How to Choose a Cutting RGB LED Strip? How to install the RGB LED Strip Light

1. What is LED? Why choose LED strip?

LED, full name is Light Emitting Diode. It is a solid-state semiconductor device that can convert electrical energy into visible light, and can directly convert electricity into light. The light-emitting diode is made of III-IV compounds, such as GaAs, GaP, GaAsP and other semiconductors, and its core is a PN junction. Under the forward voltage, electrons are injected into the P zone from the N zone, and holes are injected into the N zone from the P zone. Part of the minority carriers entering the opposing area recombine with the majority carriers and emit light.

Advantages of LED strips: Compared with traditional incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, LED strips have the characteristics of low energy consumption, sturdiness and durability, long service life, and safety.

Please Click Here for more introduction.

2. What are the common types of LED strips on the market? What's the difference?

When searching online, you can see various LED light strips. All these light strips can be divided into flexible LED strips and rigid LED bars.

The LED flexible light bar can be bent or cut at will and can be installed in uneven or irregular places. Generally, FPC is used to assemble circuit boards, and there is tape on the back, which can be pasted on the surface of the object. Due to the LED flexible light strips are generally very thin, the heat dissipation is not as good as the LED rigid board.

The LED hard light bar is to welds the LED on an aluminum PCB board. The shape of the LED rigid light bar cannot be changed and can only be installed on a flat surface, which has limitations in the use scene. The aluminum board is thicker than the flexible LED strip, so it has better heat dissipation.

From the perspective of the LED size, the common LED strips can be divided into SMD3528, SMD 2835, SMD 5050. First of all, let me explain here that 2835, 3528 and 5050 mentioned here actually refer to the model of the LED lamp beads, not the LED strip. 3528, 2835, and 5050 all represent the size of the lamp bead. 3528 means 3.5mm *2.8mm, 2835 means 2.8mm*3.5mm, and 5050 means 5.0mm*5.0mm. From the picture below, you can see they are different in appearance. Now, let's see how they are different in detail.

3528 vs. 2835： The thickness of 2835 LED beads is 1mm thinner than 3528 LED beads. The light-emitting area of the 3528 LED bead is 4.5mm², and the light-emitting area of 2835 is 9.18mm². So the light-emitting area of the 3528 LED lamp bead is twice that of the 3528 LED lamp bead, while the 3528 has no heat sink design. So the 2835 LED is much better than the heat dissipation of the 3528 LED. 3528 is generally used to produce 0.06W lamp beads with a maximum power of 0.1W, while 2835 lamp beads are mainly used to produce 0.2W and 0.5W lamp beads. The maximum can be used to produce 1W (PCT bracket), 3W (EMC bracket) Lamp beads, this is the biggest difference between 3528 lamp beads and 2835 lamp beads.

3528 vs. 5050： In addition to the different sizes of SMD 5050 LED and SMD 2835 LED, their power and brightness are also different. SMD 5050 LED is generally packaged in parallel with 3pcs 0.02W chips, the total power is 0.2W, and the brightness is 20-26 lm. Of course, if use the chip with higher bare crystal brightness, the brightness can reach to 26-28lm, 28-30lm/30-32lm/ 32-35lm, etc.

2835 vs. 5050： The SMD 2835 LED is generally packaged in a single chip, and the power is 0.2W, 0.5W and 1W. When using a 0.2W chip, the brightness is the same as that of 5050, which can achieve 20-26 lm. It is also possible to use chips with higher bare crystal brightness to achieve several different brightness ranges such as 26-28lm/28-30lm/30-32lm/32-35lm. Due to the thickness of 2835 LED being thinner than that of the 5050, and it is single-chip packaged, so the light source is relatively concentrated.

LED light strips can also be divided into with IC and without IC. The LED strip without IC is the regular LED tape which can only emit one color of light at a time, and the entire light strip changes colors at the same time. The LED strip with IC is called an addressable LED strip which can transfer signal and be controlled by LED controller to emit different colors at one time.

When searching for "addressable light strips" on the Internet, you can find a variety of addressable light strips, such as WS2811, WS2812B, WS2813, WS2815, SM16703, etc. Next, let us compare the differences between several common addressable LED light strips.

WS2811 vs. WS2812B :

WS2811 LED strip is a simple but stable RGB LED strip, it has 3pcs output channels which are for LED driver circuits. There is an intelligent digital port data latch and signal amplification drive circuit. The 3 output channels are designed with a delay turn-on function to reduce power supply ripple.

WS2812B integrates the control circuit and RGB chip into an SMD 5050 LED bead, which is an intelligent control LED light strip.

WS2812B integrates the control circuit and RGB chip into an SMD 5050 LED bead, which is an intelligent control LED light strip. WS2812B light strip has a built-in IC which enables signal transfer through a single-wire interface.

WS2813 vs. WS2815:

WS2813 also integrated the control circuit and RGB chip into a package of SMD 5050 components, which is an intelligent control LED light strip. It includes an internal intelligent digital port data latch and signal reshaping amplification drive circuit, and a precision internal oscillator and a 5V voltage programmable constant current control portion, these together achieved an exceedingly consistent color effect.

WS2815 is upgraded from WS2812B and is compatible with the same protocol, the main improvement is that the internal PWM frequency has been increased. WS2815 is DC12V dual signal wires LED strip. WS2815 is DC12V dual signal wires LED strip. If one chip gets damaged, the signal can still reach to other chips, so the WS2815 has more stable signal transmission function.

To see the difference between WS2812B and WS2813, please Click Here.

If you are interested in the DMX LED strip light, welcome to view: DMX RGB LED strip.

3. How to choose your LED strip? Please pay attention to the below points.

3.1 Voltage: DC5V or DC12V or DC24V

LED low-voltage strips are usually available in 5v, 12v, and 24v. Which one to choose depends on the voltage of your accessories (such as power supply) and the length of the light strip in series. The more common models in the market are 12v and 24v. Under the premise of not causing a voltage drop, the distance that 24v light strips can usually be connected in series is twice that of 12v. Therefore, it is recommended to use 12V LED strips in small projects. For larger installation projects, it is more appropriate to use 24V LED strips.

3.2 Color: White or RGB or RGBW

If it is just to meet the needs of daily lighting and no other special application, the single white color LED strip is ok. But when choosing the white color, we must pay attention to the choice of color temperature. The image above shows the lighting effects at different color temperatures. Here are some tips for choosing the right color temperature.

When single white color cannot meet your demand, you will face choosing RGB or RGBWLED strip. About how to choose between RGB and RGBW, please click here to check the details.

3.3 Waterproof grade (IP Rating)

Before talking about the IP Rating differences, let’s see the waterproof forms of the LED lights.

1)Structure waterproof: Structural waterproofing means that the LED light bar supplier combines the structural components of the product to make it waterproof. LED products based on structural waterproof design require silicone seals and profiles to be waterproof. The shell structure is relatively accurate and complex, and is usually suitable for large-scale lamps, such as pixel lights, floodlights, linear lights, wall washers and other high-power LED lights.

2)Material waterproof: The waterproof design of the material realizes insulation and waterproofing by filling the potting compound. It uses a sealant to bond the joints between the closed structural members together, so that the electrical components are completely airtight, so as to achieve the waterproof function of the lamp. Material waterproof is suitable for LED flexible strips.

3)Waterproof coating: The LED strips can be uncoated (not waterproof), splash-proof, or completely waterproof. Using this waterproof layer LED light, you can install the LED light strip almost anywhere, in the bathroom and kitchen or any other location that needs to be waterproof. The waterproof coating is mostly used for rigid LED bars.

Different IP Ratings shows in the below pictures, please check this for more details.

3.4 Color rendering index (CRI)

The color rendering of LED light strips is not very important when the product is used in indirect lighting lamp tanks. However, when applied to large-area lighting, as basic lighting or as display lighting in showcases, the color rendering index Ra>80 is a requirement that a professional LED strip must meet. Suntech has been producing and operating high-quality LED strips for many years, and the color rendering index (CRI) of our LED strips is above 90.

This article details the difference between CRI 70, 80, and 90: CRI 90 VS CRI 80 VS CRI 70 Led strip light.

3.5 Where to buy? Manufacturer or Distributors?

Compared with resellers, manufacturers usually provide better products than distributors, and their prices will be more favorable. In addition, LED manufacturers have more knowledge about the products and can better help you choose the right LED strips for your project.

Suntech always provides the best LED products, Click Here and email to Suntech team.

4. The installation instructions

If these LED strips are used for large-scale lighting projects, professionals will install them. However, if you install the LED strip yourself, please read the following to install it correctly.

4.1 Indoor installation:

When installing the LED light bar indoors, the installation is very simple because it does not have to withstand the wind and rain. Suntech LED strips are covered with 3M double-sided tape on the back of each LED strip. When installing, simply tear off the 3M double-sided adhesive sticker on the back of the light bar, and then stick the light bar to the place where it needs to be installed.

If you want to install it at a corner or uneven place, you can cut off the LED strip and install it. Generally, the DC24V 60LEDs/m LED strip is composed of 3 LEDs in series and parallel, you can cut every 3 LEDs and used them individually.

4.2 Outdoor installation:

If using 3M tape is for outdoor installation, it will be exposed to wind and rain. Over time, the viscosity of 3M glue will decrease and the LED strip will fall off. Therefore, the installation method of fixed card slot is often used outdoors, and the places that need to be cut and connected are the same as indoor installation. Need to be equipped with waterproof glue to enhance the waterproof effect of the joint.

Please check this blog for more details: How to install LED strips?

5. Conclusion

Thank you for reading so far. We not only hope you to get high-quality LED light products but also want every customer to be satisfied with the products they have purchased. Therefore, choosing a reliable manufacturer is the first priority, they can help you choose the right product and provide you with the best service.

If you have any other questions or further requirements, welcome to contact us. We will be glad to help you with any problems.

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