When you buy LED strip lights, you want to be able to change the colors on them to match your mood or the season.
But sometimes, they just don’t seem to want to change color. Why is that? In this article, we will explore some of the reasons why your LED strip lights might not be changing color and how to fix the issue.
LED Strip Lights And How Changing Colors Work
Led strip lights are a type of lighting that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to produce light.
The strips are usually made of plastic and have an adhesive backing that allows them to be attached to surfaces.
Led strip lights are used in a variety of applications, including task lighting, accent lighting, and decorative lighting.
Led strip lights are available in one color and a variety of colors, including white, blue, green, red, and yellow (often known as RGB or color-changing LED strip lights).
From a remote controller or app, you would be able to combine these color varieties to form other different colors.
Most LED strips have what is called a controller chip that allows for color-changing capabilities.
The controller chip contains an RGB LED driver that creates colors by combining the three primary colors: red, green, and blue.
Reasons Why LED Strip Lights Won’t Change Color
There are several reasons why your LED strip lights might not be changing color. The most common reason is as follows;
- Reverse Polarity
- The Light Has Only One Color
- Controller Not Working
- App Not Working
- Software Problems
- Power Supply Issues
- Faulty LED Strip Lights
- Incompatible Remote
- Dirty or Loose Connection
We will now explore each of these reasons in more detail.
1. Reverse Polarity
Reverse polarity is when you connect the power supply to the LED strip lights in the wrong order.
This can happen if you accidentally swap the positive and negative wires when connecting them.
If this happens, it’s likely that your LED strip lights will not work at all. In some cases, they might flicker or change color erratically.
To fix this, you will need to disconnect the power supply and reconnect it in the correct order.
Make sure to double-check which wire is which before reconnecting them.
LED strip lights usually have a polarity diagram printed on them that shows which wire is positive and which one is negative.
This can be helpful if you’re not sure which wire is which.
Once you have done that, your LED strip lights should work correctly. If they still don’t work, try another power supply.
If your LED strip lights are still not working after you’ve checked the polarity, it’s likely that there is another issue.
Try one of the other troubleshooting tips below.
2. The Light Has Only One Color
Not all LED strip lights are color-changing lights. Some LED strips are single-color lights that can only produce one color.
If your LED strip light is a single-color light, it will not be able to change colors no matter what you do.
The best way to tell if your LED strip light is a single-color light or a color-changing light is to look at the product description or packaging.
It should say somewhere if the light is only one color or if it’s a color-changing light.
If you can’t find that information, try contacting the manufacturer. They will be able to tell you whether or not your LED strip light is a single-color light.
If your LED strip light is a single-color light, the only way to change the color is to buy a new LED strip light that is color-changing or RGB light.
You can then use that LED strip light to replace the one that you have. Installing the new LED strip light is usually a simple process.
Most LED strip lights come with instructions on how to do it. If you’re not sure how to install the new LED strip light, contact the manufacturer for help.
3. Controller Not Working
In some other instances, the problem might be the controller that you are using to change the colors of your LED strip lights.
The first thing you should do is check the batteries in the controller. If they are low or dead, that could be why the controller isn’t working correctly.
Try replacing the batteries and see if that fixes the problem. If not, try resetting the controller. To do this, you will need to consult your product’s manual.
The instructions on how to reset the controller will be different for every type of controller.
If you can’t find the manual or you’re not sure how to reset the controller, try contacting the manufacturer of the product for help.
In some cases, you might need to update the firmware on your controller. Firmware updates are usually available on the manufacturer’s website.
To install a firmware update, you will need to follow the instructions that come with it. These instructions are usually available on the same page as the firmware update itself.
If you’re not sure how to install the firmware update or you can’t find the instructions, try contacting the manufacturer of the product for help.
Finally, if your controller still isn’t working correctly, you might need to buy a new one.
You can usually find replacement controllers on the manufacturer’s website or from a retailer that sells the same product.
4. App Not Working
If you’re using an app to control your LED strip lights, the first thing you should do is make sure that the app is up-to-date.
To do this, open the App Store (for iOS devices) or the Google Play Store (for Android devices) and check for updates.
If there are any updates available, install them and see if that fixes the problem.
If not, try restarting your device. Sometimes, all you need to do is restart your phone or tablet in order for the app to start working again.
If that doesn’t work, try uninstalling the app and then reinstalling it. This will delete any saved settings or preferences, so you might need to set up the app again from scratch.
If you’re still having trouble, try contacting the developer of the app for help. They should be able to provide you with further troubleshooting steps.
5. Software Problems
A lot of the LED strip lights today can be coded to perform certain tasks.
For example, you can code your lights to change color based on the time of day or when a certain event happens.
If your LED strip lights aren’t working correctly, it could be because there’s a problem with the software that you’re using.
The first thing you should do is check for updates. Oftentimes, developers will release updates that fix software bugs and other issues.
To do this, open the software that you’re using to control your LED strip lights and check for any available updates.
If there are any updates available, install them and see if that fixes the problem.
If not, try restarting your computer. Sometimes, all you need to do is restart your computer in order for the software to start working again.
If that doesn’t work, try going over the code, making sure to cross all t’s and dot all i’s.
It could be something as simple as a typo that’s causing the software to malfunction.
If you’re still having trouble, contact the developer of the software for help. They should be able to provide you with further troubleshooting steps.
6. Power Supply Issues
While this may seem like an unlikely cause, it’s always worth checking to see if there’s a problem with the power supply.
In some cases, the power supply might not be providing enough power to the LED strip lights. This can cause the lights to flicker or not change color correctly.
To check the power supply, start by unplugging the power adapter from the wall outlet. Then, plug it back in and see if that fixes the problem.
If not, try plugging the power adapter into a different outlet. If that doesn’t work, try using a different power adapter altogether.
7. Faulty LED Strip Lights
A more obvious reason why your LED strip lights won’t change color can be due to faulty or damaged LED strip lights.
LED strip lights are a series circuits, so if one becomes out of place or sits wrongly, the whole thing can be thrown off.
To check for this, start by unplugging the LED strip lights from the power source. Remove the diffuser or channel, if there’s any, and then take a look at each of the LEDs to see if they’re all properly in place.
Apart from that, things like heat, humidity, etc can damage the LEDs, so it’s important to keep them in a well-ventilated area.
Also, broken wires or burnt-out drivers can cause LED strip lights to fail and not change color the way they are supposed to.
If you see any damaged wires or drivers (especially after cutting and rejoining the LED strip light), replace them with new ones.
8. Incompatible Remote Controller
In some cases, the LED strip lights might not be compatible with the remote controller that you’re using.
If you’re using an IR remote, make sure that there’s no obstacle between the remote and the receiver. Also, try pointing the remote directly at the receiver to see if that makes a difference.
If you’re using an RF remote, try standing closer to the receiver. In some cases, you might need to be within a certain range in order for the signal to be received correctly.
Apart from that, make sure that the batteries in the remote are not dead, as I mentioned earlier. Also, try resetting the remote by removing and then re-inserting the batteries.
9. Dirty or Loose Connection
Another reason why your LED strip lights might not be working correctly is because of a dirty or loose connection.
If the connection between the controller and the LED strip lights is loose, it can cause all sorts of problems, including colors not changing correctly.
To fix this, start by unplugging the LED strip lights from the power source. Then, check the connection between the controller and the LED strip lights.
If it’s loose, try tightening it up. If it’s dirty, clean it off with a cloth or a cotton swab. Once you’re done, plug everything back in and see if that fixes the problem.
Final Thoughts
These are some of the most common reasons why LED strip lights might not change color correctly. If you’re still having trouble, feel free to contact customer support for help.
We hope this article was helpful. If it was, please share it with your friends or family, who might also have LED strip lights. Thanks for reading!
