Quick Summary

All three Flow Series controllers use the same basic wiring concept:

Flow Series LED Product → Controller → 12V Power and Ground

The main difference is how the controller turns on and what trigger wires are included.

Flow Hybrid Controller:

The standard base controller. It uses Bluetooth app control and RF handheld remote control. It does not include SmartSwitch functionality.

Best for:

Halo rings, LED emblems, Exterior accent lighting, Grille lighting

Products that do not need automatic DRL or turn signal control

Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1

Similar to the Flow Hybrid Controller, but it includes an extra white parking light / DRL trigger wire and a SmartSwitch with Auto and Manual modes.

Best for:

Customers who want automatic on/off with parking lights or DRLs

Daily driving setups

Products that should turn on automatically when the vehicle lighting circuit turns on

Flow SmartSwitch Controller with Sequential Turn Signal V2

Similar to the V1 SmartSwitch Controller, but it also includes two turn signal trigger wires.

Best for:

Flow Series DRL boards

Headlight builds with sequential amber turn signal functionality

Setups where the Flow LEDs need to flash sequential amber with the vehicle turn signals

Flow Series Controllers Explained: Hybrid, SmartSwitch V1 & Sequential Turn Signal V2

RGB Halo Kits Flow Series controllers are designed to power and control Flow Series LED products safely and reliably. These controllers receive 12V power from the vehicle, then convert and output the correct power/signal needed for our Flow Series LEDs.

This guide explains the three main Flow Series controller setups:

Flow Hybrid Controller
Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1
Flow SmartSwitch Controller with Sequential Turn Signal V2

Each controller has a slightly different wiring setup and purpose, so use this guide to understand which controller you have and how it should be wired.

Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1

Similar to the Flow Hybrid Controller, but it includes an extra white parking light / DRL trigger wire and a SmartSwitch with Auto and Manual modes.

Best for:

Customers who want automatic on/off with parking lights or DRLs
Daily driving setups
Products that should turn on automatically when the vehicle lighting circuit turns on

Flow SmartSwitch Controller with Sequential Turn Signal V2

Similar to the V1 SmartSwitch Controller, but it also includes two turn signal trigger wires.

Best for:

Flow Series DRL boards
Headlight builds with sequential amber turn signal functionality
Setups where the Flow LEDs need to flash sequential amber with the vehicle turn signals

Flow Hybrid Controller

The Flow Hybrid Controller is our standard base controller for many Flow Series products. This controller is designed to make wiring simple: the Flow Series LED product plugs directly into the controller, and the controller receives 12V power and ground from the vehicle.

This controller is commonly used for:

Flow Series halo rings
Exterior accent lighting
LED emblems
Flow Series grille lighting
Other Flow Series products that do not commonly require automatic DRL trigger functionality

Flow Hybrid Controller Quick Summary

The Flow Hybrid Controller includes:

8 controller outputs
M8 waterproof connectors
Bluetooth app control
RF handheld remote control
Red positive power wire
Black ground wire
Inline fuse on the positive power wire
Built-in 12V to 5V conversion for Flow Series LEDs

The basic wiring path is:

Flow Series LED Product → Flow Hybrid Controller → 12V Power and Ground

Flow Hybrid Controller Outputs

The Flow Hybrid Controller currently comes standard with 8 outputs.

You do not have to use all 8 outputs.

Unused outputs can be left open and saved for future products or expansion. For example, a customer may only use 2 outputs for halo rings and leave the remaining outputs available for additional accent lights, emblems, or other Flow Series products later.

Each Flow Series product plugs directly into one of the controller outputs.

Flow Hybrid M8 Waterproof Connectors

The Flow Hybrid Controller uses M8 waterproof connectors for the LED outputs.

When connecting your Flow Series product:

Line up the connector properly.
Push the connector fully together.
Tighten the locking screw collar until snug.

The locking screw collar helps secure the connection and reduce the chance of flickering, partial illumination, or connection issues caused by a loose plug.

Do not overtighten the connector. Hand-tight is enough.

Flow Hybrid Power and Ground Wiring

The Flow Hybrid Controller has simple power and ground wiring:

Red wire = positive 12V power
Black wire = ground / negative
Inline fuse = located on the positive power wire

For the standard recommended setup:

Connect the red wire to the battery positive terminal or another approved 12V power source.
Connect the black wire to the battery negative terminal or a clean bare metal ground.
Plug your Flow Series products into the controller outputs.
Use the RGB Halo Kits app or RF remote to control the lights.

Recommended Flow Hybrid Setup: Direct Battery Power

For this controller, we usually recommend wiring the controller directly to the battery.

This allows the controller to stay powered and ready to connect through the app or RF remote at any time.

With this setup, the customer manually turns the multicolor lights on and off using:

The RGB Halo Kits app
The RF handheld remote

This is the simplest and most reliable wiring method for the Flow Hybrid Controller.

Optional Flow Hybrid Setup: DRL or Parking Light Activation

If you want the Flow Hybrid Controller to turn on only when the vehicle’s DRL or parking lights are active, you can wire the controller’s positive wire to a switched 12V source instead of directly to the battery.

For example, the red positive wire can be connected to:

A DRL fuse
A parking light positive wire
Another approved switched 12V source

With this setup, the controller only receives power when that circuit is active.

For example:

Parking light wire active = controller powers on
Parking light wire off = controller powers off

This can create a basic automatic on/off function, but it is not the same as SmartSwitch functionality.

Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1

The Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1 is similar to the Flow Hybrid Controller, but it includes an additional white parking light / DRL trigger wire and a built-in SmartSwitch.

This controller is designed for customers who want the option of automatic on/off behavior while still having manual app and remote control when needed.

Flow SmartSwitch V1 Quick Summary

The Flow SmartSwitch Controller V1 includes:

8 controller outputs
M8 waterproof connectors
Bluetooth app control
RF handheld remote control
Red positive power wire
Black ground wire
Inline fuse on the positive power wire
Built-in 12V to 5V conversion for Flow Series LEDs
White parking light / DRL trigger wire
T-tap connector for the trigger wire
SmartSwitch with Auto and Manual modes

The basic wiring path is:

Flow Series LED Product → SmartSwitch Controller → 12V Power and Ground

The additional trigger path is:

White Trigger Wire → Vehicle Parking Light or DRL Positive Wire

What the White Trigger Wire Does

The white trigger wire is used for Auto mode.

This wire should be tapped into a vehicle parking light positive wire or DRL positive wire.

When the white trigger wire receives power, the controller turns on and activates the Flow Series LEDs.

When the white trigger wire no longer receives power, the controller turns off.

This allows the lights to automatically turn on and off with the selected vehicle lighting circuit.

SmartSwitch Modes: Auto vs Manual

The SmartSwitch has two main modes:

Auto mode
Manual mode

The top of the switch is labeled Auto.

The bottom of the switch is labeled Manual.

Auto Mode

Auto mode works with the white parking light / DRL trigger wire.

In Auto mode:

The controller is connected to 12V power and ground.
The white trigger wire is tapped into a parking light or DRL positive wire.
When the parking light or DRL circuit gets power, the controller turns on.
The Flow Series LEDs turn on automatically.
When that circuit turns off, the controller turns off.

Auto mode is helpful for daily driving because the lights can turn on and off automatically with the vehicle.

Auto mode can also help reduce battery drain because the controller is not staying fully active when the trigger wire is not powered.

Manual Mode

Manual mode functions very similar to the Flow Hybrid Controller.

In Manual mode:

The controller can be controlled through the RGB Halo Kits app
The controller can be controlled through the RF handheld remote
The controller stays ready for Bluetooth connection
The customer manually turns the lights on and off

Manual mode is useful for situations where you want control independent of the DRL or parking light trigger.

This is especially helpful for:

Car shows
Photoshoots
Testing the lights
Showing the lights while parked
Using the lights without relying on the vehicle’s DRL or parking light circuit

Because Manual mode allows the controller to stay ready for Bluetooth signal, there may be a small amount of battery draw when wired to constant power.

When to Use Auto vs Manual Mode

Use Auto mode for:

Daily driving
Automatic on/off behavior
DRL-style operation
Reduced battery draw when the vehicle lighting circuit is off

Use Manual mode for:

Car shows
Photoshoots
Testing
Manual app control
RF remote control
Situations where you want to control the lights without the DRL or parking light trigger

Customers can switch between Auto and Manual modes as needed.

Flow SmartSwitch V1 Wiring Steps

Connect the controller red wire to 12V positive power.
Connect the controller black wire to battery negative or clean bare metal ground.
Plug the Flow Series LED products into the controller outputs.
Tighten the M8 connector collars by hand.
Connect the white trigger wire to the vehicle parking light or DRL positive wire using the included T-tap.
Set the SmartSwitch to Auto if you want trigger-based operation.
Set the SmartSwitch to Manual if you want app/remote-based operation.

Flow SmartSwitch Controller with Sequential Turn Signal V2

The Flow SmartSwitch Controller with Sequential Turn Signal V2 is similar to the SmartSwitch V1 Controller, but it also includes two additional turn signal trigger wires.

These trigger wires allow the Flow Series LEDs to flash sequentially in amber when the vehicle turn signals are activated.

This controller is commonly used for Flow Series DRL boards or custom headlight builds where sequential amber turn signal functionality is needed.

Flow SmartSwitch V2 Quick Summary

The Flow SmartSwitch Controller V2 includes:

8 controller outputs
M8 waterproof connectors
Bluetooth app control
RF handheld remote control
Red positive power wire
Black ground wire
Inline fuse on the positive power wire
Built-in 12V to 5V conversion for Flow Series LEDs
White parking light / DRL trigger wire
SmartSwitch with Auto and Manual modes
Driver side turn signal trigger wire
Passenger side turn signal trigger wire

The basic wiring path is:

Flow Series LED Product → SmartSwitch V2 Controller → 12V Power and Ground

The additional trigger paths are:

White Trigger Wire → Vehicle Parking Light or DRL Positive Wire

Driver Turn Signal Trigger Wire → Driver Side Turn Signal Positive Wire

Passenger Turn Signal Trigger Wire → Passenger Side Turn Signal Positive Wire

What the Turn Signal Trigger Wires Do

The V2 controller includes two turn signal trigger wires:

One for the driver side turn signal
One for the passenger side turn signal

These wires need to be tapped into the positive turn signal wire on each side of the vehicle headlight harness.

When the controller sees power on the turn signal trigger wire, the Flow Series LEDs on that side flash sequentially in amber.

For example:

Driver side turn signal receives power = driver side Flow LEDs flash sequential amber
Passenger side turn signal receives power = passenger side Flow LEDs flash sequential amber

Where to Connect the Turn Signal Trigger Wires

Each turn signal trigger wire should be connected to the correct positive turn signal wire on the vehicle.

Connect:

Driver side trigger wire to the driver side turn signal positive wire
Passenger side trigger wire to the passenger side turn signal positive wire

These are usually found at or near the vehicle’s headlight harness.

Do not connect the turn signal trigger wires to a ground wire.

Do not connect the turn signal trigger wires to the wrong lighting circuit.

If the trigger wire is tapped into the wrong wire, the sequential amber function may not work correctly.

Flow SmartSwitch V2 Wiring Steps

Connect the controller red wire to 12V positive power.
Connect the controller black wire to battery negative or clean bare metal ground.
Plug the Flow Series LED products into the controller outputs.
Tighten the M8 connector collars by hand.
Connect the white trigger wire to the vehicle parking light or DRL positive wire.
Connect the driver side turn signal trigger wire to the driver side turn signal positive wire.
Connect the passenger side turn signal trigger wire to the passenger side turn signal positive wire.
Set the SmartSwitch to Auto for trigger-based operation.
Set the SmartSwitch to Manual for app/remote-based operation.

Auto and Manual Mode on the V2 Controller

The V2 controller uses the same Auto and Manual SmartSwitch concept as the V1 controller.

Auto Mode

Auto mode uses the white parking light / DRL trigger wire.

When the white trigger wire receives power, the controller turns on and activates the Flow Series LEDs.

This is best for daily driving and automatic on/off operation.

Manual Mode

Manual mode works like the Flow Hybrid Controller.

The customer can manually control the lights through the RGB Halo Kits app or RF handheld remote.

This is best for car shows, photoshoots, and manual control.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these common Flow Series controller wiring mistakes:

Connecting Flow Series LEDs directly to 12V power
Forgetting to connect the controller ground
Using a weak, painted, or dirty ground point
Leaving the M8 connector loose
Overtightening the connector collar
Removing the inline fuse
Wiring the white trigger wire to the wrong circuit
Wiring the white trigger wire to ground
Connecting turn signal trigger wires to the wrong side
Connecting turn signal trigger wires to parking light or DRL wires by mistake
Expecting turn signal functionality from a V1 SmartSwitch Controller
Expecting SmartSwitch functionality from a Flow Hybrid Controller
Overloading the controller with too many high-draw products

If the Lights Do Not Turn On

If the lights do not turn on after wiring the controller:

Make sure the controller red wire has 12V power.
Make sure the controller black wire has a good ground.
Check the inline fuse.
Make sure the Flow Series product is fully plugged into the controller.
Tighten the M8 connector collar.
Try turning the lights on with both the app and the RF remote.
Confirm you are using the RGB Halo Kits app.
If using Auto mode, make sure the white trigger wire has power.
If wired to DRL or parking lights, make sure that circuit is currently active.

If the Sequential Turn Signal Does Not Work

If the sequential amber turn signal function does not work on the V2 controller:

Confirm you have the SmartSwitch V2 controller with turn signal triggers.
Make sure the driver side trigger wire is connected to the driver side turn signal positive wire.
Make sure the passenger side trigger wire is connected to the passenger side turn signal positive wire.
Make sure the vehicle turn signal is active while testing.
Confirm the trigger wires are not connected to ground.
Confirm the trigger wires are not connected to the wrong circuit.
Check that the Flow Series products are plugged into the correct outputs if side-specific operation is required.
Inspect all T-tap or wire connections.

Battery Drain Notes

Battery draw depends on how the controller is wired and which mode is being used.

Flow Hybrid Controller

When wired directly to the battery, the controller stays powered so it can be controlled through the app or RF remote.

The customer must manually turn the lights on and off through the app or remote.

SmartSwitch Controllers in Auto Mode

Auto mode is better for daily driving because the controller turns on only when the white trigger wire receives power from the parking light or DRL circuit.

This can help reduce battery drain because the controller is not staying fully active when the trigger circuit is off.

SmartSwitch Controllers in Manual Mode

Manual mode keeps the controller ready for Bluetooth/app control.

This is helpful for car shows and manual control, but it may create a small amount of battery draw if the controller is wired to constant power.

Quick Controller Comparison

Controller	Best For	Extra Trigger Wires	Auto Mode	Manual App/Remote Control	Sequential Turn Signal
Flow Hybrid Controller	Halo rings, emblems, accent lights, simple setups	No	No	Yes	No
Flow SmartSwitch V1	DRL/parking light automatic on/off	White DRL/parking light trigger	Yes	Yes	No
Flow SmartSwitch V2 Sequential Turn	DRL boards or builds needing amber sequential turn signal	White DRL/parking trigger + 2 turn signal triggers	Yes	Yes	Yes

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before contacting support, check the following:

Confirm which controller you have: Hybrid, SmartSwitch V1, or SmartSwitch V2.
Confirm the red wire is connected to 12V positive power.
Confirm the black wire is connected to battery negative or clean bare metal ground.
Confirm the inline fuse is installed and not blown.
Confirm the Flow Series product is plugged directly into the controller.
Confirm the M8 connector is fully seated and tightened.
Confirm you are using the RGB Halo Kits app.
Confirm the RF remote has battery power.
Confirm the controller is not overloaded.
Confirm the Flow LEDs were not connected directly to 12V.
For SmartSwitch V1/V2, confirm the white trigger wire is connected to a parking light or DRL positive wire.
For SmartSwitch V1/V2 Auto mode, confirm the trigger wire has power when testing.
For SmartSwitch V2, confirm both turn signal trigger wires are connected to the correct side turn signal positive wires.
If the issue continues, contact RGB Halo Kits support with photos or videos of the controller, wiring, and issue.

Important: Flow Series LEDs Must Use the Controller

Flow Series LEDs should always be powered through the correct RGB Halo Kits controller.

The controller receives 12V power from the vehicle and converts it internally for smooth operation with our Flow Series LEDs.

Do not connect Flow Series LEDs directly to 12V power.

Connecting Flow Series LEDs directly to the battery, directly to a 12V source, or to the wrong controller can damage or burn out the LEDs and may void the warranty.

What to Send Support

If you need help troubleshooting your Flow Series controller, please send:

Your order number
Which controller you have
A photo of the controller
A photo of the power and ground connections
A photo of the inline fuse
A photo of the LED output connections
A photo of the SmartSwitch position, if applicable
A photo of the white trigger wire connection, if applicable
A photo of the turn signal trigger connections, if applicable
A short video showing what the lights are doing

This helps our support team quickly determine whether the issue is related to power, ground, controller setup, trigger wiring, or LED connection.

Flow Series Controllers Explained: Hybrid, SmartSwitch V1 & Sequential Turn Signal V2