The use of LED strips is gaining more and more popularity. They are used both for decorative interior lighting, including them in the overall design scheme and as the main lighting.
Many people often replace traditional lamps with these lighting devices due to their cost-effectiveness and functionality. The strips consume a minimal amount of electricity and are quite bright.
However, like any device, the LED can break. The color can be wrong, it may flicker or won’t work at all. But how to find out the cause of the problem to fix the LED lights if each problem has its cause?
That is why in this article I am going to look at one of the issues, which is how to fix LED lights when the colors are wrong.
What are LED strip lights and how do they work?
Before moving on to the main subject, you first need to learn at least a little about an LED light strip.
So, the acronym LED stands for light-emitting diodes that can emit light more efficiently than traditional bulbs.
The LED strip is arranged simply; many small LED emitters are mounted along a narrow (about 0.2 mm) and flexible circuit board at densities of 18-36 LEDs per 60-120 meters. An electric current passes through a microchip illuminating the tiny light sources (or LEDs) and resulting in visible light — blue, green, yellow, etc.
The backside of the strip is usually adhesive. The adhesive is protected by the liner; this liner should be removed before the installation of the strip light. By the way, it is the adhesive backing that allows you to install the light strips wherever you want.
Among other things, the strip can be cut to get shorter strips and, for example, connect to other strips.
Structurally, LED strips differ in the size of the LEDs, the number of LEDs per meter of the strip, and the color.
Strips with a high density of large LEDs shine brighter but are pricier. Besides, the strips also differ in quality — both the LEDs themselves and the quality of their mounting on the strip.
Common issues with LED light strips having the wrong colors
Overheating
What do you need for LED strips to work well? Of course, it is, firstly, heat dissipation. But why? Because LEDs generate heat when operating.
Usually, the elements that are responsible for heat dissipation are already embedded in the LED lights themselves.
For instance, an adhesive on the backside of the strip typically has cooling properties.
If you are afraid that it might not be enough, you can always try adding aluminum channels — another element that will help cool your LED lights, preventing them from overheating.
However, do not forget about other important things, like, the place where you will mount your LED strip light.
Despite all the heat dissipation elements, they won’t help if you use the LED in a heated place. So, where is it better not to mount the LED light? For instance, on a wooden surface, since the wood will retain heat from the LED lights, overheating it and decreasing its lifetime.
Therefore, you might consider installing the LED strips on metallic or ceramic surfaces that will help cool the strip. Tight and heated places (near the stoves or TV) will raise the temperature, heating the LED as well.
Overheating of LED lights causes issues with the power supply, not providing enough voltage, and this, in turn, affects the color quality. In addition, LEDs and electronic components like circuit boards might be damaged.
However, the worst thing is that overheating can lead to a fire, so it is important to be cautious and follow the instructions that come with the LED strip lights.
Poor air ventilation
As mentioned above, the reason LED lights can show the wrong color can be overheating. From this, it may follow that another reason can be poor air ventilation.
The cool air can’t circulate; therefore, the ambient temperature goes up.
So, once again, take the issue of the place where you install your LED lights seriously — no tight corners, no places behind beds or sofas, in other words, no places without proper air ventilation.
Paint
Perhaps, when there is an issue with the LED colors, the last thing you think about is that a substance, paint, for instance, got on the LED strip lights. Although, it is one of the most common problems.
Even a drop of paint can greatly affect the operation of the LED lights. It can alter its intensity (the strip light colors will look dull or faded), and the color can even change to a different one.
But it is just the tip of the iceberg; it is not so hard to solve this problem — just wipe the paint from the strip.
The real issue appears when the paint gets in circuitry, leading to a short circuit, making LED colors change or flicker, or breaking it down.
Connection
If you are certain LED strip lights are not overheated and do not have any paint on them, then it is time to check if everything is correctly connected.
As you know, LED lights receive the necessary voltage from the power supply unit with a voltage of 12 or 24 V. When purchasing a device, it is necessary to find out the voltage consumed and purchase a supply unit suitable in rating, which allows you to connect the LED strip lights to 220 V.
It is the first thing that might cause problems with the power supply and therefore with colored lights, for instance. That’s why it is in your interest to find a suitable supply unit.
Apart from the supply unit, there are other things to bear in mind.
First, you need to connect each color to its wire (red, blue, and green). Then, unlike household electrical devices and classic lamps, the installation of an LED strip must be carried out, by observing the polarity, since it is a semiconductor device.
As all these cables have their own terminals, you need to plug them in the right place to see your LED lights working well.
So, how to plug them in? The LED light strips’ black cable needs to be connected to the +12V terminal. Double-check if the LED’s positive side matches the positive side of the connector and if there are any loose connections.
Actually, it is not as hard as it at first may seem, as all cables are usually color-colored, as well as terminals. However, if they are not, then the only thing you can do is try different combinations until one of them works.
How to fix LED lights when the colors are wrong
Describing the issues that can affect the color, I explained along the way how to solve them, but there is another solution that might help you solve the problem.
You need to turn your LED lights off, then press the red button with the FADE7 name on it. After pressing it, you can turn your LED lights on again. Next, press the color buttons on your remote one after another, changing back your LED lights to their original color.
Conclusion
So, as you have already understood from the article, there is not just one reason for wrong colors, there are plenty of them — overheating, poor air ventilation, some paint on the LED itself, and bad connection. However, it is not difficult to fix each of them. For more than half of them, it is enough just to choose the right place for the LED.
I hope the article will help you to find the root of your problem, understand ‘how to fix LED lights when the colors are wrong’, and continue to enjoy them.
Frequently asked questions
Why are some of my LED lights the wrong color?
The wrong color of LED lights can be caused by many reasons. It might be overheating, poor air ventilation, paint on LEDs or even in circuitry, poor connection, or just issues with remote control colors. So, to fix LED lights, you first need to find out the reason.
How do I reset my LED color-changing light?
The sequence of action of how to reset your LED may vary depending on which LED brand you are using.
However, in most cases, the steps would be: to turn your LED off, press and hold the power button for a few seconds and then turn the LEDs on again. Sometimes, you will have to push the reset button on the receiver or even disconnect the power supply.
What should I do if none of the troubleshooting steps resolve the incorrect color display?
If none of the troubleshooting steps work, contacting the manufacturer’s customer support for further assistance or seeking professional help might be necessary to diagnose and fix the issue.
What steps should I take if resetting the LED controller doesn’t fix the color issue?
If resetting the LED controller doesn’t resolve the problem, check the power supply and wiring connections for any faults. Consider replacing the controller if the issue persists.
Is it possible that the LED controller settings are causing the wrong colors?
Yes, incorrect settings on the LED controller can result in the wrong color output. Refer to the controller’s manual to verify the color settings and make necessary adjustments.
Also Read: How To Repair LED Strip Lights
