Buying Guide of RGBW Controllers and Remotes 2
In this article, we'll get to know more of RGB controller that assist us to choose a proper RGB(W) control device.
When it comes to controlling your RGB LED tape, there are a range of options – each offering a choice of many different controllers. If you decide to control your RGB LED tape via the DMX/DALI protocol, for example, you can use any DMX/DALI LED controller. This will give you a choice of hundreds of control units.
While there’s no definitive ‘best’ way to manage RGB LED tape installations in general, there will certainly be a best and most cost-effective choice for your particular project. The right RGB LED controller for you will largely depend on two factors:
The size of your project
If you have a small project (using just a single transformer), this simplifies your choice of RGB LED controller options. You should avoid systems like DMX, 0-10v or DALI controllers – as these are primarily designed for bigger projects, with multiple zones or areas. Instead, you'll need something you can use straight away – like an RF controller (these usually come with funky remotes) or an inline wired wall controller.
If you have a large project (30 LED strips, each with their own transformer, for example) then the opposite is true. You'll want a control system than can manage multiple areas, such as DALI or DMX. These range from simple-to-use controllers, through more complex DMX control desks and laptop-based software – all the way up to DALI controller systems able to control large buildings.
The type of RGB LED controller you are looking for
If you're looking for a fancy wireless touch-button LED controller, then you've already started to narrow down you choices by excluding wired controllers. There are many types of RGB LED controller to choose from – including wireless remotes, single and multichannel controllers, fancy glass touch controllers and more.
So in simple terms…
For small projects – choose an RF LED controller or inline LED controller
For large projects – choose from 0-10v / DMX / DALI controllers(We will detail in other articles)
Difference of RGB and RGBW
In addition to the RGB, RGBW is also universally used. the RGBW LED strip controller is mainly in the number of color channels. Their common color channels are red, green and blue channels. The RGBW LED controller is different in that it has one more channel than the RGB controller, e.g., the white light channel. This additional channel is used to adjust the white LED nodes on the RGBW(or RGB strip+white strip) LED strip. This white light control is used to produce true white light and adds a richer saturation to the other colors of the RGBW LED strip.
With 4 channels output, its power is generally greater than that of the RGB controller.
The RGBW controller can be used to control the RGB LED strips. In this situation, only the R, G, and B channels are used, with the white channel of the controller left unused. but the RGBW remote kit VT-A101 can manage 3 mixed white colors(WW,DW,CW) output from your RGB strip and able to be dimmed. This is explained in more details in the following sections.
The RGB LED controller cannot be used with RGBW strips because it lacks the white light channel and cannot control the white LED nodes on the strip.
RGB LED Strips can also create a very cool white by turning all 3 LEDS at the highest power(the value of R,G,B hits the maximum,256,256,256), keep in mind this white has a noticeable blueish hue, over 6500K as it's mixed white. Whereas RGB LED light strips do create many colors, they do still have some limitations. For example, they cannot produce brown or a soft pink. The accuracy of colors all depends on the controller unit you are using and the inbuilt program of the RGB(W) controller per se.
How Can You Control RGB LEDs and Strip Lights?
To make precise colors from your RGB light you will need an RGB LED controller, they are sometimes referred to as 3-channel controllers as they basically control the 3 primary color ‘channels’or 4-channel controllers that they control 3 primary color channels plus an additional white channel. same for 5-channel. This will make it easy to automatically tune the 3-LEDs to make the light you want. Take a look at a few different types below that we typically use:
1. Single-Zone RGB(W) LED Controllers
If the strip lighting changes controlled by the RGBW controller(VT-A105) must be synchronized and cannot be controlled separately, this controller can only control one zone, which is a single-zone RGB controller. A single zone controller can be paired with multiple receivers, which in turn can control multiple strips. Since these strips belong to the same zone, they receive the same control signal, color management must be synchronized, and different strips cannot be controlled separately.
These controllers are commonly used to control LED Strip lights. These come with a simple receiving unit that goes in between your power and RGB strips with a handheld controller that lets you control from 20-30 meters away.
You will find these with RF radio frequency connection or IR line-of-site. These controllers easily control all the LED lights connected to it, the downside is you cannot control different sections independently.
2. Multi-Zone RGB(W) Controllers
Multi zone RGB controller(VT-A102 six-zone RGB remote). The multi-zone RGB controller can control LED light strips in different zones, which means it can separately and independently manage the strip lights of each zone. Multiple zones can also be managed simultaneously so that the color changes of the strips in all zones are synchronized.
The Multiple-Zone support lets each RGB(W) remote connect to multiple receivers, therefore allowing you to control multiple zones/rooms in your house. Easily control your office, living room and bedroom all from the same RGB(W) controller.
These controllers also allow you more range of colors as you can adjust your Red, Green and Blue LEDs manually from remote if you would like.
When purchasing, how to identify if it is a single-zone or multi-zone RGB(W) controller? If an RGB controller does not have a multi-zone control in the label, description, or parameters, it is likely to be a single-zone controller or simply consult the seller. Because multi-zone controllers typically indicate their multi-zone management capabilities, which is an advanced feature that distinguish itself from the single-zone controller.
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