LED strips have been all the rage in recent years. They can be used not only at home, but also outdoors, and even in public buildings or shopping malls. There are many types of such strips available on the market. How do they differ and what are their uses?
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LED strip is currently a very easily accessible light source, and also economical in terms of electricity consumption. It is also important that 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 strip, it is worth learning how such light sources differ from each other and how to choose them for a specific room.
LED strips – types and classification
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 with one LED structure, which is most often powered by a current of 20 mA. It is also worth mentioning the division in terms of the number of diodes mounted along the entire length of the strip (5 m). The higher the density, the more light the strip 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 strip 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 first one shines 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 hue and color temperature of the emitted LED light
Another criterion for dividing LED strips concerns the color of light they emit . In this case, a distinction is made between single-color LED strips (mono) and color-changing LED strips (RGB). The first ones most often shine in white, but here too a certain division can be made:
- Warm white (2700 - 3000 K) , which most closely resembles a traditional light bulb, is often used in classic interiors. Warm light has a yellow tint, making it the most pleasant to the eye and conducive to relaxation.
- Neutral white color (3300 - 4000 K), usually found in commercial buildings, offices, but increasingly also in homes. Neutral light color has the whitest shade resembling daylight. Such a color promotes efficiency at work and strengthens concentration.
- Cold white color (4500 - 6500 K) with a color temperature falling into shades of blue. Cold light is the least pleasant to the eye, which is why it is not recommended for use as a main source, but rather as decorative lighting in modern interiors, where metal, glass and white dominate.
On the market you can also find single-colour LED strips with other colours (e.g. red, blue, yellow, etc.) and even those emitting ultraviolet radiation.
The RGB LED strip allows you to emit light with a variable color. The color change is regulated using an LED controller , which is appropriately programmed. In this way, you can very easily and smoothly change the mood in the room using light. These types of controllers are often operated with remote controls, with which you can switch the color or select the lighting 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, which allow you to control the LED strip using a smartphone or tablet.
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LED strip protection class
LED strips are also divided according to the weather protection class. Such strips can be mounted indoors and outdoors, but in the latter case, you need to choose the right LED strips. IP00 LED strips (sometimes marked as IP20 or IP44) are only suitable for indoor use, because the diodes and resistors are not covered at all, but only soldered to a copper roll. This means that they can only be mounted 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 outside. For use outside buildings, IP67 and IP68 LED strips can be used, which are waterproof. In this case, the diodes can be either filled with silicone or enclosed in a hermetic sleeve.
LED strip power
The power consumption of the LED strip will depend primarily on its purpose. Decorative lighting does not require high power, so both low-consumption variants of 1.8 W/m and dense LED strips of 9.6 W/m will be the optimal choice. Such a solution will guarantee pleasant light, additionally allow you to save on electricity and make it easier to hide the strips.
However, the main LED lighting will require higher power. In this case, you should choose LED strips in the range of 14.4 W/m - 30 W/m. An alternative is professional LED strips of 9.6 W or 10 W, and 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 also plays a role in this parameter. Different products with the same power may provide 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 a main light source.
How to power an LED strip?
Of course, each LED strip must be properly powered. Here, you need to pay attention to the supply voltage. LED strips that are powered by 12 V DC are often used. These are actually LED modules connected together, consisting of three diodes. Thanks to this structure, we can adjust the length of the strip by cutting it every three diodes.
Some strips are powered by 24 V, as well as 230 V (more susceptible to failures). In the first two cases, a power supply with stabilized voltage should be connected. However, unstabilized or halogen power supplies are not recommended for LED strips, as they can quickly destroy the diodes. The power of the power supply should be calculated and care should be taken to ensure that it is greater than the power of the LED strip (min. by 10%). However, it should be checked whether the power specified on the packaging corresponds to the entire roll of LED strip (5 m) or whether it was specified for 1 m.
Which LED strip should I choose?
We have already mentioned that LED strips can actually be used in any room, and even outdoors (suitable models). Depending on the application, the right size of diodes should be selected. For example, the LED strip 3528 with a density of 300 or 600 will work perfectly for decorative light, which is primarily to be effective, not strong.
If you want a decorative light source, but placed on the ceiling, you 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 you want strong lighting, then it is worth reaching for a 2835 or 5630 LED strip (in both cases, a density of 300). LED strips with a remote control allow you to obtain the desired light effect in different 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 the cargo area of vehicles or in industry to illuminate the appropriate part or machine and thus improve the work station.
LED strips, due to their diversity and attractive properties, have virtually 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 at Onninen:
LED strips, due to their diversity and properties, have virtually unlimited applications that depend 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.
High-quality LED strips can be found at the Onninen wholesaler!
The wide range of our online wholesaler will allow you to quickly and easily select the perfect LED strips for the project you are implementing. You will also easily match them with the right power supply. Check out the assortment of the Onninen installation wholesaler and stock up on the necessary LED strips!