StarStrand 12V

• StarStrand Basic, StarStrand Super, StarStrand Ultra, StarStrand RGB and StarStrand Aqua can be field cut every 2”. Once the tape is cut, with the exception of StarStrand Basic, you cannot add a power connector or rejoin to start section.
• Polarity must be maintained. Each tape has + positive pin. Connectors are marked with + symbol. Positive polarity must be maintained or a section will not light. It is recommended to install all sections and power up to make sure polarity is correct before adhering to surface.
• Use the StarStrand  4-Pin 4-Way Connector (E53263) and 2” sections to get to 90 degree angles and turns. Connector Cords can also be used for corners and around obstacles. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BEND TAPE MORE THAN 45 DEGREES.
• The StarStrand  4-Pin 4-Way Connector (E53263) can also be used to power branched runs up to the maximum. Positioning of the 12V driver is critical to limit the amount of drivers required for each installation. Position 12V driver in middle of, or corners of, runs and to power the StarStrand  4-Pin 4-Way Connector (E53263).
• Connector Cords can be used between the driver and the first tape section, driver and dimming controller, driver and RGB controller, dimming controller and first tape section, RGB controller and first tape section, between sections, to go around corners and to extend runs.
• StarStrand 36” Universal Aluminum Channel (E53254) can be used to install on irregular surfaces and also areas where tape will be visible and needs to be concealed.
• StarStrand 4-Pin Male End Cap (E53264) and StarStrand 4-Pin Silicone End Cap (E53269) should be used at every termination whether tape is cut or not.
  StarStrand 12V RGB Controller E(53284) is necessary for every StarStrand RGB installation and is installed after the driver and before the first section of StarStrand RGB tape. StarStrand 12V RGB Controller (E53284) will only work on StarStrand RGB.
• StarStrand 12V Dimming Controller (E53282) will work on StarStrand Basic, StarStrand Super and StarStrand Ultrar. StarStrand 12V Dimming Controller (E53282) is installed after the driver and before the first section of tape.
• StarStrand 12V 30w Outdoor Plug In Driver (E53278), StarStrand 12V 60w Outdoor Plug In Driver (E53279), StarStrand 12V 60w Indoor Plug In Driver (E53275), StarStrand 12V 60w Direct Wire Driver (E53305), StarStrand 12V 96w Direct Wire Driver (E53306) and StarStrand 12V 60w Dimmable Direct Wire Driver (E53310) are Class II Drivers.
• StarStrand 4-Pin Connector Cords, Input Cords and Output Cords are made from 22 gauge wire. StarStrand 6-Pin Connector Cords, Input Cords and Output Cords are made from 20 gauge wire.
• StarStrand Connector Cords are not CL2/CL3 rated. This means that the connection cords are not fire rated for in-wall installations.  
• In order to do an in-wall installation for StarStrand, the customer will need to purchase the StarStrand 4-Pin Rough In Terminal Block” (E53257), StarStrand 6-Pin Rough In Terminal Block” (E53258) or StarStrand 4-Pin RGB Rough In Terminal Block (E53383) and place the blocks on each side of CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire. A sample installation would be Romex/Line > Driver > Driver Output Cord > Rough In Terminal Block > Wall > CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire > Wall > Rough in Terminal Block > Tape
• If splicing connector cords is required, when splicing, the Red/Blue wire are Negative, the Black/Green wire are Positive.
• The maximum amount of cord (driver output cord, connecting cord, RGB controller input cord, dimming controller input cord, RGB controller output cord, dimming controller output cord) that can be used in any StarStrand 12V or StarStrand 24V run is 24 total feet before any voltage drop will occur. Connecting cords can also be used to increase the distance between the driver and tape, driver and dimming controller, driver and RGB controller, dimming controller and tape, RGB controller and tape, not to exceed 24 total feet.
• Hand held remotes controls for the 12V dimming controller and 12V RGB controller have unique frequencies. One hand held remote can only control the controller it came with. If a hand held remote is broken or lost, a new controller must be ordered.
• StarStrand LED tape can operate in an environment between 14°F and 122°F.

StarStrand 24V

1. How can I cut the tape?
2. Is polarity important?
3. Can I do angles and turns?
4. How do I split off in multiple directions from the driver?
5. What do I use connector cords for?
6. What is the aluminum channel for?
7. When do I use the silicone end caps?
8. When do I need the RGB controller?
9. When do I need the weatherproof RGB controller?
10. When do I need the dimming controller?
11. Do you have Class II drivers?
12. What gauge of wire is used for the input, output and connecting cords?
13. Are the connecting cords rated to go in the wall?
14. How do I do an in-the-wall installation to wire multiple locations?
15. How do I splice the cords correctly?
16. How far can I place the driver away from the first piece of tape?
17. What is the temperature range that is suitable to operate the tape?
18. How thick are the IP68 connectors on the Aqua 24 and RGB Aqua 24?
19. How do I secure Aqua 24 and RGB Aqua 24 to the channel?
20. When do I need the Color Flex 24 controller?

1. Elite 24, Ultima 24, Aqua 24, RGB 24, RGB Aqua 24 and Color Flex 24 can be field cut every 4”.  Once the tape is cut you CANNOT add a power connector or rejoin to start section.
2. Polarity must be maintained. Each tape has + positive pin. Connectors are marked with + symbol. Positive polarity must be maintained or a section will not light. It is recommended to install all sections and power up to make sure polarity is correct before adhering to surface.
3. Use the 4-Pin 4-Way Connector or 6-Pin 4-Way Connector to get to 90 degree angles and turns. Connector Cords and the 6-Pin 90 degree Connector can also be used for corners and around obstacles. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BEND TAPE MORE THAN 45 DEGREES.
4. 4-Pin 4-Way Connector or 6-Pin 4-Way Connector can also be used to power branched runs up to the maximum. Positioning of the driver is critical to limit the amount of drivers required for each installation.
5. Connector Cords can be used between the driver and the first tape section, driver and controller/amplifier, controller/amplifier and first tape section, between sections, to go around corners and to extend runs.
6. Channel can be used to install on irregular surfaces and also areas where tape will be visible and needs to be concealed.
7. End Caps should be used at every termination whether tape is cut or not.
8. 24V RGB Controller is necessary for every RGB 24 and RGB Channel 24 installation and is installed after the driver and before the first section of RGB 24 tape or RGB Channel 24. 24V RGB Controller will only work on RGB 24 or RGB Channel 24.
9. 24V Weatherproof RGB Controller is necessary for every RGB Aqua 24 installation and is installed after the driver and before the first section of RGB Aqua 24 tape. 24V Weatherproof RGB Controller will only work on StarStrand RGB Aqua 24. 
10. 24V Dimming Controller will work on Elite 24, Ultima 24 and Channel 24. 24V Dimming Controller is installed after the driver and before the first section of tape or channel.
11. 24V 96w Direct Wire Driver, 24V 60w Dimmable Direct Wire Driver, 24V 100w Dimmable Direct Wire Driver, 24V 100w Weatherproof Dimmable Direct Wire Driver, 24V 60w Weatherproof Driver, and 24V 150w Weatherproof Driver are Class II drivers.
12. 4-Pin Connector Cords, input cords and output cords are made from 22 gauge wire. 6-Pin Connector Cords, input cords and output cords are made from 20 gauge wire.
13. Connector Cords are not CL2/CL3 rated. This means that the Connector Cords are not fire rated for in-wall installations.  
14. In order to do an in-wall installation for StarStrand, the customer will need to purchase the 4-Pin Rough In Terminal Block, 6-Pin Rough In Terminal Block or 4-Pin RGB Rough In Terminal Block and place the blocks on each side of CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire. A sample installation would be Romex/Line > Driver > Driver Output Cord > Rough In Terminal Block > Wall > CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire > Wall > Rough in Terminal Block > Tape. Rough In Terminal Blocks can handle wire up to 16 gauge.
15. If splicing connector cords is required, when splicing the 4-Pin connecting cords, the Red/Blue wire are Negative, the Black/Green wire are Positive. When splicing the 6-Pin connecting cords, the Blue wire is Negative, the Brown wire is Positive.
16. The maximum amount of cord (driver output cord, connecting cord, controller/amplifier input cord, controller/amplifier output cord) that can be used in any StarStrand 12V or StarStrand 24V run is 24 total feet before any voltage drop will occur. Connecting cords can also be used to increase the distance between the driver and tape, driver and controller/amplifier, controller/amplifier and tape, not to exceed 24 total feet.
17. StarStrand LED tape can operate in an environment between 14°F and 122°F.
18. The Aqua 24 IP68 connectors are roughly .75" thick.
19. Use aftermarket silicone when installing Aqua 24 or RGB Aqua 24
20. 24V Color Flex Controller is necessary for every Color Flex 24 installation and is installed after the driver and before the first section of Color Flex 24 tape. 24V Weatherproof RGB Controller will only work on Color Flex 24.

LED Tape Terminology

• Amperage – The strength of an electrical current.
• Beam – The angle at which a light travels from a light source.
• Class II Driver – Class II drivers/transformers have a maximum VA (Volt-Ampere) rating of less than 100 and a maximum secondary output of 30 VAC. The maximum VA generally offered is 75 and the most common secondary voltage is 24 VAC. Class II drivers/transformers are either inherently or non-inherently limited. This means that the maximum output current of the driver/transformer is limited, either by the intrinsic coil impedance or by a fuse or circuit breaker.
• CRI – Color Rendering Index is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce the colors of various objects faithfully in comparison with an ideal or natural light source. Higher CRI numbers are important in installations where true color is important such as clothing or art displays.
• Color Temperature – This is a measurement in Kelvin of the color of light a source produces. Higher color temperatures (5,000 K or more) are cool (blueish white) colors; lower color temperatures (2,700–3,000 K) are warm (yellowish white through red) colors.
• Current – The amount of electricity that flows through a conductive surface measured in unit Amp.
• Driver – A device that transforms incoming household AC (alternating) current to low voltage DC (direct) current. The driver also maintains constant current without fluctuations which is necessary for correct LED operation and life.
• LED - An electronic semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it.
• Lumens – A measurement of the power of light emitted from a source. The difference between LED lumen versus lumens from an incandescent or fluorescent source is that all of the lumen output is directed forward as opposed to a bulb where lumens come off the source in all directions. Lumens are lost on the back side of a bulb.
• Lumens per Watt – A measurement of the efficiency of the LED. The higher the lumens generated by each watt the greater the overall efficiency of the LED. The higher efficiency LED are generally more expensive.
• Milliampere (mA) - A unit of current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
• Voltage - A measurement of the energy contained within an electric field, or an electric circuit, at a given point. The greater the voltage, the greater the flow of current through a conductive medium. Voltage can be direct or alternating. A direct voltage maintains the same polarity at all times. In an alternating voltage, the polarity reverses direction periodically.
• Voltage Drop - A decrease in voltage along a conductor through which current is flowing. The decrease is caused by the resistance of the conductor.
• Wattage – A measurement of electrical power required by an appliance or device.