LED strip has recently become an extremely popular tool for decorating and decorating interiors and exteriors. Its use allows you to put bold experiments in design. The dimensions and life of the LED strip almost do not leave her competition. However, some buyers remain dissatisfied with her work. Consider what problems you may encounter by buying an LED strip.
Areas of use
Depending on the power of the LEDs, LED strips can be used as a source of main light or to illuminate individual elements. They are in demand both in everyday life and in places of mass gatherings of people - in restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs. LED strips can decorate the windows of large stores, as well as a small cutlery cabinet in the kitchen. The areas of application of this device are almost limitless, because light illumination will decorate and give a new look to anything. Given that the ribbons can be of various colors, they become an almost indispensable design element.
Installation
LED strips are also popular because they are characterized by extremely easy installation. They can be laid in aluminum profiles specially manufactured for them, which scatter light and provide soft lighting. Due to their small dimensions, tapes can be placed in the slots of ceiling or floor skirting boards, giving the room a futuristic look.
They are suitable for cars, providing interior lighting. Installation of LED strips is extremely simple. They can be glued to silicone or glue, laid in special profiles. Even a child can easily cope with their installation. It is important to understand that for tapes that are not connected to the power consumption system, you will need to purchase a power supply, which, thanks to its small size, is easily hidden in the interior details.
LED strip problems
Since LEDs and tapes have become extremely popular in recent years, many low-quality offers have appeared on the market. If the declared life of an LED strip is usually fifty thousand hours, then in reality this may not be the case. The main problems of LED strips most often lie in poor manufacturing. Many manufacturers seek to minimize their costs. In pursuit of profit, they save on the quality of the product they produce.
Many people know that the basis of the LED strip should be the crystals of the same name. The life of the LEDs in the LED strip depends on how well they are produced. These crystals are characterized by degradation, which leads to a decrease in luminous flux. The degradation rate of various manufacturers varies very significantly. So, one LED strip can lose only two to three percent of its brightness in ten thousand hours, and the other - twenty, and sometimes thirty.
In industry, the accepted standard for service life is to reduce luminous flux by thirty percent. However, unscrupulous manufacturers may underestimate these values. They indicate a brightness reduction of up to fifty percent or more as a service life. Of course, this is at variance with the expectations of customers.
Real life of LED lamps and fixtures
How to find out when buying how long the LED will last? It is difficult to answer this question, since too many factors influence the indicator. Most importantly, you need to consult about the manufacturer. Companies that have not established themselves in the market can sell low-quality goods.
Be sure to pay attention to the cost of the product. Too low a price (compared to peers) almost certainly means that the product is of poor quality. However, many LEDs are produced at the same factory and are only packaged in different packages.
How then to determine the quality of the goods? Already the aforementioned standard of service life is marked as follows: L70 or LM70. If the package says the total service life without such marking, then most likely the time until the LED completely dies out is indicated.
It is important to understand that large numbers of LED strip life is just a marketing ploy. When buying, you need to check the soldering of the elements. Each LED in the tape should be level, the soldering should be the same for all elements. It is advisable to ask the LED strip directly in the store and check how it works. The light should be even, without drops and flickers. True, even this does not guarantee that you will buy a quality tape.
Operation Errors
The weakest point when using high-quality LED strips is the power supply. For LED strip, the life of this device is usually more than five years, but problems with it can occur every year.
The main errors in the operation of power supplies are overload and heating. Of course, the quality of the block itself plays a fundamental role. However, improper use can lead to damage. If you install the power supply in a place with limited air access, it may overheat. This critically reduces its service life. In no case should you hide it in places without air. This can lead not only to damage, but also to fire.
Overload of the power supply occurs if it does not have enough power reserve. When you connect an LED strip to it, which will consume one hundred percent of its power, the unit will work with overload, and the voltage drop can become fatal for it. Do not forget about the class of his protection. To install the LED strip and the unit in the bathroom, bathhouse or place with high humidity, you must choose the appropriate type of devices that can work in high humidity conditions.
Conclusion
The most important thing for the long and high-quality functioning of LED strips and power supplies for them is their quality. It’s better to overpay for a well-known company that values its reputation than then solve problems with lighting or fire. LED strip - this is not the product on which you can save. It must be borne in mind that low-quality LED strips have a too short service life, so you will have to change them often. As a result, costs will only increase.