Velleman CHLSY1 User Manual
23.04.2010
©Velleman nv
3
3) Select the colour
There are basically two types of LED strips when colour is concerned:
Single colour types
Single colour types
These LED strips only have one colour. Most often this colour is blue or white (cold white ‐ CW: resembles
daylight, warm white ‐ WW: resembles incandescent light), but other colours are also available e.g. red,
green, amber…
These strips can be easily identified as they have only 2 wires (plus and minus) for power supply.
By controlling the power the strip can be dimmed (preferably using Pulse Width Modulation or PWM).
daylight, warm white ‐ WW: resembles incandescent light), but other colours are also available e.g. red,
green, amber…
These strips can be easily identified as they have only 2 wires (plus and minus) for power supply.
By controlling the power the strip can be dimmed (preferably using Pulse Width Modulation or PWM).
RGB LED strips
With these strips it is possible to produce any colour by using additive colour mixing. These strips contain
red, green and blue LEDs; either combined in a single RGB LED or as separate LEDs (resulting in more LEDs
per meter, see §2).
Typically these strips have 4 wires, a common wire and 3 other wires: one per colour (red, green and blue).
By controlling the power to each separate colour, the intensity of the individual colours can be adjusted and
thus any colour (including white) can be created.
red, green and blue LEDs; either combined in a single RGB LED or as separate LEDs (resulting in more LEDs
per meter, see §2).
Typically these strips have 4 wires, a common wire and 3 other wires: one per colour (red, green and blue).
By controlling the power to each separate colour, the intensity of the individual colours can be adjusted and
thus any colour (including white) can be created.
Notes:
• With RGB strips the common wire is usually connected to the anodes of the LEDs (positive) often this wire is
coloured black; the wires for controlling R, G and B are connected to the cathodes (negative) of the LEDs,
often coloured red, green and blue. In this case red and black wire are not + and – supply voltages!
often coloured red, green and blue. In this case red and black wire are not + and – supply voltages!
• The rated power is most often given for each single colour, not for the whole strip. Keep this in mind when
choosing the power supply or controller. Add up the current/power of the three colours to determine the total
current/power consumption.
current/power consumption.
• Special RGB strips are available where every single RGB LED is separately controllable and magnificent colour
and animation effects can be created. These strips can only be used with a special dedicated controller.
4) Selection of the power supply
The required power supply depends of the choice of LED strip and their total length.
Both 12Vdc and 24Vdc LED strips are available. The main advantage of 24Vdc LED strips is that you have
double the quantity of LEDs for the same current and power consumption than with a 12Vdc LED strip.
Obviously ‐ since the LED quantity is doubled ‐ the light output is also twice as strong.
The second criterion is the total length which determines how much output power (Watts) your supply must
be capable of delivering. The currents or power ratings are a standard specification for each LED strip and
can be found in the data sheets.
For interconnection of LED strips see §2
Example:
Both 12Vdc and 24Vdc LED strips are available. The main advantage of 24Vdc LED strips is that you have
double the quantity of LEDs for the same current and power consumption than with a 12Vdc LED strip.
Obviously ‐ since the LED quantity is doubled ‐ the light output is also twice as strong.
The second criterion is the total length which determines how much output power (Watts) your supply must
be capable of delivering. The currents or power ratings are a standard specification for each LED strip and
can be found in the data sheets.
For interconnection of LED strips see §2
Example:
We assume the same example of §2 for calculation of the power supply (20m Velleman CHLS3B).
In §2 we calculated that only 2 strips may be interconnected which totals to 10m. Since we need
20m we must still connect 2 of these lengths in parallel to the power supply.
As we already calculated we need 4 x 18W = 72W. What we are looking for is a protected 12Vdc
supply which is capable of delivering a power of at least 72W.
In §2 we calculated that only 2 strips may be interconnected which totals to 10m. Since we need
20m we must still connect 2 of these lengths in parallel to the power supply.
As we already calculated we need 4 x 18W = 72W. What we are looking for is a protected 12Vdc
supply which is capable of delivering a power of at least 72W.