It’s easy to find waterproof LED strips for wet environments or outdoor applications, which are typically IP67 waterproof silicone tube ones. They come with silicone clips and can be mounted on walls or ceilings with screws. However, this is not very convenient, so why not add double-sided adhesive to the back? This way, you can stick them anywhere you want. Because the surface of the silicone tube is so smooth, it’s a challenge to add double-sided tape. But today we will teach you how to do it.
Why it’s hard to stick adhesive tape to silicone tubes?
The silicone tubes are so smooth that most adhesives cannot bond well. The common double-sided tape or glue often peels off after some time, especially in humid or high-temperature environments. So we need to do some special processing on them.
The method To Attach Adhesive Tape On Them
To solve this issue, please follow the steps below.
Clean the surface of the silicone tubes to which you want to attach adhesive tape. You can not use the water to clean them directly. You need the isopropyl alcohol clean bag to remove dust, oil, or residue. You can get the 3M clean bags shown in the picture below:
Apply an adhesion promoter on the surface and wait 10 minutes. We recommend 3M 94 primer.
Apply the tape. We recommend the 3M 4229P high-bond double-sided tapes.
Press firmly for around 30 seconds to ensure proper adhesion.
Wait 24 hours for maximum bonding strength before mounting.
Attaching adhesive tape to a silicone tube can be challenging, but with the right method, you can achieve a secure and long-lasting hold. You can install them in aluminum LED channels, ceilings, walls, and other areas, including wet environments or outdoors. It will make things easy. If you need them for your outdoor applications, please contact us to get a quote.
In the interior lighting design, the small change or improvement can make a huge difference in aesthetics and functionality. Today we will share with you the newest LED light channels with regressed cover design for the designers seeking clean, glare-free illumination with a premium finish. But what exactly is regressed cover, and what is useful in lighting design? Let’s check its benefits, and applications.
What does Regressed Cover Mean?
The regressed cover is a design name that allows the diffusers or lenses to be set back slightly from the edge of the LED channels. Do not like the full-mounted or dropped covers, regressed cover design creates a deliberate shadow gap-a subtle recess that hides the LED strips while enhancing visual depth.
Why Regressed Cover Useful In Lighting？
Enhance Architectural Detail
The regressed cover design creates shadow gaps, which help define edges and layers in modern interiors. It can be used widely in:
Cove lighting ( indirect ceiling illumination)
Wall- washing ( evenly lit vertical surfaces)
Reduce Glare & Improves Comfort
By recessing the diffusers, harsh LED spots are concealed, making the light softer and more comfortable. They are suit for offices, retail displays, museums, galleries, etc.
Hide hardware and LED strips for a seamless appearance.
Work with plaster-in or suspended profiles for invisible installations.
Pair well with dimmable LEDs for adjustable brightness.
The applications of the aluminum LED channels with regressed cover design
Residential Lighting
Kitchen under-cabinet lighting
Floating ceiling designs
Commercial & Hospitality
Hotel lobby accent lighting
Retail shelf spotlighting
Restaurant mood lighting
Architectural Features
Shadow gap detailing
Where you can get them?
In our online store, we offer seven types of LED light channels with regressed cover designs to meet your needs. You can use them as pendant lighting or recessed on ceilings or walls. They not only hide the LED source but also create glare-free illumination for a cozy ambiance. It’s time to upgrade your home’s lighting. Let’s do it.
Can you cut LED strip lights? Can we cut LED strip lights? Both questions are among the most frequently asked by our customers. Yes, most of them can be cut to your desired length, but you need to cut them from the cut points marked on the LED strips. If you cut from the wrong place will damage the circuit and the lights will not work. Below are everything you need to know.
Where You Can Cut Them?
Not everywhere on the LED tapes is safe to cut; the correct cutting points are scissor icons or copper points, usually where you can safely separate the strips.
For some mini size LED strips, you will need to take off the protector paper of doube-sided adhesive tape to reveal the copper points.
Why Cutting Points Matte
Cutting from the wrong place will sever the circuit, making the rest of strip lights unusable.
Each cutting point aligns with the tape’s electrical design, ensuring the rest LEDs work normal.
How To Cut LED Tape Lights Properly
Step 1: Locate the cutting points: Look for scissor symbols or copper dots indicating safe cut points. If you are still not sure about it, please ask your seller to confirm.
Step 2: Use the right tools: You can use sharp scissors or a utility knife to cut them down.
Step 3: Test both parts after cutting: Connect both parts to LED power suppy to ensure them work normal.
Step 4: Seal The Ends: For the waterproof versions, you can use silicone glue to seal the ends for waterproofing and protect exposed wires.
The Ways To Reconnect Cut Strip Lights
Solder Wires On Them: You can solder wires on them, need to pay attention to + and – terminals.
Use the Solderless LED Connectors: This is the easiest way to reconnect them. They are allowed to connect cut strip lights together or connect to wires. There are straight, L-shaped, and T-shaped ones available.
Frequency Questions:
Can You Cut Any LED Strips? A: Yes, most LED strips can be cut. If you are unsure, please contact your seller or us to confirm. For the waterproof or mini size ones, you need to be careful.
What Can I Do If I Cut In The Wrong Place? A: Many small sections connect together to form one long piece of LED strips. If you cut from the wrong place, you need to remove the small section. And others will work normal.
Can You Reconnect LED Strips After Cutting? A: Yes, you can solder wires on the copper dots or use our solderless LED connectors to reconnect them together or connect to a power supply or controller.
Will Cutting Lose Brightness? A: No, it will not. If you find the brightness weak at the end of the LED tapes compared to the beginning. You got the voltage drop issue. Check our article to fix it here: How To Fix Voltage Drop Issue For LED Strips?
Conclusion
Cutting LED strips is simple if you know how to do it. Whether you’re customizing lighting in your space or for DIYs, knowing where you can cut and use the sharp tools will help you finish in seconds.
Have you tried to cut flexible LED strips? Share your questions in the comments!
When you try to add lighting to the limited space in the toys, models, cars, trucks, shelves, etc. You will find the traditional LED strip lights will be difficult to do. Because it is impossible to fit a regular size light strip into a small space. But today we will introduce 5 ultra-thin LED strips that will work in the tiny space too.
This is our narrowest LED strips that sell on our website, 480PCS LED chips laid on the 2mm width PCB board, flexible and bendable. They will provide exceptional brightness and uniform illumination in a tiny tube. The ultra-slim strip lights can be used in the limited spaces like cars, toys, models that you want to achieve seamless and minimalistic lighting.
There are only 12VDC products available, and we only provide several emitting color products: Blue, 6500K Cool White, 4000K Natural White, and 3000K warm white. The super slim COB LED strips are cuttable, and the minimum cutting length is 25mm/0.98″. The back has double-sided adhesive tape and allow to stick them into the place you want. They are only provide IP20 non-waterproof version, so only can be used indoors.
Those are the hottest sale narrow LED strips on our websites, and our customers gave them a very high response. There are 480PCS LEDs laid on the 2.7mm width PCB board, flexible, bendable, and cuttable. Both ends have black&red wires, easy to connect to power supply to light up or light dimmer to adjust the brightness. The back has double-sided adhesive tape and easy to stick to the place you want to install. They are excellent choice for the space is limited, especially in tight corners, shelves, etc.
We provide DC3.7V, DC5V, and DC12V versions, you can use batteries, power bank and wall adapter to light up the DC3.7V and DC5V slim COB LED stripes. They are perfect for projects that need to move, like cosplay, toys, etc. There are many color options available: warm white, natural white, cool white, blue, ice blue, red, green, pink, orange, yellow, addressable, etc for various applications. The 90Ra+ colo rendering index and high-density features allow they do not need extra diffuser for excellent efficiency and color consistency.
Those 4mm super slim COB LED tapes have high-density feature that will create a dotless, no dark area, and uniform illumination in the tight space. They are 5 meters per roll and minimum cutting length is 25mm or 50mm. Both ends have black&red wires to connect light dimmer easily to adjust the brightness for various scenes.The back has double-sided adhesive tape and easy to stick to the place you want to install.
We provide 5V, 12V, and 24V versions of 4mm COB tape lights. You can use batteries and a power bank to light up the 5V versions for mobility. Not only the regular white colors, we also provide the other single colors like red, green, pink, yellow, purple, blue, orange, etc. You can choose and install them in the tight space and light the dark areas.
Those slim LED strips are addressable. 160PCS small SMD LEDs laid on the 2.7mm width PCB board. The slim design allow them can be fit into tight spaces without compromising brightness. With the individually addressable feature, they will create a dynamic and fantastic lighting in your DIY projects. Both ends have JST SM 3P connectors allow them easy to connect to SP105E pixel LED controllers to achieve hundreds of dynamic lighting effects.
There are DC5V and DC12V version products available, you can light up the DC5V slim LED tape by batteries or battery pack. They are cuttable and the minimum cutting length is 12.5mm. You can cut to your deisred size for your project. The back has double-sided adhesive tape for easy installation.
The last one super narrow LED strips we recommended are dual white, which allow you to adjust the color temperature and brightness for various scenes. They have 576PCS of LEDs laid on the 4mm PCB board. The high-density feature allow them to create bright and dotless linear lighting. With two color of LED chips allow you to adjust the color temperature from 2700K warm white to 6500K cool white.
They are 12V and 24V version products available, you can choose them for your projects in cars, furnitures, cabinets, cars, toys, etc. They are cuttable and the minimum cutting length is 27.78mm. The back has double-sided adhesive tape for easy installation. Both ends have 3P wires can be connected to the CCT LED controller to light up and control the light setting.
Final Thoughts
With those super slim LED strips, you can easy to add lighting in tight spaces. They can be cut to custom lengths to fit specific project requirements. Whether you are looking to enhance the ambiance of your cars, or want to add dynamic lighting in the models or toys, those ones will offer a versatile and efficient solution.
When you try to search LED strips on the internet, you will see the ADs of sheet lights, which are similar to LED tapes but not the same.They are new products that not all people know. But they are hot sales and are welcomed by more and more users. So today, let me tell you everything about the sheet lights.
What are Sheet Lights?
Like its name, the sheet lights have an ultra-thin structure and sheet shape. The SMD LEDs are arranged on the dual-layer PCB boards evenly to make them flexible and bendable. Multiple connectors are soldered on for easy power or connection to each other. There are cutting lines on the board to make them cuttable, and you can cut to your desired size following the cutting lines. Those sheet panels will create a bright and even glow, highly efficient and customizable for applications, especially as backlighting under marble countertops, in advertising boxes or signs, under shopping windows, etc.
2. The Benifit Of The Sheet Panels:
Flexibility And Customization: Because the LEDs on the flexible dual-layer PCB board, which make them bendable. The light sheets are cuttable and linkable, which allows them are easy customize for various projects.
Lightweight & Slim: The thickness is only 8mm, which makes them lightweight and slim like paper. They can be installed in limited spaces.
Uniform Illumination: The high-quality LEDs on the PCB board are evenly to create uniform and shadow-free lighting, making them perfect for high-end applications, especially backlighting.
Conveniently Linkable: The LED sheets have extra power adapters, allowing them to connect easily for large projects, cut to the desired size, or bent to the DIY shape.
Longer Lifespan And Energy Efficiency: The LEDs are packaged with pure gold wires and large-size chips to make them have longer lifespan and higher energy efficiency. The double-layer PCB to ensure stable electrical performance.
3. What color products are available?
There are many color products available on the market, you can take the single color, dual white, RGB, RGBW, RGB+CCT, individually addressable, and addressable.
4. Where we can use them?
There are IP20 non-waterproof and IP54 surface coated waterproof products available. You can use them in lightboxes, signages, retail displays, backlighting in signs, marble countertops, etc. You can use the IP54 waterproof products in the wet environments like shopping windows, etc.
Architectural Lighting: They can be installed in ceilings, walls, and floors, you can add diffused cover above the sheet lighting to get a dotless and uniform illumination.
Retail Displays: Good option for backlighting in signages, advertisements, and showcases.
Interior Design: Enhances aesthetic appeal in homes, offices, etc.
5. What Sizes Are Available? There are two standard sizes available: Rectangle(490*245mm/19.29″*9.65″) and Square(250mm*250mm/9.84″*9.84″). There are extra signal and power adapters on them, so you can connect them together for large projects or cut to small pieces and power on.
6. How You Install Them To Power Supply And Controller?
There are multiple power adapters and signal adapters(For addressable products), which allow you to connect them to power supply to power on or connect to controller to adjust the brightness and color temperature, or set the static colors or dynamic modes. You also can solder wires on the copper points and connect to LED driver or controller if you cut them to a very small piece. The accessory bag includes connection wires for easy installation.
7. How can we install them?
There are two methods to install them. The Sheet Panels have double-sided adhesive tape on the back side and they have screw holes on. After clean the surface of the place you want to install, you can remove the protector paper and stick on. Or you can use screws to mount them. The screws and screw shims are included in the accessory bag.
8. Conclusion:
Those sheet lights will be a new great option for lighting, especially backlighting. No matter large lighting projects or small DIY ones. Flexible, bendable, cuttable, and linkable features allow them to be installed and arranged conveniently and quickly. No matter large or small projects, you can choose them. Now you can order them on our website and use the code “sheet-lights” to get 10% off.
Addressable LED strips are always the best option for creating colorful and dynamic lighting for residential or business spaces. They allow individual control of a single LED, enabling users to create dynamic lighting effects, patterns, and animations for holidays or decorations.
Recently, one of our customers talked to us about connecting LED strips up to 32 meters long without a gap for his project. Most RGBIC LED strips have 3Pin or 4Pin male and female connectors on both ends, and the standard length is only 5 meters per roll. If you connect them end to end, there is a gap between the LED strip lights.
To avoid any gap between them, we recommend removing the connectors on the ends and using transparent solderless connectors to connect them. You can do the same operations and connect them for a long line as long as you want. Like the picture below:
Before you connect the long-line addressable LED strips to the pixel controller, you must confirm that your controller supports that quantity of ICs; if it does not, you must change the controller or add an amplifier. Another problem we need to solve is voltage drop. Because the programmable LED strips have many small parts, when the electrical voltage travels through a circuit or conductor, a voltage drop occurs, which will cause the lighting to be uneven. The part close to the LED controller is brighter than the section away. To fix this issue, we recommend solder wires on the positive and negative electrodes and connecting the wires to the LED power supply, which will keep all LEDs working at the same voltage and brightness.
Follow the steps above to create a long line of colorful and dynamic linear lighting.
Learning how to calculate the power consumption of your LED strips is very important. This is related to the stability and safety of the entire system and the lifespan of the light strip. Another important factor is that if you know the power of the LED strips, you can choose the correct output LED power supply. Today let us check how to calculate it.
When you browse the details of the online store or purchase them from your local LED shop, they will show the power consumption or include it in the packing bag. see the pictures below:
Knowing the power consumption of each meter makes it easy to calculate the power consumption for the roll of LED strips. The formula is Wattage = wattage/meter * LED strips’ length.
For example, if the power of the LED strips is 8W/M and you own one roll of 5 meters of LED strips, the power composition of the roll of LED strips is 40W. If you want to use 5-roll LED strips for your project, the total power consumption is 200W.
After we know how to calculate power, we can learn to choose the correct LED power supply. Because the power supply contains many components, this will cause power loss in the power supply itself, so you cannot assume that the actual output of the power supply is the same as the wattage indicated on the power supply. There is a very important parameter that helps us choose a suitable power supply: power efficiency. See the picture below:
They are 1500W output Meanwell power supplies. For the 24V products, the power efficiency is 90%, so the actual output is 1500W*90%=1350W. You can use the same method to calculate the actual output power of the power supplies.
Conclusion: Calculating the light strip’s power consumption is necessary to select the appropriate power supply, controller, and other accessories. Now you have know how to do it, choose the correct ones for your new lighting project now.
If you do not have experience in interior decoration, adding LED strips to your ceiling or wall will be a big challenge. But it will be very easy if you know how to do it. So today, let us teach you how to do it.
What are the benefits of mounting strip lights on ceilings/walls?
Protect the LED lights: The common way to mount flexible LED strips on ceilings is to use double-sided adhesive tape or silicone clips. However, the exposed strip lights will be affected by the surrounding conditions, such as accidental bumps, spills, rain, etc., which may shorten the lifespan of the LEDs. So, if we could put them in something and keep them safe, it would extend the lifespan.
Consistent With Your Designs: Adding a light strip alone will look out of tune with the overall design, especially when the surface of the light strip has components of different colors and the light dots on the SMD light strip. So, hiding the light strip with a slot that matches your interior will make the overall design more beautiful.
Aesthetics: For a sophisticated look, hide strip lights on ceilings, walls, under cabinets, along baseboards, under shelves, etc. You can transform the space elegantly while keeping the interior design clear and gorgeous.
Anti-glare: High-density LED strip lights cause glare, making people’s eyes uncomfortable and even causing headaches. This can be fixed simply by adding a diffused cover to the LED strips.
The Ways To Hide Them:
Using the aluminum LED channels will make hiding the LED strips on ceilings or walls easy. There are four ways to install the LED channels on the ceilings or walls：
Suspended: The suspended installation method allows you to mount the LED strips on the ceilings to create a sleek and modern look, enhancing the overall design of your space. It also can add visual interest and depth to ceilings. There are lighting slots in the aluminum LED channels; you can stick the LED strips inside and clip in the diffusers to diffuse the light evenly, reducing harsh shadows and hotspots. This installation method can be in various configurations, such as straight lines, squares, or geometric patterns, allowing creative and customized lighting solutions.
Surface Mounted: This installation method is typically easy to install, often requiring only adhesive or screws. This makes them suitable for both DIY projects and professional installations. You can choose the various shapes and sizes of LED light channels, and they can be customized to fit different design aesthetics and applications for residential and business places. The flexible LED strips can be easily stick inside; the diffusers will diffuse the lighting smoothly without dark areas. They can provide direct lighting for task lighting. The aluminum channels will protect the strip lights from dust, moisture, and physical damage to extend their lifespan. The mounting clips are include, you can mount them on surface on walls or ceilings.
Recessed: The recessed installation methods allow them to integrate with the surroundings seamlessly. By being flush with the ceiling or wall, they will create a clean, unobtrusive look, enhancing the overall design of your space without visible fixtures. Those light channels will provide uniform lighting, reducing harsh shadows and ensuring a balanced ambiance. The recessed designs will minimize direct glare, making them suitable for areas where comfort and visibility are important, especially in the residential spaces.
Mud-in: The mud-in installation is another recessed method, particularly popular in architectural designs. It is designed to be embedded into the wall or ceiling, providing a flush, clean appearance that blends seamlessly with the surrounding surfaces, making it ideal for minimalist and contemporary interiors. The mud-in LED channels can be used for various purposes, including indirect lighting, accent lighting, and general illumination, allowing creative design possibilities.
How to hide LED strips using aluminum channels:
Choose the correct LED channels: Confirm the installation method for your LED strips and choose the right channels.
Measure and cut: Measure the area where you plan to install LED strips and cut the channel to the desired length using a saw or cutter.
Install LED channels: mount the aluminum LED channels on ceilings or walls.
Peel off the backing from the LED strips and stick them inside the channel, ensuring they’re properly aligned.
Clip-in the diffusers: snap or slide the diffused cover onto the channel to diffuse the light and hide the strip lights.
Connect to the power supply: connect the LED strips to the power supply and check if the lighting is working.
Check if everything is working correctly.
Installation completely.
Conclusion:
The easiest and fastest method for hiding LED strips on walls or ceilings is to use aluminum LED channels. They look sleek and modern and provide even light output and anti-glare. They are great for DIY lighting projects and interior lighting design in your space.
Adding lighting to the staircases or steps is necessary, especially when the main lights are turned off at night. The oft lighting on steps lets you see the steps clearly in the dark without bringing unnecessary danger. Today let us share you the 5 best aluminum channels for staircase lighting in 2024.
These handrail LED channels have an up-and-down lighting design, so they are easy to mount on the wall beside the staircase. The standard length is 2 meters per piece, but they can be cut to any size for your projects. They are made of extruded aluminum and look modern and luxurious, with a black powder-coated surface treatment.
These big LED profiles can work as handrails. You can hold them when you step on the staircases. The heavy aluminum base can also work as a heat sinker for better heat dissipation for LED lighting. The inner width of the slots is 12.3mm, which allows the max width of strip lights to be 12mm. You can install single-color, dual-white, color-changing, and RGBIC LED strips as the light source. There are 180° connectors available, you can use them to connect for a longer one.
2. Black LED Channels For Steps
Those black LED channels allow you to mount them on the edge of the steps. The LED profiles have a downward lighting design to create a soft lighting ambiance. They come with PVC anti-skid covers, which allow you to step on them and walk on them without slipping. The stock length of those channels is 2M per piece and can be cut to any size.
Only PC diffused covers are available. You can install high-density COB LED strips to create continuous dotless lighting. The inner width of the lighting slot is 13.3mm, which allows you to install the max width of strip lights to be 13mm.
3. Tile Edge Staircase LED Channels
Those LED channels allow mounting on tiles, especially 8mm and 10mm tiles or marbles. The surface has anti-slip grooves, so you don’t have to worry about slipping when you step on it.
The inner width is 13.3mm, and the max width of the strip light is 13mm. You can add waterproof strip lights for outdoor applications. Only PC-diffused covers are available to diffuse the lighting smoothly. The standard length is 2M per piece and can be cut to any size. Three colors are available: black, white, and silver. We can paint them to any color you want.
4. Side Bendable LED Strip Holder For Curved Steps
Those LED strip holders are designed for steps with curved surfaces and can seamlessly integrate LED strip lights in your staircases. The maximum length is 2M per piece and can be cut to any size you want.
Only silicone diffused covers are available for smooth lighting output. The bending diameter is 600mm to ensure a snug fit and uniform illumination along curved surfaces. The inner width is 10.4mm and allows the max width of LED tapes to be 10mm.
5. V Shape Corner Silicone Waterproof LED Channels
The 45° V-shaped silicone channels are IP67 waterproof and come with metal clips for mounting underneath the steps. The unique 45-degree angle allows for a greater amount of light to be dispersed and creates a unique lighting effect. They are flexible and can be bent to conform to curved or irregular outdoor areas. The standard length is 5M per roll, and the maximum is 50 meters per roll. You can cut to any size to fulfill your project.
The inner width is 10.8mm, which allows 10mm LED strips to be inserted. To create uniform, smooth, linear lighting, you can add high-density SMD or COB LED strips as the light source, with no light dots and dark areas. You can install them under your outdoor staircases.
Conclusion:
Those LED channels will fulfill your need for all kinds of staircases, indoors or outdoors. You can use them to add lighting on the stairs to create ambient lighting at night.
When you connect multiple 5-meter light strips in series, you will find that the LEDs closer to the power source are brighter than those farther away. This is a voltage drop issue that causes inconsistent brightness. Today, we will check how to solve this issue.
What Is Voltage Drop?
When the light strip is connected in series for more than 10 meters, the voltage will decrease when the current passes through many electronic components: LEDs and resistors. For example, if the normal working voltage is 24V, the measured voltage may be only 20V at 15 meters. If the working voltage of the LED is lower than the standard working voltage, it will appear darker to the naked eye compared to the LED closer to the voltage. This is called voltage drop.
How To Solve?
There are three solutions to solve the voltage drop issue.
Connect the LED Strips in parallel.
If you are installing multiple light strips for your project and need them to be uniformly bright, we would recommend connecting them in parallel to a power supply or controller so that all LEDs have the same operating voltage.
2. Choose the high-voltage LED Strips
Because the high-voltage light strips have a parallel design of the lamp beads on the circuit, the voltage drop is very unobvious even in long-distance projects, so they are very suitable for outdoor long-distance projects. The maximum lengths can be 50 meters or 100 meters per roll, and they can be connected in series.
3. Add voltage From the Middle Or Other End
The third solution to fix the voltage drop issue is to add the same voltage from the middle or the other end if the length of the parallel light strip exceeds 10 meters or 15 meters. It is suitable for indoor and outdoor voltage light strip projects. Below is a picture of the wiring diagram for all kinds of connections.
Conclusion
For most users, the method of adding voltage is easiest. No matter how long the light strips are, if you find that the brightness of the LEDs is inconsistent, especially for the high-density COB or SMD LED strips, you can solve this problem by adding the voltage from the middle or the end as shown in our picture.
