Duoco strip lights have become increasingly popular in recent years as an easy way to add accent lighting to any space. Often used for under cabinet lighting, accent walls, and display cases, Duoco lights are thin, flexible LED light strips that can be bent and twisted into whatever shape you need. While they’re very easy to install, getting your new Duoco lights turned on and operating can be confusing if you’ve never used them before. Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting your Duoco strip lights up and running.
What you need
Before you can get your Duoco lights working, you’ll need to make sure you have the following:
- Duoco LED strip lights
- 12V DC power supply
- DC jack connector cable
- Optional: LED strip light remote control, wifi controller, bluetooth controller, etc.
- Mounting clips, screws, double-sided tape, etc. to mount the lights
The Duoco lights themselves are simply LEDs on a thin, flexible circuit board with adhesive on the back. They do not have any power source built in, so they need to be connected to a 12V DC power supply using the jack connector cable in order to turn on. The lights should come with a power supply, but you may need to purchase the jack connector or controller separately depending on the specific Duoco lights you purchased.
Connecting the power supply
Once you have all the necessary components, the first step is connecting the Duoco LED strip lights to the power supply using the DC jack connector cable:
- Plug the jack connector into the input port on the Duoco lights. This port will be located on one end of the light strip.
- Plug the opposite end of the connector cable into the 12V DC power supply.
- Plug the power supply into an AC power outlet to turn on the power.
At this point, your Duoco lights should illuminate! The lights will turn on as soon as power is supplied to them through the connected power supply.
Installing the lights
Now that you’ve got your Duoco strip lights working, you can install them wherever you want accent lighting. Duoco lights can be mounted just about anywhere using the adhesive backing, mounting clips, or screws. Here are some tips for installing Duoco lights:
- Thoroughly clean the mounting surface – The adhesive will stick best on a surface that is clean and dust free.
- Measure and cut the strip lights as needed – Duoco lights can be cut every 2-3 LEDs along the cutting lines to customize the length.
- Peel off adhesive backing and press lights in place – Remove the adhesive backing and firmly press along the entire strip to mount.
- Use mounting clips for additional support if needed – Clips can provide extra strength for attaching lights to uneven surfaces.
- Take care around bends – Avoid bending the lights at extreme sharp angles, which can damage the circuit board.
- Follow safety precautions – Keep away from water and high heat. Don’t conceal or cover lights.
With the lights mounted in your desired spot, you can now customize the lighting effects.
Adjusting brightness and colors
One of the great features of Duoco LED strip lights is the ability to adjust colors and brightness to create custom lighting effects. Here are some options for adjusting your lights:
Direct manual control
Some Duoco lights have an inline control box or manual controller on the power supply that allows you to directly adjust brightness and select colors. This involves manually pressing buttons on the controller to cycle through different modes and brightness levels.
Remote control
Many Duoco lights come with an IR (infrared) remote control or RF (radio frequency) remote control. This allows you to easily turn the lights on/off, dim, and change colors from a distance. The lights will come pre-programmed to respond to the included remote control.
Smartphone app control
For added convenience, some Duoco LED strip light kits come with wifi or bluetooth controllers that allow you to control the lights from an app on your smartphone or tablet. This offers the most flexibility for setting timers, color loops, music sync, etc.
Voice control
If your Duoco lights have wifi capability, they can often be connected to a voice assistant like Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri for voice activation. Just link the lights to the voice assistant app and you can control them with voice commands.
Third-party smart home systems
Additionally, wifi-enabled Duoco lights are typically compatible with third-party smart home platforms like Phillips Hue, SmartThings, Wink, etc. This allows you to integrate and automate the lights along with the rest of your smart home devices.
Connecting multiple Duoco lights
To cover larger areas or create sequences, you may want to connect multiple Duoco LED strip light sets together. This is easy to do:
- Acquire connector cables to link each Duoco light strip to the next.
- Connect the output port of the first light strip to the input of the second light strip using the connector cable.
- Repeat until all lights are linked together into one long chain.
- Only one power supply is needed to power the whole chain when connected properly.
When connecting multiple strips, be sure not to exceed the maximum run length for your power supply. Connecting too many lights may cause voltage drop and dimming at the end of the run.
Troubleshooting Duoco strip lights
If your newly installed Duoco lights aren’t working properly, there are a few quick troubleshooting steps you can take:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Lights won’t turn on |
|
| Only some LEDs light up |
|
| Lights blink on/off repetitively |
|
| Dimming at end of light strip |
|
Carefully inspect all connections and test different points of the light strip to isolate any wiring issues. If problems persist without an obvious cause, contact the manufacturer for additional support.
Conclusion
Installing Duoco LED strip lights is an easy process that just about anyone can handle. By following the instructions for proper connection to a power supply, mounting the lights securely, and adjusting the brightness settings, you’ll be able to transform any space with stylish, energy-efficient accent lighting. Troubleshoot any issues right away and enjoy your new Duoco lights!
