LED strips have been making a real splash in recent years. They can be used not only at home, but also outdoors, and even in public buildings or shopping arcades. There are many types of such tapes available on the market. How do they differ and what is their use?
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LED strip is currently a very easily available light source and economical in terms of electricity consumption. It is also important that the LED strip is easy to install and can be used in virtually any room.
LED strips are often used in furniture, ceiling and decorative lighting. They can be glued directly to the substrate, mounted in strips and connected together. However, before choosing the right tape, it is worth finding out what the differences are between such light sources and how to choose them for a specific room.
LED strips – types and division
LED strips can be divided according to their different technical parameters. The first classification concerns the type of diodes used.
LED size
Here we can distinguish two main types. The first one is the Nextec 3528 LED strip . This means the diode dimensions are 3.5 mm x 2.8 mm. We are dealing here with one LED structure, which is usually powered by a current of 20 mA. It is also worth mentioning the division in terms of the number of diodes installed along the entire length of the tape (5 m). The greater the density, the more light the tape will provide, but also the more electricity it will consume. 3528 LED strips with a density of 150, 300, 480 and 600 are available on the market.
The second main type of LED strips is 5050 with dimensions of 5 mm x 5 mm. In this case, there are two types of density: 150 LEDs per 5 m and 300 LEDs per 5 m. The former illuminates the same as the SMD 3528 LED strip with a density of 480.
You can also find less popular models on the market, such as 2835, 3014 and 5630.
The shade and color temperature of the emitted LED light
Another criterion for dividing LED strips concerns the light color they emit . In this case, a distinction is made between single-color LED strips (mono) and variable-color LED strips (RGB). The first ones are usually white, but here you can also make some division:
- Warm white color (2700 - 3000 K) , which most closely resembles a traditional light bulb, is often used in classic interiors. Warm light has a yellow tint, which is pleasant to the eye and promotes relaxation.
- Neutral white color (3300 - 4000 K), usually found in commercial facilities, offices, but increasingly also in apartments. Neutral light color has the whitest shade reminiscent of daylight. This color promotes efficiency at work and enhances concentration.
- Cold white color (4500 - 6500 K) with a color temperature ranging from shades of blue. Cold light is the least pleasant to the eye, which is why it is not recommended for use as the main source, but rather as decorative lighting in modern interiors dominated by metal, glass and white.
On the market you can also find single-color LED strips with other colors (e.g. red, blue, yellow, etc.), and even those emitting ultraviolet radiation.
The RGB LED strip allows for emitting light with variable colors. The color change is controlled using an LED controller that is properly programmed. This way you can very easily and smoothly change the mood in the room with light. These types of controllers are often operated with remote controls that can be used to switch colors or select a backlight effect. The controller communicates with the remote control via radio waves. Long sections of LED strips also require the use of signal amplifiers. You can also find Wi-Fi LED controllers on the market that allow you to control the LED strip using a smartphone or tablet.
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Protection class of LED strips
LED strips are also divided according to their weather protection class. Such strips can be mounted indoors and outdoors, but in the latter case you need to choose the appropriate LED strips. IP00 LED strips (sometimes marked as IP20 or IP44) are only suitable for use inside buildings, because the diodes and resistors are not covered at all, but only soldered to a copper roll. This means that they can only be installed in dry places.
When we see the IP65 or IP63 marking, we can use such an LED strip in rooms exposed to moisture (e.g. kitchen, bathroom), but not outdoors. For use outside buildings, you can use IP67 and IP68 LED strips, which are waterproof. In this case, the diodes can either be flooded with silicone or enclosed in an airtight jacket.
The power of the LED strip
The power consumption of an LED strip will depend primarily on its purpose. Decorative lighting does not require high power, so both low-power variants of 1.8 W/m and dense LED strips of 9.6 W/m will be the optimal choice. This solution will provide pleasant light, will also save on electricity and will make it easier to hide the tapes.
However, LED main lighting will require higher power. In such a case, you should choose LED strips in the range of 14.4 W/m - 30 W/m. An alternative are professional 9.6 W or 10 W LED strips, but their use depends on how many meters of the roll will be used.
Luminous flux
Although the amount of light depends primarily on the power of the LED strip, the luminous flux expressed in lumens is also important for this parameter. Different products with the same power may produce slightly different light. The more lumens, the better the LED strip is suitable for main lighting. For decorative solutions, LED strips with a luminous flux of up to 700 lm/m are sufficient. Exceeding the limit of 1000 lm/m guarantees the possibility of obtaining strong lighting, so such an LED strip will work well as the main light source.
How to power the LED strip?
Of course, each LED strip must be properly powered. Here you need to pay attention to the supply voltage. LED strips are often used and are powered by 12 V DC. They are actually LED modules connected together, consisting of three diodes. Thanks to this structure, we can adjust the length of the tape by cutting it every three diodes.
Some tapes are powered by 24 V as well as 230 V (greater susceptibility to failures). In the first two cases, connect a power supply with a stabilized voltage. However, unstabilized power supplies or power supplies dedicated to halogens are not recommended for LED strips, as they can quickly destroy the diodes. Calculate the power of the power supply and make sure that it is greater than the power of the given LED strip (at least by 10%). However, you need to check whether the power given on the packaging corresponds to the entire roll of LED strip (5 m) or whether it is specified for 1 m.
Which LED strip should you choose?
We have already mentioned that LED strips can actually be used in any room and even outdoors (appropriate models). Depending on the application, the appropriate size of diodes should be selected. For example, the 3528 LED strip with a density of 300 or 600 will be perfect for decorative light that is intended to be effective, not strong.
If we want a decorative light source, but placed on the ceiling, we can choose a 5050 LED strip with a density of 150, while a density of 300 will work well as the main lighting of the room. If we want strong lighting, it is worth using a 2835 or 5630 LED strip (density 300 in both cases). LED strips with a remote control allow you to achieve the desired lighting effect in various colors.
It is worth noting that LED strips have an adhesive surface on their bottom and because they are flexible, they can be attached to any surface. In addition to home use, they are also often used in transport to illuminate the interior of vehicle cargo spaces or in industry to illuminate an appropriate part or machine and thus improve the work station.
Due to their diversity and attractive properties, LED strips have almost unlimited applications, depending only on the designer's creativity. They are used in homes, public buildings, transport, industry, agriculture and many other areas of life. This is one of the reasons for the popularity of such a light source.
LED strip brands in Onninen:
Due to their diversity and properties, LED strips have almost unlimited applications, depending only on the designer's creativity. They are used in homes, public buildings, transport, industry, agriculture and many other areas of life. This is, among other things, one of the reasons for the popularity of such a light source.
You can find high-quality LED strips in the Onninen wholesaler!
The wide range of our online wholesale store will allow you to quickly and easily choose the perfect LED strips for the project you are implementing. You can also easily match them with the appropriate power supply. Check out the assortment of the Onninen installation wholesaler and get the necessary LED strips!