/foot)

Strips with more LEDs per foot will consume more power.

In short, if maximum energy efficiency is what’s most important to you, choose a light strip with smaller LEDs and fewer LEDs.

In order to ensure your LED power supply doesn’t overheat and fail prematurely, we use this general rule of thumb:

Make sure the total wattage of your LED strip lighting is at least 20 percent less than the power supply’s rated wattage.

For example, if you have an LED strip light that requires 80 watts of power to run, you’ll need a power supply that’s rated for at least 96 watts.

The vast majority of our strips include wattage per foot right on their product pages.

power supplies range from six watts to 1,500 watts for compatibility with a wide variety of LED strip lights.

Let’s take a look at an example:

It’s important to verify that the voltage of the power supply you choose is compatible with the voltage of your LED strip lighting. Also, be sure that the power supply’s input voltage matches that of the location it will be installed in. If you have an LED strip with 12-volt DC operation that you wish to use in a 120-volt AC home wiring system, you’ll need a power supply that includes 120 volts in its input range and has 12-volt DC output.

Another factor to take into account for longer runs is voltage drop. A significant voltage drop is present after a certain distance of LED strip. After this distance, there will not be enough voltage present to light the next length of strip. This varies depending on the type of strip and length being used. Usually, a single-density strip (nine or less LEDs per foot) will need to run back to a power source every 32 13/16 feet (10 meters). A high-density strip (18 or more LEDs per foot) will need to run back to a power source every 16 3/8 feet (5 meters). Please refer to “Max Run” in the specifications table of the strip light to determine how many can be run continuously without a parallel run back to power.

3) the 4) if you want your strip to be dimmable

power supply calculator on the product pages of all of our LED strip lights!

There are a few steps involved:

Step 1: Select your strip and the length you need.

Step 3: Click the green “Power Supply Calculator” tab, and select your product by choosing it from the list OR by pasting the exact part number in the search bar.

Step 4: Enter the number of strips at the desired length you’ve selected and voila! You’ll see a list of all compatible power supplies with the best match at the top of the list!

When dealing with electronics, safety is paramount, and you want everything to work like it’s supposed to. So if you’re still not sure which power supply to use for your LED strip lighting project, just reach out to our technical support team or customer service department at 866-590-3533. Our teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT on Friday.

Spring is approaching and many families are feeling the fatigue of winter’s hardships. What better time to travel than now? Many families are just trying to get away from the cold. Booking a trip can be exciting, but have you ever arrived at your destination and said “where am I supposed to plug in my hair dryer?” or “how am I going to charge my phone?”

Let’s be honest, the last thing on your mind when packing for any vacation is bringing that adapter along with you. Often times we are such in a hurry to pack we tend to forget that not every country has the same outlets as we do.

Here are some easy steps to help you get organized while traveling and how to take the charge with you wherever you go.

In the US and Canada the average voltage is 120 volt per residential home. However, when traveling abroad the voltage is quite different. For example, Europe’s standard house will use 240 volt, which is substantially more voltage than the average North American home.

Before purchasing a travel charger or a universal adaptor always read the label on the back of the packaging to ensure you are getting the right voltage amounts for the right countries. Doing so will ensure you won’t end up with a damaged device, appliance or blown fuse.

Whether its bringing the spark alive in a relationship, or just traveling with friends and family, remember to bring the charge with you!

Are you looking for energy saving tips to help your business reduce annual energy costs? Businesses consume far more lighting energy than homes, so if you’re looking for a simple and cost-effective place to start, addressing your business’s lighting solutions offers ample opportunity.

“Out with the old” should be your mantra here. Incandescent light bulbs are far from efficient, emitting 90 percent of energy as heat – not light.

The curly cousin of long-tube fluorescents, CFLs can be used in place of incandescents in standard light sockets. They contain mercury and should be handled with care; however, they use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than incandescents.

Lasting 25 times longer than incandescents and using 75-80 percent less energy, LED lighting options have recently come down significantly in price. To get the most bang for your energy buck, LEDs are a top choice.

High intensity discharge lights are extremely efficient at producing large quantities of very bright light and are an excellent choice for warehouse and commercial settings. Be sure to talk to an electrician to get the best color spectrum to suit your needs.

Using 1/5 to 1/3 the energy as incandescents and lasting 10 times longer, these fluorescents offer flexibility in various commercial settings.

Twice as efficient as incandescents, halogens produce a very bright white light that is well-suited for outdoor applications such as security and stadium lighting.

Light dimmers and timers deliver just the right amount of light just when you need it, reducing energy use and costs. They also improve security while you are away and can enhance the functionality and ambiance of your business.

The future of lighting, we’re not talking battery-operated, but fully automated lighting powered by remote control and smart device applications. The technology of this solution offers you the capability to monitor usage and costs, with the added convenience of on-site and remote functionality.

Mr. Electric® will perform a complimentary evaluation of your current setup, analyzing for efficiency and function and offering lighting options that can lower your operating costs significantly.

Designed to your specifications, our experts can design custom lighting solutions that perform well and look great – all while keeping energy costs under control.

Security, landscaping, parking, retail – you name it! Whatever your lighting needs, Mr. Electric will spotlight your perfect solution.

Schedule a commercial electric energy audit today. A commercial energy audit can offer even more energy savings tips for the benefit of your bottom line. Mr. Electric can:

Don’t let excess energy costs drag your business down, get the energy saving tips you need with the help of Mr. Electric today!

We are always looking for ways to make our house more desirable while making it more efficient at the same time. We are constantly doing little improvements here and there to make our homes just a little more comfortable or a little more appealing. When improvements can help save you money on your monthly electric bill, that is always a nice little bonus. If you have never heard of them before, you will want to talk with your Glendale electrician about attic fans. You can always count on The Electric Connection to provide you with the information you need about any electrical upgrade.

An attic fan is one way to help you keep your house cool this summer without costing you a lot of money to run. Attic fans will help reduce the work your air conditioner will have to do to keep your house at a cool, comfortable temperature, thus saving you money. An attic fans reduces energy costs by pulling the hot air out of the attic and pushing it outside. Hot air rises and becomes trapped in the attic. The upper floor in your home will always be warmer because it is basically sandwiched between the hot air that has risen from the first floor and the hot air that is trapped in the attic.

By using a fan to pull out the hot air while pulling in the fresh air from the outside, you can help eliminate the hot air sandwich. The fan will need to be installed by an electrician. Glendale homeowners will be amazed at the difference in not only the comfort of their home during the summer, but by the reduction in the electric bill as well. If you are ready to make an upgrade that will make you feel better and put more money in your pocket, give The Electric Connection a call today.