How to Choose 5mm Ultra Thin Flexible Led Strip?

LED strip lights come in a variety of widths, lengths, and LED chip types, making them versatile for both residential and commercial lighting applications. When it comes to lighting projects, choosing the right width for LED strip lights can be a real headache. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the task of selecting the appropriate LED strip light size? Let’s take a closer look at the different width options to find the perfect strip light for your lighting needs.

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LED light strips come in a wide range of sizes or widths. Single-row LED light strips typically have widths ranging from 3 millimeters to 15 millimeters. In contrast, multi-row LED light strips can reach widths of up to 120 millimeters. Using the appropriate width of an LED light strip is crucial for ensuring proper heat dissipation, flexible installation, and other factors. Additionally, the size of the LED chips or SMDs is another key factor influencing the width of LED light strips.

Understanding how each LED light strip width affects installation and performance is key to making the right choice. Let’s dive deeper into the details!

What is the width of an LED strip light?

The width of an LED strip light refers to its physical width, specifically the width of the PCB (printed circuit board). The structure of an LED strip light consists of multiple LEDs arranged in a regular pattern on a flexible circuit board (PCB). Therefore, the width of an LED strip light essentially refers to the width of the PCB, typically measured in millimeters (mm), indicating the dimensions of the strip’s base material.

When selecting and installing LED strip lights for various projects, the width of the strip is an important consideration. Wider strips can typically accommodate more LEDs, providing brighter lighting and better heat dissipation, while narrower strips may be more suitable for installations with limited space or specific design requirements.

It is worth noting that LED strip light widths vary. For example, single-row LED strip lights have only one row of LED chips along their entire length, with widths typically ranging from 1 mm to 15 mm. Multi-row LED strip lights, on the other hand, have multiple rows of LED chips across the entire PCB. This makes them wider than single-row LED strip lights, with widths reaching up to 120 mm. These LED light strips can be dual-row, triple-row, quad-row, five-row, or more.

Of course, all widths and LED row counts are customizable, depending on the manufacturer and your intended application.

Why consider the width of LED light strips?

The width of LED light strips is a critical consideration. The appropriate width selection is not merely an aesthetic issue; it also significantly impacts brightness, illuminance, heat dissipation, physical space occupancy, and installation flexibility. Let’s explore the specific reasons.

1. Brightness and Illuminance: The width of an LED light strip affects its brightness and overall illuminance. Wider strips typically accommodate more LEDs, resulting in higher light output, but they also consume more energy. If you require bright lighting, wider strips may be more suitable. Conversely, narrower strips can produce softer or more focused light.

2. Heat Dissipation: LED light strips generate heat when in operation. Transferring the heat generated by the LEDs to the PCB circuit board and dissipating it into the surrounding environment is crucial for keeping the light strip cool. In this case, wider LED light strips can act as heat sinks, absorbing and dissipating the heat generated by the LEDs. Compared to narrower PCB circuit boards, wider PCB circuit boards are more efficient.

3. Space Design and Aesthetics: LED light strips are commonly used for decorative lighting or accent lighting. The width of the LED light strip affects the visual appearance of the entire space and how well it integrates with the overall design. For example, wider light strips may be more suitable for creating bold, eye-catching effects, while narrower light strips may create a more minimalist or understated appearance.

4. Installation Flexibility: If your installation space is very narrow, installing wider LED light strips may be challenging. Therefore, it is essential to check the width of the LED light strips to ensure they fit your installation space. Additionally, narrower strips are more suitable for corners or edges, as they can be easily bent.

5.Accessory Compatibility: The width of LED light strips is crucial for ensuring compatibility with mounting brackets, LED connectors, and other accessories. These accessories are typically designed to fit specific light strip widths, so choosing the appropriate width ensures good connectivity and easy installation.

6. LED Aluminum Channel Compatibility: When adding aluminum channels or silicone diffusers to LED light strips, the width of the light strip is a critical consideration. Adding LED strip channels can provide soft, uniform light output, but if the strip width is not ideal, installation issues may arise. In such cases, you must consider the compatibility between the channel’s inner diameter and the LED strip width. For example, a 10mm LED strip cannot be installed into a 5mm aluminum channel or silicone diffuser. For more information about LED aluminum profiles, please read “Aluminum Profile for LED Strip Lighting.”

What are the standard widths for LED strip lights?

The most common standard widths for LED strip lights are 8mm, 10mm, and 12mm. These are also the three most widely used widths. The width of LED strip lights varies by brand and also depends on the type of LED strip light and the size of the LED chips.

8mm LED strip lights: 8mm LED strip lights are ideal for installation in narrow, inconspicuous areas, meeting the emerging demand for accent lighting, under-cabinet lighting, or furniture lighting. Such a narrow width can satisfy the need for subtle lighting without occupying too much space. This width allows for endless creative applications, such as fitting into the interior of cabinets or along staircases where lighting space is limited. The low visibility of the light strip enhances the lighting effect without compromising the overall decor.

10mm LED strip lights: 10mm LED strip lights are typically used for general lighting projects. They offer high brightness and are commonly used in architectural lighting, cove lighting, and decorative lighting fixtures for residential and commercial applications. Additionally, whether for accent lighting in homes or functional lighting in retail stores, 10mm strip lights can easily adapt to various usage environments. This versatility extends to color options, with many 10mm LED strips offering RGB and adjustable white light versions, allowing users to customize lighting according to their preferences.

12mm LED strip lights: 12mm LED strip lights are slightly wider and typically offer higher light output. They are commonly used in applications requiring brighter, more powerful lighting solutions, such as outdoor lighting or larger-scale installations. This width enables higher LED density, brightness, and uniform light distribution. 12mm LED light strips are ideal for architectural lighting, primarily because in architectural lighting, the combination of aesthetics and functionality is crucial for highlighting key features and creating points of interest.

15mm and wider LED strip lights: 15mm and wider LED strip lights have higher LED density and brightness. They are suitable for commercial lighting and large-scale installations. These strips provide uniform lighting with minimal shadows, making them ideal for architectural and signage projects. Wider strips can accommodate more LEDs and aid in better heat dissipation, which is crucial for preventing overheating during prolonged use. Therefore, they are sufficient for professional settings where consistency in performance and reliability are critical.

Ultra-narrow LED strip lights: LED strip lights with widths of 3mm, 4mm, and 5mm are typically referred to as ultra-narrow LED strip lights, making them perfect for ultra-thin and discreet lighting needs. Their compact size allows for easy installation in narrow spaces, such as cabinet edges, display cases, and architectural structures. These strip lights are ideal for minimalist designs, where the light source is hidden while still providing clean and elegant illumination.

Many people have a common question: Are all LED strip lights the same width? The answer is no. To accommodate different application requirements, not all LED strip lights have the same PCB width. In narrow installation spaces, such as inside cabinets, wider LED strip lights are difficult to conceal due to limited space. If you want to add LED lighting in narrow gaps, you can use narrower LED strip lights. As such, the design of LED strip light widths often caters to users’ diverse needs.

So, is the width of LED strip lights important? In fact, for spacious installation areas, the width of LED strip lights is not critical. Instead, the density and brightness of the LED strip lights are more important, as spacious areas typically require higher brightness to illuminate details. Only in spaces with width restrictions is the width of LED light strips critical.

In summary, each LED light strip width offers unique advantages for different applications, ensuring your lighting project combines functionality and aesthetics. Below are some LED light strip widths for your reference.

Does the height of LED strip lights affect installation?

When selecting LED strip lights for different applications, in addition to width, height is also critical. Thicker strip lights may not fit into compact designs or narrow spaces, thereby limiting their use in recessed or surface-mounted installations. Ultra-thin LED strip lights are an ideal choice for sleek, understated designs, as they can be easily installed in narrow or shallow spaces, making installation more convenient.

IP20 (non-waterproof): Height approximately 1.5 millimeters. These LED light strips are extremely thin due to their lack of waterproofing. They are well-suited for installation in dry indoor locations, such as under cabinets or as accent lighting.

IP65 (silicone-coated): Height 2-3 millimeters. These light strips are covered with a layer of silicone, providing some water resistance. Therefore, they are ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, or any areas that may be slightly damp.

IP68 (silicone tube potting): Height: 5-8 millimeters. IP68 LED light strips are fully encapsulated with durable silicone or epoxy resin. IP68 LED light strips are ideal for outdoor and underwater applications, including fountains and landscape lighting.

For more information on waterproof LED strip lights, please read “LED Strip Lights Waterproof IP Rating Guide.” and “6 Steps to Choose Outdoor Waterproof LED Strip Lights.”

How to choose the right LED strip light width for your project?

Choosing the right LED strip light width ensures your lighting project is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Therefore, when selecting an LED strip light width, consider space constraints, required brightness, and intended use. Narrow strips are ideal for tight spaces, while wider strips offer higher brightness and are perfect for larger areas. So, carefully consider the following recommendations:

1. Understand your project requirements: Before selecting an LED strip light width, assess the specific needs of your project. Determine the installation location of the LED strip lights. Do you need a 5mm ultra-narrow LED strip light for narrow gaps or a brighter 20mm LED strip light for larger areas?

2. Space constraints: Space availability plays a crucial role in determining the appropriate width. For compact spaces, such as inside cabinets or beneath shelves, opt for narrower widths like 8mm or 10mm. These slim profiles blend seamlessly into tight spaces without appearing bulky.

3. Required brightness level: The brightness level required for the project also influences your decision. Wider strips, like 15 mm and 20 mm, can accommodate more LEDs per unit length, providing higher brightness. They are ideal for areas requiring high illumination, such as kitchens or workplaces.

4. Specific application requirements: Consider the specific use of the LED light strip. For example, if you plan to provide ambient lighting for a residential environment, a 10-millimeter light strip may be sufficient. However, for commercial applications requiring stable lighting, wider light strips may be more appropriate.

5. Installation considerations: Installation requirements should not be overlooked (e.g., power supply and installation options). Some wider light strips, due to higher energy consumption, may require additional hardware or power considerations.

In summary, selecting the appropriate LED light strip width requires balancing physical space, required light output, and actual installation factors. By evaluating these aspects, you can ensure your choice aligns with the project’s functional and aesthetic objectives.

Do wider LED strip lights consume more electricity?

Wider LED strip lights do not necessarily consume more electricity. This depends on the LED density, chip size, quality, and power supply. The main reasons are as follows:

• LED chip type: The type and quality of the LED chips used in the strip lights have a significant impact on energy consumption. Under the same brightness, more efficient and advanced LED chips consume less energy.

• LED density: The number of LEDs per unit length affects energy consumption. Higher LED density typically means more LEDs, resulting in higher energy consumption.

• Rated power: The rated power of an LED light strip is measured in watts per meter (W/m), indicating the amount of electricity consumed per meter of LED light strip. Higher rated power typically indicates higher energy consumption.

• Operating voltage: The operating voltage of LED strips also affects energy consumption. LED strips typically offer different voltage options, such as 12VDC or 24VDC. Higher-voltage strips often require lower current, potentially making them more energy-efficient.

Specifically, larger LED chips consume more power. For example, a 10mm SMD LED strip consumes more power than an SMD LED strip of the same width. Similarly, if two SMD LED strips have the same density but one is 5mm wide and the other is 10mm wide, this does not necessarily mean the wider one consumes more power. In this case, the width of the LED strip has no direct relationship with power consumption.

For more information on SMD vs SMD LED strip, please read “SMD vs SMD vs SMD: Which LED Strip Light is the Best for Commercial and Architectural Lighting?.”

However, as I mentioned earlier, LED strips with larger chips do consume more power than those with smaller chips. But the difference is minimal. For example, for and LED strips with a density of 60 LEDs per meter, the power consumption is as follows:

As shown in the comparison table above, the average power difference per meter of LED strip light is just over 2 watts. While this does affect power consumption, it does not have a significant impact on long-term cost calculations.

Additionally, the higher the density of the LED strip, the more LED chips require power, resulting in higher power consumption. In other words, a 10mm-wide LED strip with 60 LEDs per meter consumes more power than a 10mm-wide LED strip with 30 LEDs per meter.

Therefore, while wider LED strip lights may have more LEDs and potentially higher energy consumption, this is not always the case. You need to consider the key factors mentioned above. Therefore, please be sure to check the product specifications and select LED strip lights that meet your required brightness and energy efficiency standards.

Conclusion

Selecting the appropriate LED strip width is critical to the success of your project. When making your selection, carefully consider space, brightness, and application requirements. Each width offers distinct functionalities, ranging from soft accent lighting to intense illumination for large areas. In every project, aesthetic or functional requirements depend on the proper selection of LED strip width: from compact 8mm to wider widths, there is always a solution to meet all your needs.

LED Strip lights are becoming more and more popular for home lighting. More than likely you have heard the argument for LEDs over incandescent and even halogen bulbs: they are more efficient, brighter, longer-lasting, they don’t produce much heat, they are easily controlled and programmed…the list goes on and on. LEDs come in extremely compact packages that are durable and resistant to shock, making them so they can be used in a variety of designs both big and small.

One increasingly popular way is in LED strip lighting. Linear (strip) lighting has become very popular and is an affordable option for both commercial and residential lighting applications. Buying LED strip lights might seem relatively straightforward, but there are many things you need to consider in making sure you get the right type of light for your needs. Follow through this post as we walk through the important factors for LED strip lighting and run through our main LED light strip categories.

Types of LED Strips

The LED Strips category is a broad category that includes all different types of LED strip lights. Depending on how you plan to use the LED strips, you may need one type over the other. For example, IP65 LED flex strips are better suited for outdoor and wet areas as they have a protective covering that makes them waterproof. Below is just a brief description of each kind of LED Strip Light, this guide will go into more detail on them later as there are multiple strip options in most of these categories.

• DC LED Flex Strips – Strips that run straight from a low DC voltage, typically 12-24V. These flexible strip lights have an adhesive backing for easy mounting and can be cut every two inches. They are offered in a wide range of light outputs and waterproof protection.
• AC Plug & Play LED Strip Lights – Flexible strip lights that run straight from your outlet. Just plugin and they are ready to go. These strips can run in much longer straight-run lengths than DC Flex Strips…all the way up to 150 FT!
• LED Rope Light – Encased, Omni-directional LEDs in the standard rope light packaging – very dim output meant for accent lighting, also plug & play!
• High Output LED Strips – Rigid strip lighting that houses mid to high-power LEDs from top manufacturers like Cree, Nichia, and Luxeon! Designed and manufactured in the USA with onboard drivers so they work with straight 24V DC input.

LEDs/length

When buying LED strip lights, it is important to look at the number of LEDs per length. For brighter output and higher light quality, you should look for the strip lights that have the highest number of LEDs per Foot (Meter, Yard, etc). If LEDs are spaced too far apart across the strips they could produce spotty lighting instead of a clean, constant line of light. It can be confusing as manufacturers use different units of measurement to advertise this. My recommendation would be to stick to a certain measurement and then convert all other measurements to see what strips have the most LEDs per set unit of measurement.

Take note that LED density is not the only factor in determining brightness and light quality. Our LED Rope Light, for instance, has more LEDs per foot than our DC LED Flex Strips but they are low output LEDs that produce only a fraction of that on the flex strips. Therefore, the Rope light is far spottier than any of the Flex Strips on our site, so always check on the brightness of the LED strips as well.

LED Strip Brightness

As LED technology continues to improve, LED strips continue to reach brighter capabilities. This does not mean all strips will be super bright… in some cases, you may not even want the light to be bright. An example of this would be accent lighting within a shelf.

The brightness of LEDs is measured in LUMENS. Depending on how you are using the LED strips, you will probably want a certain level of lumens.

For accent lighting, you will probably not need anything brighter than 200 Lumens per foot but there is no exact rule here, it is all about personal preference and the feeling/mood you are going for.

For more 5mm Ultra Thin Flexible Led Strip(es,iw,it)information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

When using LED strips for general lighting purposes within a room it becomes a bit trickier. Brightness needs will depend on the light direction, its distance from your subject (the area you plan to illuminate) as well as personal preference.

Make sure you take note of the Lumens/length along with the LEDs/length of each strip your research as this will have a strong effect on light quality and the type of light the strip gives off.

LED Strip Colors

Our LED strip lights come in a wide range of single colors as well as multi-color strips (RGB or RGBW). The most basic LED strip lights are our single colors that only emit one fixed light color. We offer them in: Warm White, Neutral White, Cool White, Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, Pink, and Ultra Violet (UV).

The color-changing strips are called RGB strips. These LED lights can display any Red-Green-Blue The color-changing strips use multi-colored LEDs so that they can change colors to your liking. RGB Strip lights are the most common color-changing lighting we carry. These LED lights can display any Red-Green-Blue combination color.

The one color RGB lights can’t create is white. That is where RGBW strip lights come into play. The LEDs on the strip alternate between RGB and White diodes so that the light can produce multi-color effects but also a normal white for when you need it. 

Color Temperature

Color temperature is how we differentiate the various white colors that an LED can produce. Temperature indicates how ‘warm’ or ‘cool’ the light appears. Temperature is measured in Kelvin with higher temps representing cool colors (blueish hue) and lower temps representing warmer colors (yellowish light you would expect from a bulb). See below for a more visual explanation.

Tunable white lighting is becoming a very popular trend in lighting. This type of strip will offer multiple CCT colors on one strip and require a special controller much like RGB lighting. Instead of making vibrant colors across the rainbow, tunable white lighting can transform the feel of your room from a K Warm White all the way up to a K Cool White. We go over our tunable white lighting options in-depth in our Tunable Lighting Guide.

Installation of LED Strip Lights

When buying light strips for an application you should always have an idea of how you will mount them and set them up. For some strips like the DC LED Flex Strips, it is as easy as exposing the adhesive backing and sticking them onto a clean surface. Other installations can be much more difficult for mounting, cutting, and wiring strips together. Here are some factors you should always keep in mind, we will get more specific farther on in this post when we talk about each individual strip:

• Know the total length of LED strips needed
• Know how many breaks will be in the lights or how many separate strips you need
• Know your strips power and voltage requirements
• Flexibility of the LED strip lights
• Durability of the LED strips: Need Waterproofing?
• Decide whether other components such as connectors or extra wire are needed
• Decide how you will dim, control, or program the strips you set up

LED Strip Wattage

Another key factor in setting up your LED strips is knowing the wattage. First, you need to find out the wattage of the system you want to set up. Here at LEDSupply, we provide you with the wattage per length of strip so it is easy to find what your total wattage will be once you know how many linear feet you have. Finding total wattage will not only help you find an adequate power supply but will also let you know how much electricity you will be using with your new lighting setup.

Once you know the total wattage you are ready to find a power supply. You will need a power supply for all our strips other than the Plug & Play options (AC Strips and LED Rope Light). Plug and play strips have a power cord built onto them with a switching transformer in line so there is no need for an additional power supply.

The first thing when looking for a power supply is knowing what input voltage your LED Strips require. The strips found at LEDSupply can be either 12V or 24VDC powered…just make sure you know what your strip needs and find a power supply with that output. Secondly, make sure the wattage of the power supply is at least 10% higher than the wattage your LED strips will consume. If there is no wattage listed on the power supply (there always will be on our site) it is a good thing to note that: Output Voltage x Amperage = Wattage of your power supply.

Buying LED Strips at LEDSupply

Now that we have gone over some of the basics of buying LED strip lights, it is time to look at the specific strips we carry. In the rest of the post, I will go over each strip in hopes to help you decide what strip is best for your application. This is the most important section of this post as it will help you find the strips best for your needs and will have all the info you need to set them up and complete your project.

DC LED Flex Strips

These 12-24 volt flexible LED strip lights are the most popular product for in-home lighting DIY projects and renovations. Thousands of customers and contractors just like you find these lights extremely helpful for both task and accent lighting around the home. There are a lot of complimentary accessories offered as well to make these strips very user-friendly.

What makes them so easy to use?

The strips are made with 3M double-sided adhesive backing for easy installation. Secondly, they sit at an extremely low profile. The strips themselves produce little heat so are perfect for tightly spaced applications. The strips are offered in 3-foot increments up to a full reel which is 16.4 ft (5 Meters) but they have cut lines along the strip for you to cut to more precise measurements.

DC Powered

The strips will take either 12 or 24 VDC input. The low voltage lighting makes it safe to set up for novices. Not only does it make the wiring and connections safer than straight AC line voltage but it also makes it so you can power them directly from batteries and solar systems! When powering in the home, just make sure you use a power supply or transformer that will change your AC line voltage to a safe DC voltage.

Waterproof Strips…or not

These flex strips are offered in three different styles of the strip. The flex strips most basic, bare-bones design is the IP20 style that is a flexible printed circuit board housing SMD LEDs with no protective coating. These strips are great for areas where you don’t need to worry about any water or dust ruining the strip and electrical components.

The IP65 Waterproof LED strips are the IP20 base strip with a thin silicone layer on top of the flexible strip, these LEDs can withstand the elements. Waterproof strips are recommended for outdoor lighting, patio lighting, bathroom lighting, and under cabinet lighting where moisture or dust can collect.

The best protection the strips come in is IP68 which can be fully submerged in water or kept in high heat environments like saunas or steam rooms. You can see how the steps up in protection also add to the size of the strip below.

Standard, High or Premium Density

The standard DC flex strips have two different density options. The standard density strips have 30 LEDs/M and their brighter upgrade, the High-Density strips, have double the LEDs, 60 per Meter!

Premium strip offerings like our COB Spotless Strip lights and Tunable White Strips have up to 512 LEDs/M and produce a seamless source of light with no spots. These are great for high-profile lighting projects and especially excel when the lights are around reflective surfaces like granite or glass.

Obviously, those looking for the brightest light should migrate to the high-density strips but be careful to look at the differences between the options in the table below.

Standard Density flex strips are great for use in tight spaces or when used for indirect, accent lighting. They are clearly not as intense as the higher density so they are better for the applications where less light is more. Examples of this are shelf lighting, backlighting, and stair lighting.

The one big advantage of the 30 LEDs/M Strip is they can be connected end to end up to 32 ft…DOUBLE that of the high density. This is a definite benefit to the lights, helping those decide that need longer lengths and don’t care as much about the brightness.

Remember how we talked about light quality earlier and how it depends on the brightness of the LEDs as well as LED density (LEDs/M)? Well, the high-density strip uses the same exact diode on the strips but double the amount, therefore delivering a quality light much more powerful than the standard density strips.

The high-density strips are a significant upgrade from the standard density if you are looking for more light output. These are mainly for those applications that have higher ceiling coves and you need more light or if you are using them as a main source of light in a specific area. The light output is fantastic for task lighting of all kinds and you will probably even want a dimmer to adjust down when needed.

12 volt LED flex strips are super simple to use. There are many options, however, that can make the task seem overwhelming to some. If this LED strip interests you and you would like to learn more about setting this up yourself then follow our Guide to Installing 12V LED Strip Lights. This guide is specific to DC Flex Strips and goes over all the information and helpful accessories you will need to set up your lights!

AC LED Flex Strips

Perhaps you want to just plug something in and go, if that is the case the AC Plug & Play LED Strip Lights are just for you.

These strips are slightly wider than the DC powered strips, sitting at 9/16″ wide and 1/4″ tall. Don’t worry about the size increase as these pack a lot of light with 20 LEDs per foot giving off 180 Lumens in that span. The best part? These are plug-and-play strips, just buy the length you want, plug into a wall receptacle, and these babies are ready to go!

The other big advantage of this style is that they can run in continuous lengths up to 150 feet!! This makes it so you can run longer lengths without any issue. The strips cannot be cut in the small intervals that the DC Flex strips can but they can still cut every half-meter. If you have a gap in your application you can easily choose a strip-to-strip jumper to fit the gap and keep your light going seamlessly.

The mounting isn’t quite as easy as the DC flex strips as they do not come with adhesive backing. Luckily they come with mounting clips (1 per 3 feet) to mount to the surface. For those not wanting to deal with clips or want the LED strip in a very tight, straight application the 3-foot mounting tracks would be a good choice to set the LED strips up.

If you are running longer lengths (75′ and up) it will be a good idea to consider AC LED strips. These strips run much better over distance and there won’t be the need to purchase multiple power supplies and dimmers as they can run straight from 110-120AC line voltage. Take a look at our AC Review which goes into further detail on using these strip lights.

LED Rope Light

Alright, we have moved past flex strips now and are into a slightly different type of linear LED, LED rope light. Unlike the flat, ribbon-like flex strips, this LED Rope light is encased in a 1/2” diameter round rubbery plastic. The encasing makes for a waterproof rope light that can bend in all directions and has Omni-directional LEDs. This means that, unlike the LED Flex Strips that emit out the top, these LED Rope Lights emit all around the whole rope, there is no backside or area where you cannot see the light. The Rope Light is not nearly as bright but works great for dim accent lighting or just a nice added touch to your outside deck, patio, garden, etc.

This LEThis LED Rope Light is like the AC LED Flex Strips in the sense that it can plug straight into a standard wall outlet and run from 120VAC. They give off no heat and run off of very little power as they are only .77 watts per foot. The LED Rope Light is offered in warm white, cool white, and blue.

The rope holds 12 LEDs per foot with an inch in between each. The lumen output is extremely lower than our other linear options at 6.3 lumens/foot for cool white and 5.5 lumens per foot for warm white. We offer the Rope Light in custom-cut lengths of 3, 9, 15, 30, 75, 105, and 150 feet. Like the AC LED Flex Strips the Rope Light can be connected with jumpers but can go all the way up to 150 feet in length. With every 3 feet of rope light purchased, we include a clip for mounting them wherever you’d like. These ropes look like a typical rope light in the sense that you can tell where each LED is placed, it is not meant to be a steady, smooth light all the way through. The light that comes off is great for accenting certain areas but is not enough to be the stand-alone lighting for a room.

This Rope Light is a great value and has a rated lifetime of 60,000 hours for whites and 100,000 hours for colors. They are extremely durable and add a nice touch to your spot. Use them in places where you don’t want a bright light or just need something to draw attention to a part of your house or outside area. Take a look at the pictures above to see how they are typically used.

High Output LED Strips

This final category includes our brightest strip lights. Unlike the flex strips and rope light above, these strips have mid to high power surface mount LEDs on a more rigid strip.

The Duo Strip

The Duo LED strip is manufactured right here in the United States by LuxDrive. If you want to make your own LED linear fixture this is your light engine to start with. The Duo houses 48 Nichia 757 diodes on a 1-foot by 1-inch printed circuit board (PCB). There are onboard drivers that keep the LEDs safe while requiring only a 24V input. Each 1-foot Duo Strip runs at about 8 Watts while outputting over 870 Lumens!

The Duo can be cut down into smaller segments for design flexibility. Every 3 inches there is a dashed cut-line showing where it can be cleaved into separate pieces with a circuit board cutter (paper cutters work as well) or shears.

The strip segments, whether cut short or full foot lengths can be connected up to 8 feet at a time. That means 8 full Duo strips can be connected in series off of the same power source. If you cut the strips down smaller, just make sure your total LED strip length does not exceed 8 feet.

The Duo is offered in a wide color temperature (CCT) range from K to K. If you need color the Duo has that covered with red, yellow, green, and blue.

Believe it or not, there are even horticulture-specific LEDs that come on the duo. The Nichia 757 Horticulture options are available in both K and K. These LEDs have a very wide output spectrum that is perfect for growing applications.

ElaraStrip

This high brightness, low profile strip is 12” x .45” and has 9 quality high power Nichia LEDs on a rigid strip with onboard circuitry and drivers. The low-profile LEDs only sit about .15” high on the strip but give off a 120-degree viewing angle so you can pack this strip in tight locations and it will still provide flood illumination.

These strips are sold in 1-foot sections but you are able to connect 10 together at a time for a 10-foot strip. The nice part about these strips and connecting them is they already come with connectors on the end so all you have to do is plug them together. Additionally, you can also cut the strips in half at 6” if you need them to fit in a certain spot, note you can only cut them in half, if you cut them elsewhere the strip will not work. This gives you a lot of control in building a custom-length high brightness strip.

The ElaraStrip can be purchased in warm white, neutral white, cool white, red, blue, and green. The 9 Nichia LEDs are high quality and give off a bright light at 200 Lumens/foot. These strips are great for linear applications where you want a brighter light. They can be used in coves and for accent lighting, general illumination, under cabinet lighting, and are great as a wall wash light. They are actually used in this under cabinet fixture that we sell, called the LVL2 (pictured to the left). For cove and accent type lighting they may be too bright but no worries as they are 0-10V dimming and totally compatible with our 0-10V wall dimmer. If you want to dim you will need the ElaraStrip wiring harness that plugs right into the 4 pin connection at the start of the strip and then has two sets of wire leads for your input power and your dimmer.

The Elara Strip is easy to power as it takes 12-25VDC and runs at 4.5 watts per foot. You can easily connect power using the wiring harness from above or we have another option in the ElaraStrip Power connector that plugs right into the 4 pins on the end of the strip and has a 2.5mm female barrel plug on the other end where a desktop power supply could be plugged right into. For a high-power LED strip this is extremely easy to power in order to get great quality, bright light.

This strip is ideal for when space is limited but you need a lot of light. It is extremely low profile and has built-in drivers so you have no need for any bulky drivers in the application. This strip also comes with its own thermal control so when the LEDs are too hot it will compensate for this and cool down, making it so you don’t need a bulky heat sink if you’re working in a tight space. Take note that this does take away from the brightness as it dims the LEDs a bit so if you want the brightest light you can get then put this on an aluminum flat bar or a small heat sink material in order to control the heat so that the automatic thermal control doesn’t kick in, taking away from the strips efficacy.

LuxStrip

The LuxStrip is basically the ElaraStrip on steroids, and one of the best parts is that it can be totally customized to what you want. This 12” x .95” strip can hold 6 LEDs of your choice. Choose from the Luxeon Rebel and Cree XLamp options along with the colors and optics you’d like as well. This makes it so you can customize these strips for general lighting, outdoor lighting, light bars for vehicles, or grow lights and reef tank lights with the different colors that are available.

The LuxStrip is sold in 1-foot pieces that can be connected up to 12 feet long. They come with connections on both ends for easy connecting like the LuxStrip but if you are connecting strips and need a gap in your application you can use the Luxstrip wiring harness and a custom harness in order to connect the two together. They can also be cut every 2” for more specific lengths, make sure not to cut the strip down any smaller than 4” or it will not work correctly.

The 6 LEDs on the strip are capable of being run at 350mA, 500mA, and 700mA which is chosen at checkout. This means the wattage per foot will be 7-15 Watts depending on the driving current you choose. These are the highest quality LEDs and if you run them at the max for this strip (700mA) they will be giving off Lumens per foot! The onboard driver circuitry includes 0-10V dimming so you can dim that brightness down with our low voltage dimmer if necessary. At 700mA the LuxStrip will run pretty hot so you will need a heat sink to dissipate the heat so as not to burn out the LEDs and onboard circuitry. We recommend using an aluminum flat bar for backing as this keeps it low profile and takes care of the excess heat.

An industry-standard 24VDC power supply is ideal for use with the LuxStrip and can easily be connected via the LuxStrip Wiring harness or the LuxStrip Power connector which comes with a barrel jack and dimming/non-dimming options. Power and dimming control voltage is connected from strip to strip via a low profile board-to-board connector at the end of the strip and utilizes a unique polarized connection for foolproof assembly.

So basically, if you are looking for the brightest strip then this is the one for you. This can be extremely bright and can light up any area you need. Under cabinets, behind a frosted lens, high ceiling coves, whatever the linear area might be, this strip is sure to give you some high brightness and is pretty easy to set up. Another plus is that it is the only strip that can be used with optics to control your light if you need the strip to focus on a specific area. This US manufactured strip comes with the best-LED options available with industry-leading Cree and Luxeon LEDs. So have fun with this strip and tailor it to how you’d like, the choices are yours after all.

For more information, please visit IP68 Silicone Neon Flex.

The Ultimate Guide Wrap Up