LED strips are a flexible and easily installed way of completely changing the ambience of a space, and can play a major role in converting a fairly bland environment into one with an incredible amount of character. However, few people know the technical ins and outs of their LED strips, what they consist of, or even what makes a good LED strip good.

Read on to find more about the technical side of LED strips, and see how you can make the most of the LED strips in your home. In this guide:

Power supply

All LED strips run on direct current (DC) rather than alternating current (AC), the electricity that comes out of the plug is AC so it is very important to use a DC power supply when using LED strip. Put simply, with an AC power supply the electrical current continually reverses directions, which makes it easier to scale up to large voltages. This is why AC is used in homes and businesses internationally. DC is used by smaller devices, including torches, mobile phone chargers, and most relevant in this case, LED strips. The reason DC isn't used in the national grid is that the wires' internal temperatures would soar, making it unsafe for mass use.

Due to the use of DC current in LED strips, you need a transformer to convert AC into a power supply suitable for LED strips. A good transformer will ensure that your LED strip has its wattage and voltage needs met consistently and can keep your strip light at a stable level of illumination by avoiding voltage drop.

LED density

When you're looking for a high-quality strip that offers brightness to rival many lamps and fluorescent lights, you'll want a high level of LED density.

LED density is the number of LED emitters per metre and determines the average distance between LEDs in your length of strip. Higher-density LED strips ensure more complete light coverage and can offer significantly higher light output. To achieve a reasonable brightness level, having a good amount of LEDs per metre is ideal.

In addition to light output, LED density affects power consumption. The current draw is a major factor in how much power your strip consumes, so you'll need to balance LED density with energy costs. If your budget is tight, you might choose a medium-density strip that still provides quality light without using excessive power.

Ultimately, aim for no more than 0.2 W per LED emitter. Strips that exceed this risk overheating individual LEDs and shortening their lifespan.

Lumens

Lumens are the unit used to measure the amount of light emitted from a source. Strips can be manufactured to have different lumens per metre for varied brightness levels, which should be taken into account when choosing LED strip lighting for different applications. Brightness is defined by factors such as LED density, power draw and the efficiency/output of each LED emitter.

Most good LED strips produce enough light to compete with standard incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps. For example, the Classic 120 LED Strip 12 V, 9.6 W/m emits around 850 lm/m, making it ideal for workspaces, whereas the Water-Resistant 60 LED Strip 12 V, 4.8 W/m outputs approximately 420 lm/m, better suited for accent lighting.

A red flag is an LED strip that doesn’t list its lumen output, or a cheap strip that claims high brightness. Often they overdrive LEDs, which leads to early failure.

RGB strips offer variable colour temperatures and dimming features. You can customize room lighting to suit your tastes—browse our RGB/RGBW strips for options.

Frequently asked questions

What is voltage in an LED strip?

Our LED strips run on 5 V, 12 V or 24 V DC, transformed from mains to ensure your strip avoids voltage drop and remains bright. Learn more about LED strip voltage options.

How do you connect LED strips?

LED strips are easy to connect and mount. The copper markers at cut points also serve as connectors for the power source. For connectors and installation accessories, see our LED strip accessories.

What LED strip colour options are available?

Our LED strips are available in single colours like red, green, blue and yellow, as well as RGBW and RGB strips that produce a full spectrum of colours at various colour temperatures. For more details, explore our RGB/RGBW collection.

Contact us today for more details about our high-quality LED strip products and accessories.