LED Tape Light

LED tape light is one of the most versatile forms of lighting. There are many variants that are available, but for the most part, it has the following characteristics:

• Consist of individual LED emitters mounted on a narrow, flexible circuit board
• Operates on low-voltage DC power
• Available in a wide range of fixed and variable color temperatures
• Various brightness levels
• Comes in reels, or can be cut to length
• Features double-sided adhesive for easy mounting

An LED tape light is typically half an inch (10-12 mm) in width, and up to 16 feet (5 meters) or more in length. It can be cut to specific lengths using a pair of scissors along the cutlines, located every 1-2 inches apart depending on manufacturer.

Individual LEDs are conveniently mounted along the strip, typically at densities of 18-36 LEDs per foot (60-120 per meter). The color and quality of the individual LEDs translates to the overall light color and quality of the LED tape.

The backside of LED tape light includes pre-applied double-sided adhesive. You simply peel of the liner to mount the LED tape to virtually any surface. LED tape light can even be mounted on curved and uneven surfaces since the circuit board is designed to be flexible.

The brightness of LED tape light is determined using metric lumens. Unlike incandescent bulbs, different types of LED tape light can have different levels of efficiency, so the wattage rating does not always determine the actual light output.

LED tape light brightness is typically described in lumens per foot (or meter). For example, a quality LED tape light should provide at least 450 lumens per foot (1500 lumens per meter), which will provide the same amount of light output per foot as a traditional T8 fluorescent lamp (E.g. 4-foot T8 fluorescent = 4-foot of LED tape light = 1800 lumens).

LED tape light brightness is typically determined by three factors:

• Light output and efficiency per LED emitter
• The number of LEDs per foot
• The power draw of the LED tape light per foot

Each LED tape light segment is required to be connected to a DC power supply, or another LED tape light segment that is connected to a DC power supply (daisy chain). The connection method depends on the type of wires or plugs provided with the LED tape light, as well as whether or not the DC power supply includes a plug.

LED tape light can be installed in multiple ways. If you're looking for more of a polished look than using the double-adhesive backing, we recommend using aluminum channels and diffuser covers. Mounting the LED tape light inside of an aluminum channel, along with a diffuser cover, can drastically improve the aesthetics of a lighting installation.

Aluminum channels are long pieces of extruded aluminum in a U or V shape. The LED tape light is neatly placed and secured (using the double sided adhesive) at the bottom of the channel. Then a long frosted polycarbonate plastic lens then snaps onto the top of the aluminum channel. Besides being aesthetically pleasing, aluminum channels also help to dissipate the heat away from the LED tape light as well.

All LED tape light is dimmable when paired with the correct hardware. There are two methods of dimming LED tape light, a traditional phase-cut wall dimmer, or a DC low-voltage dimmer. The AC phase-cut dimmer is the most ideal choice for residential and commercial lighting applications, which is where the dimming input signal comes from a traditional wall-switch dimmer.

The DC low-voltage dimmer, or (RGB) controller, is typically a manual or digital dimmer module that is placed between the DC power supply and the LED tape light. This method is most suitable for color changing applications, or less permanent lighting installation.

LED tape light is a highly versatile lighting solution that can be used to illuminate underneath cabinets, under stairs, along railings, inside of coves, along pathways, and so much more.