How to choose the right LED strip

It is not difficult to choose an LED strip if you know for what purposes it will be used and what power it should have. There are many options on sale with different characteristics, so you should understand all the nuances in order to make high-quality lighting. Not only the characteristics of the tape itself are important, but also the place of its installation and personal preferences.

LED strip is ideal for modern interiors.

LED strip in the apartment for basic lighting

If with the help of a tape it is necessary to provide high-quality lighting of a room, then it must be selected especially carefully. In this case, the main aspect will be the brightness of the light. This indicator depends on the type of LEDs used, there are 3 options in total:

1. SMD3528. The numbers indicate the size of the light element, that is, in this case it is 3.5x2.8 mm. The brightness of one LED is 5 lumens, which is not very much.
2. SMD5050. A larger version, in which a 5x5 mm diode provides a luminous flux of 15 lumens.
3. SMD5630. The most powerful light elements on the market. With a diode size of 5.6x3 mm, they give a luminous flux of 18 lumens.

variety of types of LED strips.

But the brightness of one diode is not the main indicator, the most important thing is their number per linear meter of tape. This is what the total power depends on. Here, too, each option has its own characteristics, they must be taken into account:

1. For SMD3528, the smallest quantity per meter is 30 pieces, and the largest is 240. That is, the total power can be from 150 to 1200 Lumens.
2. The SMD5050 can have up to 120 elements per meter. The maximum power of the luminous flux is 1800 lm.
3. And the SMD 5630 has a limit of 72 LEDs per meter, which gives light at 1296 Lumens.

The density of the arrangement of LEDs on the tape.

You should not select options as powerful as possible, first you need to determine for what purposes the backlight will be used:

1. If you need to provide lighting for shelves, niches or individual parts of the room, then you should not choose options with a total power per meter of more than 10 watts. This is quite enough to create a comfortable environment.
2. With general lighting of a room or part of it, there are no restrictions on maximum power. In this case, the minimum should not be less than 14.5 watts per linear meter.

LED strips can be installed both on ceilings and on walls.

To better distribute the light, you can put diffusers. They will provide more even lighting, but you need to take more brightness.

What to look for when choosing

In addition to brightness, there are a number of factors that also need to be considered. All of them affect the operation of the tape:

1. Power Supply. It should be selected depending on the length of the LED strip used and the total power of the LEDs (it is always indicated in the instructions or on the packaging, so it's easy to calculate). The block must have a power margin of at least 20%. For example, if the tape consumes 20 watts per hour, then you will need equipment with 24 watts or a little more powerful.
2. Workmanship. Everyone can appreciate this moment: if the LEDs are soldered crookedly or the soldering is sloppy and sagging, then it is better to look for another product. You also need to evaluate the characteristics of the resistors, in good tapes they use options marked 151 or 301, in cheap ones - 101. It is worth bending the tape slightly to assess elasticity - if it is very soft, then the base and current-carrying tracks are thin, which will have a bad effect on the quality of light and on the service life.
3. Protection against moisture and dust. This indicator does not really matter in living rooms, but if the tape is needed for a wet room or street (for example, an unheated balcony or terrace), then you will need a protected option. In ordinary rooms, tapes marked IP20 are suitable, for bathrooms, kitchens and bathrooms it is better to use a class not lower than IP44, and for the street - IP65.
4. Number of colors. For general lighting, monochrome ribbons are usually used, choosing warm light. There are also multicolor optionsin which different shades can alternate. They are more expensive, but are increasingly used to create a decorative effect. In this case, you will have to purchase an additional controller to change colors.
5. Tape connection type. If needed fasten together two pieces or more, it is better to buy products with connectors.This is the name of special connectors, with which you can join parts without a special tool. If there are no connectors, then you will have to solder the contacts, which is not very easy for those who do not know how to do this.

Using the connector, you can connect the LED strip in a minute.

You can control the light with a switch or a remote control. The second option is much more convenient, allowing you to adjust colors and brightness from anywhere in the room.

For tape connections you will need a copper wire, it should be selected according to power - for every 10 A 1 mm of the conductor cross section.

Which tape is better for backlighting 12 or 24 volts

To choose an option for a room, you need to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Most often, 12 V tapes are on sale, but this does not mean that they are better. Here it is necessary to take into account several important points.

Features 12V

Finding a power supply or battery for this voltage is not difficult, which is why it is popular. If it is not possible to connect to the network, this option will be the only one possible. But it also has other advantages:

1. If it is necessary to cut the tape, this can be done after about 2.5-5 cm, it all depends on the model. But there are products in which the cut lines are located every 1-2 cm. This allows you to accurately fit the pieces to the niche, so as not to think where to put the extra tails and not leave part of the space unlit.
2. Low voltage is safe for people. Even if a child or an adult touches bare contacts, there will be no danger to life. In children's rooms it is better to put just such an option.

12V options are the most common.

The main disadvantage is high currents. Because of this, voltage is lost along the length and the ends of the tape usually do not burn as brightly as the beginning.You can wire on both sides, but this will greatly complicate the work and increase costs. You can’t use pieces larger than 5 meters, which is also inconvenient, you will have to put them in such segments and power them in parallel.

Read also

Ways to use LED strip for interior decor

 

Features 24 V

The service life of this type is much longer than that of the 12 V counterpart. This is primarily due to the fact that only serious manufacturers who monitor quality make a 24 V tape. Finding a cheap option will not work. The advantages are:

1. The current is twice less. This reduces the loss in length and you can use pieces of 10 m, which is much more convenient when illuminating rooms. This allows you to run smaller wire, which reduces costs.
2. Uniform glow along the entire length. This is also due to the low current that is needed for power, the difference in brightness at the beginning and at the end of the tape is almost imperceptible.
3. The multiplicity of cutting is from 10 to 20 cm, so it is worthwhile to accurately determine the length in advance so that it does not turn out that there will be a surplus or vice versa, an extra piece will stick out.
4. Due to its brightness and durability, 24V tape is more suitable for general lighting. With it, you can abandon the chandelier and spotlights.

A 24V tape is much better suited for general lighting in a room.

Cons - electric shock will be more sensitive, although it will also not pose a danger to life. If one LED burns out, then the whole section will stop burning, with a segment length of 10 to 20 cm, this is very noticeable.

How to choose depending on the type of room

It is worth choosing lighting for a room, taking into account simple recommendations.There is no need to make the same lighting everywhere, as lighting requirements and conditions of use differ in different rooms. Remember the following:

1. For a living room or hall, you should choose a powerful multi-color tape with the ability to adjust modes and brightness. The 24V version is better.
2. The kitchen uses a moisture-proof variety that can withstand splashes. When illuminating the working area, use dim lighting; for general illumination, choose more powerful options.
3. General lighting in all rooms without the use of chandeliers and spotlights should be made from a single-color bright tape. For uniform light, special diffusers can be used.
4. In bathrooms and bathrooms, it is important to choose the right brightness. Use options with water protection of at least IP44, as humidity often rises there.
5. In children's rooms, LED strips are often used to decorate the interior. But with its help, you can light up the playing area or create a subdued light for the night period, reducing the brightness to a minimum.

An example of the use of LED strip in the living room.

If you need to make general and decorative lighting with LED strips, it's easier to put two options. At 24V for standard light, and at 12V for a variety of effects.

From the video you will find out what led strips are on aliexpress

Rating of the best tape manufacturers

You should not buy products from unknown manufacturers, as they do not last long and often the declared characteristics do not correspond to the actual ones. It is better to choose one of the trusted brands with a good reputation:

1. Electro standard. A manufacturer that has all types of tapes with different moisture protection classes.Prices depend on the number of LEDs per meter and the type of product.
2. Gauss. A company that makes quality tapes. The products have a guarantee, it is easy to choose the right solution for any room.
3. Feron. Produces options for 12 and 24 V, the prices are not very high, but the quality is good.
4. Jazzway. Products do not stand out from the general range, but are not inferior to most analogues in quality. Prices are average.
5. Navigator makes inexpensive tapes for different voltages. The quality is not bad, although there are some complaints due to inaccurate soldering and fragility of the base.
6. LEDcraft. A Russian manufacturer whose prices are slightly higher than those of a Chinese product, but the quality is better.

LEDcraft tape burns brightly and lasts a long time.

It is difficult to make an accurate rating of LED strips, as each manufacturer has pros and cons. But if you choose the products of these brands, most likely there will be no problems.

You need to select an LED strip taking into account the recommendations from the review and find products from a well-known manufacturer. The main thing is to understand the features of use, calculate the required power and right install lighting.