A LED strip light is like a fluorescent tube light in that it is a continuous strip with tiny LEDs. However, LED strip lights are very different from T5 or T8 fluorescent lighting because they are built for discreet lighting applications and do not give off much heat.
They are available in various colours and offer many advantages over other types of lighting. This article explores everything you need to know about LED strip lights and light controllers and why they are the perfect solution for so many environments.
After finishing this article, you will be able to choose the right LED strip light for your home, office, bar, or any other space that needs discreet lighting.
What is an LED Strip Light?
An LED strip light is a thin, flexible strip built with small, low-voltage LEDs. A typical LED strip light measures about 1/2-inch wide and is available in lengths from 2 feet to 100 feet.
You will see these lights used for accent lighting and under-cabinet lighting. They are also great for other sensitive lighting applications, such as cove lighting, cove accent lighting, stairwell lighting, and more.
LED strip lights are frequently used in Australia to light signs, artwork, cabinets, windowsills, and architectural accents. They are available in various colours, including greens and blues, reds and yellows, and whites and warm shades of white. They can also be programmed to change colour and intensity.
Benefits of LED Strip Lighting
LED strip lights offer many benefits compared to fluorescent or incandescent lights.
Here are just a few reasons why they are the best choice for discreet lighting applications:
- They produce very little heat. They have only about ten per cent as much heat as fluorescent lights. This makes them ideal for use in hot, humid environments like kitchens.
- They are highly durable and long-lasting. They can last more than 50,000 hours, which is about fifty times longer than a typical fluorescent light bulb.
- They are extremely energy efficient. They use about 80 per cent less energy than fluorescent lights and about 90 per cent less energy than incandescent lights.
Types of LED Strip Lights
Three main types of LED strip lights in Australia are surface mount, semi-flush mount, and embedded mount.
Here is how they differ:
- Surface Mount LED Strip Lights. These LED strip lights are designed to be mounted to a surface such as a wall or a cabinet. They are also called clipping LED lights because you clip them to the surface where you want to mount them.
- Semi-flush Mount LED Strip Lights. Semi-flush mount LED strip lights attach to a surface using a bracket. They are typically used for under-cabinet lighting but can also be used for other applications.
- Embedded Mount LED Strip Lights. These LED strip lights are designed to be mounted inside your wall or ceiling. They are often used for architectural lighting.
How to Choose the Right LED Strip Light?
When buying an LED strip light, you would want to consider the following factors:
- Colour: You might want to decide what colour you need the light to be. You can choose from various colours, including red, green, blue, white, and yellow.
- You would also want to decide how bright the light needs to be. A wide range of brightness levels is available so that you can find just the right amount of light for your application.
- You also need to decide how long the light needs to be. You can buy a strip light in just about any size.
- It would help if you decided what voltage is suitable for your application. For example, most LED strip lights in Australia are 12 volts, but 24 volts are also available.
- Lastly, you would need to decide how much power the light will use. This will be listed in watts, so you need to know how many watts your application needs.
LED Strip Light Installation
When installing LED strip lights in Australia, there are a few things to remember. First, you need to decide where you want to mount the lights. You can mount the lights on a wall or ceiling or mount them underneath a cabinet.
It would be best if you also decided whether you want surface mount or semi-flush mount lights. Next, you need to determine where the power source will be. Finally, you can power the lights with a low-voltage transformer or a 12-volt battery.
You must choose the type of LED strip lights that are right for your application. When installing an LED strip light in Australia, you must first decide where to mount the lights. For example, you can mount the lights on a wall or ceiling underneath a cabinet.
Once you have decided where to mount the lights, you need to determine whether you want surface or semi-flush mount lights. Next, we need to decide where the power source will be.
You can power the lights with a low-voltage transformer or a 12-volt battery. But first, you must choose the type of LED strip lights that are right for your application.