Shelly Solutions – RGBW2: Outdoor Lighting

Owned by Douglas Roberson
Last updated: Apr 22, 2024 by Douglas Roberson
3 min read

The ambiance created by outdoor LED strip lighting makes it a popular smart home application for pool and patio. This project combines IP68-rated LED strips with an IP67 power supply, IP66 enclosures, and dielectric grease to ensure trouble-free operation.

Shelly RGBW2

Shelly RGBW2 is a 4-channel LED strip controller supporting 12 and 24 VDC. When used with RGBW LED strips, the controller includes a unified interface with Color Wheel in the Shelly Smart Control app. When RGBW2 is used with 4 white LED strips, each channel is displayed and controlled independently in the app.

  • RGBW2 is not outdoor rated and must be used with an appropriate enclosure.

  • The maximum load for 12VDC is 45 watts per channel, with a 144-watt device maximum.

  • The maximum load for 24VDC is 90 watts per channel, with a 288-watt device maximum.

  • RGBW2 can also control 12/24VDC LED bulbs.

 

rgbw2.jpg

 

Notes

  •  As portrayed, 16 AWG gauge wire is used to connect RGBW to V+ and V-.

  • The connectors for V+ and V- are secured in the enclosure housing.

  • A second IP66 enclosure for the disposal cord connection to the driver is necessary.

  • Most LED strip manufacturers use black wire for V+.

  • Some LED strips have red and green wires switched. Green controls the red channel red controls the green channel.

Critical

  •  Openings on strain reliefs should be filled with dielectric grease. Enhance waterproofing by coating all seals before closing enclosures and wire connectors.

  • RGBW2 does not allow power injection for longer strip lengths. If the wattage requirement for the installation exceeds RGBW2’s capacity, LEDs closer to the controller will be brighter than those at the far end of the strip. Use multiple RGBW2 controllers to accommodate these installations.

  • Leave enough slack in the wires feeding the strain reliefs to allow for repositioning in case of future maintenance or repair issues.

 

Specifications

Review these product specifications to ensure that your application is appropriate for Shelly RGBW2

https://kb.shelly.cloud/knowledge-base/shelly-rgbw2  

Materials

  1.  Shelly, RGBW2, qty 1

  2. Shelly ARUS-TD300-24, (24VDC/300 watt IP 67 driver), qty 1

  3. Shelly IP6610755, enclosure, qty 2

  4. Power First 1FD87, appliance cord/13 amp, qty 1

  5. CRC 02085, dielectric grease, 3 oz, qty 1

  6. Wago 221-413, lever connectors, qty 5

  7. Phoenix Contact 3201482, qty 12 (16 AWG Ferrule)

  8. Phoenix Contact 3203150, qty 5 (20 AWG Ferrule)

  9. 16 AWG stranded wire, red, qty 6 inches

10. 16 AWG stranded wire, black, qty 6 inches

Assembly

  1.  Remove the cover from one IP661075 enclosure.

  2. Feed the leads from both the appliance cord and the LED driver, each through one of the two provided strain reliefs, into the IP6610755 enclosure.

  3. Crimp 16 AWG ferrules onto the ground, neutral, and line leads for both the disposal cord and the LED driver.

  4. Use Wago 221-413 lever connectors to join the wire leads for ground, neutral, and line.

  5. Liberally coat the openings of the Wago 221-413 lever connectors with dielectric grease.

  6. Coat the opening of the IP6610755 with dielectric grease – cover the seal, as well.

  7. Close the enclosure’s cover and secure it with the included screws.

  8. Remove the cover from the remaining IP661075 enclosure.

  9. Feed the leads from the LED strip and the V+/V- leads from the driver, each through one of the two provided strain reliefs, into the IP6610755 enclosure.

10.  Crimp 20 AWG ferrules onto the LED strip’s five leads.

11.  Crimp 16 AWG ferrules onto the V+ and V- leads from the LED driver.

12.  Crimp 16 AWG ferrules onto both ends of the red and black wires

13.  Connect the V+ (red) 16 AWG wire to Shelly RGBW2’s DC terminal.

14.  Connect the V- (black) 16 AWG wire to Shelly RGBW2’s GND terminal.

15.  Using a Wago 221-413 connector, join the LED strip’s V+ lead to RGBW2’s V+ (DC, red wire) lead and the lead from the LED driver.

16.  Using a Wago 221-413 connector, join RGBW2’s V- (GND, black) wire to the LED driver’s V- lead.

17.  Connect the white, red, green, and blue wires to the appropriate terminal on Shelly RGBW2.