RGBWstrips

RGBW strips are flexible LED strip lights that provide red, green, blue, and white light. They integrate an RGB LED segment with a dedicated white channel, allowing full-color mixing plus a separate white output. This differs from standard RGB strips, which lack a true white channel and can struggle to render whites accurately.

Construction and operation

Most RGBW strips run on 12 V or 24 V DC and use surface-mounted diodes in segments, commonly based on SMD 5050 or 3528 packages. Each segment contains red, green, blue, and white LEDs with current-limiting circuitry. The strips are designed to be cut at defined intervals (often every 5 cm) and may be offered in indoor (IP20) or waterproof (IP65/IP67) variants. Power consumption is typically higher than RGB-only strips due to the additional white channel.

White channel options

Some RGBW products offer a single white channel (W) for warm or cool white, while RGBWW models include two white channels (warm and cool) or tunable white temperatures. These allow more natural whites and greater control over color temperature, improving accuracy for tasks such as accent lighting and task illumination.

Control and installation

RGBW strips require compatible controllers capable of PWM dimming for all four channels. A dedicated RGBW or RGBWW controller, often with remote, app, or DMX support, is typically needed. Controllers and power supplies should match the strip’s voltage and current requirements. Lighting designers consider CRI, color consistency, and heat dissipation when selecting RGBW strips for a given installation.