Do LED Strip Lights use a lot of Electricity?

In comparison to incandescent bulbs, LED strip lights do not use a lot of electricity. Most incandescent bulbs use excess electricity that increases energy consumption and reduces energy bills. LED strips, on the other hand, use less electricity making them a better option to use within homes and businesses.

However, LED strip lights require more electricity than single LED bulbs. This is typically due to LED strip lights having multiple diodes causing higher total wattages.

Before purchasing an LED strip light, you can calculate the potential energy usage of the light. First, multiply the voltage (V) of the strip by the current (A). This formula will give you the power consumption in watts (W).

3 major factors can affect the amount of electricity produced by LED Strips. These reasons are:

• Strip Length
• LED Density and Size
• Color and Brightness

Strip Length

The length of the LED strip light can be one of the reasons there is an increase in electricity usage. The longer the length of strip light, the higher the energy consumption will be. When researching strip lights, it is important to think of this before purchasing them.

LED Density and Size

LED strip lights with bigger diodes and more LEDs create more electricity. If you are looking to save energy, we recommend finding strip lights with less LED diodes per foot. If you want to keep the bigger diodes and have more LEDs, make sure to balance the brightness and energy efficiency.

Color and Brightness

The color of the light can also affect energy usage as well. Vibrant colors like yellow and white tend to use more energy and power. Cooler and softer colors like blue and green tend to use less energy and power. If you are looking to reduce electricity usage, you should choose LED strip lights that have softer colors.

Light strips with higher lumens will shine brighter but may also use more energy. Use the formula below to measure the lights efficacy by dividing the lumen output by wattage output:

• Light Efficacy = lm/W

Light efficacy is a measure of how efficiently a light source creates visible light. Therefore, the higher a light's efficacy the more efficient the light is.

There are both short- and long-term costs that you should consider when purchasing LED strip lights.

In the short-term, the upfront cost for LED strips is more expensive than incandescent or halogen bulbs. However, LED strip lights have longer lifespans. Overall, you will save money by not needing continuous replacements. You will also save energy by not having to use excess electricity.

Making the switch to LED tape lights can positively affect your environmental impact. LED tape lights are great for the climate and conserving energy.

The long-term cost of operation for an LED tape light is significantly lower than fluorescent and incandescent alternatives. You can increase energy savings by up to 85% by switching from incandescent to LED.

While LED strip lights may be more expensive at first, they are great overall and for the environment.

Yes, there are a variety of LED tape lights you can choose from. Choose tape lights according to your preferences in terms of features, color, and brightness. LED tape lights can also have the option of being water resistant.

The more common LED tapes are:

• RGB (Red, Green, Blue)
• RGBW (Red, Green, Blue and White)
• Outdoor LED Strip Lights

When looking to purchase an LED strip light, it is important to read the box to which LED tape light you want.

Yes, you can cut LED tape lights. However, you cannot just cut the tape lights anywhere. Most strip LEDs feature markings that indicate where you can cut along to avoid damage the diodes. If you cut outside of those markings, you could damage the light and void your warranty.

If you cut the LED strip light in the wrong place, you can break the electrical circuit. Unfortunately, this can cause the strip to stop working. To fix a broken tape light, hire an electrician to repair the light through soldering.

Cutting an LED tape light is not difficult. However, it is important to follow the directions correctly, so you do not damage or break the connections. Read the steps below on how to cut the LED tape lights.

• Step 1: Turn off Power
• Disconnect the power supply from the tape light. This prevents you from getting an electric shock or the light short circuiting.
• Step 2: Measure the tape light and mark it
• Use a ruler to measure and mark where you want to cut the light. Before cutting, ensure the place you mark is on a cut line. If it is not, we recommend measuring the tape light again.
• Step 3: Cut the tape light
• Cut the tape light using scissors or a sharp blade. Make sure you are cutting along the dotted lines and not on any other part of the light. It is also important to apply pressure, so you do not damage other components.
• Step 4: Check the cut
• After cutting the light, you should check to see if the copper pads are still intact with both ends. Having the pads intact is helpful for reconnecting the strips.

Reconnecting LED tape lights is always an option after you cut the lights. There are two methods you can use. The methods you can choose are:

LED Connectors

Using LED strip connectors is a useful method if you do not want to solder. First, you need to purchase LED strip light connectors that match the strip type.

Look for strip connectors for the applicable strip type(s) below:

• 2-pin
• 4-pin
• 5-pin

Once you have the connectors, you can open the connector clip and overlap the copper pads with the terminals, then close it. Make sure the lights are secure in the connector.

Soldering

Using the soldering method is more challenging. For this, we recommend hiring a licensed electrician if you do not know how to solder.

To begin, strip a piece of wire. Then, solder a small amount to the copper pads and wire tips. Then, place the corresponding channels with the soldering iron. Remember to use electrical tape or heat shrink tubing to cover the joints.

LED Strip lights are beneficial for many different situations. Brighten your living spaces with LED strip lights from HomElectrical today!