Frequently Asked Questions


All of the information out there about LED light strips can get overwhelming at times. 

Our goal at HitLights is to not only be your source for LED lighting products, but to educate and answer all of your questions. 

Our FAQ page is a collection of common questions we receive about LED light strips on a regular basis.

What do I need to install my LED light strips?

To use our LED light strips, you need to first have a 12V DC power source. 


(If you don’t already have one, we offer adapters that convert 110AC power in a U.S. outlet, to a usable 12V DC current.)

 

If you have one of our LED color changing light strips, you will need a controller to change the color of the strip.


We also have other options for controllers, dimmers and power adapters in our LED Light Strip Accessories section. 


All of these accessory options will help you get the most out of your strip light.

Can I cut my LED Strip Lights?

All of our LED Strip Lights, with the exception of our Dreaming Strip, can be cut after every 3rd LED chip. 


If you decide to cut an IP 67 (Waterproof) strip, you will have to place a waterproof cap on the end of the strip to keep the strip waterproof.

Can I use a battery to power the light strips?

Yes, you can power our light strips with any 12v power source. 


You also have the option of purchasing our Rechargeable Battery Packs for LED Light Strips and Bars.


You also have the option of purchasing our Rechargeable Battery Packs for LED Light Strips and Bars.

How do I connect cut strips together?

To connect HitLights LED light strips after they have been cut, follow these steps: 


1. Determine if you have an SMD 3528 (Luma5), SMD 5050 (Luma10) or S35 (Luma20) strip. 

(Note: RGB Color Changing Light Strips are SMD 5050 or Luma10.) 


2. Select the proper connector from our LED Wiring and Connectors section. (If you are using an SMD 3528 (Luma5) High Density Light Strip, please use our SMD 3528 (Luma5) High Density Strip-to-Strip Connector). 


3. Take the cut end of your strips with the copper pads and slide them under the connectors. Make sure that you align the positive side of the strips. (Look for 12V+) 


4. Turn on your light strip to make sure you have a good connection.- If you do, then go ahead and close the connectors.- If you don’t, then leave your lights on and keep trying to make a connection. 

(If you have an RGB Color Changing Strip, then set your strips to white while you make this connection).

Can I use regular wiring to connect the LED light strips?

Yes! 


Our LED light strips can be directly wired with any wire 22-gauge or larger! 


This means that the most common electrical wires can be used to connect our LED strips. 


The wire can be directly soldered to the copper ports where the LEDs are cut.

Can I dim my LEDs?

LED strip lights can be dimmed using a low-voltage dimmer or a dimmable driver available from HitLights.


We offers low-voltage (12V) in-line dimmers and low-voltage wall-dimmers.


For dimming strips using a high-voltage wall dimmer, you can use a 12V DC dimmable driver.

(which acts as your power adapter)


For dimming strips using a high-voltage wall dimmer, you can use a 12V DC dimmable driver.

(which acts as your power adapter)

How bright are LEDs?

To determine the brightness of an LED, the Lumen count (units of light per output) is the most relevant factor. 


On a traditional bulb, Watts have been assumed to determine the brightness, but wattage is only really measuring how much power it takes to light a light bulb. 


Don’t go by the wattage when determining brightness, look for the lumen count.

How do I calculate the amount of power I’ll need to use for my LED light strips?

Our LED light strips vary between 24 and 72 watt power requirements. 


Every strip on the site has its wattage listed. 


When selecting a power adapter, simply add up the combined wattage you need for all of your strips! 


The watts required are also proportional to the length of the strip you are using. 


For example, using 1 foot of our 16.4 ft., 72 W spools will draw roughly 1/16th of 72W, or 4.5W.

What’s the difference between Premium (UL) and Standard (non-UL) HitLights products?

UL products are mostly used among professionals who prefer high-quality components. Our UL LED light strips and bulbs carry the official UL mark for quality and their components of higher standard than non-UL. 


What is UL? 


UL stands for Underwriters Laboratory and is one of the world's largest and most respected consumer safety organizations. 


When you see the UL logo on lighting packaging it means that product has undergone extensive testing to ensure that it is safe to use by the consumer.

What is the difference between indoor/weatherproof/waterproof LED light strip options?

Indoor strips can resist some dirt, dust and minor contact with water but will not handle huge amounts of water or dirt. 


Weatherproof strips can resist wind + water, but cannot be submerged underneath water for long periods of time. 


Waterproof strips are robust and can be submerged underwater.

Can I connect a single-color strip with a multi-color strip?

No. 


HitLights color-changing (multicolor) LED light strips use 4 connections, as opposed to the 2 (+/-) connections on our single-color SMD 3528 (Luma5) LED strips. 


For this reason, color-changing strips require a controller and cannot be connected to single color SMD 3528 (Luma5) strips.


Still need help with HitLights products? 


Count on our team of LED Experts to provide you the best solutions for your strip lighting needs. 


Send us a message and one of our representatives will get back to you. 

Name:

Order #:

Email:

Message: