How to choose a quality LED strip

Hello dear guests and subscribers of my channel.

When buying building materials, in particular, LED lighting, we want not only to save money, but also to purchase a quality product.

In this article I will tell you how to choose a high-quality LED strip and not worry that it will burn out in six months. So let's get started.

Why do you need an LED strip

LED strips are a decorative element that in some moments can even replace the main light source.

I believe that this type of lighting not only has the right to exist, but also simply must be present in your home. Indeed, with the help of tapes, you can highlight the following places:

1. Kitchen. Namely, the work area is above the table top.
2. Ceilings. The latest trend in ceiling lighting is backlighting (floating ceiling) and continuous illumination of a stretch ceiling. And if you have a two-level ceiling, then the LED strip will perfectly emphasize this.
3. Aquariums, terrariums. If you have exotic animals or fish in your house, then you cannot do without beautiful lighting.

And this is not a complete list of applications for LED strips.

How to choose an LED strip

Here's my position: I'm not a rich person to buy cheap things. Therefore, in order for the backlight to please for a long time and without complaints, choose a quality product.

Before you start choosing an LED strip, decide where it will be installed. For example, if in a sauna or bath, then pay attention to these points.

Waterproof. For rooms with high humidity, choose IP68 tape. It can even be submerged in water, making it perfect for illuminating an aquarium.

Colour. The next step is to choose the color of the ribbon. They are of several types.

1. Monochrome: orange, yellow, green, red, blue, pink.
2. White (11 shades).
3. White MIX. When to get different shades of white.
4. Multi-color RGB
5. Multi-color RGB with separate white LEDs. They are chosen for high quality white light.

The most popular are cold (blue 5000 K) and warm (white 3000 K). Choose what fits into the interior. The only advice I can give is to pay attention to the multi-color options. If you get tired of the color, then in such a tape it is easy to replace it.

The brightness of the LED strip. It depends on the size and density of the LEDs.

Read the label to find out the size of the LED. Let's take the labeling tape RTW-5000PWT-4040-120-24V RGB. Here 4040 - LED size, next digit 120 - the number of LEDs per meter of tape.

The most common LED sizes are:

• SMD3528 emits a luminous flux of 0.6 - 5 lumens, depending on the color of the tape. Suitable exclusively for decoration and no more.
• SMD4040 are already capable of delivering up to 15 lumens, but the value directly depends on the color. A strip with such diodes can already be used as the main light source.
• SMD5060 RGB capable of delivering 0.6-2.5 lumens;
• SMD5630 will give up to 18 lumens, but rarely used in homes. But in offices and on billboards, they can be found quite often.

In order not to tire you with calculations of lumens, be guided by the following numbers:

• 10 W / m - tape for decoration.
• 14 W / m and more - for main lighting.

Features of sealed and heat-resistant tapes

I would also like to dwell on LED strips with an increased degree of protection against moisture, namely strips RTW-5000PU-Blue and RTW-5000PWT-4040-120-24V RGB.

Their main feature lies in the fact that they have a degree of protection IP 68. In this case, the protective shell is made of polyurethane, which provides protection not only from water, but also from aggressive substances that can be dissolved in it (for example, from bleach).

Thus, RTW-5000PU tape is ideal for decorating both the facade of your house and swimming pools.

But RTW-5000PU tape cannot be used at high temperatures. So for a sauna or bath, you need to use a special LED strip, for example, the RTW-5000PWT-4040-120-24V RGB series.

Its peculiarity lies in the fact that the temperature range at which it can work for a long time is in the range from -30 to +80 degrees Celsius. And at its peak, the tape can withstand temperatures up to 100 degrees.

Remember that the choice of tape must be approached very carefully. Only in this case it will serve you not only the warranty period, but also much longer.

Choosing peripheral devices

So, the tape is selected, but that's half the battle. Now let's quickly go over the peripherals.

• Power Supply. A lot depends on the quality of the power supply. Therefore, we choose it by the formula:
• Power of the connected tape + 20% reserve = Power of the power supply.
• Aluminum profile. Necessarily needed when using tape over 9.6 W / meter to avoid overheating. Fortunately, their choice is quite extensive.
• Supply wires of the appropriate cross-section. You can find out the cross section using calculator on the manufacturer's website. The wiring must be of high quality, otherwise even a good tape and power supply will be unstable.

These are the main criteria by which I recommend choosing an LED strip for your home. Buy only high-quality goods, and you will be sure that the products will last a long time and flawlessly.

Buy quality tapes and peripherals on the website Arlight.ru