Instructions / Assembly

ManualsBrandsArmacost Lighting ManualsAccent LightingRibbonFlex Pro 32.8 ft. (10 m) Multi-Color and White LED Tape Light 30 Plus 30 LEDs

RGB and RGB+W models

Please read completely before installing.

These guidelines will help you to understand how LED tape lighting can be

conﬁ gured, cut to size, connected, and installed so you can successfully

design your own project-speciﬁ c LED lighting layout.

Installing tape lighting is an easy DIY project, however, basic wiring skills

such as stripping, splicing, extending, and connecting wires are required.

This LED tape lighting requires a DC power supply and a color controller,

available separately. An LED Signal Repeater may be required for longer runs.

IMPORTANT

■

When making any connections or cutting the LED tape light, make

sure all power is disconnected. A short circuit will occur if any of

the energized wires come in contact with each other, which can

permanently damage your controller.

■

Never connect tape light directly to 120-volt household power

■

Do not power LED tape while coiled on reel, as the LEDs will overheat.

The mounting surface will act as a heat sink to dissipate heat

■

Do not stare directly into the LED lights when illuminated

■

Never connect more than one power supply or color controller to a run

of LED lighting

■

Always use the indicators printed on the tape light to maintain

polarity and correct color sequencing

■

Do not install this product in areas that are susceptible to direct

exposure to the elements

■

Use only insulated staples, plastic ties, or wire support clips to secure

cords and wires

■

Route and secure wires so they will not be pinched or damaged

■

Use properly certiﬁ ed CL2 or better cabling for wire runs inside walls

■

Do not install Class 2 low voltage wiring in the same runs as AC main

power. If AC and low voltage wires cross, keep them at 90-degree angles

All wiring must be in accordance with national and local electrical codes,

low voltage Class 2 circuit. If you are unclear as to how to install and wire

this product, contact a qualiﬁ ed professional.

Planning

RibbonFlex LED lighting is designed for indirect lighting applications.

The LEDs themselves are not intended to be seen directly by the eye.

Every installation is unique and the illumination effects are personal

preference. Installation location, wall colors, mounting angle, and the

light’s reﬂ ection off of walls, surfaces and objects will affect the ﬁ nal

lighting appearance. Subtle adjustments to the positioning and angle

of the LED tape can greatly impact the overall lighting effect.

Installation considerations

■

Where will you locate your power supply and controller?

■

How will you switch your LED lighting on and off?

■

What is the best layout conﬁ guration for your installation?

■

What are the best ways to mount the tape lighting?

■

How will you cut, connect, and conceal the wires to your lighting?

RibbonFlex LED Accent Lighting

Multi-Color LED Tape Light

Choose a color controller

A color controller is required for RibbonFlex multi-color LED lighting. Color

controllers blend the light from the LED chipsets allowing you to create

custom colors and color-changing effects. The color controller will also work

as a dimmer and function as an on/off switch. A wireless wall switch is also

available. For current product information, visit armacostlighting.com.

Choose a power supply

Power supplies come in various sizes with different wattages and are often

referred to as transformers, AC/DC adaptors, or LED drivers. RibbonFlex

LED tape operates on low voltage (12-volt or 24-volt, depending on the

model) and requires a power supply to convert 120-volt household AC

power to low-voltage DC power.

■

Never connect RibbonFlex LED Tape Lighting directly to 120-volt

household power

■

Only use RibbonFlex with Armacost Lighting approved LED drivers

and power supplies. Using other power supplies will void warranty

TYPICAL CONNECTION SCENARIOS

SWITCHED

AC OUTLET

POWER

SUPPLY

WALL

SWITCH

COLOR

CONTROLLER

120V

AC OUTLET

POWER

SUPPLY

COLOR

CONTROLLER

BATTERY

FUSE

PROTECTION

SWITCH

COLOR

CONTROLLER

120V

AC OUTLET

POWER

SUPPLY

WIRELESS

REMOTE

CONTROL

WIRELESS COLOR

CONTROLLER

RECEIVER

120V

AC OUTLET

POWER

SUPPLY

SMARTPHONE

WITH WI-FI

& APP

WI-FI LED

LIGHTING

CONTROLLER

Interior RV and boat applications can be powered directly by a battery. Make sure

the LED tape lighting that you are using matches the voltage of your RV or boat.

Power supply location and voltage drop

The shorter the wire is between the power supply, the controller and the

tape lighting, the brighter and more consistent the color will be – do

not coil extra wire. If the LEDs farthest from the power supply appear

dim or you see a color shift, it is due to voltage drop. Voltage drop only

becomes undesirable if you notice the brightness or color in one area of

your lighting is objectionably different than in another area. As a practical

approach, test your LED lighting prior to ﬁ nal installation. If voltage drop

appears to be an issue use heavier gauge wire, power tape light from both

ends, or use shorter length of lighting (see Typical Conﬁ gurations).

To learn more, visit armacostlighting.com/installation for an easy-to-use

online voltage drop calculator.

■

3M sticky back tape requires pressure to activate the adhesive.

Working from one end to the other, ﬁ rmly press the tape down with

your ﬁ ngers, taking care not to press on the individual LEDs.

■

Support power

wire leads,

especially when

mounting under

cabinets and

shelves.

Placement options for under cabinet lighting

For maximum light output, mount the LED tape

towards the front of the cabinet with LEDs facing

down. To focus light on the work surface and also

light your backsplash, position the tape light an

inch or two back from the front of the cabinet.

This mounting position works best with dull or

matte ﬁ nished surfaces.

If your countertop is reﬂ ective, install the LED tape

lighting on the inside back of the cabinet lip frame

with the LEDs facing towards your backsplash. This

method helps eliminate unwanted light reﬂ ections

and bright spots reﬂ ecting off your countertop.

Because of the wide beam angle of the tape light, this

mounting position will still provide ample lighting.

Continuous run mounting of LED tape lighting is

achieved by drilling a 1/2 in.

hole through cabinet side frame

lips. When mounting on the

back side of the front frame lip,

use a multi-tool oscillating saw to make small vertical

cuts in the dividers to create slots that allow the tape

lighting to pass from one cabinet to another.

Tape light installed through

a drilled hole.

Tape light installed through a slot

sawed into cabinet divider.

Create a visual barrier when mounting under a cabinet or shelf with no lip

to conceal the LED tape light strip. Use a piece of angle trim, quarter

round molding, or any type of trim desired to hide the LEDs.

Above Cabinet

Uplighting

Most cabinet tops

have uneven surfaces.

To create beautiful,

indirect uplighting over

cabinets, simply mount

RibbonFlex on any rigid

strip (e.g., thin lattice

or corner guard molding) and place on top of cabinets. Angle the strip

position to achieve the desired illumination.

Cove Lighting

Try different mounting

positions to get your

desired lighting effect.

For a seamless glow

with no bright light

spots, keep LED tape

light strip at least 1 in.

away from walls.

Armacost

Lighting Wire

Support Clip

Mount LEDs

1 in.or greater

from wall to avoid

bright spots

CEILING

Troubleshooting

Tape light strip does not light

■

Make sure your LED power supply is turned on and receiving power.

■

Conﬁ rm you have maintained correct polarity when connecting the

power supply to the controller, and ensure that you have maintained

polarity and consistent wire color sequencing from the controller to the

LED tape light.

■

Check all tape light and controller connections from the power supply

to the LED tape light. Consider testing with a multimeter to ensure

light strip is receiving power.

Only part of the LED tape light strip is lit

■

Check connections to the part of the strip that is not lit.

■

Conﬁ rm that you have maintained correct polarity and wire color

sequencing to the unlit section.

■

If only 1 LED series is out, cut out and remove the damaged LED group

and splice together LED tape strips or replace with new LED section.

LED tape lights blink on, then go off

■

Your power supply is not adequate for the length of LED tape light

you are powering. Install a higher wattage power supply or reduce

watts used by shortening the lengths of your LED tape lighting.

LEDs farthest from the power supply are noticeably dimmer or you see a color shift

■

This is the result of voltage drop. Decrease the length of the power

feed wires or use thicker power feed wires between the power supply,

the controller, and the tape lighting.

■

Use shorter lengths of LED tape lighting. Refer to Typical conﬁ gurations

in these guidelines. Consider a different conﬁ guration.

Visit armacostlighting.com/installation for additional installation tips and FAQs.

Maximum recommended tape length

Conﬁ guration

RGB 30 LEDs/m RGB 60 LEDs/m RGB 30+30 LEDs/m RGB 60+60 LEDs/m

Length

Watts

used

Length

Watts

used

Length

Watts

used

Length

Watts

used

Straight run

32.8 ft.

(10m)

~40

16.4 ft.

(5m)

~48

16.4 ft.

(5m)

~47

16.4 ft.

(5m)

~75

Center feed /

Loop back

65.6 ft.

(20m)

~80

32.8 ft.

(10m)

~96

32.8 ft.

(10m)

~94

32.8 ft.

(10m)

~150

Array Varies based on layout and max wattage of power supply

SPECIFICATIONS

Input voltage .............................................................. 12- or 24-volt DC

LED modules............................................. RGB: SMD 5050 tri-chip RGB

.......................................RGB+W: SMD 5050 tri-chip RGB & 2835 white

Beam angle ...........................................................................120° wide

Tape height/width ............................................................ 2mm x 10mm

Listings ........................................................................ CE, RoHS, CSA

Country of origin .......................................................................... China

See product packaging or visit armacostlighting.com for additional

product-speciﬁ c information.

Three-year limited warranty

Improper installation, abuse, or failure to use this product for its

intended purpose will void warranty. This warranty only applies when all

components, including LED power supplies, have been provided by or

approved for use by Armacost Lighting. The warranty does not cover labor

or any other costs or expense to remove or install any defective, repaired

or replaced products.

armacostlighting.com

4 1

Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
■ ■ 3M sticky back tape requires pressure to activate the adhesive. Working from one end to the other, firmly press the tape down with your fingers, taking care not to press on the individual LEDs. Support power wire leads, especially when mounting under cabinets and shelves.
PAGE 2
Power supply size RGB+W 60+60 LEDs/meter Meters Determining your wattage requirements LED tape lighting power requirements are stated in watts, and are based on several factors, including your design configuration. LED tape strips can be installed in series (strips connected or wired end-to-end) or in parallel (multiple legs of LED strips or series of strips wired directly to a single power supply). TYPICAL CONFIGURATIONS 1 2 3 4 5 Feet 3.3 6.6 9.8 13 16.