Before buying LED strip lights, we recommend that you first understand the relevant led strip knowledge so that you can use the led light strip in your lighting project to the greatest extent, whether it is an indoor led lighting project or an outdoor waterproof lighting project.
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The applications of the LED light strips are various, home lighting, commercial lighting, or building outline lighting, like bedrooms, cabinets, living rooms, TVs, ceilings, stairs, KTVs, bars, restaurants, supermarkets, retail stores, etc. You will always find the right led strip light for your lighting project.
Everything you need to know before buying led strip lights:
#Part 1. What are LED strip lights?
#Part 2. Where and how to install LED light strip?
#Part 3. How do LED strip lights work?
#Part 4. How long can you run an LED strip?
#Part 5. How long do LED strip lights last?
What are led strip lights?
With the popularity of LED lights, LED light strips came into being. LED strip lights are also well-known as led tape lights, led rope lights, or led ribbon lights.
As its name indicates, LED strip light is like a strip. Its component is a print circuit board with surface-mount device LED lights and other electrical parts, and its backing is a 3M adhesive, which is easy to install.
What makes led rope lights unique is that led strips can be cut, and there are many cutting lines along the lighting strips, which surprised people and unbelievable.
*Single color led strip light
Led strip lights have countless advantages, long lifespan, easy installation, less energy consumption, material environmental protection, safe and various colors and color temperatures.
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Where to install led strip lights?
The most common places to install led strip lights at home are bedroom, ceiling, wall, under cabinet, under counter, stairs, kitchen, and bathroom. These places all can be installed led light strips to be lighting lights or atmosphere lights.
Outdoor waterproof led strip lights are normally used in swimming pool, park, roof, steps, etc. Led rope lights can also be installed in offices, factories, supermarket, even in cars.
The installation place of led strips is numerous. As long as the light strip usage rules are met, it can be used anywhere.
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How do led strip lights work?
When connecting the led strip to a power supply(also called LED driver, LED transformer), current will through the strip, and make its light emitting diodes to glow. Note that the current should be within the normal use range of the light strip. The current cannot be too high or too small, too high will burn the led strip, and too small the brightness of led lights will get dark.
Led strip light is marked with positive and negative poles, and it represents led strip need to be connected to the positive and negative poles of the power supply to let it work normally.
Generally, led strip lights will tell you what voltage it need. And the voltage is marked in the strip as well. So, if you want to enjoy led rope lights, pay attention to the working voltage. Otherwise, it will be not work.
Wattage power is another important factor to led strips work. If you want to know the wattage of your led lighting strip, it is not marked in the led strip, you have to find led strip specification to see what wattage it use.
*Single color LED strip directly connect to LED driver
*RGB color changing LED lights connect to RGB controller, then connect to LED power supply.
(RGB LED light controller controls RGB color change and LED brightness adjustment, LED transformer supplies power to the RGB controller and the RGB color changing LED strip lighting)
For example, the led strip light above, single color LED light strip, its working voltage is 12VDC. So that it need a 12VDC power supply. And it requires 90W power supply a roll. Therefore, before putting the LED lighting strip into use, you should prepare an LED power supply whose output voltage is 12VDC and the power sources is 100W.
In addition, when talked about the power of the led power supply, please remember the rule 80%. It means the power of the led transformer is about 1.2 times the power of the led strip. So, the strip light above can choose an LED power supply, which is 12VDC and 100W power sources.
In conclusion, the normal operation of led strip lights is inseparable from the correct working current, voltage and power wattage, and correct wiring.
&#;Knowledge about led power supply and LED controller:
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How long can you run an LED strip?
In general, the length of led rope lights is 5 meters / 16.4 feet a roll. According to the content mentioned above, to make led strips work normally, you must make sure the working current, voltage, wattage and wiring are correct, which are the all important factors. These factors determine how long an led strip you can run.
If your 12V led strip light is 5 meters / 16.4 feet, and your lighting project is 10 meters / 32.8 feet, can you use the 5 meters / 16.4 feet 12V led strip light? The answer is yes. You can use two that led strip with connecting them, and make it a 10 meters / 32.8 feet led strip.
However, as the strip length increases, the power is also increases. If the wattage of strip is 100W, when it becomes 10 meters / 32.8 feet long, the power changes. And it becomes 200W now.
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We have to pay attention to the problem of voltage drop when running super long LED strips. What is voltage drop? Due to the too long length and the insufficient power supply, the light strip will have LED brightness attenuation and white light LED color changes.
The most obvious way to observe whether there is a voltage drop is to turn on the LED lights with white light color. The white light of the light strip gradually turns yellow, and turns to orange and red as the distance increases. This is a typical manifestation of the led voltage drop. Finally, when there is a 100% voltage drop, the LED brightness will disappear.
The solution to solve the LED voltage drop is that to power the led light strip sufficiently. Where the LED white color turns yellow, a seperate power supply should be required when running super long LED strip lights.
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Actually, there are ultra-long constant current led strip lights in our product lists to make up the LED voltage drop problem. Constant current means that the LED brightness of the long LED light strip is always the same. So the constant current LED strip can make the LED brightness keep the same and at the same time achieve super long running.
We provide 10m/32.8ft, 15 meters/49.2ft, 20 meters/65.6ft, 30 meters/98.4ft, and 50 meters/164ft LED strip length options. You can choose a right ultra-long constant current led strip light for your super long LED lighting project.
If you don&#;t want your led strip light to be too long, there are some led strip lights that provide a choice of 1meter/3.28 feet as well, or you can contact us to customize the strip length you want.
&#;Related led light strip wiring diagram about short length LED strip project and ultra long LED lighting project:
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How long do LED strip lights last?
The service life of led strip lights can reach to 50,000 hours, which is 5.7 years.However, there is a difference while the using hours are different per day.
Although led strip lights have a very long life, the incorrect use will still reduce the life of the led light strips. In the process of using the led strip light, please make sure that you use it correctly and will not damage the light strip.
Improper bending will cause the LED strip to break and affect the life of the LED strip. LED strips work under non-standard voltage, current, and power, which will also affect their service life. Generally, precautions are marked on the packaging of the led strip light.
If you have any questions, you can search for answers on the Internet or ask for help from others or contact us. Wish you a perfect chemical reaction between you and your led strip lights.
&#;More knowledge about LED strip lights you need to know:
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What are the types of led strip lights? Flexible led strip lights VS rigid led strip lights
Flexible LED strip lights are used all over the world in various industrial, commercial and residential projects. LED strip lighting is popular among many Architects and Lighting Designers due to the improvements in efficiency, color options and brightness. The biggest draw is how easy they are to install. Their flexibility, low-profile and helpful accessories make them the most popular LED strip for the at home DIY types. With these LED strips, a homeowner can design like a professional with the right supplies and just an hour or two.
There are many options for LED strip lights with no simple &#;one size fits all&#; standard to go by. This LED Strip Resource Guide will educate newcomers and experts alike on finding the best LED strip lights for the job and how to use them while overcoming common installation hold-ups.
This Guide will educate newcomers and experts alike on finding the best LED strip lights for the job and how to use them while overcoming common installation hold-ups.
LED strip lights, also known as LED tape lights or LED ribbon lights, are known for their low-profile size and flexibility. Efficient LEDs sit on a 10mm wide circuit board, offered in 3ft to 16.4 ft lengths. Flexible LED strip lights have many features that make them easy to use in a variety of situations:
Cut-to-size &#; Cutting LED strips is very simple thanks to the cut lines along the strips. At each cut point there is a black line with copper solder pads that sit on each side. The copper solder pads make it so each strip piece is addressable even after being cut. This makes it possible to connect LED strips together or connect the strip in a different area of your home.
Flexible LED strip with Adhesive &#; The LED strips have a 3M adhesive backing for simple mounting options. The low profile, flexible strip has a peel-off backing which exposes the 3M adhesive, making for a simple peel-and-stick install.
Waterproof or Non-Waterproof &#; LED strip lights are not limited to indoor projects. The waterproof LED strip lights are IP65 rated with a silicone resin material that protects the strip components from dust and moisture. The waterproof LED lights are a little more expensive but are a must for any project that is outdoors or close to water.
12 volt LED lights &#; The LED strip lights need 12VDC power input to run. This will require an AC/DC transformer for in home use, but makes wiring the strips through the house a lot safer. Batteries also output DC power, so it is easy to make a battery powered LED light with these flex strips.
LED flex strips are great for all kinds of projects, but sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Follow this 7 step guide if you are stuck not knowing where to begin. The guide shows the various LED Strip options and and what to plan for in order to make your do-it-at-home LED strip lighting a complete success!
The density of an LED light strip means how many LEDs are in a set area. For LED flex strips, density is measured in &#;LEDs per Meter&#;. The Standard Density strip has 30 LEDs/M whereas the High-Density has 60 LEDs/M. A higher density strip equates to a higher quality, brighter light. The table below shows the differences between the standard and high density strips. Take note of the Lumen outputs as well as the differences in cut lengths and the max run length for each.
Density# of LEDsLumensWattageA Lumen is the measurement of brightness as perceived by the human eye. Thanks to incandescent lighting, most of us use watts to measure the brightness of a light. With LEDs, Lumens are the new standard to describe light output. Lumen output is one of the most important parts of choosing LED strip lights as it will determine the type of light you will receive.
Make sure to note how Lumens are tracked when comparing LED strips brightness . In the above table, strips are labeled as Lumens per Meter. In order to find total Lumen output just find how many Meters you will be running.
Lumen output is one of the most important parts of choosing LED strip lights as it will determine the type of light you will receive.
Different projects require certain amount of brightness to achieve their purpose. My advice would be to always go for the brighter option and add a dimmer. Below is a helpful guide on Lumen requirements:
LED strip color depends on personal preference. RGB LED strips are a good option for those that like some variety and color effects. RGB strip lights are color changing strips that are great for accent lighting all around the home. They use red, green and blue diodes so that they can be mixed to create many different colors. If you are using RGB strips just make sure you use a 3 channel controller from the dimming section of this guide.
There is an Ultra Violet (UV) version of the strips available. This is a great option for UV applications or for making your own black light!
The strips are also available in single colors of: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and White (-K CCT).
CCT stands for Correlated Color Temperature which is the color temperature of light, measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The temperature rating of an LED strip directly affects what the light looks like. Look at the photos below for reference. Warm White is what we call K which gives off an orange or yellowish appearance. As we increase degrees Kelvin the color changes from yellow to off white to natural white and then to bluish white which is known as Cool White.
So which color do I choose? Look at the below room with Warm White, Neutral White and Cool White Strips. Notice how color temperature of a strip light affects the look of the entire room? This totally depends on personal preference and the overall style and feel you want the room to give off.
Warm White creates an inviting, cozy area. It is generally used in rooms where everyone gathers to visit or relax (living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, etc.).
Neutral or Natural White creates a natural, daylight effect. This is the best selling strip as it mimics natural light and is comfortably used anywhere in the home. This is our most popular strip for under cabinet LED lighting.
Cool White complements contemporary and modern styles, casting a bright, fresh glow. Cool white is great for task lighting as it is a brighter, more focused light. The bright, cool colors are used the most in bathrooms, kitchens and work spaces.
It is best to outline your whole project to see how many feet of strip you will be using total. This gives you an idea of what to buy and the cost to do so. The LED strip lights are available in 3ft. increments all the way up to a full reel (16.4 ft.). It is important to find out if you want to purchase reel lengths and cut them down to size, or if it would be beneficial to have smaller lengths already cut for you.
At this stage, draw out your project. Plan where the strip lights are needed, how they will be connected, and if they will all come back to the same power supply or have separate power supplies. This step helps greatly as you progress through the next few steps.
What type of power do the LED strips need? The LED strips always need 12 volt DC input.
That is the easy part, the next step is finding the wattage. With the below chart, this should not be too terrible if you have already chosen your strip density and your total length.
If you are running more than one power supply just note the length of strip that will be running off each to find the power supply size you will need.
LED Power Supply Options:
This is where the sketch from before will come in handy to start considering where you will be running all the strips. Was the plan to run all the strips together in a long run? If your total length needed is over the maximum run length of the strip (32.8 ft. for SD and 16.4 ft. for HD) then you will need to run parallel wires from your power source to the separate strips.
As our sketch shows, sometimes you will want to power strips coming from different directions into one common power supply. In this instance you will already be running parallel wires.
Wiring LED strips when you are dealing with multiple reels of strips can be tough but we have a powering and wiring guide that you can follow to map out your LED strip light setup.
Wiring Accessories: LED Strip connectors and splitters
Connecting LED strips will be necessary for any strip project. We have some helpful accessories and guides to complete any LED strip connection.
Soldering wire and your own connections? Make sure to follow our soldering guide and our recommended wire for the strips is found here.
How to Connect LED Strips without soldering? Our EZ Click Strip Connectors work great for connecting strips end to end, running gaps in between LED strips or running around tight corners. Our full LED strip connector guide shows how to use these to make connections that will come in handy for any strip project.
How to connect multiple LED strips to one power source? LED strip splitters make it possible to plug multiple strips into one power supply with ease! Strip splitters are available with 2, 3 or 4 output channels.
LED strip lights are typically dimmed with in-line pulse width modulation dimmers. These dimmers go on the 12 volt side of the system and wire in between the strips like shown.
PWM dimmers are popular as they can work with any transformer or battery source, they do not need a power supply that is listed as dimmable. PWM dimming offers smooth control from the dimmest to brightest settings. They are affordable and easy to set up, making them the top option for dimming LED strip lights.
These simple dimmers are available in both WiFi and Remote Control options. The WiFi compatible dimmers work straight from a smartphone app and can be voice controlled with Google Home or Amazon Echo (Alexa) devices.
Some homeowners already have a central dimming system for their areas. In these cases, the owner wants to control the lights with the AC dimmers they already have in place. If you want to use an AC dimmer like this then you will need a dimmable power supply as described here.
RGB Controllers (WiFi / Remote / Bluetooth) &#; If you have a color changing RGB LED strip then you NEED a 3-channel RGB controller. These controllers control the Red, Green and Blue channels to mix colors and create the color changing effects of the strip. Without this unit, your RGB LED strips will not operate correctly so always remember to purchase one if you are using the Multicolor LED strips.
The adhesive on the LED strip lights is very helpful in mounting but sometimes there is more to be desired. As with most adhesives, it does not bond well with some surfaces and may need to be reinforced over time. In these situations, use one of the following:
Mounting track is another great option for those that want a professional finish. These aluminum extrusions house your light strips and have everything you need to mount. The LED strips adhere to the bottom of the track with a UV protected lens that slides over the top to diffuse the light.
Follow this guide to mount your LED strips properly!
Since this post has been written, we have come out with some very new LED strip tech called COB LED Strip lights. These light strips are very similar to the LED Strip lights we go over in this post with slight upgrades. The new strips eliminate hotspots on your LED Strip, delivering a smooth line of light and also run at 24V as they are brighter than even the high density 12V strips! Click below to learn more and see if these strips work better for you!
This is a lot of information for sure. If you are brand new to LED strips than your head is likely swirling with information and you are left with more questions. If this is the case ask yourself these simple starting questions which should help you work through the above guide to find the best LED strip lights and parts for you! If you still need some help feel free to use our LED Project Tool and our helpful Strip Tech Team will get you fitted with just the right LED Strips for you!
Contact us to discuss your requirements of IP68 Silicone Neon Flex. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.