How can I test single colour, tunable white, RGB, and RGBW LED strips without using a controller, just a power supply?

It's straightforward to test LED strips with just a power supply once you understand the connection terminals of the strips.

Single Colour LED Strips: These have plus (+) and minus (-) connection terminals. The plus (+) is usually represented by a red wire. Connect these to the power supply, and the strip should light up.

Tunable White LED Strips: These have three connection terminals: one common anode (+), typically represented by a grey wire, and two other terminals for the warm white and cool white channels. Connect the common anode to the positive terminal of your power supply. Then, touch the negative wire of your power supply to each of the other two terminals one by one. In this way, you can test the LED strip without a controller.

RGB Strips: These strips have a common anode (usually the black wire). Connect this to the positive terminal of your power supply. For the other terminals (red, green, blue channels), touch the negative wire of your power supply to each one by one. The colour of the strip should correspond to the wire colour you're touching with the negative wire of your power supply.

RGBW Strips: Similar to RGB strips, these also have a common anode and four other terminals for red, green, blue, and white channels. You test these in the same way as RGB strips, making sure to also test the white channel.

Remember, the common wire is the positive (+) one and to test the Red, Green, Blue, and White channels, you use only the negative terminal.

For tunable white strips, the common anode (+) is typically a grey wire, the negative (-) for the cool white channel is a white wire, and the negative (-) for the warm white channel is a yellow wire.

Please ensure you're using the correct voltage as per the strip being tested. Always exercise caution while testing to avoid short circuits or other electrical mishaps.