The Complete Guide on Buying LED Strip Lights

LED strip lights are an increasingly popular form of lighting and are an affordable option for commercial and residential lighting applications. Buying LED strip lights may seem relatively simple, but there are many things you need to consider to make sure you get the right type of LED strip lights for your project’s needs.

SignliteLED, as one of the leading LED strip light manufacturers and exporters in China, offers many benefits to any importer. With a large selection of LED strip products and full support for customized LED strip orders, you can get high-quality LED Flexible Strips at competitive prices.

Read on in this article as we go over the important factors to consider when buying LED strip lighting and introduce our main LED strip lighting categories.

Types of LED Strip Lights

“LED Strip” is a generic term for a broad category that includes all the different types of LED strip lights. Below is a brief description of the 3 common types of LED strip lights:

Depending on how you plan to use the LED strip, generally speaking, IP20 and IP65 LED strips are used for indoor lighting, and IP67 and IP68 LED strips are used for outdoor lighting.

For those who are seeing waterproof ratings for the first time, IP20, IP65, IP67, and IP68 may be a bit unfamiliar—what do they really stand for? Read this blog post to find out: LED Strip Lights Waterproof IP Rating Guide

Length of LED Strip Lights

LED strip lights are typically 5 meters in length. The length is actually not a big issue, as LED strips can be cut and connected. However, please note that only LED strips of the same size can be connected together. If a 12V LED strip works with a 24V LED strip, the 12V LED strip will burn out or the 24V LED strip will not light up.

For extra-long LED lighting projects, you can purchase multiple LED strips to connect and install, or just go with extra-long constant current LED strips, which will save a lot of wiring costs and make installation easier.

The most important point is that we can provide customized service for you; if you can’t find the right length, please contact us.

Density of LED Strip

The density of LED strip is the number of LEDs per meter of strip. So when purchasing an LED strip, be sure to check the number of LEDs per unit length. The denser the density, the more evenly the light of the LED strip is distributed.

For brighter output and higher quality of light, you should look for a high density strip. While low density strip LEDs are too far apart from each other, when lit, they produce a dotted light instead of a continuous light. The density of LED strips is usually categorized into the following 3 types:

• Low Density: 30-60 LEDs per meter
• Medium Density: 72-96 LEDs per meter
• High Density: 120 or more LEDs per meter

Please note that LED density is not the only factor that determines brightness and light quality. Therefore, you can choose the appropriate LED density level for the space you want to illuminate. It is entirely up to you.

Brightness of LED Strip

LED strip brightness is usually related to density and lumens.

The brightness of LED strip lights is measured in lumens, which is the unit of measurement for brightness perceived by the human eye. The lumens of an LED strip are closely related to the LED chip type, which is named after the SMD LED size. Each LED chip type has its approximate lumens, but the lumens of different LED strips will be slightly different.

If you want higher lumens, besides looking at the LED chip, you should also pay attention to the density of the strip; the higher the density, the higher the lumens. However, you need to be aware that high-density, high-lumen light strips require high heat dissipation and high power.

Depending on how you use your LED strips, different projects require a certain amount of brightness to achieve the desired effect. Our recommendation is to always use a higher brightness than required and add a dimmer. Running LEDs at less than their maximum power and brightness will also extend their life. Below are general lumen guidelines:

• Accent and Mood Lighting—300 to 1050 lumens per meter
• Under Cabinet Lighting—525 to 1575 lumens per meter
• Task Lighting Closer to The Light Source—840 to 1311 lumens per meter
• Task lighting Far From The Light Source—1500 to 3000 lumens per meter
• Indirect Lighting for Bedrooms/Hotels/Vehicles/Lobbies—1125 to 1686 lumens per meter
• Industrial Lighting/Signage/Lamp Replacement—1500 to 2850 lumens per meter

LED Strip Colors and Color Temperatures

LED strips are available in a wide range of single and multi color LED strips (RGB, RGBW, and RGBCW).

Our most basic LED strips are single color strips that emit only one fixed color of light. We offer the following colors: warm white, neutral white, cool white, red, green, blue, yellow, pink, infrared (IR), and ultraviolet (UV).

Multi color LED strips are also known as color changing LED strips. Color changing strips use multi colored LEDs so they can change colors to your liking. RGB strips are the most common type of color changing lighting we see; these LEDs can display any combination of red, green, and blue colors.

However, one of the drawbacks of RGB strips is that they cannot create a pure white color. So that’s where RGBW or RGBCW strips come into play. The LEDs on RGBW strips alternate between RGB and white diodes, so the light can create a multi-color effect, as well as normal white when you need it.

Color temperature (CCT) is how we distinguish between the various types of white light that LEDs can emit and is measured in Kelvin (K). The color temperature rating directly affects the appearance of white light; it ranges from cool white to warm white. For example, a light source with a color temperature rating of 2000-3000K is considered what we call warm white light. If you want a more visual explanation, see the blog post: 3000K vs 4000K vs 5000K vs 6000K: What’s The Difference?

Which color temperature should you choose? The aesthetics, functionality, or emotion of a space may change depending on the color temperature you use. Choosing the right color temperature isn’t difficult, but be sure to consider the color of the walls and floors, what you’re trying to illuminate, and the activities that will be done in the area.

Below is an example of the same bedroom under 2700K, 3500K, 4200K, and 6200K lighting. Notice how the lighting changes the ambiance and style of the space!

If you’re having trouble choosing the best LED strip color temperature for your project, consider purchasing dimmable white LED strips. Dimmable white LED strips are becoming a very popular trend in lighting. This type of strip will provide multiple CCT colors on one strip and requires special controllers like RGB lighting. Instead of producing a rainbow of vibrant colors, dimmable white strip lighting can change the feel of a room from 2700K warm white all the way to 6500K cool white.

Color Rendering Index (CRI) of LED Strip Lights

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures how correctly colors are rendered under a light source compared to natural sunlight. The index is measured on a scale of 0-100, with 100 indicating a perfect rating for color accuracy, meaning that colors look as natural in pure daylight.

High CRI lighting is popular anywhere but is especially valuable indoors; the higher the CRI, the higher the quality of the light source. The rating is also a lighting industry measure that helps identify naturalness, tonal discrimination, vibrancy, preference, color naming accuracy, and color harmony.

• 95 – 99 CRI: Extraordinary color rendering. Colors appear as they should, with subtle tones highlighted and emphasized.

• 90 – 95 CRI: Outstanding color rendering, almost all colors “stand out” and are easily distinguishable. 90 CRI is clearly outstanding for lighting.

• 80 – 89 CRI: Good color rendering; most colors are well rendered. You may not see items as fully saturated as you would like, but most people will not notice.

• 60 – 75 CRI: Poor color rendering. Items and colors may look unsaturated, monotonous, and sometimes unrecognizable.

Good color rendering is significant. For example, seeing the right shades when applying makeup or cooking, or distinguishing the true color of clothes or furniture.

Working Voltage of LED Strip Light

LED strip lights are mostly low voltage DC strip lights; the most common are 12V and 24V low voltage LED strip lights. Our low voltage LED strips have 5V, 36V, and 48V LED strips in addition to 12V and 24V.

The 36V and 48V strips are constant current strips with no voltage drop over long distances; the color and brightness of the strip is always the same when lit, which is the biggest feature of constant current strips.

Low voltage LED light strips exist with voltage drop. Voltage drop refers to the attenuation of the voltage in the transmission process, manifested as inconsistent color and brightness at the front and back of the same strip. White LED strip voltage drop is manifested as follows: first the brightness will decay with the running length of the strip, then the color will also change from white to yellow, then to red, and finally the LED light disappears.

Different voltages have different solutions for voltage drop. But the same thing is to provide enough power for the LED strip.

Power of LED Strip Lights

Another key factor in buying LED light strips is to know the power. Power is the number of wattages, which tells us how much electricity is consumed when these strips are lit. We provide you with the wattage per meter of strip length, so it’s easy to calculate the total wattage when you know how many meters of LED strip you have.

Calculating the total wattage can help you find the right power supply. LED strips need a power supply to work (except for driverless 120V/230VAC high voltage LED strips), so it is very important to choose the right power supply for your LED strips. The working voltage of the LED strips should correspond to the output voltage of the LED power supply.

When choosing an LED power supply, there is a rule about power wattage that must be followed, i.e., the 80% rule. That is, the total wattage of the LED strip is 80% of the capacity of the LED power supply, which is called the margin rule. For example, if you have a roll of 5 meters long LED strip, the power of each meter is 10W, then the total power is 10×5=50W. Then the minimum wattage you need for the power supply is 50×1.2=60W. Importance of the margin rule: Avoid running at full power, improve the stability and life of the power supply and the strip.

LED Strip Light Controller

If you want to change the brightness and color of your LED lights, an LED controller or LED dimmer is essential for your project.

White LED strips should be equipped with the appropriate LED dimmer, and color-changing LED strips should be controlled by the appropriate LED controller. Understanding all LED controllers and dimmers is a huge undertaking. Because there are very many types. For example, Wi-Fi LED controllers, RF LED controllers, IR LED controllers, Bluetooth LED controllers, and addressable LED controllers (such as the DMX512 series and SPI controllers); Triac dimming, 0/1-10V dimming, DALI dimming, DMX dimming, and PWM dimming.

In fact, you just need to understand that they are ultimately through different control methods to achieve the function of adjusting brightness and color on the line. Just different dimming and control technology has different considerations.

It should be noted that when installing the LED controller or dimmer, the power of the controller or dimmer and the power supply must be greater than the power of the LED light strip.

Installation of LED Strip Lights

Before purchasing LED light strips, you should always know how to install and set them up. If you are planning to buy LED strips with an adhesive backing, then this may be as simple as removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to a clean surface.

Other installations may be much more difficult, as you may need to mount, cut, and attach the light strips together. Therefore, you will need to consider purchasing additional accessories such as 3M tape, LED strip connectors, LED strip splitters, and LED strip mounting clips, to name a few.

For larger project designs and installations, we recommend using LED aluminum profiles or LED strip channels for installation. There are important reasons for this:

• LED strips require aluminum/metal to dissipate heat. In fact, better cooling can double or triple the life of the LED strip.

• Diffusion covers perfectly balance the light and keep out dust. Aluminum profiles purchased from us always come with a cover.

• The tape to which the LED strips are attached adheres well to metal surfaces. The tape is designed to help release heat.

Buy LED Strip Lights at SignliteLED

SignliteLED is one of the top LED strip light manufacturers in China. We have many regular LED strip products to choose from, offer fully customized LED strip service, and you can get high-quality LED flexible strips at very competitive prices.

At this point, we’ve learned some of the basics of buying LED strip lights; now it’s time to take a look at the specific LED strip lights we manufacture.

Single Color LED Strips

These 12V/24VDC Flexible LED Strips are the most popular products. Many wholesalers and project contractors have found these LED light strips to be very useful for task lighting and accent lighting in homes, as well as commercial and workplaces.

These light strips are backed with 3M double-sided tape for easy installation. They also feature cut lines so that you can cut them to more precise sizes. Accepting 12V or 24VDC input, these strips are safer to wire and connect than straight AC line voltage; just be sure to use an LED power supply or transformer to convert AC line voltage to safe DC voltage.

These flexible strips are available in IP20, IP65, IP67, and IP68 waterproof ratings. IP20 is suitable for areas where there is no need to worry about water or dust damaging the strips and electrical components. IP65 and IP67 are suitable for outdoor lighting, patio lighting, bathroom lighting, and under-cabinet lighting where moisture or dust tends to accumulate. IP68 is optimally rated for complete submersion in water or placement in high-temperature environments such as saunas or steam rooms. steam rooms and other high-temperature environments.

Bi-Color Tunable White COB LED Strip Lights

Tunable white COB LED strips produce a seamless light source with no spotlight. Ideal for high-profile lighting projects, these products are especially suited for use around reflective surfaces such as granite or glass, bringing a constantly changing atmosphere to indoor or outdoor scenes.

By adjusting the color temperature, you can influence the sense of calmness or liveliness of a room as well as the tone of the interior. CCT LED strips can be used in the same way as monochrome LED strips, but the control unit must be taken into account.

Color Changing RGB/RGBW LED Strips

Color Changing RGB/RGBW LED Strips are for those spaces where you want complete control, with lights blended to produce any color you can imagine, including premium white when you need it.

These color changing strips are easy to use and require minimal electrical knowledge to install. The flexible construction of the strips combined with the 3M adhesive backing and cut-to-size design makes it easy to enhance any interior space.

Digital Color Changing Addressable LED Strip Light

Digital Addressable LED Strips are RGB/RGBW LED strips with a control IC that allows you to control the color and brightness of individual LEDs or groups of LEDs. You can control specific parts of the LED strip, which is why it is called “addressable.”.

Addressable LED strips come in two general signaling protocols: SPI and DMX512, which require a corresponding LED controller to work perfectly.

In fact, many SPI-enabled LED controllers already have a number of dynamic operation modes built in, which is cool enough for small projects. For more complex DMX control, you will need to program and design the lights in fine detail, which is usually more suitable for larger lighting projects.

Driverless AC LED Strip Lights

If your project is going to use longer LED strips (50 or 100 meters and up), it is best to consider using high-voltage AC LED strips. These strips work better over long distances and are plug-and-play without the need to purchase multiple power supplies and dimmers, as they work directly with 110-120VAC or 220-240VAC line voltage.

These strips cannot be cut at small intervals like DC LED strips, but they can still be cut every 25 centimeters. If there are gaps in your project application, you can easily select strip-to-strip jumpers to fill the gaps and keep the lights running seamlessly.

AC LED strips are not as easy to install as DC flex strips. Although they have an adhesive backing, they also require mounting clips (1 or 2pcs per meter) to better secure them to the surface.

Ultra Narrow COB LED Strip

The Ultra Narrow COB LED Strip is an ultra-thin, spotless LED strip only 3mm/4mm/5mm wide with super bright COB LED chips and strong adhesive backing. It is the thinnest LED strip on the market, yet powerful enough to create beautiful light in tight spaces.

It can be used in situations where mounting locations or space is particularly limited, primarily for decorative lighting in corners, wall edges, and advertising lighting, or any number of other diverse applications that require slim LED strip items.

Ultra Long Constant Current LED Strip

Ultra long constant current LED strip, also known as long run LED strip, can be up to 50 meters per roll and only needs to be connected to the power supply at one end, with the same brightness at the beginning and end. This is because there is a constant current IC designed on the PCB circuit; the constant current LED strip can run up to 50 meters with the power supply connected at one end and 100 meters with the power supply connected at both ends.

Ultra long constant current strips mainly solve the problem of uneven brightness due to voltage drop at both ends of the strip, although driverless AC LED strips can also solve this problem, but the whole line of AC LED strips is driven by high voltage; if the shell of the AC LED strip is accidentally broken, it is easy to cause harm to the human body or other electrically conductive objects.

Summary

This is our introduction to LED strip lights. While there are many different types of LED light strips, buying or customizing LED light strips is not a difficult process as long as you know what you are looking for.

The key when purchasing LED strips is to make sure you understand the application and regional limitations of your project and then understand your installation, wattage needs, and color options. Look through our range of strips and options to help you find everything you need for your lighting project.

Remember, SignliteLED is a professional LED strip light manufacturer in China offering customized LED strip light services. We are always available to support you via email and WhatsApp.