LED Strip Lights.
Find Your
Kind of Light.

Start with where the strip will be installed and the effect you want. White LED tape suits practical and ambient lighting; CCT lets you adjust the white tone; RGBW adds colour alongside a dedicated white channel. Choose COB for a continuous light line or pixel strip for animated effects. Then confirm voltage, brightness, strip width, run length and environmental protection. The ideas above and the product range below give you a useful starting point.

SMD tape uses individual surface-mounted LED packages spaced along the circuit board. COB tape places densely packed LED chips beneath a continuous phosphor coating, creating a more uniform luminous line. COB is particularly useful when LED dots would be visible directly or in reflections. SMD can also give an even finish when paired with the right LED density, profile depth and diffuser. Neither format alone tells you brightness or colour quality.

Choose the voltage as part of the whole installation. 12V is useful for shorter runs and compatible low-voltage projects. 24V is a common choice for domestic and commercial installations. Specialist 48V strips can support longer runs when installed as specified. At the same power, higher voltage means lower current, but it does not remove voltage drop. Always match the driver and controller to the strip voltage.

RGB mixes red, green and blue to create colours. RGBW adds a dedicated white LED channel, so you can use white light without relying only on an RGB mix. RGB+CCT adds adjustable white temperature as well as colour. Choose a controller with the correct channel configuration and sufficient capacity. Standard colour-changing tape generally changes together; pixel products allow separately controlled sections for moving effects.

Compare lumens per metre, then consider the illuminated area, distance, mounting position and diffuser losses. A subtle shelf accent has a different job from a kitchen worktop or a primary lighting scheme. Watts per metre tells you electrical load, not brightness on its own. For task lighting, assess light levels at the actual work surface and choose compatible dimming if you want adjustment.

Most LED tape can be cut at its marked cutting points; the interval varies between products. Do not assume you can cut between any two LEDs. Match connectors to the strip width, pad arrangement, current and coating, or use the manufacturer’s approved soldering method. Outdoor and submersible products may require factory-sealed lengths or specific resealing procedures to retain their intended protection.

Only use a product specifically approved for the proposed underwater installation. IP65 protection does not allow immersion, and IP68 products have manufacturer-defined immersion conditions. Check depth, duration, water chemistry, terminations and permitted mounting locations. Pools and wet locations need a complete installation designed for those conditions, including the supply and connections.

A reel length is not a maximum run length. Many 50-metre reels are intended to be cut into shorter sections with separate feeds. Some specialist long-run strips support extended lengths, but only with the specified supply, loading and wiring arrangement. Work from the product’s maximum run length and feed instructions rather than the number printed on the reel.

An aluminium profile gives a neat mounting surface and can help dissipate heat. A diffuser can soften the light and conceal the strip, while the profile makes alignment easier. Whether one is required depends on the strip’s thermal requirements and installation. Check the internal profile width against the complete strip, including any coating or connector, and follow the product instructions.

Many LED strips can be dimmed with compatible equipment. Match the control method, supply voltage, current and number of channels to the strip. Options may include wall controls, remotes, RF, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, DMX or DALI through suitable controllers or drivers. A mains dimmer will not automatically work with a standard non-dimmable power supply. Plan the control system before choosing the final components.

Voltage drop along the tape or supply cable can reduce brightness and sometimes affect colour. Possible remedies include shorter runs, correctly sized cable and additional feeds arranged to the manufacturer’s instructions. Check the driver capacity and all connections as well. Do not connect power-supply outputs together unless the equipment is designed for that arrangement.

Send the installation location, a sketch or photograph, the length of each run, the light effect you want and any existing power or control equipment. Tell us about moisture, heat, restricted space or camera use. Our technical team can help narrow the strip choice and identify the driver, control and profile requirements. Bespoke manufacturing is available for projects needing a tailored solution.