LED strips | The best of 2022

LED strips | The best of 2022

LED strips have revolutionized the way of understanding lighting, because they can be combined with anything, and therefore we can find them everywhere, from the cockpits of the best cars to home furnishings. To be clear, there are no unexplored uses for this kind of products!

Read also: RGB mats | The best of 2022 This lighting system offers many advantages over classic lamps, because it allows you to install LED strips in any place and with energy consumption reduced to a minimum, thus also reducing the environmental impact. Therefore, thanks to the versatility of this lighting system, these products have become essential for all those who want to illuminate their environment in a creative way.

The market offers many proposals, ranging from economic to premium solutions. In this article we will report the best LED strips, both internal and external, accompanied by links that will allow you to buy them at advantageous prices on the safest and most popular e-commerce. Below you will find further information that will help you to understand for yourself whether or not a certain solution is right for you.

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The best LED strips

Liwqolx | For interiors Govee DreamView T1 | For Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance TVs | For outdoor Pcning | Totally waterproof Lepro | With white light

Liwqolx

Let's start this buying guide by offering you a LED strip suitable for indoor environments and we do it by suggesting you buy the Liwqolx solution. Available from 5 up to a maximum of 30 meters, which can therefore be installed on any wall, this RGB model has numerous modes of use that guarantee its wide use, for example as a decoration for wardrobes, bedrooms, bars or, why not, also to create an engaging atmosphere for events such as Halloween. In addition to the remote control, you can also control the lighting system via the dedicated smartphone app, with the ability to customize not only the colors, but also the different integrated modes. Among these we point out the flashing, hopping and stroboscopic one. Another feature that prompted us to recommend this LED strip is the presence of a built-in microphone, which allows the lights to synchronize with the sound of the environment, with the possibility of setting a specific effect for each occasion.

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Govee DreamView T1

If you are looking for a solution that allows your TV or smart TV to offer you an interactive viewing experience, through a perfectly synchronized with the images, then you can't give up the Govee H61993D1. Suitable for 55 and 65 inch TVs, this LED strip relies on a small video camera to capture the screen lights, reproducing them in real time on the back and, consequently, on the home walls, thus giving you the feeling that the scene goes out. from the panel. In addition to the camera, this kit also integrates a microphone, which serves for the lights to flash and move to the rhythm of the music. The microphone can be clearly deactivated when watching a movie, so that it does not affect the synchronization of the images. Everything can be managed via Alexa, Google Assistant and the dedicated app.

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Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance

If you are interested in a solution for the outdoors, it is important that the LED strip has at least IP65 certification, as sooner or later the lights will be exposed to rain. With their IP67 certification, the Philips Hue White & Color Ambiance will be perfect for your green area, and with voice controls you can easily manage the lighting remotely. Designed to be as flexible as possible, this LED strip can take the shape or curvature you prefer, so you will have the possibility to install it even in apparently uncomfortable areas, thanks also to the clips and screws included in the package.

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Pcning

If you are looking for a totally waterproof product, which can therefore be installed on the bottom of a swimming pool, in aquariums or fountains, then one of the few valid LED strips is the one made by PCning which, with its IP68 certification, resists not only splashing water but also diving. Available in both two shades of white (warm and cold) and RGB, this model boasts a double layer that protects the high quality LEDs, which enjoy good thermal dispersion, which allows the lights to work up to 50,000 hours. . There is also a remote control with which to set the numerous colors and different modes of use, including one to the rhythm of music.

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Lepro

If you prefer a LED strip that reproduces only white, while still having the possibility to adjust its intensity, then we suggest you consider Lepro's proposal. This 24W model is made up of 600 LEDs which, added together, emit a brightness of 1200 lumens. Installing it will be simple as, like all other similar solutions, just stick the tape on a clean and dry surface. You will also be helped by the powerful 3M adhesives and the 6 clips included in the package, which will allow the LED strip to remain firm even in 90 ° corners, without drilling or wiring that ruin the environment.

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How to choose LED strips

After having proposed the best LED strips, we explain below what are the characteristics to look for in this type of products, even more so if you intend to install them in areas very specific, both internal and external.

What types of LED strips exist?

Although aesthetically they all look the same, it is possible to find on the market models that are better suited to closed environments and other designed instead to be installed outside, for example in your garden. This is the first factor to consider when buying this type of lighting as, as mentioned, the two types have different characteristics.

Regardless of whether you need to buy a solution for the whole or the outside , it is always necessary to check the protection index of the electronic device, in this case that of the LED strips, since it is the latter that will allow us to understand if we are facing a valid solution for closed environments or not. The protection index is known as IP followed by a number, and it is precisely that numerical value that you need to pay attention to if you want to make a targeted purchase. Not all LED strips, in fact, resist certain atmospheric conditions and these can change even within the home, which is why it is advisable to consider models with IP43 certification if you want to add these lights in the bathroom or kitchen. , places where more humidity is usually created. For rooms such as the bedroom, where humidity tends to be minimal, a model with IP20 certification may be sufficient.

LED strips for outdoors, on the other hand, require a higher protection index, since they have to withstand various atmospheric changes, especially the winter ones, when the rain will dominate. In this regard, it is recommended to purchase models with IP65 certification, as they are designed to withstand the elements. If you want to add one or more LED strips on the bottom of the pool or in any place where the lights remain submerged by water, then you need to further raise the protection index, reaching the IP68 certification, currently the highest and most suitable for maximum impermeability.

How are the LED strips powered?

The LED strips receive electricity exclusively through a power supply, whose voltage can be 5, 12 or 24V. No batteries therefore, also because the power required depends on the length of the LED strip and its wattage. If you need to replace the original power supply, you must therefore make sure that it is able to generate the current necessary to correctly power all the lights integrated in the strip and, to do this, simply multiply the wattage per meter declared by the manufacturer for the length of the LED strip. Add 20% to the result obtained, since power supplies usually work efficiently up to 80% of their declared capacity. For example, if the LED strip consumes a total of 20W, you will need to use a power supply of at least 24W.

What is the ideal length of an LED strip?

The length of a strip at LED must be sufficient to cover the wall on which you intend to illuminate. Almost all models are sold in different sizes, which can reach up to 30 meters in length. In order to avoid overspending, we suggest, before proceeding with the purchase, to calculate the exact footage you need, then purchasing the LED strip with the size closest to your needs. Either way, the length will almost certainly be longer than you really need but this won't be a problem, as the LED strips can be cut in numerous places, thus adapting to the length of your wall or the object on which intends to illuminate.

White or RGB LED strips?

As you know, LED strips can be designed to reproduce only white or the RGB hue, usually composed of three colors: red, green and blue. The choice depends on your preferences, although white LEDs tend to be more suitable for indoor use, even more so if the LED strip allows you to adjust the temperature and the intensity of the white. Be careful not to confuse color temperature with color rendering, since the latter affects how objects appear after they have been illuminated. In this regard, there is a value that allows you to quickly understand whether an LED strip lights up naturally or not. This is the CRI, which goes from a scale from 0 to 100, where 100 is the most natural. Most LED lights reach 95, so there is no risk of illuminating the environment unnaturally.

RGB lights, on the other hand, are almost always suitable for bars or for environments with a soul lively . In recent years, however, they have invaded gaming stations and recently also smart TVs (just see some Philips models). The RGB strips are always accompanied by a remote control, which allows you to change the color shades or, if present, the various operating modes.

How many LEDs should an LED strip contain?

To ensure that the LED strip illuminates the environment correctly, without criticality in certain areas, there is a need for a minimum number of LEDs, below which one should not go down to avoid poor results. This clearly depends on the length of the strip, but it is recommended to buy models that have at least 50 LEDs per meter. So pay close attention to this detail in the product description, even if this detail is not always mentioned.

What are the advantages of LED strips?

Being that they work exactly like LED lamps. LED, the advantages you will find after installing an LED strip in your home environment are the same as those you have noticed after abandoning incandescent lamps, namely greater energy savings, better longevity, less heat production and more compact dimensions with the same power.

Where to install the LED strips?

Being very customizable, both in length and in shape, the LED strips can be applied to any corner, wall or object of the house, thus having the possibility to decorate it just as you imagined it. The same also applies to the outdoor area, where you can indulge yourself in giving a magical touch to your garden, poolside or other.

How to install an LED strip?

The first step is to clean the surface where the LED strip will be installed. This is important because it keeps the lighting system firmly in place for a long time. It is also recommended to apply the lights only on smooth and stable surfaces, to prevent them from bending. Once this is done, take the lights out of the spool, unrolling only the necessary length. Press down, but not too hard, on each part of the strip so that it adheres well to the surface. At this stage you can use the fixing clips (almost always included in the package) to make sure that the strip remains firm. Once fixed on the surface, it can be connected to the controller and the power supply, and then connected to the electrical outlet.







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