LED strip has recently become an extremely popular tool for decorating and decorating interiors and exteriors. Its use allows you to make bold experiments in design. The dimensions and service life of the LED strip leave it almost no competition. However, some buyers remain dissatisfied with her work. Consider what problems you may encounter when buying an LED strip.
Applications
Depending on the power of the LEDs, LED strips can be used as a source of main light or highlighting individual elements. They are in demand both in everyday life and in places of mass gatherings of people - in restaurants, bars, hotels and clubs. LED strips can decorate both the windows of large stores and a small cutlery cabinet in the kitchen. The areas of application of this device are almost limitless, because light illumination will decorate and give a new look to anything.whatever. With ribbons available in a wide variety of colors, they are becoming an almost indispensable design element.
Installation
LED strips are also popular because they are extremely easy to install. They can be placed in aluminum profiles specially produced for them, which scatter light and provide soft lighting. Due to their small dimensions, the tapes can be placed in the gaps of ceiling or floor plinths, giving the room a futuristic look.
They are also suitable for cars, providing interior lighting. Installation of LED strips is extremely simple. They can be glued to silicone or glue, laid in special profiles. Even a child can easily handle their installation. It is important to understand that for tapes that are not connected to the power consumption system, you will need to purchase a power supply, which, due to its small size, is easily hidden in interior details.
Problems of LED strips
Since LEDs and strips have become extremely popular lately, many low-quality offers have appeared on the market. If the claimed life of an LED strip is usually fifty thousand hours, then in reality this may not be the case. The main problems of LED strips most often lie in poor-quality manufacturing. Many manufacturers seek to minimize their costs. In pursuit of profit, they save on the quality of the product they produce.
Many people know that the basis of the LED strip should be crystals of the same name. The service life of the LEDs in the LED strip depends on how well they are produced. These crystals are characterized by degradation, which leads to a decrease in the luminous flux. The degradation rate varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. So, one LED strip can lose only two or three percent of its brightness in ten thousand hours, and the other - twenty, and sometimes thirty.
Industry accepted standard for lifetime is thirty percent reduction in lumen output. However, unscrupulous manufacturers may underestimate these values. They indicate as a service life a decrease in brightness of up to fifty percent or more. Of course, this is at odds with customer expectations.
Real life of LED lamps and fixtures
How to find out when buying how long the LED will last? It is difficult to answer this question, as too many factors influence the indicator. Most importantly, you need to consult about the manufacturer. Companies that have not proven themselves in the market may sell low-quality goods.
Be sure to pay attention to the cost of the product. Too low a price (compared to analogues) almost certainly means that the product is of poor quality. However, many LEDs are produced in the same factory and are only packaged differently.
How to determine the quality of the goods in this case?The already mentioned service life standard is marked as follows: L70 or LM70. If the package says the total service life without such a marking, then most likely the time until the LED is completely attenuated is indicated.
It's important to understand that high LED strip life numbers are just a marketing gimmick. When buying, you need to check the soldering of the elements. Each LED in the tape should stand exactly, the soldering should be the same for all elements. It is advisable to ask directly in the store to connect the LED strip and check how it works. The light should be even, without drops and flicker. True, even this does not guarantee that you will buy a quality tape.
Operation errors
The weakest point when using high-quality LED strips is the power supply. For LED strip, the life of this device is usually more than five years, but problems can occur every year.
The main mistakes in the operation of power supplies are overload and heat. Of course, the quality of the block itself also plays a fundamental role. However, improper use can lead to damage. If you install the power supply in a location with limited airflow, it may overheat. This critically reduces its service life. In no case should you hide it in places without air access. This may cause not only damage, but also fire.
PSU overload occurs if it does not have sufficient power reserve. When you connect an LED strip to it, which will consume one hundred percent of itpower, the unit will work with overload, and a voltage drop can be fatal for it. Do not forget about the class of its protection. To install the LED strip and the unit in a bathroom, bath or place with high humidity, you must select the appropriate type of devices that can work in high humidity conditions.
Conclusion
The most important thing for the long and high-quality functioning of LED strips and power supplies for them is their quality. It is better to overpay for a well-known company that values its reputation than to solve problems with lighting or fire later. LED strips are not a product that you can save on. It must be borne in mind that low-quality LED strips have a very short service life, so you will have to change them often. As a result, costs will only increase.
