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Borealis SPI Addressable Light Sheet Installation Guide

Overview

This guide provides an overview of how to properly plan, power, and install the Borealis SPI Addressable Light Sheet. It outlines important safety considerations, power supply sizing, controller compatibility, and surface preparation requirements. You’ll also learn the fundamentals of proper wiring, polarity, and data flow. Be sure to follow the National Electric Code (NEC) and local electrical codes for a safe setup. If you're new to electrical work, consult a licensed electrician and if you have any questions during your installation, please feel free to contact our Customer Support team at 888-503-1317 or via e-mail at support@aspectled.com. 

Tools You’ll Need
Tape Measure Wire Stripper Screw Driver Scissors Cleaning Supplies Soldering Iron + Solder (optional) Power Drill (optional)
Before You Begin: Safety and Product Warnings

Remember S.A.F.E.T.Y.

S: Shut off power.

A: Ask a licensed electrician if needed.

F: Follow NEC guidelines.

E: Equip yourself with proper PPE.

T: Treat the wires as live.

Y: You are responsible.


Product Warnings

  1. It is crucial to install any electrical product, including light sheets and their accessories, in accordance with the National Electric Code (NEC) and all other local building and local electrical codes at the project location. If you are unfamiliar with the NEC or your local codes, we recommend hiring a licensed electrician to complete the installation for you.
  2. Always consult your System Design and physical equipment to confirm that your light sheet voltage and the power supply voltages match.
  3. This product is suitable for environments with ambient temperatures between -13°F and 140°F. It is important that LED light sheets are not installed outside this range. Always make sure there is adequate airflow and available heatsink when installing. These are not rated for use outdoors or exposure to moisture.
  4. Light sheet Handling: Don't bend LED light sheets to a diameter of less than 3/8” inches. Don't fold or crease LED light sheets. Don't tightly bend LED light sheets on a horizontal plane. Don't power the light sheet while still in its package or in a stack. DO NOT put pressure on the light sheet Chip, Resistor, or Connectors. DO NOT directly cover light sheets without an air gap of 3/8” inches. DO NOT install a light sheet where LED chips are exposed to direct sunlight.
Planning Steps

1. Measure the Space:

Measure the space in which you are going to install the light sheets, measured in inches. You need both the width and the length of the space. The intended space should be a clean, flat, non-porous surface.

2. Determine the Number of Light Sheets:

Determine the number of light sheets you need by using their dimensions: 24" Long x 12” Wide, and 0.26" thick. In our example, we calculated that 2 light sheets are required for our installation. We used graph paper to visualize how they would fit on the surface and how they would connect to the power supplies.

3. Power Requirements:

To determine the total power required, multiply the number of light sheets by 32 watts per sheet. For example, 2 sheets × 32 watts equals 64 watts total. Next, size your power supply by accounting for the 80% maximum load rule. Multiply the total wattage by 1.25 to ensure the power supply is not overloaded. In this case, 64 watts × 1.25 equals 80 watts, so you would select one 100-watt, 24V power supply to provide adequate capacity.

4. Control Options:

SPI addressable products require an SPI compatible controller, such as the Casambi SPI Addressable LED Light Controller. If you’re not using the Casambi controller, make sure that the controller you are using supports the IC (Integrated Circuit) that the addressable lighting product supports. The Casambi SPI controller has a wattage limit of 96 watts. In our example, this is sufficient.

Installation Steps

1. Inspect the Product:

Inspect the product and jumper wires for any shipping damage, using the picture as a reference. If you find any issues, contact aspectLED support right away. Also, verify the voltage and check for polarity labels on the solder pads and connector ports.

2. Prepare the Surface:

Clean the installation surface with a lint free tack cloth, ensuring it is dry and clean.

3. Mark Your Guide Line:

Use a straight edge, chalk line, or an existing line on the surface to mark a flat guide line to work from.

4. Position the First Light Sheet:

Place the first light sheet on the surface, aligning it with your marked guideline.

5. Apply the First Light Sheet:

Peel off the protective backing paper and firmly press the light sheet evenly onto the surface. Make sure it is completely pressed down.

6. IMPORTANT! Check the Polarity:

Before applying the next light sheet, always check the polarity. Unlike standard light sheets, these require a specific orientation because the data must flow in the correct direction for the product to function properly. Each sheet has a clearly labeled input square and output square, and proper alignment is critical. When positioning multiple sheets, align them so the output of one sheet is as close as possible to the input of the next. This layout ensures correct data flow and simplifies wiring when connecting multiple sheets together.

3 Ports

  1. V+ = +24V = LED+ (on Casambi SPI controller)
  2. Data port = DI (data in) and DO (data out) = Data (on Casambi SPI Controller)
  3. V- = GND = LED- (on Casambi SPI Controller)

7. Layout the Remaining Sheets:

Position the rest of the light sheets making sure that your data flow is correct from one sheet to the next and in series.

8. Connecting Power

Start wiring on the input square. If you are connecting more than 1 sheet, you’ll need to start from the output of 1 sheet going to the input of the next sheet. Make sure that you follow the pre-printed arrows that are on the sheet for the data flow.

9. Covering the Light Sheets

You can place other materials on top of the light sheets but ensure there’s at least a 3/8” air gap. Screws can be used inside the bullseye printed on the sheet. To maintain space, one technique is to use plastic standoffs over the bullseye to support a countertop above the light sheet. Never place any materials in direct contact with the LEDs.

Screw Alignment
Troubleshooting
Some light sheets light up and others don’t Check polarity and that the sheets are orientated correctly. Check the connecting wires or solder connections.
The light sheet at the end of the run is dimmer than the rest of the light sheets Make sure you did not exceed the maximum run length of 6 sheets and that both sets of connectors are used.
The power supply and/or wire is really hot Make sure you have not loaded the power supply past 80% of its listed load. Make sure there are no shorts or cross-connections in your wiring.
I installed the light sheets with incorrect orientation, and now the polarity is off Contact aspectLED support for advice specific to your situation.
Can I cut off the printed lines? No. If you do cut off the designated cut lines, you need to remove that section and cut back to the nearest line.
The lights are flickering randomly. Check your data flow coming from the controller and make sure that it’s all flowing through the light sheets in one consecutive line. If the data flow is spliced out or not in series, than that will lead to the flickering issue.
My animation is lagging at the end. Make sure you adjust the number of sections (pixels) in the SPI controller.
My light sheet is not fully illuminated. Make sure you adjust the number of sections (pixels) in the SPI controller. Our SPI light sheet has 18 sections (pixels).
My colors are not responding correctly. Check that you have the proper IC selected in your SPI controller. You can also check that you have the correct RGB color order selected (For example, RGB vs. GRB).