What is the best Zigbee LED controller?
A Zigbee LED controller allows you to control an LED strip wirelessly via Zigbee within your home automation system, such as Home Assistant or Philips Hue. Anyone looking for LED controllers will soon come across MiBoxer and GLEDOPTO. But which is the best LED controller?
Both MiBoxer and GLEDOPTO make excellent Zigbee LED controllers with similar features. In most cases, it doesn’t really matter which brand you choose. In practice, the choice therefore depends mainly on the LED strip you’ve chosen and the application.
Quick selection guide
Best choice: GLEDOPTO GL-C-601P
The GLEDOPTO GL-C-601P from GLEDOPTO's latest Pro Max series is our top choice. This 5-in-1 Zigbee LED controller is suitable for all types of LED strips, including mono, CCT, RGB, RGBW and RGBCCT. Thanks to its wide voltage range of 5 to 24 volts and a maximum current of 10 amperes per channel, this LED controller is more than adequate for most situations. In addition, installation is straightforward thanks to the lever terminals, allowing wiring to be connected quickly and without screws.
Budget-friendly choice: GLEDOPTO GL-C-002P
The GLEDOPTO GL-C-002P is our price-conscious choice.
Choice for higher power ratings: MiBoxer P or H Series
How do you choose the right LED controller?
When choosing an LED controller, various technical specifications are important. These include the type of LED strip, the required voltage and current, and, of course, compatibility with your home automation system.
Type of LED strip
First of all, check what type of LED strip you have. Is it mono (single colour), CCT (adjustable colour temperature), RGB (adjustable colour), RGBW (adjustable colour and white) or RGBCCT (adjustable colour and adjustable colour temperature)? Choose the right LED controller based on this.
Nowadays, many LED controllers are 2-in-1, 3-in-1 or even 5-in-1, but what does this mean? A 2-in-1 LED controller is suitable for both mono and CCT. A 3-in-1 LED controller is suitable for RGB, RGBW and RGBCCT. A 5-in-1 LED controller, on the other hand, is suitable for all types of LED strips, i.e. mono, CCT, RGB, RGBW and RGBCCT.
Voltage
Next, check the voltage of the LED strip. For example, do you have a 12-volt LED strip? If so, you will need to use a 12-volt power supply in combination with an LED controller that supports 12 volts.
Current
Next, check the current consumption of the LED strip. Do you have a 5-metre LED strip that consumes 1 ampere per metre? In that case, the LED controller must be able to handle at least 5 * 1 = 5 amperes, and the power supply must, of course, be able to deliver at least 5 amperes. It is wise to allow for a safety margin here.
Compatibility
Finally, check the compatibility of the LED controller with the home automation system you use. The LED controllers listed below all use Zigbee 3.0. Both the MiBoxer and GLEDOPTO LED controllers are compatible with Tuya, Philips Hue, Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT.
MiBoxer LED controllers
Series
- S-series: the classic MiBoxer series with traditional screw terminals. This series forms the basic solution within the range.
- E-series: developed with a focus on ease of installation. Thanks to the lever terminals, you can connect the wiring quickly and without tools.
- P-series: designed for higher power applications. These LED controllers support 12 to 48 volt and a current of up to 20 ampere.
- H-series: designed for even higher power applications. These LED controllers support 12 to 48 volt and a current of up to 30 ampere.
Overview
| Series | S | E | P | H | ||||
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| Model | SZ2 | SZ5 | E2-ZR | E3-ZR | PZ2 | PZ5 | HZ2 | HZ5 |
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| Output | 2-in-1 | 5-in-1 | 2-in-1 | 3-in-1 | 2-in-1 | 5-in-1 | 2-in-1 | 5-in-1 |
| Voltage | 12-24 V | 12-24 V | 12-24 V | 12-24 V | 12-48 V | 12-48 V | 12-48 V | 12-48 V |
| Current per channel | 12 A | 6 A | 12 A | 6 A | 20 A | 10 A | 30 A | 15 A |
| Total current | 12 A | 12 A | 12 A | 12 A | 20 A | 20 A | 30 A | 30 A |
| Connector | Screw terminals | Screw terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Screw terminals | Screw terminals | Screw terminals | Screw terminals |
GLEDOPTO LED controllers
Series
- Mini Ultra Thin: GLEDOPTO’s most affordable LED controller. This compact, ultra-thin LED controller is suitable for up to 6 amps.
- Pro+: the most comprehensive series, featuring variants suitable for up to 48 volt or up to 20 ampere, amongst other specifications.
- Pro+ Mini: a more compact version of the Pro+ series. This variant is meant for situations with limited installation space and supports up to 10 ampere.
- Pro Max: the latest series featuring a USB Type-C power input and a replaceable plug-in fuse.
Overview
| Series | Mini Ultra Thin | Pro+ | Pro+ Mini | Pro Max | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Model | GL-C-002P | GL-C-201P | GL-C-202P | GL-C-203P | GL-C-204P | GL-C-205P | GL-C-301P | GL-C-601P |
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| Output | 5-in-1 | 5-in-1 | 3-in-1 | 2-in-1 | 5-in-1 | 3-in-1 | 5-in-1 | 5-in-1 |
| Voltage | 5-24 V | 5-24 V | 12-24 V | 12-24 V | 12-48 V | 12-48 V | 12-24 V | 5-24 V |
| Current per channel | 6 A | 15 A | 15 A | 12 A | 12 A | 12 A | 6 A | 10 A |
| Total current | 6 A | 20 A | 20 A | 12 A | 15 A | 15 A | 10 A | 15 A |
| Connector | Spring terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals | Lever terminals |