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.
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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!
Ready to light your projects with LED light strips, but have some queries? Elstar has got you covered. We&#;ve curated a list of frequently asked questions about LED tape lights so you have all the information you need to make an educated buying decision.
We&#;ve divided this blog into sections so you can easily navigate to the right question.
LED Light Strip Basics
1. What are flexible LED strip lights and how do they work?
Flexible LED light strips consist of a pliable circuit board that has a bunch of LEDs mounted on it. LEDs produce powerful, energy efficient light that can be used to illuminate any space. Flexible LED light strips allow you to light spaces that traditional sources of light simply cannot reach.
There are many benefits of using LED lights strips to light your homes, offices, retail spaces, and more. LED is a semiconductor that emits light when current flows through it in one direction. LEDs mounted on a flexible tape produce clear and bright light following the same principle. The color, brightness, and color temperature of light can be customized by changing the size and type of LED used and the way the LEDs are mounted on the tape. If you are the company that supplies welding positioner for sale and want to make your products stand out in a trade show, decorating your booth with flexible LED strips would be a great idea.
2. What kind of light do LED tape lights produce?
LED tape lights can produce light in any color imaginable. You also have the freedom to tweak the temperature of each color. Elstar houses LED light strips that produce cool white light, warm white light, natural white light, red, green, blue, and many other colors. You can use LED light strip controllers to create many variations of colors and changing the temperature of each color.
3. How many types of LED light strips are there?
There are three basic kinds of LED light strips: flexible, rigid, and silicone. Flexible LED light strips, as the name suggests, are pliable and can be used to light unusual spaces. They can be easily mounted using the adhesive at the back. Rigid LED lights strips consist of LED tapes mounted on a frame (usually made of Aluminium). These light strips are great for lighting outdoor spaces. Silicone LED ribbon lights feature LED strips covered in a thick layer of silicone. These strips are extremely bendable and can be used to go around round or spherical spaces. They are also recommended for outdoor use and for accent lighting.
4. What factors should I consider before buying LED ribbon lights?
Consider the following factors before buying LED ribbon lights:
The specifications of the area you want to light
The size and type of LED tape lights needed for your space
The color and brightness of LED ribbon light
The power draw and energy source required to light your tapes
Mounting and installation requirements
Browse our LED light strip manufacturing buying guide for more information.
5. How does Elstar produce LED tape lights?
At Elstar, we follow a carefully constructed process to produce LED light strips. Our LED light strip manufacturing process starts by choosing the highest quality LEDs. We then mount these LEDs onto durable strips using both professional machines and technicians. In each stage of the manufacturing process, our LED strips are put through quality tests to make sure our tapes are without flaw and last you ages.
6. Can Elstar LED light strips be cut and soldered?
Yes. You can easily cut and solder Elstar LED ribbon lights. Make sure to cut along the copper connections so as to not damage any essential component of the strip. Remove the silicone covering to solder two tapes together. You can easily connect light strips using LED light strip connectors.
Joineonlux Product Page
7. How do I install LED tape lights?
Installing flexible LED ribbon lights is very easy. All you have to do is take off the protective tape from the adhesives at the back of each light strip and stick the strip in place. Rigid LED lights can be mounted through the mounting clips provided. You can also use Led Aluminium profiles to safely mount your LED light strips.
LED Tape Light Quality
1. How are Elstar LED light strips better than the rest?
Elstar LED light strips stand out from the rest because they perform better and last longer. We house a wide variety of LED ribbon lights. In addition, we offer full LED light strip customization. We also provide LED controllers, power supply, connectors, profiles, and more. This makes us a one-window solution to all your lighting needs.
2. Does Elstar manufacture its own LED strip lights or are you a reseller?
Elstar manufacturer&#;s our own light LED strips. We have a meticulous LED light strip manufacturing process that helps us control each aspect of the light tape. This means we can design bespoke LED tape lights that cater to your exact lighting needs. We also do bulk LED light strip orders so you can light your entire project without any hassle.
3. What kind of quality control tests do you use on your LED tape lights?
At Elstar, we put quality above all else. That is the reason why we have dedicated quality tests at the end of each stage in the LED tape light manufacturing process. These tests vary from general inspection to performance gauges. Here is a list of quality control tests we perform:
LEDs Testing
PCB Solder Paste Thickness Testing
Power-on Testing (after SMT welding)
High & Low-Temperature Testing
Salty Water Testing
Humidity Testing
Tape Stickiness Detection
Aging Test
Integrating Sphere Testing
4. What are the warranties of your LED light strips?
Our LED lights strips are guaranteed to work perfectly for years and years. We offer warranties ranging from 2-5 years on all our LED strips. Our warranties cement our commitment to delivering a high-quality product. Duration of the warranty depends on the type of LED ribbon light you purchase.
5. What is the average length of an Elstar light LED strip?
A pre-cut Elstar LED tape light is 50 cm in length. However, we can cut and solder the strips to any length you want. We can also provide uncut lengths of LED strips that you can then cut yourself as per your requirement.
6. Can Elstar LED strips be used for outdoor lighting projects?
Yes, all Elstar LED light strips are covered in silicone and plastic to make them waterproof. This makes them perfect for outdoor applications. Our silicone LED ribbon lights are suitable for every kind of application in every kind of weather. You can also use our Aluminium profile to protect your LED light strips from the environment.
LED Ribbon Light Accessories
1. What kind of LED tape connectors does Elstar offer?
Elstar offers a variety of LED tape connectors. You can use our connectors to easily connect two LED strips together or to connect your strips to a power source. Our connectors provide a solder-free solution to connect your LED tapes lights. Here are the LED tape light connectors we offer:
2. How do I control the brightness of my LED light strips?
You can easily control the brightness of your LED light strip by using LED light strip controllers. These controllers are available in a variety of forms. Elstar houses digital RF LED strip controllers that have an easy to use interface. Our controllers are compatible with all our LED light strips. You can choose from the simple ones that let you control just the brightness of the light to more advanced ones that let you change the color of the light strips as well. If you want to get down to the beauty industry, these kinds of lights are perfect for some amazing small salon ideas.
3. How do I calculate the power supply needed for my LED light strips?
It is important to calculate the power supply needed for your LED light strips to make sure you use the appropriate power source. Fortunately, it is very easy to calculate the energy required to run your LED light strips. Simply multiply the wattage required per meter of each LED light strip with the length of the strip.
For example, if you a 4.2m long strip with 5W/m power draw, you will need a transformer with a capacity of at least 21W to power it. You can calculate the power draw for all of your LED light tapes and add the number to get the power required for your entire project.
Wattage information for all of our strips is available on each LED light strip product page so you can make an educated buying decision.
4. How can I connect my LED light tapes to the power supply?
There are two ways to connect your LED light tapes to the power supply. You can connect them to a power socket or you can hardwire them directly to the main power source in your space. At Elstar, we offer LED light strip power supply options that will help you connect your strips in both ways.
Use our
Desktop LED light strip power supply
to connect your LED ribbon lights to a power socket. Our power supply connector comes with a variety of plugs to suit every kind of power socket.
Hardwire your LED ribbon lights to the main power source in your space using our
Aluminium case power supply
. This case provides
surge protection from shortage, overload, and overvoltage increasing the longevity of your LED light strips.
5. How can I use the Elstar Aluminum Profile to protect my LED strips?
Elstar Aluminum profile is designed to house your LED light strips. This protects your LED tapes from the environment making them last long and require zero maintenance. The profile is also great at diffusing the light from the LED strips evenly, creating a better effect. Lastly, they make it easier to mount LED light strips on uneven surfaces or unusual corners.
Elstar offers two types of aluminum profiles:
T Shaped Aluminium LED Profile
: This profile has an anodized finish and is great for installing on sliding doors, windows, shutter rollers, industrial curtain walls, partitions, kitchen cabinets, and more.
U Shaped Aluminium LED Profile:
This profile has a clear, frosted finish that makes it look professional and stylish. This compact and slim profile is great for under cabinets, under stairs, closets, exhibits, furniture, work stations, and more.
LED Light Strips Ordering and Shipping
1. How do I order Elstar LED strip lights?
Ordering Elstar LED light strips is really easy. All you have to do is fill our an order form and send it to us for a quotation. Our order forms are conveniently placed on each of our product pages so you don&#;t have to navigate anywhere else to place your order. Once you send in your order, a representative will reach out to you within 24 hours with additional details regarding your order.
If you want to order customized LED light strips. Reach out to us with your requirements and we will get back to you with a quotation and additional queries.
2. Is there a minimum quantity of light LED strips I have to order?
Our pre-cut LED light strips are available for ordering in any quantity you like. For custom orders, your strips should be at least 500 m. We also do bulk LED light strip orders. Your order must be at least 100 m of LED light strip to qualify as a bulk order.
3. Do you ship LED light tapes worldwide?
Yes, we ship our LED light strips all over the world. All you have to do is order through our website and we&#;ll ship your LED light tapes to you anywhere in the world. Shipping costs are calculated based on weight and your shipping location. We use a third party courier service to ship your order. This reduces shipping costs and makes sure you get your order delivered on time. (Note: shipping fees do not include local custom duties, taxes, and other related expenses)
4. How many days can I expect to receive my order?
We process your order withing 24 hours of your order confirmation. Shipping and handling can take up to 7 working days (Note: It may take longer during heavy order cycles). Once your order is processed and packaged, it is handed over to a third-party shipping company. The shipping company determines how long it will take to deliver your order as well as shipping costs.
Note that this timeline is exclusive to in-house products and regular orders. Custom and bulk orders may take longer to be processed and delivered.
5. Do you take bulk orders?
Yes, we take bulk orders to help provide you a one-window solution to your lighting problems. You need to order at least 100 m of LED light strip for it to qualify as a bulk order. You can order customized LED tape lights in bulk as well. Keep in mind that bulk orders take longer to manufacture and deliver.
6. Can I customize my own LED strip lights?
Yes. Elstar specializes in creating customized LED light strips to your exact specifications. We can provide customization at the SMD level which means you can choose the brightness, color, color temperature, and luminance of your LED tape lights. In addition to choosing the size and layout, you can also add logos and labels to your LED ribbon lights.
Conclusion
At Elstar, we believe in creating high-quality products that deliver. Our LED light strips are made from the best raw materials and are guaranteed to last you ages. We have a wide variety of LED ribbon lights and complementary products. You can find everything you need to light your project under one roof. Placing an order with us is fairly easy. Our friendly representatives are always ready to answer any queries.
Light your spaces efficiently and effectively with Elstar LED products. Reach out to us to learn more.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of LED strip lights supplier. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.