LED Strip Lighting – Choosing the Right Product For The Job

LED strip lighting is incredibly versatile and can be used for anything from subtle accent lighting to bright illumination of display windows. There are various different types of lighting strips on the market, so it helps to understand what each set of numbers signifies, so that you get the right lighting strip for the job you have in mind.

Number of LEDs per meter
LED strip lighting generally comes in two LED per meter varieties: 60 LED per meter and 30 LED per meter. This indicates to how many actually LED lights there are positioned along each meter length. The 60 LED per meter clearly has the most LEDs, and so the brighter light. This is most suitable when you want illumination bright enough to compete with other lighting in the immediate area, or when you want the lighting to be noticeable even in daylight. For subtler lighting effects, accent lighting and lighting in an area that does not have other lighting, the 30 LED per meter is usually sufficient.

Size of LEDs
The size of each LED is another factor that determines the brightness and the distribution of the light. This is indicated by the four figure number referring to the chip sizes. The 5050 indicates a 5mm x 5mm chip, whereas the 3528 means a 3.5mm x 2.8 mm chip. The larger chips will give a brighter and more even light.

Color of LEDs
LED strip lighting comes in several colors: cool white and warm white are a standard choice for regular lighting situations. Then there are the colored strip lights: for decorative reasons you can choose a single color lighting strip, or go for the color changing RGB LED which is often programmable for a whole series of lighting effects.

Length of strips
LED strip lighting usually comes in reels of either 5m or 10m as standard, but often custom lengths can be ordered. In addition the strips have cutting points at intervals, so can be cut to the lengths required very easily.

Easy installation
Some products offer a self-adhesive back for easy attachment and installation. This can be an advantage for small DIY installations, or you may prefer to have strips mounted on aluminum flat bar for extra protection.

Different manufacturers can offer even more variables as well as custom options in LED strip lighting, so discuss your requirements with your LED lighting or signage specialist to decide exactly which product will suit you best.