How to Wire Tunable White LED Strip Light?
A tunable white (CCT) LED strip has three wires: one common positive (V+) and two negative lines, warm white (WW) and cool white (CW). Wiring it takes three steps:
- Strip to controller: connect V+, WW and CW on the strip to the same marks on the CCT LED controller output.
- Controller to power supply: red wire to positive, black wire to negative. Never reverse the polarity.
- Size it: the strip should use no more than 80% of the rated power of the power supply, and of the controller.
Longer than one reel? Use an ultra-long constant current strip, 3-channel amplifiers, RF CCT controllers that sync, or a DMX decoder (see large projects).
When you see these names, Tunable white light led strip lights, dual white light led strips, and white light adjustable led strip lights, don't doubt that they are all CCT LED rope lights.
The tunable white led strip has two white light with different color temperatures, generally a warm white color temperature and a cold white color temperature. When the two color temperatures are neutralized, that is, when the two color temperatures are turned on at the same time, a new color temperature which is the natural white light will be obtained.
• Tunable white CCT led strip: DC5V, DC12V, DC24V, Single-row, Double-row, Quad-row • Constant current CCT led strip lights: DC24V, DC48V • COB CCT led strip lights: DC12/24V, DC24V • Addressable CCT led strip: DC5V, DC12V, DC24V |
Related reading: What is color temperature?
Top 6 considerations before buying led strip lights
At SuperLightingLED we help customers wire tunable white LED strips every day. Below you will find the pinout and wiring diagrams, how a tunable white strip compares with a single color strip, how to size the power supply and the controller, and three ways to wire a long run.
Tunable white (CCT) LED strip wiring diagram
A tunable white LED strip has three connection points: a positive line shared by both whites, a warm white signal line and a cold white signal line. The two color lines are negative lines: V+ stays common, and the controller mixes warm and cool by varying the two negative channels. Match the three pads one to one:
| Pad on the strip | What it is | Connect to |
|---|---|---|
| V+ | Common positive line, shared by the warm white and the cool white LEDs | V+ on the CCT controller output |
| WW | Warm white signal line (negative) | WW on the controller output |
| CW | Cool (cold) white signal line (negative) | CW on the controller output |
The pad order is printed on the strip. If the marks on your controller are not the same as on the strip, match by function: common positive to common positive, warm white to warm white, cool white to cool white. On the input side, the red wire from the power supply is positive and the black wire is negative.
These diagrams are drawn by the SuperLightingLED engineering team. Wire colors follow our house convention: red V+, black V-/GND. Click a diagram for the full notes in our LED strip wiring diagrams library.
Buying connectors for a strip you already have? Count the pads at the cut mark: three pads means a CCT (or addressable) strip. See which connector fits 2-pin to 6-pin strips, or shop 3-pin CCT LED strip parts. COB LED strips need the COB connector even at the same width.
Dual white vs single color LED strips
Tunable white, dual white, CCT and white adjustable LED strips are the same thing: one strip carrying two whites, a warm white and a cold white. Here is how it compares with the other white strips we sell:
| Single color white | Tunable white (CCT, 3-wire) | Dim to warm (2-wire) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pads at the cut mark | 2: V+ and V- | 3: V+, warm white, cool white | 2 |
| Light | One fixed white | Warm white, cool white, or both on together for natural white | The color shifts with brightness automatically |
| Controlled by | A single color dimmer | A CCT LED controller | A plain dimmer |
| Shop | Static white LED strips | 3 wire tunable white LED strips | 2 wire dim to warm LED strips |
Want to switch between warm and daylight in one strip, for example behind a bathroom mirror? That is what a CCT LED strip does. Browse all dual white CCT dimmable LED strips: warm and cool white LED strip, 2-in-1 bi color white LED tape, 3 wire tunable white LED strip and tunable white COB LED strip.
Notice the voltage drop during installation
During the circuit transportation of the low-voltage led strip lights, due to too many parts of the led light strip, there will be energy loss, which is manifested as a voltage drop, resulting in the inconsistency of the brightness and color of the led strip. This is an issue that deserves important attention. The current solution to the voltage drop is to provide enough power to the led tape to make up for the consumed power. The longer the led strip length, the more obvious the voltage drop.
5V CCT white led strip lights ⇒ power supply at both ends at 5 meters 12V CCT led strip lights ⇒ power supply at both ends at 10 meters 24V dual white led strip lights ⇒ power supply at both ends at 15 meters |
As the list shows, a higher voltage strip runs further before it needs power at both ends. For one long run without extra feeds, see large projects below.
How to power the tunable CCT led strip?
To control the tunable CCT led strip, a CCT LED controller must be installed. The led light controller is installed between the led strip and the led power supply. The led power supply has an important criterion, the rule 80%, the power consumption of the dual white led strip light should not exceed 80% of the power supply, and the led controller is too. So the power of the power supply and the led controller are the same. If your led strip requires 96W, you need to prepare a 115.2W led power and a 115.2W led controller.
Circuit overload is a bad thing, it will get hot and even burn out the equipment used, which poses a great safety hazard. Therefore, when using the led power supply and the led light controller, please give them some space to maintain the service life.
1. First, understand the tunable white led strip structure.
CCT led strip lights have three connection points, one is the cold white signal line, one is the warm white signal line, and a positive line. The lines that represent the color are negative lines.
2. Second, connect the CCT white led strip to the same logo on the CCT led controller.
3. Third, connect the led light controller to the led power supply.
Note that the positive and negative poles should not be reversed. The red wire is the positive pole and the black wire is the negative pole.
Sometimes we don't just connect one led strip, there will be situations where we need to connect multiple led strip lights. The more the number of tunable white led strip lights connected, the greater the power required.
| CCT led strip number | Power | LED power supply power | LED controller power |
| 1 | 96W | 115.2W | 115.2W |
| 2 | 192W | 230.4W | 230.4W |
| 3 | 288W | 345.6W | 345.6W |
Related reading: How to calculate the power for your led strip lights?
Choose a tunable white LED controller
Every tunable white LED strip needs a CCT controller between the strip and the power supply, sized with the 80% rule above. These are the CCT control families SuperLightingLED carries; pick one by how you want to control the light:
CCT LED controllersDual white dimmers for 3-wire strips
RF CCT CV controllersConstant voltage; forwards and syncs the RF signal
RF CCT CC controllersFor constant current CCT strips
RF CCT remote controlsSingle-zone or multi-zone remotes
RF CCT panel remotesColor temperature control on the wall
RF CCT CV dimmable LED driversDimmable driver in the RF CCT system
RF 2.4G tunable white driversTunable white driver, RF 2.4G
CV DMX512/RDM decodersDMX512 to constant voltage PWM
WWA addressable CCT controllersFor addressable CCT stripsBrowse the whole RF CCT control system, and pick a matching supply from our LED power supplies.
How to wire your large LED strip project?
The project length is very long, how to connect the tunable white led strip?
The simple method is to choose an ultra-long constant current led strip with no voltage drop, the wiring is simple, and the cost is low. But if you have already bought the led light strip and don't know how to install it, you can use the following wiring methods.
1. Use the LED signal amplifier
The function of the led amplifier is to amplify the attenuated signal to provide sufficient power for the adjustable led strips behind.
When and how to use the amplifier?
1) CCT LED Controller overload ⇒ Separate the CCT led strip lights with an led amplifier to ensure that the power of the controller can withstand the strip it is connected to.
2) CCT led strip ultra long distance ⇒ Use an led amplifier between led strip lights.
3) Parallel multiple CCT white led strips ⇒ Connect the next led strip in parallel with an led amplifier.
Which amplifier? Use a 3-channel amplifier for a tunable white strip; a 2-channel one will only carry one of the whites. Wire it as in diagram T3: the controller drives the first reel, and each amplifier, with its own supply, feeds the next. Shop RGB/RGBW/RGBCCT LED strip amplifiers.
2. Use RF CCT LED controller
1) The single-zone color temperature remote simultaneously controls multiple RF CCT led controllers.
The led light remote control has a barrier-free distance of 30 meters and has a cascade function. The led controller automatically forwards the RF remote control signal, and the led light controller automatically synchronizes the control to achieve a control distance of hundreds of meters.
2) The multi-zone color temperature remote controls multiple RF CCT led controllers.
Each zone of the multi-zone color temperature remote control can be paired with one or more RF led controllers to achieve zone and synchronous control. An RF controller can be paired in different zones of the same remote control to achieve flexible grouping functions.
In addition, you can also use the multi-zone color temperature panel remote control and the mobile APP installed on IOS or Android mobile devices while working with WiFi-Relay controller to control multiple RF CCT led controllers.
Two rooms or two cabinets on one remote? See diagram T2: each strip gets its own CCT controller and supply, and the link between the zones is RF, so no wire runs between them.
3. Use DMX decoder
The DMX constant voltage decoder converts the standard DMX512 digital signal into a constant voltage PWM signal, and adjusts the output of the DMX decoder through the DMX master control to achieve 0-100% non-flicker dimming. The DMX address can be set via the digital tube/OLED screen button or 10-digit DIP switch, or it can be set remotely via the DMX512/RDM console. Commonly used for commercial lighting purposes.
For tunable white on a DMX system, see diagram T4: assign two DMX channels, one for warm and one for cool. Some decoders offer a CCT mode with one channel for color temperature and one for brightness; check the manual.
Hope that this article can help you.
Tunable white LED strip FAQ
How many wires does a tunable white LED strip have?
Three: a positive line, a warm white signal line and a cold white signal line. The two color lines are negative lines, and V+ is common to both whites.
Are tunable white, dual white and CCT LED strips the same?
Yes. Tunable white, dual white and white adjustable LED strips are all CCT LED strips: they carry a warm white and a cold white, and with both on together you get natural white.
How big should the power supply and the CCT controller be?
Follow the 80% rule: the strip should use no more than 80% of the rated power of the power supply, and the same goes for the controller, so the power supply and the controller get the same rating. The table above gives the figures for one, two and three strips.
How do I wire a long tunable white LED strip run?
Choose an ultra-long constant current LED strip with no voltage drop, or use 3-channel LED amplifiers between strips, RF CCT controllers that sync from one remote, or a DMX decoder. Without them, 5V strips need power at both ends at 5 meters, 12V at 10 meters and 24V at 15 meters.
Can one remote control several tunable white LED strips?
Yes. A single-zone color temperature remote controls multiple RF CCT LED controllers at the same time, and each zone of a multi-zone remote can be paired with one or more controllers. The remote has a barrier-free distance of 30 meters, and the controllers forward the signal to reach hundreds of meters.
Parts for wiring a tunable white LED strip
Dual white CCT LED stripsTunable white LED tape
3 wire tunable white LED stripsV+, warm white, cool white
Tunable white COB LED stripsCOB CCT LED strips
3-pin CCT LED strip partsConnectors and cables for 3-pad strips
RGB/RGBW/RGBCCT amplifiersUse a 3-channel amplifier for CCT
Ultra-long constant current stripsLong runs with no voltage drop
Variable white LED strip kitsTunable white strip kits
Addressable white/WWA LED stripsAddressable CCT, DC5V to DC24VSend us your run length, strip voltage and how you want to control the light, and the SuperLightingLED team will match the strip, CCT controller, amplifiers and power supply. Tell us the lengths and we cut, solder and pair the parts before shipping. Standard orders such as accessories and controllers ship within 24–48 hours; LED strip orders follow the production lead time shown on the product page. Contact our team