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1. Why would I need an amplifier for my LED Light strips?
For simple projects, odds are you don't need an amplifier! Here's the thing though about LED strip lights, running a lot of them together (regular or high density) can result in some dimming along the line. What the amplifiers do is ensure consistent color, clarity, and especially brightness for your installations! For regular density strips we recommend an amplifier after every two spools (or thirty-two feet, it's the same, we swear) as the further your lights get from their power source the more likely they are to experience dimming. Now if you're using high density strips, you'll need to use amplifiers more frequently, twice as frequently to be exact. For every high density strip you use after the first one, you'll need an amplifier. So your setup would be HD strip, amp, HD strip, amp, HD strip, etc. Think of it like a big LED sandwich.
2. How do I set them up?
First things first, know that your amplifiers are going to be making three connections, you'll definitely not be making four connections, or two connections unless you then proceed on to the third, five connections are right out. The first connection you make will be to an already perfectly bright and functioning LED strip. Your next connection will be made to the next LED strip light that you want to add to the chain. The final connection the amplifier will make is to a twelve volt DC power source. Check out our wiring diagram for more info on setting up amplifiers!
3. How much power do I need for my amplifier?
It all depends on how many more strips you plan on attaching to your amazing chain of strip lights! What the amplifier is really doing is powering all the strips that follow it, so you need to make sure that the adapter you're hooking the amplifier up to has the wattage needed to power up the remaining strips. Let's say that you've got your amplifier all set up with one twenty-four watt spool hooked up to it, the amplifier will need to be hooked up to a power adapter that provides at least twenty-four watts of power!
4. What happens if I skip the amplifiers?
Hey if you want to skip amplifiers, go right ahead, there's no law against it, the strips will still turn on, and your electric company will still provide you power, but your lights further down the line will be dimmer because of it. The only problem will be cosmetic, but seeing as that's the primary purpose of these LEDs to most buyers, it'd be kind of shooting yourself in the foot not to use amplifiers. Some folks are okay with one big power source powering three or four strips with some dimming, but not everyone is cool with that. So the amplifier can be added to ensure that your project looks perfect and consistent from start to finish, from end to end, and all day long.
5. What kinds of amplifiers do you offer?
We here at HitLights have two different amplifiers, single color and RGB. One works with color changing strips, the other...does not. It's a tough riddle to figure out, but I know how smart you are, and I believe in your ability to figure out which is which!
Thanks for reading this installment of our troubleshooting series, we truly hope it has been helpful. Have a question we haven’t answered yet? contact us at cole@hitlights.com and we’ll do our best to answer it in the next installment. Please remember that our customer service staff (customerservice@hitlights.com) is happy to assist you with any and all of your concerns, questions, and suggestions. If you want to call and talk with us, well that’s just fine too – (225)-304-0408!
The Troubleshooting Series is published on Fridays, please have questions submitted by the Wednesday beforehand if you want it answered in the next installment.
