A Comprehensive Guide to Using LED Strip Lights
LED technology has revolutionized the way we illuminate our homes, businesses, and outdoor spaces. Among the various LED lighting options available, 24V LED flex-strips stand out for their versatility, energy efficiency, and creative potential. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what 24V LED flex-strips are, their advantages, applications, installation, and how to get the most out of them.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. That’s the little yellow block(s) you can see if you look at anything labelled as an LED lamp. These LEDs always sit on a circuit board of some kind, much like the ones in your computer. LED flex-strip is the very fun development of circuit boards on a very thin, flexible base, so you can bend and twist the LED strips – around corners, around mirrors, in your cupboards and joinery, under stairs or in ceilings.
LED Strip Lights Functionality
LED Strip Lights are available in warm white, cool white, daylight or colour changing RGBs; can be used indoors or outdoors, and can be switched on and off. They can be dimmed or controlled with your smartphone and your digital assistant. The flex-strip, often referred to as “tape” is sold in rolls, and usually comes in 12V or 24V options.
Brightness: Due to their higher voltage, 24V LED strips emit more light, making them suitable for both task and ambient lighting. (12V is often limiting in how long your strip can be before you have voltage drops)
Energy Efficiency: 24V LED strips are energy-efficient and can significantly reduce your electricity bills compared to traditional lighting options. (12V strips often need more resistors to reach a functional capacity, so less of the electricity used is going to generating light. This is wasteful.)
Durability: LED strips have a long lifespan, often exceeding 50,000 hours, and they are shock-resistant, making them a cost-effective choice in the long run. If you opt for IP65 rated strips, you can use them outside with great ease.
Flexibility: The flexible design of LED strips allows for various shapes and configurations, making them perfect for creative lighting projects. It’s important to remember it’s still electronic equipment and needs to be treated with respect; bending it too sharply or twisting it too tightly will damage the on-board components.
Safety: Some rolls of LED strips are available as 240V options, but these often have shorter warranties, more challenging cut-lengths and pose a higher risk in the event there is an exposed apart of the strips. 24V might still shock you, but it won’t hurt, and you won’t die (which is also how you can hold a 24V battery in your hands and be fine).
In South Africa, we use 240V electricity, so connecting 24V LEDs to anything, you need to be sure you’ve got the right LED driver. Drivers are sometimes also called transformers or controllers. LED drivers can be dimmable or non-dimmable, and this is usually reflected in the cost. LED drivers also have IP-ratings, like your flex-strip, so check if you want to use this outside, if it’s suitable.
Once you’ve bought your roll of LED flex-strip, you can cut it to the length you require – but be careful – there will be markings on the strip to show where you can cut. Remember, this is still electronic technology, treat it as such. If you cut the strips just anywhere, you’re going to break the circuit board, and that part won’t work. The cut-lengths are marked with little copper pieces (where you attach the wires) and often a picture of a scissor. You can literally just cut this with a scissor where shown. Most 24V strips can be cut every 5cm, and most 240V strips only every meter.
*Important – even though LEDs are very energy efficient, there is a common misconception that they don’t give off heat. LEDs get very hot. There will always be a metal component underneath or close to the LED to dissipate this heat (also in light bulbs), to prevent it from overheating and failing. Again, micro-electronics are delicate.
There will be an adhesive backing to the back of the strip, which is how you affix the strip. Using a metal backing or mounting has a few (crucial) advantages:
It acts as a heatsink (see above re: LEDs getting very hot). An aluminium profile or flat bar will help your LED strips last longer.
It’s a smooth surface – the adhesive on the back of the LED strip will dry out over time, and if this is taped to a porous surface like timber or painted brickwork, it will simply fall off over time. The smooth metal surface helps it to stay in place longer. This will only work if the metal surface is clean when adhering – wipe with a soft, damp cloth to get rid of dust. (Personally, I use high-alcohol sanitiser on a cloth; this also gets rid of any oily residue and grit)
The profiles with covers will protect your strips from dust and dirt overtime; if these are used in celling bulkheads, there is always high risk of paint or damage after installation; putting your strips in a profile with a cover will protect them.
If you want colour changing LED flex-strips, you can decide if you want the whole length to change colour together, or if you want the individual LEDs to change colour. This is known as addressable LEDs and becomes quite a bit more complicated if you want to DIY. If the whole strip changes together, many retailers have this option with a little remote control, and it’s a great, easy way to make your space a lot more fun.
Installation and Safety Tips:
Installing 24V LED strips can be a DIY project, but it’s essential to follow some guidelines:
Check the Voltage: Ensure your power source matches the voltage requirements of the LED strips (24V). Using the wrong voltage can damage the strips. Also take care not to connect the strips to the mains voltage by accident.
Proper Wiring: Connect the strips following the manufacturer’s instructions and use appropriate connectors and wires. Most use red/positive & black/negative ripcord; it’s the easiest to keep track of which wire goes where. The flex-strip won’t work if you swop positive and negative connections around.
Mounting Surface: Clean and prepare the surface before attaching the strips. Make sure it’s dry and free from dust and debris for optimal adhesion. If you’ve fixed your aluminium profile with screws, check that all the screw-heads are flush mounted, else you might cause a short-circuit if this touches the copper parts of the flex-strip.
Dimmers and Controllers: Invest in compatible dimmers and controllers to customize the brightness and colour of your LED strips. It makes the world of difference if you can control the light-levels.
Safety Precautions: Be cautious with electrical connections, and if you’re unsure about installation, consult a professional electrician.
Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out
hello@mask-design.co.za
+27 64 908 8411
