How to Select a Flexible LED Strip

How to Select a Flexible LED Strip

A flexible led strip is a circuit board populated with LEDs that can be used to create powerful lighting in various colors, brightnesses and forms.flexible led strip These light strips are incredibly versatile and can be mounted just about anywhere - from under cabinet lighting to cove lighting. The backside of the LED strip includes pre-applied double sided adhesive that allows for quick and easy mounting on flat or curved surfaces. The LED strip itself is powered by DC current passed through the individual LEDs to cause them to emit light.

There are several factors to consider when selecting an LED strip, including LED density, power draw per foot and color temperature.flexible led strip The LED density determines the distance between each LED (the pitch) and whether or not there will be visible hot spots or gaps in the lighting effect. The power draw per foot is critical in determining the total amount of power required for an LED strip to operate at full brightness. Insufficient power will lead to voltage drop, and overheating of the LEDs, which can reduce their lifespan and decrease performance.

The underlying substrate is also critical. The copper layer in an LED strip provides both electricity supply and a vital path for heat dissipation. Look for a thicker copper layer - the higher the thickness, the better. A lower copper thickness can result in high levels of electrical resistance, and a poor thermal design will lead to overheating, which ultimately shortens the LED strip's lifespan.

LED strips can be connected together to form larger arrays using solder or connector accessories. Soldering can be time consuming and messy, but it is the most reliable method of connecting LED strip segments. Alternatively, solderless connector accessories can be used to eliminate the need for any soldering and provide a faster and cleaner installation.

Most LED strips are dimmable when paired with the correct equipment. This can be in the form of a traditional phase-cut wall-switch dimmer or a DC low-voltage dimmer. Both methods work to control the amount of DC current passing through the LED strip to allow for variable lighting effects and power consumption.

Lastly, it is important to look for an LED strip that is described in terms of brightness, usually given as lumens per foot or meter. A lower than advertised brightness specification is a warning sign that the strip may not be able to drive the LEDs at a sufficient level without overheating them to premature failure.

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