Guide to Power LED Strip Lights with Batteries

LED strip lights are a flexible and versatile lighting product available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and styles. Many LED light strips do not plug directly into 220V power and require electricity to convert and light. So, do you need to illuminate a space that doesn’t have an outlet? Whether it’s a cozy corner, an outdoor setting, or a creative DIY project, battery operated LED strip lights are a flexible and energy-efficient solution.

With LED strip lights becoming increasingly popular for DIY projects and portable lighting solutions, using battery power opens up many creative possibilities. Battery power offers flexibility and portability, making it ideal for projects that can’t be plugged into an outlet. In this article, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about powering LED strip lights with batteries, including battery selection, setup, optimization, and safety.

Why Use Batteries to Power LED Strip Lights?

Because there are places where wiring and AC220V power is not easy. So, how to use LED strip lights without plug? At this point, using batteries as a power source becomes necessary.

Powering LED strip lights with batteries is ideal for scenarios where AC power is not available or practical. Common applications include emergency lighting and outdoor lighting in basements, under sink cabinets and closets, drawers, under cabinets, garages, campgrounds, and inside cars. When you choose the right batteries and set them up correctly, you can create a mobile lighting system that meets your specific needs.

Additionally, LED strip lights and batteries are two different components, but each is critical to your lighting installation. For example, if you use rechargeable batteries, your battery pack LED strip is environmentally friendly.

Which Battery Type Can Power LED Strip Lights?

There are various types of batteries on the market that can power LED strips, each with a different purpose. The type of battery you choose will have a direct impact on the performance and runtime of your LED strip. Typically, we use the 3 most common types of batteries on the market.

1.5V AA/AAA Alkaline Batteries

1.5V AA/AAA alkaline dry batteries are one of the most readily available types of batteries. They are inexpensive, easy to use, and can be easily purchased in supermarkets and convenience stores. AA/AAA alkaline dry cell batteries typically have an output voltage of 1.5V, and multiple dry cells can be connected in series to boost the voltage to meet the operating voltage requirements of LED light strips.

Due to their small size, AAA batteries have a capacity of only 1,000 mAh, while AA batteries can have a capacity of up to 3,000 mAh.

Since these 1.5V AA/AAA alkaline dry batteries need to be connected in series to boost the voltage, you will need to connect multiple AA/AAA batteries, and a battery box is an excellent choice. Multiple batteries can be mounted in series in a battery box.

3.7V Rechargeable Batteries

3.7V rechargeable batteries have high energy density, can be recharged and recycled, and are more environmentally friendly and economical than AA/AAA alkaline batteries. 3.7V rechargeable batteries, like dry batteries, can be connected in series through a battery box to achieve the desired voltage. Moreover, rechargeable batteries have a low self-discharge rate and can retain a certain amount of power when not in use for a long period of time. Its nominal capacity can be up to 3500 mAh.

12V Rechargeable Lithium Battery

12V rechargeable lithium batteries are batteries that can be used in a wide range of electronic devices and have the highest storage capacity, fastest charging speeds, and highest efficiency of all 12V battery types.

They also have the longest lifespan compared to other battery types, even outlasting traditional lead-acid batteries by a factor of 3-5. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and do not require the regular maintenance that other types of batteries do. Because lithium-ion batteries are sealed and do not require ventilation, they can be mounted anywhere in any orientation. This makes it ideal for use in mobile lighting applications. A 12V rechargeable lithium battery for LED light strips, which has a nominal capacity of up to 38,400 mAh.

How to Choose The Right LED Strip Light Battery?

Choosing the right LED strip light battery requires consideration of the following key factors to ensure that the battery can meet the voltage and power requirements of the LED strip light, duration, connection, and usage environment.

Voltage Compatibility

LED strip lights usually operate at 5V, 12V, or 24V, and voltage compatibility is critical when choosing a battery. You need to make sure that the output voltage of your battery cannot exceed the operating voltage of the LED strip. Otherwise, it will permanently damage the LED strip. Conversely, if the voltage of the battery is insufficient, it will result in reduced or no brightness.

The output voltage of a single battery may not reach 12V or 24V, you can connect multiple batteries in series to obtain the required voltage for the LED strip. For example, for a 12V LED strip, you need to connect eight 1.5V AA batteries in series (1.5V x 8 = 12V). For a 24V LED strip, you can connect 2 x 12V lithium batteries in series (12V x 2 = 24V).

Battery Capacity and Runtime

The capacity of the battery needs to provide enough power to keep the LED strip bright and stable. Battery capacity is usually measured in milliamp hours (abbreviated as mAh) or amp hours (abbreviated as Ah). This value indicates the number of hours the battery can provide a specific amount of power (mA or A) before it runs out.

First, you need to calculate the total power and current of the LED strip. The power of LED strips is usually measured in W (watts)/meter, e.g., 12W/m. If you use a 5-meter strip, the total power is 12W/m x 5m = 60W.

Then divide the total power by the voltage to get the total current A. Multiply A by 1000 to convert to mA: 60W ÷ 12V = 5A, 5A × 1000 = 5000 mA.

Next, use the formula to calculate the running time: Battery capacity (mAh) ÷ LED strip power consumption (mA) = running time (hours). For example, a 12V rechargeable lithium battery with a nominal capacity of 38,400 mAh will run a 12W/m 12V LED strip for 38400 ÷ 5000 mA = 7.68 hours.

Capacity determines running time. Higher mAh value = longer running time. By estimating the battery runtime, you can plan accordingly and, if necessary, select a higher capacity battery or reduce the brightness to extend the LED strip runtime.

LED Strip Connecting to Battery or Battery Pack

Connecting LED strip lights to a battery pack is easy but requires careful attention to polarity and safe connections.

Another thing you need to make sure of is that the battery and LED strip connectors are compatible. Battery packs have either an open wire or DC connector for their output terminals; LED strips usually have either an open wire or DC connector. Proper wiring ensures smooth current flow and reduces the risk of short circuits or accidental disconnections.

Matching the Environment in Which it Will be Used

You should also note that you need to choose different batteries according to the environment or scenario of use. Below are some practical usage scenarios and recommended solutions:

Scenarios	Recommended Solutions	Advantages
Camping Lighting	Lithium Polymer Battery Pack + 12V LED Strip + Dimmer Switch	Lightweight, 8-12 hours of battery life
Smart Home Ambient Lighting	Rechargeable 18650 Battery Pack + Sensing Module	Concealed installation, rechargeable, light up when you come
Outdoor Garden/Patio Decoration	Li-ion battery + Solar Panel + Controller	Low-cost, sustainable power supply
Children’s Room Decoration	AA Battery Pack + 5V Light Strip (with USB port)	Low voltage safety, plug and play

View Our Battery Powered LED Strip Light Kits

Our motion sensor battery operated LED light strips are perfect for kitchens, cabinets, bedrooms, or any indoor application.

Even if there’s no electrical outlet nearby, the LED motion strip will bring decorative effect light into the darkest corners. Thanks to the compact battery compartment with four AAA batteries, the 1-meter strip can be used flexibly. The self-adhesive backing allows the tape to be quickly and easily attached to walls, furniture, or moving objects. The integrated motion detector automatically turns the strip on as soon as someone comes within 4 meters.

How Can I Extend The Life of The Battery?

The batteries have a limited capacity and usually only last a few hours. When the battery dies, you can replace it or recharge it. However, knowing how to extend the life of the battery will not only help you save the cost of replacing the battery but also ensure that the LED light strip works stably for a long time. Here are some effective ways to extend battery life:

1. Add a Switch

You can add a switch between the LED strip and the battery and turn off the switch to cut off the battery power when you don’t need lighting. This saves energy and extends battery life.

2. Use a Dimmer

Do not drive the LED strip at very high brightness for a long time, as this will discharge the battery too quickly, leading to higher temperatures and affecting battery life. Sometimes, reducing the brightness of lighting in certain scenes can save power and extend battery life. So, you can add PWM dimmers to your batteries and LED strips to adjust the brightness of your LED strips.

3. Reduce LED Strips or Use Low-Power LED Strips

The longer the LED strip you use, the shorter the battery life. So, you need to re-evaluate whether you really need a very long LED strip, and you have to choose between the length of the LED strip and the battery life.

In addition, you can also use low-power and high-efficiency LED strips, so you can reduce power consumption and take into account the need for good light brightness.

4. Avoid Overcharging and Over-Discharging

For rechargeable batteries, prolonged overcharging and over-discharging (depletion to 0%) will lead to increased pressure inside the battery and shorten the battery life. Especially for lithium batteries, they should be recharged when discharged to 20%-30% to avoid waiting until they are completely discharged.

5. Avoid Extreme Use Environments

The operating temperature of the battery has a great impact on the life. If the battery is used for a long time in a high-temperature environment (such as direct sunlight or near a heat source), it will lead to increased chemical reactions and shorten its life. In a low-temperature environment, the battery discharge efficiency is reduced, and the battery capacity may be seriously reduced.

Precautions When Using Batteries to Power LED Strip Lights

When using batteries to power the LED strip lights, you need to pay attention to some important matters to ensure the safety, stability, and efficiency of the system.

1. Safety First

During the process of connecting the battery and LED light strip, always make sure to disconnect the power supply to avoid the danger of electric shock. At the same time, we should choose reliable quality batteries, wires, connectors, and protection components to prevent fire, short circuits, and other safety accidents caused by product quality problems. For lithium batteries, special attention should be paid to their use and charging specifications to avoid overcharging, over-discharging, and short-circuiting so as not to cause serious consequences such as battery explosion.

2. Reasonable Planning Power

According to the power and expected use time of the LED strip, reasonably select the type and number of batteries to ensure that the batteries can provide enough power. If the power is insufficient, the LED strip may have reduced brightness, flickering, etc., affecting the use of the effect. At the same time, pay attention to the remaining power of the battery and replace or charge it in time to avoid sudden power failure during use.

3. Prevent Overheating

In the process of use, the LED strip and the battery will generate a certain amount of heat. Make sure the installation environment is well ventilated; avoid using it in a closed, high-temperature environment to prevent overheating, shorten the life of the LED strip, degrade battery performance, and even cause safety accidents. If you find that the LED strip or battery is overheated, stop using it immediately, check the cause, and take appropriate heat dissipation measures.

4. Regular Inspection and Maintenance

Regularly check the status of the battery, wires, connectors, and LED strip to see if there is any looseness, damage, aging, etc. Replace damaged parts in time to ensure that the LED strip is in good condition. Replace damaged parts in time to ensure the stable operation of the whole power supply system. For rechargeable batteries, charge them in accordance with the correct charging method, and regularly carry out deep charging and discharging to maintain the good performance of the batteries.

FAQ

Conclusion

In conclusion, you can use batteries to power LED light strips. This can be done simply by connecting the positive and negative wires of the LED strip to the positive and negative terminals of the battery. However, it is important to note that you need to use the correct type of battery so that the LED strip and the battery do not overheat and catch fire.

Battery powered LED strips are a great solution for creative lighting projects, portable installations, and temporary installations. By choosing the right type of battery, calculating power requirements, and following safe wiring practices, you can enjoy flexible lighting anywhere.