StarStrand 12V

• StarStrand Basic Star, StarStrand Super Star and StarStrand Ultra Star, can be field cut every 2". Once the tape is cut, with the exception of StarStrand Basic Star, you cannot add a power connector or rejoin to start section.
• Polarity must be maintained. Each tape has + positive pin. Connectors are marked with + symbol. Positive polarity must be maintained or a section will not light. It is recommended to install all sections and power up to make sure polarity is correct before adhering to surface.
• Use the StarStrand 4-Pin 4-Way Connector (53263) and 2" sections to get to 90 degree angles and turns. Connector Cords can also be used for corners and around obstacles. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BEND TAPE MORE THAN 45 DEGREES.
• The StarStrand 4-Pin 4-Way Connector (53263) can also be used to power branched runs up to the maximum. Positioning of the 12V driver is critical to limit the amount of drivers required for each installation. Position 12V driver in middle of, or corners of, runs and to power the StarStrand 4-Pin 4-Way Connector (53263).
• Connector Cords can be used between the driver and the first tape section, driver and dimming controller, between sections, to go around corners and to extend runs.
• StarStrand 36" Universal Aluminum Channel (53254) can be used to install on irregular surfaces and also areas where tape will be visible and needs to be concealed.
• StarStrand 4-Pin Male End Cap (53264) and StarStrand 4-Pin Silicone End Cap (53269) should be used at every termination whether tape is cut or not.
• StarStrand 12V Dimming Controller (53282) will work on StarStrand Basic Star, StarStrand Super Star and StarStrand Ultra Star. StarStrand 12V Dimming Controller (53282) is installed after the driver and before the first section of tape.
• StarStrand 12V 60w Indoor Plug In Driver (53275), StarStrand 12V 60w Direct Wire Driver (53305), StarStrand 12V 96w Direct Wire Driver (53306) and StarStrand 12V 60w Dimmable Direct Wire Driver (53310) are Class II Drivers.
• StarStrand 4-Pin Connector Cords, Input Cords and Output Cords are made from 22 gauge wire.
• StarStrand Connector Cords are not CL2/CL3 rated. This means that the connection cords are not fire rated for in-wall installations.
• In order to do an in-wall installation for StarStrand, the customer will need to purchase the StarStrand 4-Pin Rough In Terminal Block" (53257) and place the blocks on each side of CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire. A sample installation would be Romex/Line > Driver > Driver Output Cord > Rough In Terminal Block > Wall > CL2/CL3 rated low voltage wire > Wall > Rough in Terminal Block > Tape
• If splicing connector cords is required, when splicing, the Red/Blue wire are Negative, the Black/Green wire are Positive.
• The maximum amount of cord (driver output cord, connecting cord, dimming controller input cord, dimming controller output cord) that can be used in any StarStrand 12V run is 24 total feet before any voltage drop will occur. Connecting cords can also be used to increase the distance between the driver and tape, driver and dimming controller, dimming controller and tape, not to exceed 24 total feet.
• StarStrand LED tape can operate in an environment between 14°F and 122°F.

LED Tape Terminology

• Amperage – The strength of an electrical current.
• Beam – The angle at which a light travels from a light source.
• Class II Driver – Class II drivers/transformers have a maximum VA (Volt-Ampere) rating of less than 100 and a maximum secondary output of 30 VAC. The maximum VA generally offered is 75 and the most common secondary voltage is 24 VAC. Class II drivers/transformers are either inherently or non-inherently limited. This means that the maximum output current of the driver/transformer is limited, either by the intrinsic coil impedance or by a fuse or circuit breaker.
• CRI – Color Rendering Index is a quantitative measure of the ability of a light source to reproduce the colors of various objects faithfully in comparison with an ideal or natural light source. Higher CRI numbers are important in installations where true color is important such as clothing or art displays.
• Color Temperature – This is a measurement in Kelvin of the color of light a source produces. Higher color temperatures (5,000 K or more) are cool (blueish white) colors; lower color temperatures (2,700–3,000 K) are warm (yellowish white through red) colors.
• Current – The amount of electricity that flows through a conductive surface measured in unit Amp.
• Driver – A device that transforms incoming household AC (alternating) current to low voltage DC (direct) current. The driver also maintains constant current without fluctuations which is necessary for correct LED operation and life.
• LED - An electronic semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current passes through it.
• Lumens – A measurement of the power of light emitted from a source. The difference between LED lumen versus lumens from an incandescent or fluorescent source is that all of the lumen output is directed forward as opposed to a bulb where lumens come off the source in all directions. Lumens are lost on the back side of a bulb.
• Lumens per Watt – A measurement of the efficiency of the LED. The higher the lumens generated by each watt the greater the overall efficiency of the LED. The higher efficiency LED are generally more expensive.
• Milliampere (mA) - A unit of current equal to one thousandth of an ampere.
• Voltage - A measurement of the energy contained within an electric field, or an electric circuit, at a given point. The greater the voltage, the greater the flow of current through a conductive medium. Voltage can be direct or alternating. A direct voltage maintains the same polarity at all times. In an alternating voltage, the polarity reverses direction periodically.
• Voltage Drop - A decrease in voltage along a conductor through which current is flowing. The decrease is caused by the resistance of the conductor.
• Wattage – A measurement of electrical power required by an appliance or device.