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Single Color LED Strip Buyer's Guide

This Single Color LED Strip Buyer's Guide will give you the basics of what you need to know about Single Color LED Strips and help you choose the correct LED Strip for your application.


Things you need to know to about the different types of LED strips:
 

Where to cut:

All LED strips can be cut to suit the size of your project. The 24V ribbons can be cut at each 6 LEDs, while the 12V ribbons can be cut at every 3 LED's. 24V LEDs will allow you to make longer strands with a single power supply while giving you the same light output. 24V also has the advantage of allowing you to add more wire to your set up, given the lower amperage and the higher voltage.

Chip Type:
The chip type refers to the size of the chip, for example, the 5050 chip measures 5.0mm x 5.0mm while the 3528 chip measures 3.5mm by 2.8mm

LED Strips have a lifetime rating of 35 000 hours, when properly installed

About iP Rating:
IP stands for the International Protection marking, which is an IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) standard.

iP20: Unprotected Strip, for indoor use only. Must be installed in an aluminum profile or properly housed.
iP65: Strips is covered with a splash proof coating. For indoor usage only.
iP68: Strip is silicone injected and silicone covered. Ideal for indoor and outdoor usage.

Concerning Heat Sink:
Higher output LED Strips will require a heat sink to properly operate and to insure their longevity. We recommend using an aluminum profile or an aluminum flat bar of 1’’ wide by 1/8’’ thick.

Shades of White:
Learn more about what white you should choose by visiting our Warm White or Cool White page.

Strip and Chip Specifications

3528, 60LEDS per meter

Chip type: 3528, 60 LEDS per meter
** See 12V Single Color 3528 LED Strip 300 LEDs (Strip Only)
Typical light output: 400 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 3000K, 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available: 12V,24V
Cuttable: 12V: every 3 LED (5cm) 24V: every 6 LED (10cm)
Strip width: iP65: 8mm iP68: 10mm
Maximum Length per power supply: 20m in parallel (10m on each side of your Power supply) 
Waterproofing available: iP65, iP68
Power consumption: 4.8W/meter
Recommended power supply: 6W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply 
Heat sink: Not necessary 
Applications: The 3528 Strips are great for areas where an ambient lighting is needed. They are mainly used to light up stairs or crown moldings where an accent is needed. It is not recommended for under cabinet lighting. 

24V Single Color 3528 LED Strip 600 LEDs (Strip Only)

Chip type: 3528, 120 LEDS per meter
** See 24V Single Color 3528 LED Strip 600 LEDs (Strip Only)
Typical light output: 850 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 1800K, 2700K, 3000K, 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available: 12V ,24V
Cuttable: 12V:Every 3 LED (5cm) 24V:Every 6 LED (10cm)
Strip width: 8mm
Maximum Length per power supply: 20m in parallel (10m on each side of your Power supply) 
Waterproofing available: iP20, iP65
Power consumption: 9.6W/meter
Recommended power supply: 12W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply 
Heat sink: Recommended when using the LEDs for more than 4 consecutive hours
Applications: They are great for adding lighting to a room (still requires a main light ) and under cabinet lighting. These ultra bright LEDs are great when installed inside our continuous lighting channels as the channel removes the hot spot effect (dot effect) to render a smooth and steady light that you would see in a neon tube.

5050, 60LEDS per meter

Chip type: 5050, 60LEDS per meter
** See 12V iP65 5050 5m Single Color Strip - 60 LED/m and 24V IP65 Epistar 5050 5m Single Color LED Strip (Strip Only)
Typical light output: 900 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 1800K, 3000K, 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available: 12V and 24V
Cuttable: 12V :every 3LED (5cm) 24V: every 6LED (10cm)
Strip width: 10mm (iP65) 12mm (iP68)
Maximum Length per power supply :
12V:10m in parallel (5m on each side of your power supply)
24V: 20m in parallel (10m on each side of your Power supply)
Waterproofing available: iP65,iP68
Power consumption: 9.6W/meter
Recommended power supply: 12W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply
Heat sink: Recommended when using the LEDs for more than 4 consecutive hours
Applications: The most common and probably the most versatile type of LED Strip. Indoor: great for adding lighting to a room (still requires a main light ) and under cabinet lighting. Outdoor: great to accent the outside of the house or to easily add lighting under your RV awning or gazebo.

3014, 120LEDS per meter

Chip type: 3014, 120LEDS per meter
** See cUL Certified 12V iP20 3014 LED Strip - 120LED/m
Typical light output: 1200 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 3000K, 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available: 12V and 24V
Cuttable: 12V :every 3LED (2.5cm) 24V: every 6LED (5cm)
Strip width: 10mm
Maximum Length per power supply:
12V:10m in parallel (5m on each side of your power supply)
24V:20m in parallel (10m on each side of your Power supply)
Waterproofing available: iP20
Power consumption: 12W/meter
Recommended power supply: 14.5W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply
Heat sink: Recommended at all times
Applications: These ultra bright LEDs are great when installed inside our continuous lighting channels as the channel removes the hot spot effect (dot effect) to render a smooth and steady light that you would see in a neon tube. Their high output allows the user to illuminate a small room without need for another light source.

240LEDS per meter, constant white

Chip type: 3014, 240LEDS per meter
** See 24V iP20 3014 5m LED Strip - 240LEDm - 1200 LED total
Typical light output: 2200 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 3000K or 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available:  24V
Cuttable: every 6LED (5cm)
Strip width: 10mm
Maximum Length per power supply: 10m in parallel (5m on each side of your power supply)
Waterproofing available: iP20
Power consumption: 24W /meter
Recommended power supply : 28.8W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply
Heat sink: Recommended at all times
Applications: These ultra bright LEDs are great when installed inside our continuous lighting channels as the channel removes the hot spot effect (dot effect) to render a smooth , bright and steady light that you would see in a neon tube. It can, in some instances, replace a neon tube when used with a 45 degree angled profile.

3014, 240LEDS per meter, variable white

Chip type: 3014, 240LEDS per meter, variable white
** See 24V iP20 3014 Warm White Cool White Adjustable LED Strip - 240 LED/m
Typical light output: 1200 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: will do 10 shades of white between 3000K and 6500K
Voltage available:  24V
Cuttable: every 6LED (5cm)
Strip width: 10mm
Maximum Length per power supply: 10m in parallel (5m on each side of your power supply)
Waterproofing available: iP20
Power consumption: 18W/meter
Recommended power supply: 24W/meter
Dimmable: Yes, through remote ONLY
Heat sink: Recommended at all times
Applications: These ultra bright LEDs are great when installed inside our continuous lighting channels as the channel removes the hot spot effect (dot effect) to render a smooth and steady light that you would see in a neon tube.  In addition, they allow the user to choose and customize the shade of white that they want at all time. This product requires the usage of a special controller and remote.

 

Chip type: 2835, Bendable 60 LEDS per meter
** See 12V Single Color 2835 Bendable LED Strip 300 LEDs (Strip Only)
Typical light output: 700 lm/meter (this will lightly vary depending on the shade of white selected)
Available shades of white: 3000K or 4500K or 6000K
Voltage available: 12V
Cuttable: every 3LED (5cm)
Strip width: 6mm
Maximum Length per power supply: 10m in parallel (5m on each side of your power supply) 
Waterproofing available: iP20 
Power consumption: 9W/meter
Recommended power supply: 11W/meter
Dimmable: Yes with either through a remote control or a wall dimmer and dimmable power supply
Heat sink: Recommended when using the LEDs for more than 4 consecutive hours
Applications: Thanks to its unique M shape PCB, this 12V LED Strip can be bent to just about any shape to backlight letters or oddly shaped objects