How to choose a LED tape : types and features

Today, decorative lighting has become a widely-used design solution, which allows not only to give an unusual type of the ordinary things, but also to emphasize the importance of one or another design element.It is used to create it is not other than the LED ribbon - that it allows you to evenly illuminate the very extensive areas of something.About how to choose the LED ribbon, we will cover in this article.

Let's start with the fact that it will determine the two main types - they are marked only three letters of the alphabet.This tape is called SMD and its advanced analogue RGB with marking.The difference between them is very significant and it is the ability of the lighting device.In the first case (SMD) tape diodes can emit only one type of light - is either white light, or blue, or any other.In contrast, RGB LED Strip Light is able to emit any color of the rainbow and even different shades.It is with these varieties of LED strip and worth investigating in the first place, coming to the question of how to choose LED strips?This is the question we are going to do with the website "Dream House."

How to choose a LED tape photo

How to choose LED Strip: Features RGB LED

This type of LED strips is today considered the most advanced - of this one small LED luminaire includes three more small diode.One emits red light, the second green, blue and third - in various combinations, and they provide different types of illumination.By the way, three of these diodes and gave its name to the tape of this type (RGB - Red, Green, Blue).

For glow of different types to a tape necessarily attached control element - the controller with a remote control.With his help, by pressing different keys can be controlled not only by the type and intensity of glow tape, but also ask her various modes such as a Christmas garland.These capabilities allow the fixture to create a different mood in the room and change the perception of the room as a whole.

What LED ribbon choose to illuminate the ceiling photo

This tape has almost no species and different from each other, it can only number of LEDs (standard it can contain 60 or 120 diodes in meters) or the principle of the implementation of RGB effect.In the latter case, there are two options.

1. Standard RGB tape, which was discussed above - the one in which the three LEDs of different colors are combined in a single product.
2. Alternating LED ribbon red, green and blue.This option can be called rather a garland, and features it is much inferior to the first.The fact that the one placed in the housing and positioned close to each other three LEDs in a position to create other colors and color shades (including white light) and scattered on the tape and spaced apart diodes can not do this.
   

   Choosing LED strip photo

answer the question of how best LED strip, here is obvious.Naturally the one that gives more possibilities, ie RGB tape in which three diodes are combined into one.In general, today is the best tape that can solve many design tasks - not only is it with the same success can act as a conventional lighting in the room.

What are the LED Strip: SMD and variations

have LED strip SMD varieties much more and classify it can be far in two ways.The most important, fundamental in the choice, but not the main - this type of emission.As mentioned above, such a tape can emit a certain shade of color.Besides the fact that we can talk about the main color of the rainbow, stand still, and different shades.For example, only white light can be divided into three spectral band - cold white light (glow temperature is about 6000 K), a white light (5000K in the area) and warm white light that can even be called yellow (about 4000K).

What better LED ribbon photo

In addition to these differences, making the choice of SMD LED strip, should also pay attention to the following points.

1. Number of LEDs in the meter.This not only brightness, but also the uniformity - tape with fewer diodes creates a less uniform light.This is very noticeable in case of failure of one of the diodes.Standard SMD LED strip produced with the number of LEDs in the meter to be 60, 120 or even 240sht.The latter option tape (240sht. Meters) differs double width so as diodes arranged in it in two rows.
2. LEDs Size - this luminescence brightness and stability, and the uniformity of the emitted light and even the durability of the belt.It's simple - the big size of the diode allows to insert the larger crystal, which will shine brighter and last longer.LED Size displayed in the marking tape.For example, SMD5050 - this means that the tape 5 is equipped with LEDs on the size of 5mm.In general, the range of the size of a number of light-emitting diodes rather wide - on sale you can find models SMD2835 (2,8mm to 3,5mm), SMD5630 and SMD5050 above example.It is only the basic model, except that there are other dimensions.
   

   Varieties LED strip photo

3. manufacturer.I have nothing against Chinese goods, but choosing them inexpensive products, it is understood that you are buying is not that stated by the manufacturer - in reality can only correspond to the number and size of the LEDs.Everything else is pure fantasy sellers - this is the power and type of emission, and even the brightness and lifetime.All these indicators need to share at least two, and only then will you get the true state of affairs.
4. Incidentally, the power LED strip - an important indicator, but it is not particularly shown in the choice.It is important when selecting the adapter to your chosen feed.In principle, these moments can not even bother - any more or less knowledgeable seller will offer to your belt is the power supply that is suitable for her.
5. degree of protection against external factors.In short and clear, the tape is of two types (this also applies to SMD and RGB tapes) - waterproof and unprotected from moisture.The one that is protected from dust and water, a silicone sheath and further still marked by two letters and two digits - IP65, indicating the presence of the shell.This tape can even be used for outdoor decorative lighting or lighting.
   

   What are LED strip photo

important point is the choice of the stated period - when deciding what to choose LED strips to illuminate the ceiling, it can not be ignored.Typically, a tape set is not in sight - in a small niche to itself luminaire was hidden from view, and the light from it made its way out.To change this tape, with enviable regularity is very inconvenient.Buy it with the same regularity as not very cheap.The higher the stated service life, the better (again, this does not apply to products of this type from China) - usually either 30 000 hours, or 50 000 or 100 000 hours.

By and large, this is all kinds of LED strip.As you can see, the choice of a simple, such as, in general, and the wiring diagram of the lighting equipment of this type.With the installation of the tape is quite possible to understand even a child.

And finally threads, how to choose LED strips, say a few words about the accompanying equipment - on the controller as a power supply for these fixtures is granted.We are all accustomed to the fact that you can only control the RGB tape, changing her tone, and so on, but that's about all SMD tape for some reason forget, and yet there are management tools for it.With their help, you can change the brightness of the ribbon and set various modes of operation - for example, you can make a treadmill or flicker at different speeds.In general, creating interior illumination, this point should not be forgotten.

author Vladimir Belov