ZC05M-20 (looks like Gledopto clone) $22
a) Pairs to Hubitat with Advanced Zigbee RGBW Bulb driver
i) Unplug controller
ii) Plug in and unplug 4 times quickly
iii) Plug in the 5th time and Hubitat should pair
b) 12-24V; 15A max per channel; 20A total
c) Supports one of {RGBCCT, RGBW, RGB}s, or two CCT, or 5 single color strips
d) Turn on/off controller – manual says short-press Push, but looks like connections for a wired switch
e) Remembers last state (on/off, dim level, temperature) after losing power
f) Change frequency – short press reset button
i) default 1000Hz
ii) range 600, 800, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000 Hz
iii) Not sure what this is for; didn’t see any difference so left at default
g) Indicator light
i) White=RGBCCT; Yellow=RGBW; Blue=RGB; Green=CCT; Red=dimmer function only -
Gledopto GL-C-008P $25
a) Pairs to Hubitat with Advanced Zigbee RGBW Bulb driver
b) 12-54V; 5A max per channel; 10A total
c) Supports one RGB or RGBW
d) Turn on/off controller – short press reset button
e) Remembers last state (on/off, dim level, temperature) after losing power
f) Pair with Hubitat
g) Unplug controller
h) Plug in and unplug 4 times quickly
i) Plug in the 5th time and Hubitat should pair -
Tuya LM052 $29
a) Pairs to Hubitat with Advanced Zigbee RGBW Bulb driver
b) 12-24V; 6A max per channel; 15A total
c) Commands: on, off, flash, preset level, set hue, set level, set saturation, set color temperature
d) Preferences: Level transition time
e) Set Color button
i) Possible issue with color picker not working; haven’t re-checked after 2023
ii) Workaround: enter HSL values then tap set color button
f) Start/stop level change – what is this?
g) Preferences
i) Level transition time - what is this?
Remotes Tested
- Remote Gledopto GL-RC-006Z $20
a) Use as backup to Hubitat for direct lighting control
b) Supports 6 zones, multiple strips/zone, 1 zone per controller
c) Tested with controllers: Gledopto GL-C-008P , Gidealed ZC05M-20, Tuya LM052
d) Provides Individual and Group Control
e) Individual control:
i) turn on with zone button, then adjust color/temperature and dim level
ii) Mode (M) button adjusts same zone; turns off CCT in modes 5 - 8
iii) Adjust different zone by pressing its on button first
f) Group control: example – set all leds to same color/temperature and dim level
i) press master power on button (with large ‘1’) to turn all on, then dim to desired level
ii) Mode button (M) adjusts all zones; turns off CCT in modes 5 - 8
iii) Works well for mixed RGB and CCT setup
g) To pair with controller
i) Select a zone # for this controller
ii) Unplug and plug in controller
iii) Within 3 seconds, press the zone # ON button (the “1”)
h) Modes – M key; presses sequence in the following order:
i) Warm white
ii) Daylight white
iii) Cool white
iv) Red
v) Green
vi) Blue
vii) RGB fade
viii) Color breathing – current color fades out then in
i) Speed (S+ and S-): increase, decrease speed of current animation
j) Nighttime (Moon key) – toggle brightness between 5% and 100% - Remote FUT092 Miboxer $16
a) Use as backup to Hubitat for direct lighting control
b) Supports 4 zones, multiple strips/zone, 1 zone per controller
c) Tested with controller: Tuya LM052
Did Not Test
-
Gingsow RGBCCT COB 192led/ft
a) 45 led/IC = 77 addressable segments = 72 mm/segment = 2.8”
b) Lumens
i) mcd (milli candela) per led with beam angle 120° = 2.93-5.45 lum/led
ii) Min: led/m * 2.93 lum/led = 422 lum/m = 128 lum/ft = 2050 lum
iii) Max: led/m * 5.45 lum/led = 785 lum/m = 239 lum/ft = 3825 lum; ~250W light bulb
c) Dimensions (LxWxH): 18’ (5.5m) x 5/8” (16mm) x 3/32” (2.13mm)
d) LEDs: 3465 = 630 led/m
e) V: 12
f) W: = W/m
g) A: = 216W / 12V
h) CRI: 90
i) Beam Angle: 180 degrees -
LED CAN LIGHT: Amico 7” White; $50 for 6 lights
a) Diameter of light: 6.5”
b) Diam. of fixture: 7”
c) Lumens: 1500
d) Temperature: select at install - 2700K, 3000K, 4000K, 5000K, 6000K
e) Brightness: selectable 500LM, 800LM, 1050LM, 1600LM
f) V: 110 into transformer
g) A:
h) W: 12
i) CRI: 90
j) Beam Angle: 110 degrees -
LED CAN LIGHT: Lumary RGBW $12
a) Diameter of light: 5”
b) Diam. of fixture: 7”
c) Automation: wifi 2.4GHz
d) Lumens: 1100
e) Temperature: tunable white 2700K - 6500K
f) Brightness: 1000 lum
g) Dimmable 1-100%
h) V: 110
i) A:
j) W: 13
k) CRI: 90
l) Beam Angle: 110 degrees
