An LED strip is a flexible, thin (0.2-0.25 mm) printed circuit board (dielectric substrate on which conductive paths are applied) with smd type LEDs and resistors mounted on it with modules with a minimum luminescence length (MDS).
LED tapes are widely used in
lighting architectural elements, home interiors: in kitchens, for lighting walls, ceilings, furniture, aquariums, baseboards, niches and so on. They are also used when tuning cars: to illuminate the dashboard, interior, car underbody, trunk, etc. LED stripes are also convenient for creating various elements: advertising signs, figures, and more.
There are many types of LED strips. Consider the main ones:
- LED tapes differ in the type of LEDs used in them. Most often, LEDs such as SMD3528 and SMD5050 are found. SMD marking means that the elements are attached to the circuit board by surface mounting, the numbers indicate the size of the LED (3.5 mm × 2.8 mm, 5 mm × 5 mm);
- by the number of LEDs per one meter of tape, and therefore by the brightness of the glow, power consumption. SMD3528 type tapes come in two types: 60 pcs. or 120 pcs., and SMD5050 type - 30 pcs. and 60 pcs. respectively. The power consumption of such tapes will be 4.8–9.6 W and 8.6–17.2 W per linear meter. Accordingly, the power supply of the LED strip will be 0.4–0.8 and 0.7–1.4 amperes per linear meter with a supply voltage of 12 volts.
- According to the quality of the used elements, LED tapes are divided into professional and tape and economy class. In professional use high quality components that undergo a serious selection. Such products serve for a long time and meet all the declared characteristics. Low-quality components have a much shorter service life, lower price, characterize an economical option for backlighting - the result is an economical LED strip. The price of a professional tape is 5 and more dollars per meter (60 diodes) and 10 and more dollars per meter (120 diodes), the economy class is about half as much;
- by the degree of protection against external influences, such as solid particles, dust, moisture, etc. For example, in the name of the model of the tape you can see the designation IP20, IP33, IP65, etc., this is a marking of the degree of protection. The first digit indicates the level of protection against dust and solid objects, the second - from moisture. The higher the number, the higher the level of protection. For outdoor lighting, it is recommended to use waterproof, waterproof LED strips that have degrees of protection IP65, IP67 and IP68. There are tapes that can be installed directly under water - to illuminate pools, fountains, embankments, etc .;
- by the color of the glow: white (warm, cold), yellow, red, blue and green light. Smd tapes of various colors using controllers allow you to emit a wide variety of colors and their shades. There are tapes on which, next to the LEDs of the primary colors, white cold and warm glow diodes are installed, this combination allows you to reproduce any shades, soft bed tones. The controllers are available with a remote control;
- by the color of the substrate: black, white, yellow. The color of the substrate does not affect the characteristics of the tape.