This bookcase is encrypted.
Enter
How LED Strip Light Works?
LED strip lights have become a popular choice for lighting up spaces. They come in various colors and are energy-efficient, which means they won’t increase your electricity bills. But have you ever wondered how they actually work? Let’s delve into the details!
What is an LED Strip?
LED strips are made up of individual emitters that are mounted on flexible and narrow circuit boards. They operate on DC power and require low voltage. These strips usually come in long reels, around 16 feet or 5 meters, and are easy to mount thanks to the double-sided adhesive tape.
To understand how an LED strip works, it’s important to know its components.
LED Strip: Components
Most LED strips are ½ inch wide and can be up to 16 feet long. You can also cut them to your desired length, just make sure to use the marked cutlines located every 1 to 2 inches.
The quality and color of light emitted by each LED chip on the strip determine the overall output. The density of LED chips can range from 18 to 36 per foot.
To stick your LED strip to a wall, simply peel off the adhesive liner and press it down firmly. You can mount it on any surface as long as it’s not too wet, including uneven or curved surfaces.
How is the brightness of an LED strip determined?
The brightness of an LED strip is measured in lumens, not wattage like incandescent bulbs. LED strips have different efficiency levels, so wattage rating alone doesn’t indicate the final light output.
Branded LED strips typically provide a brightness close to 450 lumens per foot.
The brightness of an LED strip depends on three factors:
- The efficiency and light output of each LED chip
- The total number of LEDs per foot
- The power drawn by each LED chip per foot
Avoid purchasing LED strips without any brightness specifications in lumens. Be cautious of low-cost strips claiming high brightness, as they might lead to premature failure or overheating. Check out our blog for more information on LED strip overheating.
LED Power Draw and Density
When shopping for LED strips, you may come across different types like 2835, 5050, 3528, and 5730. However, the important factors to consider are the number of LEDs per foot and the power drawn by each foot.
LED strip density plays a crucial role in lighting effects. Strips with a higher density, around 36 LEDs per foot, provide the best lighting experience. Keep the density in mind when comparing prices.
The power drawn by the LED per foot determines the overall power consumption of your strip light.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s understand how an LED strip works.
Understanding the Workings of an LED Strip
Most people are unaware that there are two types of LED strips: analog and digital.
Analog LED strips include monochromatic colors like white, red, yellow, green, blue, and RGB. The current passing through the strip can be controlled using a controller to adjust the color and brightness. This allows for simple changes in lighting effects. However, analog strips cannot change colors individually or create complex effects. For customized lighting effects, digital LED strips are the better choice.
Digital LED strips are versatile because each LED can be controlled individually. You can set each LED to the desired color, creating amazing effects and quick color changes. Digital strips run on 5-volt power and are not compatible with analog strips.
Each LED pixel can be controlled independently, allowing for varied effects and specific image creation by adjusting color appropriately. These LED strips support input voltages of DC5V/12V/24V and can be controlled through DMX or SPI.
Since there are different types of ICs for each control mode, it’s important to choose the right controller according to the ICs used in the strip. If you’re unsure, professional LED suppliers and manufacturers like Darkless LED can assist you. Don’t forget to explore the advantages of LED strip lights while you’re shopping.
To better understand how an LED strip works, let’s take the example of an SMD 5050 RGB W 4-in-1 LED Strip. The “4-in-1” means that it contains four LEDs within one 5050 enclosure, including the standard red, green, blue, and white LEDs. The white LED helps achieve better color mixing compared to RGB-only LEDs.
Efficient heat dissipation is crucial for LED strips. The heat emitted from the LEDs disperses into the strip’s PCB copper. A wider copper surface area increases efficiency, while a thicker copper surface reduces the likelihood of voltage drop, ensuring smooth operation.
The anodes in the strip are connected to a common +12V, and each color’s anode is connected in series. Each color is regulated by a resistor to control the current flow. Finally, they all connect to the RGB W output, resulting in the desired lighting effect.
If you cut the strip in the middle, the LEDs will still be connected in parallel, maintaining the same setup.
Controlling Your LED Light Strips With Arduino
To control your LED light strips with Arduino, you’ll need to install the Arduino IDE software on your computer. Arduino communicates with the sensors and modules via electric current, using binary code with 1s and 0s. A 1 represents the power being on (High Signal), while a 0 indicates the power is off (Low Signal). The duration of the current flow can vary from microseconds to minutes.
When connecting your LED strip to Arduino, make sure to use a resistor to control the current flow. Without a resistor, the LED can burn out.
Here are the components you’ll need:
- Arduino Uno
- LED Strip Light (SMD5050 is popular)
- 10k Ohm Resistor (3)
- Hookup Wires
- N-Channel Logic Level MOSFETs (3)
- Breadboard
- Power Supply
Connect your Arduino board to your computer using a USB cable and open the IDE software. You can then set variables to control the brightness and colors. If you’re not familiar with coding, you can find pre-defined codes online for controlling LED strips with Arduino.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of how LED strip lights work, you can enjoy their beautiful lighting effects. Make sure to read the instructions manual for proper installation and avoid faulty setups that can damage your LED strip. For more information on correct installation techniques and common issues to avoid, check out our detailed blog.
Happy lighting with LED strips!
LED strip lights have become a popular choice for lighting up spaces. They come in various colors and are energy-efficient, which means they won’t increase your electricity bills. But have you ever wondered how they actually work? Let’s delve into the details!
What is an LED Strip?
LED strips are made up of individual emitters that are mounted on flexible and narrow circuit boards. They operate on DC power and require low voltage. These strips usually come in long reels, around 16 feet or 5 meters, and are easy to mount thanks to the double-sided adhesive tape.
To understand how an LED strip works, it’s important to know its components.
LED Strip: Components
Most LED strips are ½ inch wide and can be up to 16 feet long. You can also cut them to your desired length, just make sure to use the marked cutlines located every 1 to 2 inches.
The quality and color of light emitted by each LED chip on the strip determine the overall output. The density of LED chips can range from 18 to 36 per foot.
To stick your LED strip to a wall, simply peel off the adhesive liner and press it down firmly. You can mount it on any surface as long as it’s not too wet, including uneven or curved surfaces.
How is the brightness of an LED strip determined?
The brightness of an LED strip is measured in lumens, not wattage like incandescent bulbs. LED strips have different efficiency levels, so wattage rating alone doesn’t indicate the final light output.
Branded LED strips typically provide a brightness close to 450 lumens per foot.
The brightness of an LED strip depends on three factors:
- The efficiency and light output of each LED chip
- The total number of LEDs per foot
- The power drawn by each LED chip per foot
Avoid purchasing LED strips without any brightness specifications in lumens. Be cautious of low-cost strips claiming high brightness, as they might lead to premature failure or overheating. Check out our blog for more information on LED strip overheating.
LED Power Draw and Density
When shopping for LED strips, you may come across different types like 2835, 5050, 3528, and 5730. However, the important factors to consider are the number of LEDs per foot and the power drawn by each foot.
LED strip density plays a crucial role in lighting effects. Strips with a higher density, around 36 LEDs per foot, provide the best lighting experience. Keep the density in mind when comparing prices.
The power drawn by the LED per foot determines the overall power consumption of your strip light.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s understand how an LED strip works.
Understanding the Workings of an LED Strip
Most people are unaware that there are two types of LED strips: analog and digital.
Analog LED strips include monochromatic colors like white, red, yellow, green, blue, and RGB. The current passing through the strip can be controlled using a controller to adjust the color and brightness. This allows for simple changes in lighting effects. However, analog strips cannot change colors individually or create complex effects. For customized lighting effects, digital LED strips are the better choice.
Digital LED strips are versatile because each LED can be controlled individually. You can set each LED to the desired color, creating amazing effects and quick color changes. Digital strips run on 5-volt power and are not compatible with analog strips.
Each LED pixel can be controlled independently, allowing for varied effects and specific image creation by adjusting color appropriately. These LED strips support input voltages of DC5V/12V/24V and can be controlled through DMX or SPI.
Since there are different types of ICs for each control mode, it’s important to choose the right controller according to the ICs used in the strip. If you’re unsure, professional LED suppliers and manufacturers like Darkless LED can assist you. Don’t forget to explore the advantages of LED strip lights while you’re shopping.
To better understand how an LED strip works, let’s take the example of an SMD 5050 RGB W 4-in-1 LED Strip. The “4-in-1” means that it contains four LEDs within one 5050 enclosure, including the standard red, green, blue, and white LEDs. The white LED helps achieve better color mixing compared to RGB-only LEDs.
Efficient heat dissipation is crucial for LED strips. The heat emitted from the LEDs disperses into the strip’s PCB copper. A wider copper surface area increases efficiency, while a thicker copper surface reduces the likelihood of voltage drop, ensuring smooth operation.
The anodes in the strip are connected to a common +12V, and each color’s anode is connected in series. Each color is regulated by a resistor to control the current flow. Finally, they all connect to the RGB W output, resulting in the desired lighting effect.
If you cut the strip in the middle, the LEDs will still be connected in parallel, maintaining the same setup.
Controlling Your LED Light Strips With Arduino
To control your LED light strips with Arduino, you’ll need to install the Arduino IDE software on your computer. Arduino communicates with the sensors and modules via electric current, using binary code with 1s and 0s. A 1 represents the power being on (High Signal), while a 0 indicates the power is off (Low Signal). The duration of the current flow can vary from microseconds to minutes.
When connecting your LED strip to Arduino, make sure to use a resistor to control the current flow. Without a resistor, the LED can burn out.
Here are the components you’ll need:
- Arduino Uno
- LED Strip Light (SMD5050 is popular)
- 10k Ohm Resistor (3)
- Hookup Wires
- N-Channel Logic Level MOSFETs (3)
- Breadboard
- Power Supply
Connect your Arduino board to your computer using a USB cable and open the IDE software. You can then set variables to control the brightness and colors. If you’re not familiar with coding, you can find pre-defined codes online for controlling LED strips with Arduino.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of how LED strip lights work, you can enjoy their beautiful lighting effects. Make sure to read the instructions manual for proper installation and avoid faulty setups that can damage your LED strip. For more information on correct installation techniques and common issues to avoid, check out our detailed blog.
Happy lighting with LED strips!