LED strip - a detailed guide to choosing an LED strip

LED strips are becoming increasingly popular for general home lighting. You've probably heard the arguments in favor of LEDs: LED strips are more efficient, brighter, longer lasting, generate almost no heat, easy to control and program... the list goes on. It is because of these advantages that we have a large number of LED strips in our assortment.

One of the most popular installation methods is indirect illumination of the LED strip, as shown in the picture below. Another method is effective targeted illumination using LED strip. When the LED strip is installed in an aluminum profile, it is called LED track lighting, LED profile lighting or LED linear lighting. The versatility of aluminum profiles makes them a very popular choice, offering a wide range of solutions for both commercial applications such as shops, galleries, workspaces and residential lighting. There is also a wide range of prices depending on the type of tape. There are many things to consider when purchasing LED strip lights to ensure you get the right type of light for your needs. In this article we will look at the important elements of LED lighting and LED strip products from Artled in more detail.

Comparison of LED strips, what are the differences between LED strips?

The category of LED strips is quite wide. Depending on how you plan to use LED strips, you may need, for example, a high-power strip with no dot LEDs, controlled by temperature, or a weak strip with monochrome LEDs and a minimum number of dots. All of them have a high color reproduction index (CRI), providing high quality lighting. For example, IP65 LED strips are suitable for outdoor use and high humidity environments because they have a protective surface that makes them waterproof. Below is a brief description of each type of LED strip, but they will be covered in detail later in this guide. The most common base length of LED strip in LedStore is a 5 meter roll, which can be divided into 3 categories:

HELMEILE – LED strips, SMD 2835, 5050 or 3527 using conventional spot LED strips. Each meter can have from 30 to 240 LED links. LED links are usually arranged in groups of 6 LEDs, and the distance between them ranges from 2.5 to 16 cm depending on the arrangement of the LEDs. A separate control link is located next to the LED links on the strip. There is a wide selection of LED types with different light intensities, color temperatures, RGB colors, including waterproof options to IP65.

Continuous glow - LED strips, COB technology. A new generation of LED strips without spot LEDs has been available in our range since 2021. The number of LED links per meter can range from 360 to 840, depending on the brightness of the LED strip. The distance between the cutouts is from 2.5 to 5 cm. Under the LED links there is a layer with a control circuit. Choice of multiple light intensities, dimming, RGB colors.

NEON is an IP65 LED strip with Helmeile technology, but with a silicone housing through which light passes completely without point diodes. The body of the LED strip is made using a factory method, and they are available in 24V DC versions or can be connected specifically to a 220V network. Pre-made female plugs are located at both ends of the roll.

When purchasing LED strips, it is important to consider the number of LEDs per meter

For brighter output and a more uniform beam, choose an LED strip with a higher density of LED links per meter. If the LEDs are too far apart, they will produce a point light instead of a constant line of light when viewed directly. This is a matter of appearance and affects how the end result looks.

Please note that LED density is not the only factor that determines brightness and light quality. If an LED strip has a single color LED strip, such as 3000K or 4000K, it will always produce more light per link than a temperature controlled LED strip (CCT). The color adjustable strip has both warm and cool LED links and by adjusting the ratio of the two, the desired color temperature of the white light can be achieved.

Brightness of LED strips

With the development of LED technology, LED strips are constantly being improved. This does not mean that all strips are very bright or better than the previous ones. In some cases, you may not even need bright light. For example, low energy strip is used for accent lighting on a shelf or windowsill.

The brightness of LEDs is expressed in Lumens. Depending on where you install your LED strip lights, you likely need a certain level of lumens. For example, a HELMEILE LED strip with a power of 7.2 W/m produces 500 lumens per meter, and a CCT SOLO LED strip with a power of 22 W/m produces 1300 lumens per meter.

To create atmospheric lighting, you probably don't need anything brighter than 200 lumens per meter, but there are no hard and fast rules - the brightness depends on personal preference and the mood you want to create. Naturally, materials with a reflective surface are also important. Dark colors absorb a lot of light, and dark surfaces require much more light than white surfaces. Simple, isn't it? =)

When using LED strips for general lighting in a room, and not just for ambiance, calculating the power becomes a little more complicated. The need for brightness depends on the direction of the light, the distance from the object (the area you plan to illuminate), personal preferences and, again, materials. In Finland, for example, the Finnish Lighting Society has published guidelines for the amount of light in different rooms to consider.

Make sure you consider the number of lumens and length required for each LED strip, as well as the lighting direction. Indirect LEDs, compared to perpendicular LEDs, illuminate completely differently. LedStore's lighting design experts can help you determine the right amount of light for your space. Feel free to contact our lighting designers!

LED strip colors

Our LED strips are available in a wide range of monochrome, temperature controlled and multi-color strips (CCT, RGBW or RGB+CCT). In their simplest form, LED strips produce a single shade of white light; warm white 3000K or neutral white 4000K.

LED strips with color changing capabilities are called RGB (red, green, blue) LED strips. These LED strips can display any color using a combination of red, green and blue light, effectively creating 16.8 million different colors. RGBW LED lights are the most common color strip lights with color changing capabilities. In addition to colors, they also have a monochrome white (W=white) light. In theory, RGB light is based on white light, but if you want to use a white LED strip that is also pleasing to the eye and viewer, the RGB strip must have its own circuit, RGBW. The LED strip lights alternate between RGB and white diodes, so the light can create multi-color effects as well as plain white when you need it.

When you combine RGB with white light tone control, you get RGB+CCT. The picture shows an example of six colors and three shades of white.

White light color temperature

Color temperature (CCT) is a concept we use to distinguish between the different shades of white that LEDs can produce. (Color) temperature refers to how warm or cool the light appears. Temperature is expressed in Kelvin (K). Warmer temperatures represent cool colors (blue tint), while lower temperatures indicate warmer colors (yellow tint).

Having dimmable white lighting has become a very popular lighting trend. This type of LED strip offers multiple CCT colors on a single LED strip and requires its own controller, just like RGB lighting. Instead of CCT LED strips producing a bright rainbow spectrum of colors, dimmable white lighting changes the mood of your room from a warm white of 2500K to a cool white of 6500K.

Installation of LED lighting strip

When purchasing LED strip lights for your space, you also need to have an idea of how you will install them. For some strips, such as NEON LED strips, it's very simple: cut a 10mm groove at the mounting location and insert the strip into this groove. Surface fastening is also possible using the provided fasteners.

Other LED strips always need a metal surface underneath. When there are corners in the installation, they can be much more difficult to install. You will need to cut and splice the LED strips together. Here are some factors you should always keep in mind:

1. The total length of the required LED strips.
2. How many corners or how many individual strips are needed for installation.
3. Power and voltage requirements for LED lighting.
4. LED strip protection: do you need waterproofing?
5. Depending on your installation location, determine whether other components, such as connectors or additional wiring, are needed.
6. Decide how you will regulate, control or program the LED strips you need. Transformers/power supplies and controllers are an important part of LED lighting.

LED profile or profile for LED strip

LED strips always require an aluminum profile for installation. There are 3 important reasons for this:

1. LED strips need an aluminum/metal base to dissipate heat. Cooling practically doubles or even triples the service life of LED strips. The LedStore LED strip warranty is only valid for strips mounted on a metal surface.
2. The lid harmoniously distributes light and protects from dust. It adds finality. Always included in the set of aluminum profiles that you buy from us.
3. The LED strip attaches well to a metal surface. The tape is designed to dissipate heat. For example, wood or glass itself are the worst possible surfaces because they do not conduct heat. In addition, wood is a living material, so the release of the LED strip from the surface is normal.

How do you know that the LED strip is installed incorrectly? The easiest way to tell is when the silicone coating of the LED strip has turned yellow due to HEAT.

LED strip power requirements

Another key factor when installing LED strip lights is knowing the wattage (watts) and voltage (volts). First, you need to determine the total power requirements of the system you want to install. LedStore product descriptions multiply the wattage per meter of LED strip, so it's easy to calculate the total wattage once you know how many meters of LED strip you have.

Calculating the total power not only helps you find the right power supply, but also indicates how much electricity you are using at full brightness.

If you know the total power, determine the voltage. Our power supplies have 12V or 24V voltage, except for NEON LED strip with a voltage of 230V. It is ready to use immediately. The tapes available in LedStore are 90% 24 VDC. Just make sure you know what voltage the strip needs and find a power supply with that voltage. Select a power supply that is at least 10% higher than the power consumption of the LED strips.

If your power supply is not set to wattage (LedStore products state this), then it is good to know that: voltage (V) x amperage (A) = wattage of your power supply. For example, a 5A 24VDC output means 5 x 24 = 120 W.

Control of monochrome, CCT, RGBW and RGB+CCT LED strips

Adjustable LED strips can be controlled using the control devices available from us. Transformer+controller combinations or transformers with built-in control are available. The choice of controller depends on the functions you want to control. Typically, a master wall dimmer is connected to the three-amp transformer. The system that needs to be installed with a DALI transformer is connected to the controllers in accordance with the software. For RF and Zigbee wireless control, we offer a wide range of controllers/dimmers/color and dimmer control in both wall mount and portable options.

The range includes:

• TRIAC dimmer transformers
• DALI2 (can control monochrome, CCT and RGBW)
• RF wireless (can control monochrome, CCT and RGBW tapes)
• Zigbee wireless (monochrome, CCT, RGBW and RGB+CCT)
• Among the well-known Zigbee control systems that are directly supported are. Philips HUE, ABB Free@Home, DALI. There are separate articles about each of them.

Zigbee Series: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5

ABB Free@Home compatibility: ABB Free@Home and LED lighting from LedStore.

Waterproof LED strips... or not

Protection against moisture and dust for LED strips is described according to the IP (Ingress Protection) standard and includes various levels of protection. Here is a brief description of each level of protection:

1. IP20: This is the minimum level of protection with protective strips without a waterproof coating. They are not intended for wet or dusty conditions and are suitable for use in dry areas.
2. IP33: This level of protection offers some protection against water droplets and dust. It is also recommended for indoor use, but can be installed in areas that sometimes experience moisture, such as bathrooms.
3. IP55: This level of protection already provides reliable protection against moisture and dust. LED strips with IP55 can be used for outdoor lighting on the street, as well as for indoor use in conditions of high humidity.
4. IP65: This level of waterproof protection with protective strips that can withstand high pressure water flow. These tapes are ideal for wet areas including bathrooms, outdoor lighting and swimming pools.
5. IP67: This level of protection is even higher with waterproof protection. IP67 LED strips can be immersed in water to a certain depth, and are ideal for aquatic decorative effects or use in high humidity environments.