Page 56 - ELD Vol 14

56
CHOOSING LED TAPE
There are several areas to consider when selecting the correct tape for your required application. The
following information should help guide you to make the correct selection. Our technical team are on hand to
advise where necessary.
VOLTAGE
12V or 24V.
12V ideal for lower wattage tapes and shorter runs, higher wattage tapes require 24V to avoid voltage drop
and ensure full brightness along the tape.
LED TAPES BRIGHTNESS

Check the lumens of the tape, number of diodes per metre and wattage, generally the higher the wattage the
brighter the tape.
Up to 240 Lumens ideal for ambient and plinth lighting etc.
300-500 Lumens ideal for cabinet, undershelf and task lighting.
700 Lumens + ideal for architectural, venue, signage and commercial task lighting etc.
COLOUR
The colour temperature is measured in degrees kelvin(K) ranging from cool white to extra warm white. A
higher kelvin e.g. 6000K produces a cool white whilst lower temperatures e.g. 3000K produce a warmer
white closer to sunlight. Our tape portfolio ranges from 2200K to 6500K and includes a colour temperature
changing tape. Also available are RGB tapes combining red, blue and green diodes allowing colours to be
mixed and RGBW/WW that also have a pure white chip alongside the RGB.
CRI
The colour rendering index a scale of 0-100 measures how colours appear under light when compared with
natural outdoor light which has a CRI of 100. The higher the CRI the more natural objects appear under that
light source.
LENGTH
Check length required; different tapes can run to varying maximum distances. LED tape can be cut to size but
the frequency of cut points varies dependent upon the tape, the tape can only be cut at the points indicated
on the tape.
IP65 - INTERNAL RATED
We recommend IP65 led tapes to be used internally only due to external atmospheric conditions and
potential of water ingress.

IP67 - EXTERNAL RATED
For outdoor use we would recommend using IP67 tapes as these are fully encapsulated to protect from water
ingress.
DOTTING
If you want to reduce dotting generally the higher the number of diodes per metre the better. Placing the
tape in a deeper profile will also reduce the dotting effect. The denser the diffuser, the less the dotting.
Alternatively, our seamless options provide uniform light without the need for a profile.
FITTING
Tape should be fitted to a clean and dry surface, if the tape is of a high wattage and IP rated then a heat sink
should be used to ensure the longevity of the tape.

SERVICE & SUPPORT
The flexibility and innovative nature of LED tapes makes them ideal for a wide range of applications and
projects. Our technical team are available to advise on any specific projects you may have.