LED tapes. Characteristics, types

LED strip is a flexible, thin (0.2-0.25 millimeters) printed circuit board (a dielectric substrate on which conductive tracks are attached) with smd-type LEDs mounted on it and resistors assembled into modules with a minimum luminescence length (MDS). LED tapes are widely used for lighting architectural elements, interior houses: in kitchens, for lighting walls, ceilings, furniture, aquariums, skirting boards, niches and so on. They are also used in tuning vehicles: for lighting the dashboard, interior, car bottom, trunk, etc. Also, the LED strip is convenient for creating various elements: advertising inscriptions, figures and other things.

There are many types of LED ribbons. Consider the main ones:

- LED stripes differ in the type of LEDs used in them. Most often there are LEDs such as SMD3528 and SMD5050. SMD marking means that the elements are attached to the printed circuit board by surface mounting, the numbers indicate the size of the LED (3.5 mm × 2.8 mm, 5 mm × 5 mm);

- by the number of LEDs per one running meter of the tape, and consequently, by the brightness of the glow, by the power consumption. Tapes type SMD3528 are of two types: 60 pcs. Or 120 pcs., And SMD5050 type - 30 pcs. And 60 pcs. respectively. The power consumption of such tapes will be 4.8-9.6 W and 8.6-17.2 W per one running meter. Accordingly, the power of the LED tape will be 0.4-0.8 and 0.7-1.4 amps per running meter at a supply voltage of 12 volts.

- On the quality of the used tape elements, LED light are divided into professional and tape and economy class. In the professional use high quality components that are seriously selected. Such products serve for a long time and meet all the declared characteristics. Components of poor quality have a much shorter lifespan, lower price, characterize an economical option for backlighting - as a result, an economical LED tape is produced. The price of a professional tape is 5 or more dollars per running meter (60 diodes) and 10 or more dollars per meter (120 diodes), the economy class is about twice cheaper;

- by the degree of protection from external influences, such as solid particles, dust, moisture, etc. For example, in the name of the tape model you can see the designation IP20, IP33, IP65, etc., this is the marking of the degree of protection. The first digit indicates the level of protection from dust and solid objects, the second - from moisture. The higher the digit, the higher the level of protection. In outdoor lighting, it is recommended to use waterproof, waterproof LED strips that have degrees of protection IP65, IP67 and IP68. There are tapes that can be installed directly under the water - to illuminate the pools, fountains, embankments, etc .;

- by the color of the glow: white (warm, cold), yellow, red, blue and green light. Smd ribbons of different colors with the help of controllers allow you to radiate a variety of colors and their shades. There are tapes on which diodes of white color of cold and warm glow are installed next to the LEDs of the primary colors, this combination allows to reproduce any shades, soft bed colors. Controllers are issued with a remote control;

- by the color of the substrate: black, white, yellow. The color of the substrate does not affect the characteristics of the tape.