Flexible LED strip lights are used all over the world in various industrial, commercial and residential projects. LED strip lighting is popular among many Architects and Lighting Designers due to the improvements in efficiency, color options and brightness. The biggest draw is how easy they are to install. Their flexibility, low-profile and helpful accessories make them the most popular LED strip for the at home DIY types. With these LED strips, a homeowner can design like a professional with the right supplies and just an hour or two.

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There are many options for LED strip lights with no simple &#;one size fits all&#; standard to go by. This LED Strip Resource Guide will educate newcomers and experts alike on finding the best LED strip lights for the job and how to use them while overcoming common installation hold-ups.

This Guide will educate newcomers and experts alike on finding the best LED strip lights for the job and how to use them while overcoming common installation hold-ups.

LED Light Strips: What Makes them so Special?

LED strip lights, also known as LED tape lights or LED ribbon lights, are known for their low-profile size and flexibility. Efficient LEDs sit on a 10mm wide circuit board, offered in 3ft to 16.4 ft lengths. Flexible LED strip lights have many features that make them easy to use in a variety of situations:

Cut-to-size &#; Cutting LED strips is very simple thanks to the cut lines along the strips. At each cut point there is a black line with copper solder pads that sit on each side. The copper solder pads make it so each strip piece is addressable even after being cut. This makes it possible to connect LED strips together or connect the strip in a different area of your home.

Flexible LED strip with Adhesive &#; The LED strips have a 3M adhesive backing for simple mounting options. The low profile, flexible strip has a peel-off backing which exposes the 3M adhesive, making for a simple peel-and-stick install.

Waterproof or Non-Waterproof &#; LED strip lights are not limited to indoor projects. The waterproof LED strip lights are IP65 rated with a silicone resin material that protects the strip components from dust and moisture. The waterproof LED lights are a little more expensive but are a must for any project that is outdoors or close to water.

12 volt LED lights &#; The LED strip lights need 12VDC power input to run. This will require an AC/DC transformer for in home use, but makes wiring the strips through the house a lot safer. Batteries also output DC power, so it is easy to make a battery powered LED light with these flex strips.

7 Things to Know Before Installing LED Strip Lights

LED flex strips are great for all kinds of projects, but sometimes it is hard to know where to start. Follow this 7 step guide if you are stuck not knowing where to begin. The guide shows the various LED Strip options and and what to plan for in order to make your do-it-at-home LED strip lighting a complete success!

LED Strip Density = Brightness

The density of an LED light strip means how many LEDs are in a set area. For LED flex strips, density is measured in  &#;LEDs per Meter&#;. The Standard Density strip has 30 LEDs/M whereas the High-Density has 60 LEDs/M. A higher density strip equates to a higher quality, brighter light. The table below shows the differences between the standard and high density strips. Take note of the Lumen outputs as well as the differences in cut lengths and the max run length for each.

Density# of LEDsLumensWattage
(per Reel)CuttableMax. RunStand. (SD)30/Meter540/Meter27 WattsEvery 4&#;32.8 Ft.High (HD)60/Meter/M40 WattsEvery 2&#;16.4 Ft.

A Lumen is the measurement of brightness as perceived by the human eye. Thanks to incandescent lighting, most of us use watts to measure the brightness of a light. With LEDs, Lumens are the new standard to describe light output. Lumen output is one of the most important parts of choosing LED strip lights as it will determine the type of light you will receive.

Make sure to note how Lumens are tracked when comparing LED strips brightness . In the above table, strips are labeled as Lumens per Meter. In order to find total Lumen output just find how many Meters you will be running.

Lumen output is one of the most important parts of choosing LED strip lights as it will determine the type of light you will receive.

Different projects require certain amount of brightness to achieve their purpose. My advice would be to always go for the brighter option and add a dimmer. Below is a helpful guide on Lumen requirements:

• Accent or Mood Lighting &#; 100-300 Lumens/ft.
• Under Cabinet Lighting &#; 175-360 Lumens/ft.
• Task lighting w/ higher distance from source &#; 300-450 Lumens/ft.
• Bedroom, Cove Lighting &#; 180-500 Lumens/ft.

Color: RGB Multicolor, UV, Colors, White CCT Range

LED strip color depends on personal preference. RGB LED strips are a good option for those that like some variety and color effects. RGB strip lights are color changing strips that are great for accent lighting all around the home. They use red, green and blue diodes so that they can be mixed to create many different colors. If you are using RGB strips just make sure you use a 3 channel controller from the dimming section of this guide.

There is an Ultra Violet (UV) version of the strips available. This is a great option for UV applications or for making your own black light!

The strips are also available in single colors of: Red, Green, Blue, Yellow and White (-K CCT).

CCT stands for Correlated Color Temperature which is the color temperature of light, measured in degrees Kelvin (K). The temperature rating of an LED strip directly affects what the light looks like. Look at the photos below for reference. Warm White is what we call K which gives off an orange or yellowish appearance. As we increase degrees Kelvin the color changes from yellow to off white to natural white and then to bluish white which is known as Cool White.

So which color do I choose? Look at the below room with Warm White, Neutral White and Cool White Strips. Notice how color temperature of a strip light affects the look of the entire room? This totally depends on personal preference and the overall style and feel you want the room to give off.

Warm White creates an inviting, cozy area. It is generally used in rooms where everyone gathers to visit or relax (living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, etc.).

Neutral or Natural White creates a natural, daylight effect. This is the best selling strip as it mimics natural light and is comfortably used anywhere in the home. This is our most popular strip for under cabinet LED lighting.

Cool White complements contemporary and modern styles, casting a bright, fresh glow. Cool white is great for task lighting as it is a brighter, more focused light. The bright, cool colors are used the most in bathrooms, kitchens and work spaces.

Length of Strip

It is best to outline your whole project to see how many feet of strip you will be using total. This gives you an idea of what to buy and the cost to do so. The LED strip lights are available in 3ft. increments all the way up to a full reel (16.4 ft.). It is important to find out if you want to purchase reel lengths and cut them down to size, or if it would be beneficial to have smaller lengths already cut for you.

At this stage, draw out your project. Plan where the strip lights are needed, how they will be connected, and if they will all come back to the same power supply or have separate power supplies. This step helps greatly as you progress through the next few steps.

LED Strip Wattage and Powering

What type of power do the LED strips need? The LED strips always need 12 volt DC input.

That is the easy part, the next step is finding the wattage. With the below chart, this should not be too terrible if you have already chosen your strip density and your total length.

Detailed Wattage Table for 12V LED Strips

Length (Ft.)Length (Meters)30 LEDs/M
Wattage60 LEDs/M
Wattage10..44.820..89.630..214.461...892..127....616.4 (full reel)

If you are running more than one power supply just note the length of strip that will be running off each to find the power supply size you will need.

LED Power Supply Options:

• Plug-in Adapter &#; Plug straight into your wall to power your LED strip lights.
• Hardwire Power Supplies &#; Directly wire in between your line voltage wiring and your LED Strips.
• Dimmable Power Supply &#; Want to dim from a common residential dimmer like a Lutron or Leviton? This is the power option for you!
• Batteries &#; Find a 12V battery pack or use an 8 cell battery holder.

Wiring and Connecting LED Strips

This is where the sketch from before will come in handy to start considering where you will be running all the strips. Was the plan to run all the strips together in a long run? If your total length needed is over the maximum run length of the strip (32.8 ft. for SD and 16.4 ft. for HD) then you will need to run parallel wires from your power source to the separate strips.

As our sketch shows, sometimes you will want to power strips coming from different directions into one common power supply. In this instance you will already be running parallel wires.

Wiring LED strips when you are dealing with multiple reels of strips can be tough but we have a powering and wiring guide that you can follow to map out your LED strip light setup.

Wiring Accessories: LED Strip connectors and splitters

Connecting LED strips will be necessary for any strip project. We have some helpful accessories and guides to complete any LED strip connection.

Soldering wire and your own connections? Make sure to follow our soldering guide and our recommended wire for the strips is found here.

How to Connect LED Strips without soldering? Our EZ Click Strip Connectors work great for connecting strips end to end, running gaps in between LED strips or running around tight corners. Our full LED strip connector guide shows how to use these to make connections that will come in handy for any strip project.

How to connect multiple LED strips to one power source? LED strip splitters make it possible to plug multiple strips into one power supply with ease! Strip splitters are available with 2, 3 or 4 output channels.

Dimming LED Strip Lights

LED strip lights are typically dimmed with in-line pulse width modulation dimmers. These dimmers go on the 12 volt side of the system and wire in between the strips like shown.

PWM dimmers are popular as they can work with any transformer or battery source, they do not need a power supply that is listed as dimmable. PWM dimming offers smooth control from the dimmest to brightest settings. They are affordable and easy to set up, making them the top option for dimming LED strip lights.

These simple dimmers are available in both WiFi and Remote Control options. The WiFi compatible dimmers work straight from a smartphone app and can be voice controlled with Google Home or Amazon Echo (Alexa) devices.

Some homeowners already have a central dimming system for their areas. In these cases, the owner wants to control the lights with the AC dimmers they already have in place. If you want to use an AC dimmer like this then you will need a dimmable power supply as described here.

RGB Controllers (WiFi / Remote / Bluetooth) &#; If you have a color changing RGB LED strip then you NEED a 3-channel RGB controller. These controllers control the Red, Green and Blue channels to mix colors and create the color changing effects of the strip. Without this unit, your RGB LED strips will not operate correctly so always remember to purchase one if you are using the Multicolor LED strips.

Mounting LED Strips

The adhesive on the LED strip lights is very helpful in mounting but sometimes there is more to be desired. As with most adhesives, it does not bond well with some surfaces and may need to be reinforced over time. In these situations, use one of the following:

• Extra Adhesive Tape &#; 3M tape that you put on the surface before the strip to double the bond.
• LED Strip Mounting clips &#; Mounting brackets for strips

Mounting track is another great option for those that want a professional finish. These aluminum extrusions house your light strips and have everything you need to mount. The LED strips adhere to the bottom of the track with a UV protected lens that slides over the top to diffuse the light.

Follow this guide to mount your LED strips properly!

Check out our Newest LED Strip Light

Since this post has been written, we have come out with some very new LED strip tech called COB LED Strip lights. These light strips are very similar to the LED Strip lights we go over in this post with slight upgrades. The new strips eliminate hotspots on your LED Strip, delivering a smooth line of light and also run at 24V as they are brighter than even the high density 12V strips! Click below to learn more and see if these strips work better for you!

Looking Where to Begin?

This is a lot of information for sure. If you are brand new to LED strips than your head is likely swirling with information and you are left with more questions. If this is the case ask yourself these simple starting questions which should help you work through the above guide to find the best LED strip lights and parts for you! If you still need some help feel free to use our LED Project Tool and our helpful Strip Tech Team will get you fitted with just the right LED Strips for you!

1. What will you be lighting?
2. Where will they be installed?
3. Do you want to dim your lights?
   1. With a remote?
   2. With a wall switch?
4. What overall look do you want to achieve?
5. What color is preferred?
6. What materials am I lighting?
7. What other lights are in the area and what color are they?

Get started right now!

Video lights are quite a broad category of equipment - among them you will find panels in every possible size, sticks or tubes, and each model offers completely different possibilities. However, the least attention is paid to LED COB lights, while they are one of the best achievements of the filmmaking market. Let's take a closer look at these gear and see what Quadralite and Godox have to offer in . 

Quick navigation:

What are COB LEDs?

Simply put, it is a special type of tiny diodes, combined into a single chip. Compared to classic DIP and SMD diodes that can be found in LED panels, they offer significantly higher light output with superior uniformity - all due to their unique design. They also consume significantly less power during operation, but are extremely fragile and require adequate protection from damage. 

What to look for when choosing a video LED light?

It's no secret that proper lighting is the key to creating outstanding videos &#; no matter what content you plan to convey in it. Every filmmaker who ties his future to YouTube, streaming or the world of cinema should have a set of lights on hand that will allow him to realize his creative plans regardless of the time of day or year. However, this is an extremely individual issue, and the purchase decision should be supported by a thorough analysis of your own needs &#; only on this basis should you consider what you expect from a particular light. 

The choice of the right model should primarily depend on what kind of footage you plan to record with it. For narrow shots, such as for streaming, video reviews, tutorials or craft videos, a small light source will be completely sufficient for you. If, on the other hand, your career is heading towards the role of a lighting engineer on the sets of films, TV series or music videos, you will need powerful lights that will cover the entire frame with their light.

Budget also plays a key role in choosing an LED lamp for filming. After all, every filmmaker has different financial possibilities &#; some will look for inexpensive solutions, while others are keen on maximum functionality and top quality performance. Thankfully, the LED lighting market is extremely saturated and diverse, so everyone has the opportunity to find a light that exactly fits their every need. Let's take a look at some of the basic issues to consider when buying a video LED light:

Size doesn&#;t mean everything

The size of the lamp is the first parameter that can help us determine the strength of its light. Mostly it goes hand in hand with the power and price of the device, although this is not a rigid rule. The film lighting market continues to develop rapidly, so that the lamps available today feature more compact housings than those produced even as recently as 5 years ago. 

All the cables and batteries

LED lights are generally divided into two groups: the first is exclusively AC-powered, while the second also allows wireless operation on rechargeable batteries. So your final decision should depend on what kind of projects you plan to tackle &#; plug-in lights are perfect for studio spaces, but battery-powered lights will be indispensable outdoors, especially if your budget doesn't allow you to rent a power station or generator.

Figuring out the luminance

When we try to estimate how intense the light of a given device is, the value specified in watts is very often the first thing we look at. While it can give us a relative idea of the light's capabilities, it is not a reliable indicator of the strength of its luminous flux &#; watts only specify power consumption, which can be different even for devices with similar light output. An excellent example is the Godox ML30 and LC30 lights, mentioned in the list below.

When looking for information about the power of the light, pay attention to the parameters given in lux (lx) - they specify the intensity of the light output at a given distance from the light, usually 0.5 and 1 m. However, it, too, depends on the modifiers used, and the measurements are taken very often with bowl reflectors that greatly amplify the intensity of light.

Hot and Cold

LED lights usually come in two versions &#;  with a fixed color temperature, usually around K (Daylight) or with the ability to change it (Bi-Color). The adjustment ranges vary from one device to another, but mostly they allow setting the light tone from very warm to cool. Models offering a fixed color temperature are also generally slightly stronger than their bi-color counterparts, but changing the character of their light will require the use of appropriate correction filters: warming (CTO) and cooling (CTB).

Shaping the light

Creating the right effect or mood in a film often requires the use of light of a different character. For this reason, it is worth checking whether the model you are considering offers the possibility of connecting light modifiers. Many lights are equipped with the popular Bowens mount, thanks to which you can connect softboxes, bowl reflectors and many other accessories that change the character of the light, but smaller devices usually use dedicated modifiers. 

Keep it cool

Lights can emit significant amounts of heat during filming, especially if they are set to high power output. To prevent overheating, their design uses cooling elements, usually in the form of a fan. However, some models are equipped with special heat distribution systems, so they can simultaneously offer relatively high light output and remarkably quiet operation. Selected lights also offer a special silent mode of operation, which prevents the fan from activating, but it usually limits the maximum power of the light at the same time.

Top 9 video LED lights at Foto-Tip

Looking through the articles and guides about LED lights available on the Internet, you've probably noticed that none of them focus exclusively on COB lights &#; very often they also cover small LED panels or mix flash units with continuous lighting. That's why we decided to prepare our own chart, where you will learn about the best LED COB lights with a COB chip available in our store. Check out what the Quadralite and Godox brands have to offer!

We have divided the lights in all the categories below into three financial thresholds &#; budget, mid-range and professional devices, offering the widest spectrum of possibilities. Each of them also offers the possibility of connecting light modifiers &#; the vast majority of them use the now-standard Bowens mount, the only exception being Godox lights from the LC and ML series, which use dedicated accessories. The vast majority of the models in the list come in both Daylight and Bi-Color versions.

For more information, please visit Buy 150W COB LED.

NOTE!

The lumination parameters given below were measured with the included reflector
attached to the light, which significantly increased the intensity of its output.

lux is equivalent to an exposure of   1/50 s  &#;  f/2.8  &#;  ISO 100

LED lights up to 60 W

On a budget &#; Godox LC30

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 33 W 38 W Illuminance
(1 m): lux lux Dimensions: 8 &#; 8 &#; 9 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: FX effects In the kit: Diffuser
Power cable
Mounting adapter

CHECK THE PRICE

Our first and cheapest proposal is an extremely compact light source, similar in size to an ordinary coffee mug. It owes its surprisingly intense light output to a built-in reflector, but because of their size, they only work with the dedicated ML-CD15 and ML-CS accessories. Inside their housing is a small fan, which works so quietly that no microphone will catch it, even when the lights are placed very close.

Mid-range &#; Quadralite SVL-400 Plus

Daylight Power: 40 W Illuminance
(1 m): No info :( Dimensions: 25 &#; 14 &#; 20 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: &#; In the kit: Carry-bag
Power cable
Mounting adapter

CHECK THE PRICE

Quadralite SVL-400 is a simple, entry-level LED light, available only in Daylight version, with a color temperature of K. However, it is the only one in this category, offering the possibility to connect softboxes and other light modifiers with a Bowens mount weighing max. 1 kg. This model will be a good solution for any filmmaker who cares about maintaining a uniform appearance of any recorded material. The light also comes with a sturdy carrying bag.

PRO gear &#; Godox ML30

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 37,6 W 40 W Illuminance
(1 m): lux lux Dimensions: 12 &#; 12 &#; 9 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: FX effects
Remote control In the kit: Reflector
Power cable
Handle
NP-F plate

CHECK THE PRICE

The choice of this light was not an easy one &#; it may not give the impression of being professional, but it is extremely functional and versatile. Thanks to its two types of power supply, it will work well both when filming in the studio and outdoors, and its aluminum housing will withstand regular work in intense conditions. A special handle allows you to mount the light on a lighting tripod or conveniently illuminate dynamic scenes while handheld.

Like its smaller sibling in the LC series, the ML30 LED light offers FX effects and uses identical dedicated light modifying accessories. Its parameters can also be adjusted remotely, from the functional Godox Light app. As part of the ML series, its more powerful 60-watt version is also available.

LED lights up to 100 W

On a budget &#; Quadralite VideoLED 600

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 60 W Illuminance
(1 m): lux lux Dimensions: 14 &#; 18 &#; 23 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: &#; In the kit: Reflector
Power cable

CHECK THE PRICE

Another example of a light for a small film studio - this model can be powered only by a power cable. Although it offers only basic functions, the list of its advantages includes, above all, extremely compact dimensions and a solid metal housing. The difference in light intensity is due to the included reflectors - the Bi-Color version is equipped with its new version, which is able to "squeeze" an extra lux from the device. 

Mid-range &#; Godox SL100

Daylight Daylight Power: 100 W Illumination
(1 m): &#; lux Dimensions: 24 &#; 21 &#; 13 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery &#; Other: FX effects
Remote control In the kit: Reflector
Power cable

CHECK THE PRICE

If you're looking for the most power possible on a not-so-substantial budget, the SL series lights will be a hit. In addition to exceptionally strong light output, these units have relatively compact dimensions. As with almost every Godox lamp in our list, the SL100 model comes in Daylight and Bi-Color versions, but can only be powered from an AC outlet. There are also many other lights available throughout the SL series, with varying capabilities and a wide price range &#; from the older, cheaper SL60W to the latest SL300II.

PRO gear &#; Godox UL60

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 60 W 78 W Illumination
(1 m): lux lux Dimensions: 23 &#; 12 &#; 26 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other:

FX effects
Remote control
DMX

In the kit: Reflector
Controller
Power cable

CHECK THE PRICE

UL series lights are a real rarity among our selection &#; they are the only ones that don't have a built-in fan, as it has been replaced by a specially designed heat dissipation system, to which they owe their silent operation. They can be used even on the quietest film sets, where ambient sounds are as important as the image itself.

Thanks to the two types of power supply, you can take them with you literally anywhere &#; they are perfect both in studio conditions and outdoors, powered by V-Lock batteries. The DMX port on the back of the housing allows you to connect the lights to the appropriate consoles and controllers, and the sturdy metal U-Bracket provides convenient mounting of the light on any light stand and almost unlimited adjustment of its angle. 

LED lights over 100 W

On a budget &#; Godox LA150

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 190 W Illumination
(1 m): lux lux Dimensions: 21 &#; 15 &#; 22 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: FX effects
Remote control In the kit: Reflector
Power cable

CHECK THE PRICE

A budget solution for aspiring filmmakers, the LA-series lights are extremely compact, AC-powered studio units that offer extremely intense light. However, the small size of the housing juxtaposed with the high power output makes them have a higher tendency to overheat, making it impossible to omit a fan in their design, which may prove a bit too noisy for some. For this reason, we recommend them mainly for the sets of music videos and other productions, where sound is being added in post-production. 

Mid-range &#; Godox VL150

Daylight Power: 150 W Illumination
(1 m): 61 000 lux Dimensions: 30 &#; 14 &#; 18 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: Remote control In the kit: Carry-bag
Reflector
Power cable
Controller

CHECK THE PRICE

Looking for a solution that's the best compromise between price and light power? Meet Godox VL150 &#; thanks to its exceptionally strong light, surprisingly quiet fans and two types of power supply, you will be able to use it for various productions, from YouTube videos to professional feature films. The lighting in this series is only available in Daylight version &#; you will need to buy filters that change the color and color temperature of the light to fully use its potential. The VL lights can also be controlled from the Godox Photo mobile app. Each model includes a sturdy U-Bracket, which allows you to freely operate the angle of the light, as well as a sturdy carrying bag.

PRO gear &#; Godox M200

Daylight Bi-Color Power: 230 W Illumination
(1 m): No info :( Dimensions: 43 &#; 23 &#; 14 cm Power
supply: AC adapter

&#;

 
Battery

&#;

Other: FX effects
Remote control
DMX In the kit: Carry-bag
Reflector
Power cable
Controller

CHECK THE PRICE

We close our listing with one of the best and most powerful lights available at Godox. The M-series light was designed with professional work in mind and combines all the features found in the manufacturer's lights &#; FX effects will allow you to achieve a specific mood in the frame, and remote control from a smartphone will make it easy to quickly change the character of the light, even when it is mounted high on a stand. The most ambitious productions will also benefit from the DMX function, which also makes it possible to control the light from the appropriate consoles and controllers. 

All Godox M Series units come in Daylight and Bi-Color versions and feature an extremely quiet cooling system. Despite their rather bulky size, the lights can be powered not only by an AC adapter, but also by two V-Lock batteries. The specifications of the 200 and 300 models probably omit the value of their light output by mistake, but you can be sure that these are powerful lights &#; by comparison, the most powerful 600-watt model of the series offers as much as whopping 198,000 lux at the distance of 1 meter. Each light comes with a sturdy carrying bag, which will perfectly protect the equipment during the numerous transfers between film set locations. 

Summary

As you can see for yourself, choosing an LED light without proper knowledge of light is not a simple matter at all. Browsing through the thousands of models available on the market, we are inundated with millions of functions and parameters, and each device, according to the manufacturers, obviously has only advantages, which does not make our task any easier. On the other hand, not so long ago, the purchase of even the smallest 30-watt LED light for filming was associated with a considerable expense, and now in , almost everyone can find something for themselves in a budget that suits them. By the same token, we hope that the information in the above post will make your decision-making process a little easier when buying film lighting.

All the lights mentioned in the article can, of course, be purchased from our store with free delivery within Poland and a 2-year warranty. If you will also need accessories for the lights, such as tripods or light modifiers, feel free to contact us &#; we&#;ll prepare a comprehensive offer that will exactly match your equipment budget.

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