Installation Guide

ManualsBrandsArmacost Lighting ManualsLightingRibbonFlex Pro Series 60/800 12 ft. Soft Bright White (3000K) LED Tape Light

60 White LEDs per meter (18 LEDs per foot)

Model # RF2835060

RibbonFlex Pro

LED Accent Lighting

White LED Tape Light

Please read completely before installing.

It is important to read these guidelines completely to understand how LED

tape lighting works and how it can be conﬁ gured, cut to size, connected,

and installed so you can properly design your lighting layout.

Installing tape lighting is an easy DIY project. However, basic wiring skills and

tools for stripping, splicing, and connecting wires are required.

IMPORTANT

■

Use only with low-voltage 12-volt DC constant voltage power supplies.

Never connect LED tape light directly to 120-volt household power.

■

Do not power LED tape while coiled on reel, asthe 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 to a run of LED lighting.

■

Do not install tape light where it can come in direct contact with

water. Do not use long term in high humidity environments.

■

Use only insulated staples and plastic clips to secure cords and wires.

■

Route and secure wires so they will not become pinched or damaged.

■

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

■

Do not install 12-volt DC wiring in the same runs as 120-volt AC power.

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, consult a qualiﬁ ed professional.

Planning

RibbonFlex Pro 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 desired lighting effect is based primarily upon

personal preference. Installation location, wall colors, mounting angles,

and the light’s reﬂ ection off 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

■

How will you switch your LED lighting on and off?

■

Do you want to be able to dim your lighting?

■

What is the best layout conﬁ guration for your installation?

■

Where will you locate your power supply?

■

What are the best ways to mount the tape lighting?

■

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

Choosing 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

Pro LED tape operates on low voltage and requires a power supply to

convert 120-volt household AC power to 12-volt DC power.

■

Never connect RibbonFlex LED Tape Lighting directly to 120-volt

household power

■

Never use both a 120-volt and a 12-volt dimmer in the same circuit

■

Only use RibbonFlex with Armacost Lighting approved LED drivers

and power supplies. Using other power supplies will void warranty

The type of power supply you choose will be based on how you want to turn

on/off or dim your lighting.

Using Standard 120-volt AC dimmers (e.g., Lutron

style)

To use an AC dimmer, your Armacost Lighting LED driver/power supply

must clearly state on the packaging and case label that it is dimmable

with 120-volt AC dimmers. Using a 120-volt dimmer with a power supply

model that is NOT dimmable will damage the power supply.

Typical wiring diagram when used with an AC dimmer

Consult power supply instructions for AC dimmer compatibility

Green Wire

Ground

Black Wire

120-volt AC

live HOT

White Wire

120-volt AC

neutral

Output to 12-volt

white LED lighting

Dimmable LED Driver

When using a 120-volt AC dimmer, the Dimmable LED Driver/Power Supply

must be direct wired to household current.

Large lighting applications may require the use of multiple LED drivers/

power supplies. For synchronized on/off and brightness control of LED

lighting on multiple power supplies, connect a 120-volt AC dimmer to

multiple Armacost Lighting Dimmable LED Drivers.

AC DIMMER

(Lutron Style

™

)

DIMMABLE

LED DRIVERS

Using Armacost Lighting 12-volt LED dimmers

If installing an in-wall AC

dimmer isn’t practical, choose

an Armacost low-voltage,

12-volt dimmer. These

dimmers connect on the low-

voltage side anywhere between

your power supply and LED

lighting. Wireless model options are available, useful in situations where

installing new wiring can be difﬁ cult. Choose from RF designer-style touch

pads or Wi-Fi

controllers that work with any smartphone.

120V

AC OUTLET

12V DC

POWER SUPPLY

SMARTPHONE OR

WIRELESS TOUCHPAD

12V RF DIMMER OR

WI-FI RECEIVER

For large lighting applications and multi-zone lighting control, use

multiple Armacost 2-in-1 or Wi-Fi LED dimmers. To learn more, visit

armacostlighting.com.

SMARTPHONE OR

WIRELESS TOUCHPAD

12V RF DIMMER OR

WI-FI RECEIVER

For simple on/off control (no dimming)

If an AC outlet controlled by a wall

switch is not available for your power

supply, use an Armacost Lighting

Wireless Switch. This device adds

switched outlet convenience without

running any new wires.

RV, boat, and solar system applications

LED tape lighting can be powered directly by 12-volt battery.

120V

AC OUTLET

12V DC

POWER SUPPLY

ARMACOST

WIRELESS

WALL SWITCH

WIRELESS

RECEIVER

DIRECT WIRE

AC DIMMABLE

POWER SUPPLY

AC DIMMER

(Lutron Style

™

)

12V BATTERY FUSE

PROTECTION 12V SWITCH

12V

LED DIMMER

120V

AC OUTLET

12V DC

POWER SUPPLY

ARMACOST WIRELESS

TOUCHPAD DIMMER

ARMACOST 2-in-1

LED DIMMERS

A 12-volt LED dimmer can also be used with battery powered systems.

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 Pro 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 3/4 in.

away from walls.

Troubleshooting

Tape light strip does not light

■

Make sure your LED power supply is receiving 120-volt power.

■

Conﬁ rm you have maintained correct polarity (+ to + and – to –) when

joining LED strips and when connecting to the 12-volt power supply.

■

Check all tape light connections and any switch or dimmer connections

from the power supply to the LED tape light. Consider testing with a

multimeter to ensure light strip is receiving 12-volt 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 to the unlit section.

■

RibbonFlex Pro is made with three LEDs connected as one series.

If you experience a partial failure, you can carefully cut out the

damaged section and splice in a new section as needed to repair.

LED tape lights blink on and 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

■

This is the result of voltage drop. Decrease the length of the 12-volt

power feed wires or use thicker power feed wires between the 12-volt

power supply and the tape lighting.

■

Use shorter lengths of LED tape lighting. Refer to Conﬁ guration

options in these guidelines. Consider a different conﬁ guration.

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

SPECIFICATIONS

Input voltage ............................................................................ 12V DC

Light output ............................~800+ (lumens) per meter (~250 per ft.)*

Color temperature (CCT) ........................................................... ~2700K

Energy used (8.2 ft. strip) ........................................................ 19 watts

Lumens per watt (efﬁ cacy) .............................................................~105

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

Color Rendering Index (CRI) ............................................................±80

LED light source ................................................. High Power SMD 2835

LED count................................................60 LEDs per meter (150 total)

Country of Origin ......................................................................... China

*Luminous ﬂ ux based on 1 meter (3.3 ft) length. Voltage drop can affect

lumens output for longer lengths.

Limited three-year 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.

Mount LEDs

3/4 in.or greater

from wall to avoid

bright spots

CEILING

Baltimore, MD 21225

armacostlighting.com

160508

Summary of content (4 pages)

PAGE 1
Placement options for under cabinet lighting Troubleshooting 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 finished surfaces.
PAGE 2
Power supply size ■ Determining your wattage requirements ■ LED tape light power requirements are stated in watts and are based on several factors, including your design configuration. RibbonFlex Pro can be installed in a series (strips connected or wired end-to-end) or in an array (multiple legs of LED strips or series of strips wired directly to a single power supply). ■ ■ TYPICAL DESIGN CONFIGURATIONS Only one end of the LED strip POWER is powered.
PAGE 3
Power supply size ■ Determining your wattage requirements ■ LED tape light power requirements are stated in watts and are based on several factors, including your design configuration. RibbonFlex Pro can be installed in a series (strips connected or wired end-to-end) or in an array (multiple legs of LED strips or series of strips wired directly to a single power supply). ■ ■ TYPICAL DESIGN CONFIGURATIONS Only one end of the LED strip POWER is powered.
PAGE 4
Placement options for under cabinet lighting Troubleshooting 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 finished surfaces.