Description
This RGB Controller is a 24 key infrared unit for 5050 and 3528 LED strip, priced at $18.99. It handles 12V at 6A across three channels - 72 watts of strip - and comes with the remote and a manual.
A bare RGB strip has no brain. Power alone will light it, but the colours are fixed and there is no dimming, no fade and no way to change anything. The controller is the part that sits between the power supply and the strip and turns it into something you can actually operate. If you bought a strip that does not respond to anything, this is the missing piece.
Specifications
| Type |
24 key IR remote controller |
| Output channels |
3 (red, green, blue) |
| Input / output voltage |
12V |
| Output current |
6A total (3 x 2A) |
| Output power |
72W at 12V |
| Working temperature |
-20C to 60C |
| Compatible strip |
5050 and 3528 RGB |
What's in the Box
| RGB controller |
1 |
| 24 key IR remote |
1 |
| User manual |
1 |
| LED strip and power supply |
Not included |
Why You Need a Controller in the System
-
Colour selection - static colours from the remote instead of whatever the strip defaults to
-
Brightness control - dim the whole run up and down
-
Dynamic modes - fade, flash and jump effects built in
-
72W capacity - enough for a substantial run of 5050 strip
-
Wide temperature range - rated -20C to 60C, so a hot roof cavity or a cold garage is fine
What Does a 24 Key RGB Controller Actually Control?
The 24 keys break down into brightness up and down, on and off, sixteen fixed colours, and a set of dynamic modes - typically flash, strobe, fade and smooth. What it does not do is address individual LEDs; a standard RGB controller drives the entire strip as one unit, so every LED shows the same colour at the same time. Chasing effects where colour travels along the strip need addressable strip and a different controller entirely.
Will This Work With My Existing Strip?
Three things have to line up. The strip must be 12V - a 24V strip will barely light. It must be four-pin RGB rather than single-colour or addressable. And the total wattage of your run must be under 72W, which for common 5050 strip at roughly 14W per metre means about five metres. Beyond that you need a bigger controller or an amplifier, otherwise the far end of the run will look dim and the colours will drift.
Why Does the Remote Need Line of Sight?
Because it is infrared, not radio. IR is light, so it needs a clear path to the receiver eye on the controller, and it will not work through a wall, a cupboard door or from another room. That matters for where you mount the controller: tucking it up inside a cornice or behind a bedhead where it looks tidy is exactly where the remote will stop working. Leave the receiver eye visible from wherever you will be sitting.
Buyers are installing strip lighting under kitchen cabinets, behind TVs and bedheads, in gaming setups and car interiors, and replacing a controller that has failed.
See Tools & Hardware, Gaming, or Home & Garden for lighting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LED strip included?
No. Controller, remote and manual only.
Is a power supply included?
No. You need a 12V supply as well.
How much strip will it run?
Up to 72W, which is roughly 5 metres of standard 5050 strip.
Will it work with 24V strip?
No, this is a 12V controller.
Will it work with addressable strip?
No. It drives the whole strip as one colour.
Does the remote work through a door?
No, it is infrared and needs line of sight.
Does it need batteries?
The remote typically uses a coin cell. Check the remote on arrival.
Fast Australian Shipping
Dispatched from Australia to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra and Darwin, with regional and remote addresses served through the standard Australia Post network.
Measurements are approximate. Screen colours vary between devices. Low voltage DC only - never connect LED strip or this controller directly to mains. Use a correctly rated 12V power supply.
