Arrows from a diode tape. How the LED strip works, what you need to know when connecting
This is an artificial light source, which is a narrow flexible strip with conductors, up to 5 m long, on which LEDs are installed equidistantly. The LEDs on the tape are divided into groups. Each group consists of several LEDs connected in series and is a complete circuit, which allows you to cut the tape across into segments of any length multiple of the length of one group.
LED strips
LED strips are available in monochrome, luminous only in one color (red, blue, green, yellow or white) and universal (R G B), the glow color of which can be changed independently using the remote control remote control, including one of the primary colors or choosing any that exists in nature.
It is also possible to turn on a mode in which the color of the LED strip will change smoothly over the entire range with a given rate of change over time.
R G B led strip
According to the organization of light emission R G B LED strips are of three types.
The first type of tape uses LEDs LED-R-SMD3528 or LED-R-SMD5050 (red), LED-G-SMD3528 or LED-G-SMD5050 (green) and LED-B-SMD3528 or LED-B-SMD5050 (blue) , soldered in three pieces next to each other in repeating triads along the entire length of the tape. Changing the color of the glow of the tape is achieved by group changing the intensity of the glow of the LEDs of each color. Such LED strips are well suited for interior lighting in cases where LEDs are hidden from human eyes. If the LEDs are visible, then changing the color of the glow will be less effective.
R , G and B LEDs of the SMD3528 series have a size of 3.5 × 2.8 mm 2 and emit a luminous flux from 0.6 to 2.2 lumens, depending on the color of the glow. LEDs of the SMD5050 series are larger in size (their size is 5 × 5 mm 2) and accordingly shine brighter, the luminous flux is, depending on the color of the glow, from 2 to 8 lumens. Therefore, by the size of the soldered LEDs on the tape, even without knowing the technical characteristics, it is easy to determine which of them will shine brighter.
In the second type of tapes, R G B LEDs of the LED-RGB-SMD3528 or LED-RGB-SMD5050 series are used. A distinctive feature of these LEDs is that three LEDs are mounted in one housing at once - red, green and blue. Therefore, their luminous flux is much less and is only 0.3-1.6 lumens for LED-RGB-SMD3528, and only 0.6-2.5 lumens for LED-RGB-SMD5050. But due to the fact that the color emitters are located almost at one point, a high efficiency of color gradation has been achieved.
More recently, a new type of LED WS2812B (has four pins) and WS2812S (has six pins) has appeared. In terms of geometric dimensions and appearance, these LEDs do not differ from LED-RGB-SMD5050. However, thanks to the installation of the WS2811 PWM controller in the WS2812 LED housing, it became possible to control each of the LEDs installed on the LED strip personally with just two wires.
Thus, designers have the opportunity to change the color of the glow of any section of the tape, regardless of its length, at their discretion. Widespread use of WS2812 LED strip is constrained high price and the need to use an expensive specialized controller. Without a control signal from the controller to the WS2812 LED, it will not shine.
LED strip marking
LED strips are marked by all manufacturers, as a rule, according to a single international standard. The protection class in the marking is indicated in accordance with the requirements of the IEC-952 standard for protecting electrical equipment from external factors.
| Reference table for marking LED strips | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ordinal number of the alphabetic or numeric sequence in the marking | Designation in the marking | Deciphering the designation | ||
| 1 (light source) | LED | Light-emitting diode | ||
| 2 (glow color) | R | Red | ||
| G | Green | |||
| B | Blue | |||
| RGB | Any | |||
| CW | White | |||
| 3 (type of pins on the chip) | smd | Leadless chip for installation directly on printed circuit board | ||
| 4 (geometric size of the light source body) | 5050 | in the example 5 mm×5 mm | ||
| 5 (number of LEDs per meter length) | 60 | pieces | ||
| 6 (class of protection against external factors) | IP | The protection class in the marking is indicated in accordance with the requirements of the IEC-952 standard for protecting electrical equipment from external factors. | ||
| 7 (first digit after IP, protection against ingress of solid objects) | ||||
| 0 | No protection | |||
| 1 | From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 50 mm or more | |||
| 2 | From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 12 mm or more, a length of not more than 80 mm | |||
| 3 | From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more | |||
| 4 | From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 1 mm or more | |||
| 5 | It is allowed to ingress dust in an amount insufficient to disrupt the operation of the equipment | |||
| 6 | Dust ingress is not allowed | |||
| 8 (second digit after IP, protection against liquid ingress into the case) | 0 | No protection | ||
| 1 | From vertically falling drops of water | |||
| 2 | From water drops falling at an angle of 15° | |||
| 3 | From water drops falling at an angle of 60° | |||
| 4 | From water splashed at any angle | |||
| 5 | From a jet of water sprayed at any angle | |||
| 6 | From strong water jet (100 l/min, 100 kPa) | |||
| 7 | From water ingress when immersed to a depth of 15 cm | |||
| 8 | From water ingress during prolonged immersion | |||
Consider, for example, how the marking of the LED strip LED-CW-SMD-5050/60 IP68 is deciphered. LED - LED strip, CW - white light, SMD - made on the base without output LEDs, 5050 - LED housing size 50x50 mm 2, 60 - 60 LEDs are installed on one meter of the tape length, IP68 - according to the degree of protection, the tape is designed for long-term operation on depth (for example, to illuminate an aquarium or pool from the inside).
If there is no IP parameter in the marking, then the LED strip does not have any degree of protection, that is, the degree of protection corresponds to IP00.
Moisture resistance of LED strips
According to the degree of protection against moisture, LED strips can be divided into three categories: waterproof, waterproof and moisture resistant.
Waterproof can only be used in dry rooms where there is no high humidity. Moisture-proof are designed for use in rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, baths, building facades, where direct contact with water on the tape is excluded).
Moisture-resistant tapes are designed to work directly in the aquatic environment, such as in an aquarium, they can be placed to illuminate the bottom of the pool.
In the photo, the LED strip is completely sealed with silicone, so the LEDs and resistors are reliably protected from water. Waterproof LED strips can be used without restrictions for outdoor advertising, light decoration of streets and buildings. When choosing a moisture-proof tape, it should be borne in mind that part of the light flux is lost when passing through the silicone layer.
For outdoor decorative lighting, there are special led strips called Duralight, which belong to the waterproof category.
Density of placement of LEDs on the tape
The brightness of the LED strip depends not only on the type of LEDs installed, but also on their number. The unit of measurement is considered to be the number of LEDs installed per meter of tape length. The more LEDs, the naturally, the luminous flux will be greater. Typically, the number of LEDs per meter of strip length for 12 V LED strips ranges from 30 to 120 pieces. For LED strips designed for a supply voltage of 24 V, the number of LEDs can reach up to 240 pieces per meter of length; in such strips, the LEDs are placed in parallel in two rows.
But it must be taken into account that the more LEDs per meter of the length of the LED strip, the more powerful the power supply will be required and the more expensive the purchase will be. The choice of this parameter must be approached from the position of "necessary and sufficient". For example, there are 30 LEDs per meter of tape, therefore, the distance between them is 3.3 cm, which is quite enough in the vast majority of cases.
Choosing an LED strip according to the amount of light output
The main lighting characteristic is the intensity of the luminous flux, which is expressed in lumens per meter (lm / m). The amount of luminous flux is determined by the type and number of LEDs installed on one meter of tape. Knowing the type of LEDs and their number, it is easy to independently determine the luminous flux.
For example, 30 LED-CW-SMD3528 type LEDs (size 3.5×2.8 mm 2 ) having a luminous flux of 5 lm each are installed per meter of a white light LED strip. We multiply 5 lm by 30, we get 150 lm. Such a luminous flux emits a 10-watt incandescent light bulb. If the tape is made on the basis of 30 LED-CW-SMD5050 LEDs (size 5×5 mm 2) already having a luminous flux of 12 lm, then 12×30=360 lm, which is equivalent to using a 24-watt incandescent light bulb. Everyone has experience in using incandescent lamps, therefore, using the above method, it is easy to determine the type of LEDs installed on the tape, their number and the length of the tape. And if the length of the tape is already determined, then perform the reverse calculation.
Let's perform the reverse calculation on a specific example. You need to make ceiling lighting in a room measuring 5 mx4 m. The perimeter of a room of this size will be 5+4+5+4=18 meters. You want to create soft and not very bright lighting. If you use incandescent lamps, then their total power will have to be about 200 watts, the luminous flux from which will be 3000 lm (15 lm × 200). The length of the tape should be equal to the length of the perimeter of the room, that is, 18 meters. To determine the luminous flux that one meter of LED strip should emit, you need to divide 3000 lm by 18 meters. It turns out 166 lm / m. For our case, a tape with 30 LED-CW-SMD3528 LEDs per meter of length is suitable. The calculation was made without taking into account reflection losses from the ceiling, and they are at least 50%. Therefore, for guaranteed illumination of the room, you need to choose a tape with a twice as large luminous flux. There are two options, either take a strip with 30 LEDs LED-CW-SMD5050, or LED-CW-SMD3528, but already in the amount of 60 pcs. on the meter. The first option is preferable, as it will provide a guaranteed supply.
For R G B and monochrome LED strips, the calculation is performed in the same way as for white strips.
LED strips are not always marked, which makes calculations difficult. But it is very easy to find out the technical parameters of the LED strip if you use the data given in the reference table. In modern LED strips, as a rule, three types of LEDs are used: SMD3014 (super bright) with a size of 3.0 mm × 1.4 mm, SMD3528 with a size of 2.8 mm × 3.5 mm and SMD5050 with a size of 5.0 mm × 5.0 mm. Therefore, by the size of the LEDs, you can determine what type of LEDs are soldered on the tape. By counting the number of LEDs per meter of length, using the reference table below, you can get data on technical specifications LED strip.
Table of the main characteristics of LED strips
for voltage 12 V
Using the table, it is easy to choose the type and length of the LED strip - an analogue of incandescent bulbs. For example, to replace one 80W incandescent bulb with an LED strip, you need to take 8 meters of SMD3528 (30) or two meters of SMD3528 (120) or SMD5050(60) LED strip.
| The main technical characteristics of LED strips for voltage 12 V | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED type | LED size, mm 2 | Number of LEDs per meter of LED strip length, pcs. | Power consumption of one meter of LED strip length, watt | Luminous flux of LED strip length meter, lm | Equivalent power of an incandescent lamp, watts |
| SMD3014 superbright | 3.0×1.4 | 60 | 6,0 | 600 | 40 |
| 120 | 12,0 | 1200 | 80 | ||
| 240 | 24,0 | 2400 | 160 | ||
| SMD3528 | 3.5×2.8 | 30 | 2,4 | 150 | 10 |
| 60 | 4,8 | 300 | 20 | ||
| 120 | 9,6 | 600 | 40 | SMD5050 | 5.0×5.0 | 30 | 7,2 | 360 | 24 |
| 60 | 14,4 | 720 | 48 |
How to connect the LED strip to the mains
Connecting the LED strip to the car's on-board network
LED strips are ideal for direct connection to onboard network car. The main thing is that the tape matches the voltage of the vehicle's on-board network in terms of supply voltage. For cars, you need to choose a waterproof tape designed for a supply voltage of 12 V, for trucks - for 24 V.
At what voltage is the battery installed in the car, at this voltage you need to take the tape. When connecting the LED strip to the vehicle's on-board network, the polarity must be observed; the symbols "+" and "-" are marked on the tape. If the polarity is confused, then nothing bad will happen, just the LEDs will not glow.
Connecting the LED strip to a 220 V household power supply
Unlike electric lamps, LED strips cannot be connected directly to a household electrical network 220 V. They need a supply voltage direct current 12 V or 24 V. On the tape, the supply voltage is indicated along its entire length. Voltage converters are used to obtain the required voltage.
While there is no established terminology, they are called differently: drivers, adapters, converters, power supplies, power supplies. All these words refer to one device that converts the AC mains voltage of 220 V into a DC voltage of the required value, for tapes, depending on the type, 12 V (often used) or 24 V (rarely used, as a rule, in RGB tapes).
To choose a power supply for an LED strip, not only the size is important constant voltage at the output, and the amount of current that it can deliver to the load. To select a suitable power supply for a particular case, you need to find out the total amount of current that all installed LED strips will consume.
An example of calculating a power supply for an LED strip
For example, let's select a power supply unit (PSU) for the LED strip, which we have chosen above to illuminate the ceiling. Usually, the current consumption of a tape meter is indicated in the accompanying documentation, but if there is none, then it is easy to perform the calculation yourself. It is enough to multiply the number of installed LEDs by the current consumption of each of them.
We chose led strip with installed LEDs of type LED-CW-SMD5050, strip length 18 meters, and 30 LEDs per meter. The total number of LEDs is 18×30=540 pcs. One LED-CW-SMD5050 (according to the reference table) consumes a current of 0.02 A, therefore the total current consumption of the entire backlight will be: 540 × 0.02 A = 10.8 A.
But we did not take into account that LEDs with a supply voltage of 12 V tape are connected three in series through resistors, therefore, the calculated current must be reduced three times: 10.8 A / 3 \u003d 3.6 A. But in one housing of the LED-CW- SMD5050 contains three elementary LEDs, so the resulting current must be multiplied by 3. That is, the resulting current will be 10.8 A. As a result of the calculation, it is determined that a 12 V power supply with a load current of up to 10.8 A is required.
To calculate the power of the required PSU, you need to multiply the voltage by the current: 12 V × 10.8 A = 130 W, it turned out that you need a 130 W PSU. For reliable operation of the PSU, a 20% power reserve is required. As a result, you will need a 156W power supply. In practice, you can use any power supply that meets the necessary requirements.
Device and installation of LED strip
On a flexible plastic tape up to 5 m long there are thin copper conductive tracks of the required configuration. LEDs of the SMD3528 or SMD5050 type and current-limiting SMD resistors of the P1-12 type with a power of 0.125 W are soldered to the tracks. Please note that the size of the LED is indicated in the designation, for example, SMD5050 has a size of 5.0 mm × 5.0 mm. With a supply voltage of 12 V, three LEDs connected in series and one or more current-limiting resistors are installed. The number of resistors is determined depending on the amount of power dissipated by them. The resistor can be placed anywhere in the circuit, on the circuit it is on the plus side, you can install it on the minus side or between any LEDs.
Electrical circuit and wiring diagram
LED strip segment
Resistor marking
The resistor is marked with the number 151. This means that the resistor value is 150 ohms. Deciphering the label is easy. It is indicated by a three-digit number. The last digit in the number tells how many zeros to add to the first two digits. For example, the resistor is marked 153, which means you need to add 3 zeros to 15, we get 15,000 ohms.
For clarity, I gave below the eclectic wiring diagram. A complete LED strip circuit is a large number of such circuits connected in parallel. With a supply voltage of 24 V, the number of LEDs connected in series in the circuit can reach up to 10 pieces. Pay attention to the marking of the LEDs, from the side of connection to the cathode (minus), the corner of the LED body has a cut. Pictured in the lower right corner.
Connection and fastening of LED strips
On the side of the tape opposite the LEDs, a sticky layer is applied, protected by a film. In order to fix the tape on the surface, it is enough to remove the protective film and apply the sticky side to the installation site. When organizing lighting using LED strips, often a length of 5 meters is redundant, so it is possible to cut the strip into segments. The places where the tape can be cut are indicated by the image of conditional scissors and the cut line. The step of cutting the LED strip into segments sets the number of LEDs connected in series. Near the cut line on both sides there are contact pads that allow you to solder wires to them in case of splicing tape segments to each other. You need to solder very carefully with a low-power soldering iron.
The connection polarity and the supply voltage are marked next to the contact pads. There are special clips that allow you to connect LED strips without soldering.
To one end of the LED strip, conductors are usually already soldered for connection to the power supply. Two wires are required to connect monochrome tapes, four wires for RGB tapes: black (common is connected to the positive terminal) and three color wires. The length of the wires is no more than half a meter, and if the power supply cannot be installed next to the LED strip, then the conductors will have to be extended to the desired length.
LED strips are indispensable when you need to provide lighting or illumination over a long distance. Only LED strips that are not protected from moisture can be cut into pieces, that is, only those that are intended for indoor use. It is unacceptable to cut moisture-proof and moisture-resistant LED strips without subsequent sealing.
To eliminate this shortcoming, LED modules have been created that make it possible to illuminate the interior and illuminated advertising easily, quickly and reliably. The scope of LED modules in practice is limited only by human imagination. Particularly useful modules for lighting in the car. It is enough to connect through the fuse to the on-board network and glue or fix the module with self-tapping screws inside the car interior or from its outside.
The design of the LED modules is a shallow crib made of plastic or metal, in which a printed circuit board with LEDs is installed. The top of the board is filled with transparent silicone. Thus, protection against moisture and splashing water is provided. The LEDs are connected in the same way as in the LED strip above.
On the outer side of the bottom of the crib there is a sticky layer, opening which by removing protective film, the module can be fixed on any flat surface. It is possible to mount the modules by the lugs using self-tapping screws. All lighting and electrical calculations, given above on the page for the LED strip, are also valid for the LED modules.
Rectangular LED modules are sold in the form of blocks, in the photo there is a block of 20 modules.
Modules are easily separated from the block one by one or in groups. All modules are already electrically interconnected. It is enough to apply power to any of the extreme ones and the LEDs on all modules will light up. Blocks can be increased in any number by connecting them in parallel.
About the choice of wire cross-section for connecting LED strip
The LED strip consumes little power, and the current consumption with a strip length of one meter, even the brightest SMD5050 (60), is no more than 1.2 A. Therefore, you can not think about the wire cross section when connecting such a piece of tape, almost any available under hand stranded wire.
But when connecting a tape 18 meters long like LED-CW-SMD5050 (30), which we selected to illuminate the ceiling of the room above, you should already seriously think about how the total current consumption will be 10.8 A. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it anywhere, what current is allowed on the copper track of the tape itself. But, knowing the power consumption of one meter of the LED strip and the supply voltage, I calculated the amount of current that LED strips of various lengths of popular types would consume, and summarized the results in a table.
| Reference table of current consumption of LED strips for voltage 12 V | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LED strip type | Number of LEDs per meter of LED strip length, pcs | Current consumption (A), LED strip length: | ||||
| 1m | 2 m | 3m | 4 m | 5 m | ||
| SMD3014 | 60 | 0,5 | 1,0 | 1,5 | 2,0 | 2,5 |
| 120 | 1,0 | 2,0 | 3,0 | 4,0 | 5,0 | |
| 240 | 2,0 | 4,0 | 6,0 | 8,0 | 10,0 | |
| SMD3528 | 30 | 0,2 | 0,4 | 0,6 | 0,8 | 1,0 |
| 60 | 0,4 | 0,8 | 1,2 | 1,6 | 2,0 | |
| 120 | 0,8 | 1,6 | 2,4 | 3,2 | 4,0 | |
| SMD5050 | 30 | 0,6 | 1,2 | 1,8 | 2,4 | 3,0 |
| 60 | 1,2 | 2,4 | 3,6 | 4,8 | 6,0 | |
Since LED strips are produced with a maximum length of up to 5 meters, the manufacturer must ensure the necessary cross-section of the tracks that can withstand the current consumption of the LED strip, and you can take its value as a basis for developing a wiring diagram for connecting the LED strip to a power source.
Based on economic considerations, the stock of tracks in terms of load current does not exceed 20%. Therefore, connecting all four of our tape segments in series, soldering the end of one segment with jumpers to the beginning of the next LED strip, is not permissible, since a current three times higher than the permissible will flow through the conductors of the tape connected directly to the power supply.
This will lead to overheating of the first tape, which is fraught with its failure, and a weak glow of those included behind it. Therefore, it is necessary to connect each tape individually with a double wire with a core cross section of at least 0.5 mm 2 directly to the output of the power supply. Below is a typical scheme for connecting LED strips to a power source when organizing room lighting by installing LED strips along the corners of the ceiling behind the cornices.
Since one power supply is designed for a current consumption of 6 A, we had to use two identical blocks, each supplying half the length of the backlight. The switch connects both units at the same time. If you use a double switch, then it will be possible to turn on the tapes in sections. When parallel sections of the tape are connected to the power supply, it will be possible to turn them on individually or all at the same time, changing the lighting design. RGB tapes are connected according to exactly the same wiring diagram. Only instead of two wires, 4 are laid. One common and one for each color.
If one is installed powerful block power supply at a considerable distance from the tapes, it is advisable to stretch a couple of thick wires from the power supply to the LED strips. You can select the required wire cross-section for a given current according to the table. For example, for our case, at a current of 10.8 A, you need a wire with a core diameter of 1.6 mm (section 2.0 mm 2). Put the junction box and already in it with thin wires connect the tapes through the terminal block or by soldering to the incoming wire from the power supply. In each specific case, it is necessary to make an individual decision based on the boundary conditions.
Powerful power supplies are usually large, and it is often more advisable to use several less powerful units, placing them in close proximity to the LED strips.
Incandescent lamps are gradually becoming a thing of the past, as well as fluorescent lamps. Today, no one is surprised by soft backlighting with an adjustable function or basic lighting on light diodes, which is not surprising. Such devices are more durable and less energy consuming. In this article, we will talk about what a 12 Volt LED strip is, what types exist. It is worth considering the characteristics and methods for calculating the length. However, the most important thing is to understand what are the areas of its application and the features of connecting to the network.
Read in the article:
Tape LEDs: advantages and disadvantages
Considering LED 12V LED strips, it can be noted that there is only one drawback here - quite high price compared to other light sources. As for the advantages, there are quite a lot of them. Let's consider them in more detail:
- ease of installation - the presence of an adhesive layer on the reverse side and the flexibility of the product allow installation in the most difficult places;
- energy consumption during operation is much lower than that of CFLs or incandescent lamps;
- durability at work. If the installation is done correctly, and the operating conditions are not violated, such diodes burn out very rarely;
- another plus for installation - the tape is easy to cut into pieces according to special marks, which simplifies the process;
- the ability to choose any color or even purchase a multi-colored ribbon with a controller controlled from the remote control;
- the possibility of dimming, which allows you to change the intensity of lighting depending on your wishes.
Application areas of 12V LED strips
12 Volt diode tapes today are quite widespread in various fields. Due to the low voltage safety, they are successfully used in lighting rooms with high humidity (bathroom or kitchen). Also widely used as the main lighting or ceiling lighting in living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. Such lighting devices have not been ignored by modern automotive industry, where tapes are used in the form of daytime running lights.
Useful information! The scope of the light tape on SMD elements can be limited only by the imagination of the master. For example, when using a battery-powered LED strip, you can illuminate drawers without wiring them, which is very convenient.
Types of LED strips and features of their marking
Such lighting devices differ in many parameters that can be recognized from the marking. Usually it has a similar appearance - LED-CW-SMD-5050/60 IP68. Consider what information is encrypted in the marking, starting with the first designation:
- The light source, in our case, is LEDs.
- Glow color. May be designated CW (white), RGB (multicolor), R (red), G (green), B (blue). It is worth noting that yellow LED strips marked LS have appeared on sale today.
- The type of output of the chip contacts on the printed circuit board. SMD stands for Surface Mounted. It is these chips that are installed on LED strips.
- Chip size. In our case - 5 × 5 mm.
- The number of chips located per 1 m of the strip.
- Class of protection of the device against aggressive external environment.
Each type of light strip has its own characteristics, differing in the intensity of the glow, the scope and mounting options.
Characteristics of LED strips
There are three main types of characteristics of light strips:
- by type of chip device;
- by the color of the glow and the number of units per meter;
- according to the degree of protection to external influences.
Let's consider each of these points in detail.
12 Volt LED strip: chip device type
There are 2 types of installed light diodes - DIP and SMD. In fact, light stripes on DIP-elements (a chain of elements in the form of cylinders with pins-legs) are practically not used nowadays. More convenient for mounting SMD tape. They take up less space and are more durable.
Types of LED strips according to the color of the glow and the number of chips per meter
Each master chooses the color of the glow of the LED strip depending on his preferences .. However, recently RGB strips have become the most popular as decorative lighting, which make it possible to change the shade depending on the wishes. Chips marked CW (white color) are used for the main lighting.
Expert opinion
Ask a specialist“The number of elements per meter of the strip matters for the intensity of the glow. The higher the number, the brighter the light will be and the higher the power consumption.”
The degree of protection from external factors
The degree of IP security plays an important role and affects not only the room in which the lighting device will be mounted, but also its cost. Let's try to decipher the numbers of this parameter. To do this, refer to the table below (the numbers in the first column indicate the location of the indicator in the marking of the LED strip).
How to calculate the power of the LED strip per meter
The calculation of the LED strip by power is based on the chip marking, and, therefore, based on the power of one LED, multiplied by the number of elements per meter of the strip. Consider the power of tapes with different chips in a tabular version.
| LED type SMD | Number of chips in 1 meter, pcs. | Power consumption per 1 meter, W |
| 3528 | 60 | 4,8 |
| 3528 | 120 | 9,6 |
| 3528 | 240 | 19,2 |
| 5050 | 30 | 7,2 |
| 5050 | 60 | 15 |
| 5050 | 120 | 25 |
If we talk about the 5730 LED strip, then its characteristics are practically the same as 5630, and the power of the chips is between 3528 and 5050 - 0.5W per chip. It is not difficult to calculate the total power per 1 meter by multiplying the indicator of one LED by their number per meter.
12 Volt LED strips for cars: application features
Craftsmen have long chosen this type of car tuning. The RGB lighting along the thresholds of the car looks great, giving it a fantastic look at night. Use LEDs and for additional illumination of the dashboard.
Important! Domestic cars of old models are not equipped with daytime running lights, which means that in this case, the LED strip is quite suitable. However, it should be remembered that only white or yellow LEDs are applicable for DRL.
The only problem with using light strips on a car is the instability of the on-board network voltage. Although it is believed that it is always 12V, in fact it can go up to 14V. For LEDs that require a stable power supply, this is detrimental. In such cases, experts advise installing a voltage stabilizer, which can be purchased at specialized auto parts and equipment stores or on Internet resources. Of course, you can mount the strip power through the resistance, but this method requires complex calculations. In addition, the resistance during operation is sensitively heated.
Related article:
Why do you need it, the principle of operation, selection criteria, an overview of models, how to connect LED elements to a converter, how to do it yourself - read the publication.
Recommendations of the editorial site for choosing an LED strip
When choosing such lighting devices, the first thing you should pay attention to is the modes of use. If the strip is needed for the main lighting, then it is better to choose white or yellow. To distinguish between the light zones of the room with the help of auxiliary lighting, blue, yellow, green or red ribbons are used. If there is a desire to make a changing backlight, choose an RGB tape with a controller and a remote control. For such a 12 Volt LED strip, you no longer need to purchase a dimmer separately. With the help of the remote control, not only the shades change, but also the intensity of the glow is regulated. The next is the room in which the strip will be used.
Expert opinion
Engineer-designer of ES, EM, EO (power supply, electrical equipment, interior lighting) ASP North-West LLC
Ask a specialist“According to the IP security class, they choose not only a strip, but also an adapter for a 12 Volt LED strip. For a bathroom, you should not purchase equipment with an IP class below 65 ".
When choosing, special attention should be paid to the manufacturer and the build quality of the product. Chinese "analogues" are extremely short-lived, the chips quickly fail and degrade, which leads to a decrease in the strength of the luminous flux. In addition, they rarely meet the declared characteristics. When purchasing a light strip, you need to check all the technical documentation and the certificate of conformity for the product. High-quality SMD elements (in terms of luminous flux) must have the following parameters:
- 3528 - 5 Lm (Lumens);
- 5050 - 15 lm;
- 5630 - 18 lm.
How to connect a 12 volt led strip
Unfortunately, even in such a seemingly elementary job as connecting an LED strip through a power supply, novice home craftsmen often make mistakes. It leads to quick exit lighting fixture out of order. Let's deal with the main errors during installation.
The length of the segment connected to the power supply
On sale, such light strips are sold in coils of 5 m. But what if installation of 10 or 15 m is required? This is where many people make the first mistake, simply by connecting the beginning of one segment to another (successively), which is absolutely impossible to do. The current-carrying paths of the LED strip are designed for a certain load. By connecting 2 strips, we get the load at the beginning of the LED strip 2 times higher than the permissible one. The result is burnout and failure.
If such an installation is necessary, proceed as follows. We take an additional wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm 2 and connect one end of it to the power output from the block (in front of the first tape), and the second to the power supply of the second strip. This is called a parallel connection, which is correct.
Connecting the light strip to a 220V household network
A similar connection is made through a power supply with a 220/12V transformer and a rectifier. Such a device is called an adapter. For RGB tapes, a special controller is used, in the circuit of which, in addition to the transformer, a microcircuit is included. It is she who allows the owner to control the change in colors manually or program the modes.
Important! To the household network, the LED strip is mounted only through an adapter, which must meet the required power indicators in terms of technical parameters. Without an adapter, connecting the LED strip is only allowed to a battery with a constant and stable voltage.
The cost of LED strips in the Russian market
It is quite difficult to buy a high-quality LED strip today - the market is flooded with fakes that practically do not differ in appearance from branded products, but at the same time have a lower cost. The table below shows the average cost for high-quality LED strips, as of May 2018, with some specifications.
| Manufacturer | Chip type | Color | Degree of protection | Cost, rub./m |
| 5050 | Cold white | IP20 | 450 |
| 2835 | Blue | IP20 | 700 |
| 5050 | Cold white | IP65 | 500 |
| 2835 | White | IP20 | 850 |
| 3528 | Warm white | IP33 | 400 |
There are also more expensive products. In particular, this applies to RGB tapes, however, and here a lot depends on the brand's popularity.
Summarize
There is no doubt that the invention of the LED strip has opened up new horizons in the design of the interiors of apartments and private houses. With the right choice, the LED strip is unpretentious in use and easy to install. It is durable (subject to certain connection rules) and economical during operation. So, novice masters looking for options for lighting their homes should pay attention to it.
The development of semiconductors has given us the opportunity to diversify lighting, interior design. After all, backlighting is not so much a source of light as a decoration technique. How to choose an LED strip for backlighting or lighting and we will discuss.
LED strip - a strip of thin dielectric with conductive tracks deposited on it, on which LEDs and current-limiting resistors are soldered. It is usually supplied in reels of 5 meters, it can be cut, but only along certain cut lines. Depending on the type of tape, the cutting lines are at a distance of 2.5-10 cm.
Types of LED strips
What kind of LED backlight is needed, what color, you need to decide in advance. It can be white or colored, and any shade. White, red, blue and green - these colors can be found everywhere, in any point of sale. You will have to look for tint colors in specialized stores.
But choosing an LED strip by color is not all. It is necessary to decide what it will be - RGB or SMD. To do this, we will understand their types and how they differ.
There are ribbons according to the type of glow:
- Single color, are designated SMD, give out a luminous flux of a certain color (white, red, blue, green, there may be other shades).
- Multicolor, denoted by RGB. They work in conjunction with the controller and remote control, with the help of which it changes its color. That is, the same LED tape can produce different colors.
Single color LED strips can be white, blue, red, green. They are relatively inexpensive (cheapest are white, others are slightly more expensive). You can also find other shades - crimson, pink, lilac, turquoise, etc. The price for them is higher, they usually shine not so brightly (at the same size crystal). To connect monochrome LED strips to a 220 V network, you need an adapter, as the LEDs are powered by a voltage of 5, 12 or 24 V.
The LED power adapter is a device that converts 220 V AC into DC (5/12/24 V) required for the operation of the LED strip. The adapter is often referred to as a power supply.
Apart from the adapter, no other additional equipment is needed. Unless you want to change the intensity of the light as you wish. Then you need a special controller.
RGB LED strips, in theory, can produce any shade. It depends on the quality of the crystals and on the controls. It is not difficult to find RGB tapes - they are available in almost any lighting store, but they are more expensive than monochrome ones. In addition, to connect a multi-color LED strip, in addition to the power adapter, you also need a controller and a control panel.
There are also LED strips for 220 V - as a rule, they are used for street lighting and shop window lighting. To connect them, you do not need a power supply, but you need a rectifier bridge.
How to choose LED strip: RGB or SMD
For those who have not yet encountered LED backlighting, it seems interesting to use multi-color RGB LED strips. The ability to change the color of the lighting seems tempting. In fact, it is interesting to do this only for the first two weeks. Then the toy gets bored, is selected specific color and stop there. Taking into account the fact that RGB tape is more expensive, you also need to purchase a controller with a remote control for it, this solution does not seem reasonable. But, if you want, you are always welcome.
If you decide whether to choose an LED strip - multicolor or monochrome - remember that a monochrome LED strip with crystals of the same size gives out 3 times more light than a multicolor one. This is due to the device RGB LEDs. In them, in each LED, three small crystals are soldered - red (R - red), green (G - green) and blue (B - blue). Hence the name RGB from the first letters of the colors in English language. That is, the RGB LED is made of three small crystals. And, even if all three will burn to the maximum (which happens very rarely), they will give much less light than one large one of the same size.
Technical characteristics of LED strips
Choosing an LED strip by type is just the beginning. Next, you need to decide on the power of the glow, the size of the crystals, their number per meter, the degree of protection. These are all the technical characteristics of LED strips that you need to decide on.
Sizes of crystals, their number per meter
LED strips are assembled from crystals of various sizes. The size of the LEDs is written in the marking after the abbreviation indicating the type of tape. For example, SMD 5050 or RGB 3528. This means that the first is assembled from 5 * 5 mm LEDs, the second is 3.5 * 2.8 mm. In general, they are different, but the two given are the most popular.
As you know, the larger the LEDs, the brighter the light they give out. But it still depends on the quality of the crystals. Often the same size LEDs glow differently. There are differences in the temperature of light and brightness, sometimes very large.
In addition to the size of the LEDs, you need to choose an LED strip by the number of diodes per meter. They can be arranged in one row - then the quantity is 30, 60 or 120 pieces per meter. The LEDs are powered by a constant voltage of 12 V. To, you need special adapters. There are LED strips with two rows of crystals - they give out a more powerful luminous flux. One meter can have 140 or 240 crystals. Two row models require 24V power supply.
Light flow
The greater the concentration of crystals per meter, the more light. This is understandable, but which one is better to choose? Depends on how you use it. If you need only decorative, interior lighting, usually choose single-row tapes for 30, 60 or 120 pieces of LEDs. In this case, no calculations are made. Choose by appearance and how bright the glow you need. In order to have some idea of how much light a monochrome LED strip gives out, the equivalent of an incandescent lamp is given in the right column of the table.
If the LED strip is considered as a light source, it makes sense to use single-row 120 elements or any double-row. What exactly can be said after the calculations.
How to choose power and length
The illumination of residential, industrial and public premises is standardized. The lighting of each room should not be below the norm (more is possible). If the LED strip is used as an additional light source, the light power of the main light source is subtracted from the norm. The rest should be given out by the backlight. But since over time the brightness of the LEDs decreases, it is necessary to take with a margin of 20-25%.
The calculation of the power and length of the LED strip is almost over. We now need to choose the tape so that it is the right length and gives out the right amount of light. Greater accuracy is not needed, because if it is dark, the lamps in the main light source can be changed to more powerful ones or additional lamps can be installed. But the number should be close.
An example of the selection of LED strip for lighting. For example, it is necessary to make the illumination of a living room with an area of 21 square meters. There will be in it, which will give out 1800 Lm. According to the norms (table above), at least 150 lm of light should fall on one square meter. For the whole room should be 21 m² * 150 lm = 3150 lm. We subtract the light power of the ceiling lights: 3150 lm - 1800 lm = 1350 lm.
Now you need to pick up an LED strip with a total power of at least 1350 Lm. To begin with, we will determine that it will go along the perimeter of the ceiling. The perimeter of the room is 19.5 meters, which means that the tape will have the same length. Now we are looking for how much power the backlight meter should give out: 1350 lm / 19.5 m = 69.2 lm. That is, our backlight should give at least 70 lm.
Next, we select the type of tape according to the table (in previous paragraph). The closest luminous flux for SMD 2835 with a density of 30 pieces per meter is 150 lm. So we will have more than a solid stock. If you want, you can find it with smaller LEDs or fix the backlight not in a continuous strip, but only in sections. You can also install a glow power regulator - so that you can change the brightness of the light. In general, there are options, and there are many of them.
In case you do not plan other sources of lighting, you need to divide the original figure by the estimated footage of the tape. In this case, it is 3150 lm / 19.5 m = 161.5 lm. For such a backlight, you need to choose an SMD 2835 LED strip with a density of 60 pieces per meter. You can’t take less - it will be dark.
Security class
There is also such a technical characteristic of LED strips as. It indicates how the product is protected from dust, moisture. To do this, after the abbreviation IP are two digits. The first indicates the degree of protection against dust, the second - from moisture. It is necessary to select the degree of protection of the LED strip based on the conditions of its operation:
- IP20 is sufficient for living quarters and kitchens.
- In wet rooms - bathroom, bath, swimming pool - IP43 / 44.
- LED strip IP 54/55 is suitable for lighting on the street.
- For illumination of water of pools, fountains, etc. - IP 67/68.
Please note: you can take an LED strip with a large IP (large numbers), but you can’t take it with a smaller one, as it will fail very quickly. But here, too, there are nuances. The first. An unsealed LED strip with IP20 removes heat better than sealed ones, since there is no sheath that retains this heat. During installation, this must be remembered (the importance of heat removal is slightly lower). The second point: sealed LED strips give less light. There are two reasons for this. First: the shell delays / reflects the rays. Second: manufacturers use less powerful crystals to make it easier to comply with the thermal operating conditions.
Usually, a lower light power is reflected in the technical specifications: there is a smaller figure and it must be used in the calculations. If the power is not reduced, there are two options. Either the manufacturer is cunning, or he really uses powerful LEDs. In the second case, you will have to think over a system for efficient heat removal. For example, LED strips sealed in a sealed tube are used only in water, which removes heat much better than air.
How to choose a quality LED strip
The peculiarity of LEDs is that only a professional can determine the quality of crystals, and even then not everyone. An ordinary person will not understand anything. Especially in such small crystals a few millimeters in size. This is what unscrupulous manufacturers take advantage of. And this is precisely what explains the significant variation in prices: good crystals and components are expensive.
Nevertheless, it is not a fact that having bought an expensive tape, you will receive a product that will work for years. As, however, and vice versa. You can buy the most inexpensive and it will work for a very long time and without problems. So what to do? There is a way out: look at the quality of soldering, the location of parts, how evenly the protective coating is poured, and other little things that speak of the culture of production. If the LEDs and resistors are crooked, the soldering is uneven, the edges of the tape are crooked ... Look for another option. It is unlikely that LEDs are good here.
A good sign is the presence of the manufacturer's campaign logo. In this case, there is a high probability that the enterprise is aimed at the long term, and it does not let out a frank marriage.
There are a few more tricks that will help determine the quality of the LED strip:
It is not too difficult to carry out all these experiments, and they will help you choose a good quality LED strip.
What is needed to make the LED strip work for a long time?
As you know, over time, LEDs degrade - they lose their transparency, the brightness decreases. Under normal operating conditions and high quality crystals, this process takes decades.
So why do sometimes LED strips become unusable so quickly, give much less light? This usually happens due to overheating. For LEDs, the normal temperature is no higher than 40°C, and during prolonged operation, they can heat up to 80°C or more. When overheated, they degrade many times faster. Literally in a week of operation at elevated temperatures, they can lose twice the brightness. So when installing LED strips, mount them on special aluminum profiles with a transparent cover. They are both protection against dust / moisture and work as radiators, removing heat from the LEDs.
Profiles for mounting LED strip are very different. This is an example of a built-in furniture
But aluminum profiles are not cheap. If necessary, they can be replaced even with steel strips. Heat dissipation will not be as good (lower thermal conductivity), but still better than without a radiator at all.
- incorrect installation and connection with errors
Here are the main three rules and mistakes that you need to pay attention to first.
1 rule
The LED strip is connected in parallel, in segments of no more than 5 meters each.
It is even sold in coils of this footage. But what if you need to connect 10 or 15m? It would seem that he connected the end of the first piece with the beginning of the second and you're done. However, such a connection is prohibited. Why is it so accepted?
Because five meters is the estimated length that the current-carrying tracks of the tape can withstand. With a longer length, the load will exceed the allowable one and the tape will definitely fail. In addition, there will be an uneven glow. At the beginning of the tape, the LEDs will shine brightly, and at the end they will be much dimmer.
This is how the parallel connection of LED strips with a length exceeding the allowable will look like: 
At the same time, you can connect the tape both from two sides, and from one. Connection from two sides allows to reduce the load on the current tracks, and also helps to avoid uneven glow at the beginning and end of the tape. 
This is especially important on a powerful tape - over 9.6 W / meter. This is how it is advised to connect professionals who have been installing LED products for many years. The only fat minus is that you have to drag additional wires along the entire lighting.
2 rule
The LED strip must be mounted on an aluminum profile, which acts as a heat sink.
During operation, the tape heats up, and this temperature negatively affects the LEDs themselves. They simply overheat and begin to lose brightness, gradually degrading and collapsing.
Thus, a tape that could easily work for 5-10 years will burn out without a profile in a year, or maybe even earlier. Therefore, the use of aluminum profiles in LED backlight necessarily. 
The only tape where you can do without it is SMD 3528. It is low-power, only 4.8W per 1m and is not so demanding on heat dissipation. 
Particularly in need of a heat sink are tapes filled with silicone on top. In them, heat transfer occurs only through the substrate, from below. And this is sometimes not enough. If you still stick it on some plastic or wood, then there will be no cooling at all.
3 rule
Choosing the right power supply is a guarantee of long-term and safe work all lighting.
The power supply must be 30% more powerful than the LED strip.
Only in this case it will work normally. If you pick it up close, exactly according to the power of all the LEDs, then the unit will constantly work at its limit. Naturally, such work will affect the duration of operation. So always give him a supply.
Connecting the LED strip
To install lighting with LED strip, you will need:
Power supply installation 220V
If you have not completed electrical installation work, then you must first supply 220V voltage to the tape connection point. To do this, ditch the wall, or lay a cable channel and pull a three-core cable VVGng-Ls 3 * 1.5 through it. Lead it directly to the junction box where the power of the LED strip will be connected. 
You can use an existing junction box where the main lighting is connected. The main thing is that the place allows you to freely connect additional wires and terminal blocks.
It is advisable to install the switch on the LED strip on the wires of 220 Volts, and not in front of the tape on the outgoing 12-24V. In this case, the block will not work continuously. Especially, impulse blocks work without load is contraindicated. In addition, this will increase the level of security. 
Pre-check and do not confuse phase, zero and ground. Most often, zero is blue, the ground wire is yellow-green, and the phase wire is any other color.
But you can not trust only color marking! For more information on how to distinguish between zero and phase without errors, see the article "How to determine the phase and zero in the wiring." 
Next, you need from this junction box in a strobe, corrugated sleeve or in cable channel lay the cable to the future installation site of the power supply. To place it, mount a convenient shelf. It can be made from pieces of plywood or drywall. Place a dimmer next to it. 
Connecting the power supply
Having stretched the cable to the block, you can proceed directly to connecting the wires.
- connect the phase wire to connector L
- blue wire - zero, to terminal N
- yellow-green - to the terminal marked as Pe or ground symbol
Connecting a dimmer
Now you need to connect the dimmer. Here, use flexible mounting wire PuGV 1.5mm2 in different colors. For example, black (for negative contacts) and red (for positive).
- measure and cut the required wire size
- clean the ends and crimp them with NShVI tips
First of all, connect the ends from the side of the power supply. Connect the negative wire (black) to the terminal marked –V. Positive wire (red) with terminal marked as +V.
Both wires must be connected to the dimmer from the side Power IN(input power). Connect the red wire on the dimmer to the positive terminal DC+, and the other wire to the minus terminal DC-
Next, again, are the installation work on laying the wire. Stretch it in the corrugation from the dimmer to the point of connection to the LED strip. Use the same PuGV. If the total length of the LED strip and backlight exceeds 5 meters, the strips are connected in parallel. Moreover, each of them is supplied with a separate power supply. 
Proceed to connect the wires to the dimmer terminals. They usually have an inscription and are designated as Output Led. For reliable contact, it is better to crimp the stripped ends of the cores with tips. 
Mounting and soldering wires on the LED strip
You can proceed to the installation of the tape itself. To do this, it must be measured and cut into the desired pieces. This can be done not in any place, but only where the dotted line is applied or scissors are drawn. 
After cutting, the wires can be soldered to special contacts on the tape. Connectors can also be used for the same purposes, as well as for connecting individual pieces of tape to each other. 
Look for the negative contact and connect the black wires there. To the plus contact, respectively, another wire goes - red. Do not heat the soldering iron to the maximum, otherwise you will easily burn the substrate. Recommended soldering time - up to 10 sec. 
The opposite ends are also cleaned and NShVI tips are installed on them. 
Once again, remember that for better cooling, you only need to lay the LED strip on an aluminum profile. It is pre-installed.
After all these works, all the cores of the wires are brought out to one place and connected to the corresponding supply wires, observing the phasing (positive and negative contacts). 
Connection is best done through Wago terminals.
A light source consisting of a flexible mounting base (board) on which SMD LEDs and resistors limiting their current are installed by surface mounting is called an LED strip (SDL). The underside has a self-adhesive layer that simplifies assembly.
Manufacturers produce separate segments 5 m long, interconnected by connectors.
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Ask an expertImportant! A segment longer than 30 m has a significant resistance for the supply current - the segments far from the driver do not have enough voltage to emit bright light. This is important to consider in order to understand how the LED strip functions and what can affect its operation.
Produce products of different colors and shades. The degree of protection allows you to choose a model that can work in different conditions - from dry rooms to total immersion in water.
There are different colors of LED strip Scope of led tape
Limits its use as the main lighting, but as a decorative element it is used in many areas:
- Illumination of goods in showcases.
- Arrangement of display on shelves.
- Decor in the design of the premises, lighting cabinets and shelves, tension and false ceiling, stairs.
- Additional lighting for flowers and seedlings in winter.
- Local lighting of the kitchen workplace.
- The decor of saunas can be arranged with a special tape that can withstand high temperatures.
- Decoration of aquariums with led tape will provide a unique appearance and improves the growth of underwater plants.
- Daytime running lights, interior and exterior design give the car an unusual appearance.
- Lighting up the room while watching TV at night will reduce eye strain.
- The tape placed in the garage illuminates the space without shadows, which is good for car maintenance.
- Waterproof tape "duralight" is used in decorative lighting of external spaces on the street.
- Super-bright LEDs in the strips allow the use of products in the main lighting.
For mounting on drywall, aluminum profiles are used.
LED strip is used to illuminate shop windows How LED Strip Works
On a flexible circuit board, the LEDs are connected in series in 3 pieces, the operating current through the circuit is limited by a resistor. Power comes from a source of the desired voltage.
Advantages and disadvantages
Led tape has a number of advantages over other light sources. The design and parts used impose a number of application restrictions.
pros
Properties that increase consumer qualities:
- Easy Mounting - Indoor products have an adhesive backing for mounting on any smooth surface.
- Low power consumption.
- Long service life.
- Safety of use - products powered by 12 or 24 V do not pose a danger, and SDL 220 V is reliably protected.
- Ease of obtaining segments of the required length.
- Wide range of colors.
Minuses
Limit the use of LED strip:
- The need to use additional power supplies - drivers.
- An insufficiently powerful luminous flux does not allow equipping the main lighting, or the price of all the required equipment exceeds traditional light sources.
Varieties
The range of tapes produced by manufacturers allows you to choose a model based on the purpose and conditions of use. For the right choice, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the products. It may differ:
- Supply voltage and power consumption.
- Glow color.
- emitted luminous flux.
- protection from external conditions.
Let's consider the characteristics in more detail.
Marking
You can select the necessary tape according to the full description; a conscientious manufacturer of quality products leads it in the marking.
Table with LED strip markings There are several approaches and standards in notation. Be sure to indicate:
- Tape type.
- Type and size of LEDs.
- Supply voltage.
- Glow color.
- The order of installation of LEDs (row and density).
- The number of LEDs per 1 meter of the product.
- Substrate color.
Density of placement of LEDs on the tape
An important parameter of the tape is the density of the LEDs. The marking indicates the number of elements placed on one meter.
A small number of luminous points does not allow to obtain an even glow, it is divided into separate light sources. The radiation of 120 and 240 diodes gives the tape the appearance of a continuous luminous segment.
LEDs are soldered in one or more rows, for their placement there are tapes with a width of 8, 10, 12, 14.2 mm.
Examples of LED strip diode layouts Important! The connectors must match the width of the tape.
Tapes with low-power SMD 3528 (3028) are made with 30.60, 120 and 240 elements.
Number of SMD 5050 LEDs on the tape: 30, 60, 120.
Light output value
The value of light output is calculated for a segment equal to one meter. It is measured in lumens. The parameter directly depends on the type of LEDs installed on the tape.
SMD 3528 emit 5 lm, therefore, a tape with 30 elements will give out 150 lm / m, 60 - 300, 120 - 600, 240 - 1200.
SMD 5050 provides a glow of 12 lm. Thus, 30 SMD 5050 elements - 360 lm / m, 60 - 720, 120 - 1440.
The given data can serve as an example - an overview and comparison of all parameters, for different LEDs we give a table.
Table with full description LEDs The light output of incandescent lamps is equal to a lamp of 25 W - 250 lm, 40 W - 450, 60 - 800, 75 - 1100.
Using comparative characteristics, choose the length of the section.
Supply voltage and power
For ease of use in various conditions, varieties of SDL with supply voltage are produced:
- Constant 12, 24, 36 V.
- Variable 220 V.
The selection of the necessary device is carried out based on the operating conditions.
The 220 V tape is convenient for its connection - it does not require the use of power supplies, the product is directly connected to the household network. She also has limitations:
- The glow color cannot be changed.
- The cutting distance is a multiple of 50 centimeters.
- Rarely there are models with the possibility of dimming (adjusting the brightness of the glow).
- The use of 220V voltage limits the installation possibilities due to its health hazard.
12-volt power is used in cases of small (short) segments. Such a line is not connected into long lines due to voltage loss.
Power supply 24 V is safe for the user, it is possible to connect several segments into one product.
36V power supplies and tapes are less common and more expensive. If it is necessary to illuminate large areas, savings are achieved due to a smaller number of power wires.
The power of line segments is indicated for segments 1 m long. It depends on the type of SMD LEDs used for the manufacture (3528, 5050 ...).
Tapes with SMD3528 and similar 4.8, 9.6 and 19.2 watts are common.
Products with SMD 5050 consume 7.2, 14.4, 28 watts.
Degree of protection
Most manufacturers are located outside of Russia, so you should focus on foreign protection class standards. The main standard is Internationale Protection or Ingress Protection, abbreviated in the marking "IP". Next, two numbers follow.
The first designates protection from mechanical damage and dust. As this indicator improves, the number in the marking increases:
- "0" - protection against mechanical damage missing.
- "1" - the product is protected from the impact of objects larger than 5 cm.
- "6" - provides full protection against dust.
The second digit indicates the protection against moisture:
- "0" - no protection.
- "8" - protection against immersion in water to a depth of more than 1m.
Full data is presented in the summary table.
Degrees of IP protection of the LED strip Here is a breakdown of common products according to the degree of protection:
- IP20, not waterproof. It is used in the design of dry rooms, shop windows, advertising in interiors. Requires careful handling and prevention of objects falling on the circuit board.
- IP 65, protected against water jets. Used in outdoor advertising, car interiors, bathrooms. No protection against aggressive liquids.
- IP68, it is possible to use at a depth of more than 1m, it is used for outdoor advertising, illumination of swimming pools and cars, installation in a sauna is possible.
Glow color
The glow and its shade, as well as all other characteristics, are indicated in the marking of the tapes.
Important! The actual shade can only be found from a working tape, otherwise they rely on the indicated parameter. Also, the shade of the glow can change within small limits with a change in the strength of the current flowing through the diodes.
Colors are: warm and cold white, daylight, red, blue, green, yellow, blue. There are other colors. They produce a tape for lighting aquariums, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of underwater plants. Products with a combination of blue and red LEDs contribute to the rapid growth of plants.
It is universal. The combination of blue, red and green allows you to get all sorts of shades of any color that is selected using the remote control.
How to connect the LED strip to the mains
There are many on the Internet homemade schemes for connecting a 12 and 24 V tape directly to a 220 V network.
Expert opinion
Alexey Bartosh
Specialist in the repair, maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.
Ask an expertOnly those intended for this product are included in the 200 V network.
Tapes 12, 24 and 36 V are connected to power supplies - drivers that provide the "correct" output voltage and limit the current.
The connections of the SDL and the wires going to the driver (plus and minus) are made using connectors or soldering.
Several sections are connected in parallel. The multi-color RGB ribbon is connected through the controller, as in the images below.
Parallel connection of LED strip 
Controller operation scheme Length calculation
The correct choice and ensuring the long-term operation of the power supply is made from the results of the calculation required power. To do this, summarize the indicators of power consumption per meter of light sources used.
