LED Strip Lights - Some Frequently Asked Questions

Given how versatile our LED strip lights are, we do sell a fair amount of them! We also get a lot of questions about our LED tape too. We’ve assembled the most common questions we get into one list.

1. What Are LED Strip Lights?

They’re long, flexible strips of LEDs with a commercial grade 3M adhesive backing used to create hidden and subtle lighting effects, such as under cabinet lighting.

2. How Are Your LED Strip Lights Sold?

We sell our LED tape by the metre, with all prices and specifications you see on the site based per metre too. So, if a particular strip light says 7.2W energy consumption, then 4 metres of this tape will use a total of 28.8W.

We feel that selling our strip lights by the metre allows for greater amounts of flexibility for our customers, and gives you the exact amount you need.

3. Can Your LED Strip Lights Be Cut?

Yes, all our strip lights come with designated cutting points that differ depending on the type of tape used. The cutting points are as follows:

• Tape with 30 LEDs per metre can be cut every 10cm,
• Tape with 60 LEDs per metre can be cut every 5cm, and
• Tape with 120 LEDs per metre can be cut every 2.5cm.

It’s important to know that this is a general guide, and that other types differ from this. For example, our RGBW tape has 60 LEDs per metre, but can only be cut every 10cm.

These cutting lengths are also doubled for 24V tape. The video below details how to safely cut LED tape.

4. What Colours Are Available?

Our single colour LED strip lights are available in warm white, cool white, red, green and blue. Our dual colour tape features warm white and cool white simultaneously, whilst our RGB colour changing tape can emit any colour depending on the controller.

5. How Bright Do I Need My LED Strip Lights?

This all depends on what they’re being used for. If you’re simply creating mood lighting, then anything up to 7.2W will be fine. If you’re lighting an area such as a work surface however, you may be better off with 14.4W tape.

6. What Voltage Are Your LED Strip Lights?

All our LED strip lights are available in 12V. We also sell 24V single colour and 24V RGB colour changing tape too.

7. What Else Do I Need?

For single colour LED strip lights, you just need a 12V power supply. For RGB colour changing LED tape, you also need an RGB controller too.

We sell a range of LED strip light kits too, that come with everything you need in one box. These come in preset 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m and 5m lengths, and can be easier than assembling what you need yourself.

8. You Sell Two Types Of 12V Power Supply. Which Do I Need?

The two kinds of 12V power supply we sell are plug-and-play power adapters, and LED drivers.

Power adapters offer a quick and easy installation, and work from a 13 amp 3-pin plug socket. LED drivers are designed for mains electrical work and can be wired directly into an existing lighting circuit.

9. What Is The Maximum Length Of LED Strip Light I Can Run From A Single LED Driver?

Technically speaking, there is no limit to the amount of strip light you can run. As long as you’re getting sufficient power to the strip light, you will be fine.

However, we do recommend breaking larger runs of strip light down into smaller sections to avoid voltage drop. If you have any difficulties with this, the easiest thing to do would be to give our team a call, and they can advise you on everything you need to know.

10. How Many LED Strip Lights Can I Run From A Single Power Supply?

As many as you like – as long as you’re not exceeding the maximum load on the power supply. We do also recommend leaving a gap of around 10% between the total wattage of your tape, and the maximum wattage of the driver/power supply.

So, for example, if you have a 100W LED driver, we would advise you run up to a maximum of 90W, as this will help preserve the lifespan of your LED strip lights.

11. Are Your LED Strip Lights Dimmable?

Yes, though you will need a 12V dimmer switch.

12. What Do The Numbers 3528 And 5050 Mean?

These numbers simply refer to the physical size of the SMDs (Surface Mounted Diodes). It’s easier to think of the 3528 as the small chip and the 5050 as the large chip.

5050 chips are twice the size and almost 3 times as bright as 3528 chips.

13. Do My LED Strip Lights Need To Be Waterproof?

This depends on where you’re going to be using your LED strip lights. If they might be exposed to moisture, then you may want to put an IP rating on your purchase. IP ratings and the level of protection they provide is as follows.

Generally, to make sure there is no damage to your strips, we recommend using IP65 protection in areas like the kitchen or bathroom, ensuring that steam and condensation won’t cause any damage.

If you’re planning on using them outside, or in a fish tank for example, then we recommend using IP68 rating. We also offer something called IP68 nano – a revolutionary new type of protection that encases your strips in a silicone coating.

This ensures that you can still use it with our range of aluminium profiles, as it doesn’t alter the physical size of the tape itself.

14. Can Your LED Strip Lights Be Powered Directly From A Battery?

Yes. Some customers power their LED strips from a 12V battery or power pack. They can even be connected to a vehicle battery.

15. Can I Send You A Diagram?

Of course you can. In fact, we recommend it, as it becomes easier for us to see what it is you’re trying to achieve. As a result, we can turn your vision into a reality a lot quicker. You can send in your diagrams and drawings to cs@wled.co.uk.

If you have any further questions about LED strip lights, then our team can help you – you just need to call 0116 321 4120.