LED Flexible Strip Comparison

LED strip lighting is an amazing form factor with a multitude of real life applicational uses. LED Flex is revolutionizing how and where light can be utilized in residential and commercial spaces. It can be manufactured with many different types and qualities of LED Chips, components, PCB thicknesses and color temperatures. These LED chips all offer something a little bit different, but perform the same basic task of providing light. We will explain what these chips represent and how to choose the right fit for your application.

LED Flexible strip Chips also known as SMDs (surface mounted diodes) is where an LED chip is soldered directly to the PCB (Printed circuit board) without using wires.

3528

The 3528 LED is 3.5 x 2.8mm which is an excellent size because it allows for the use of a smaller PCB. The 3528 LED chip consists of one LED per lighting source providing to be the least power intensive chip but provides excellent colour consistency while being cost effective and power saving.  This chip can be used for indoor applications such as accent, display or cove lighting in homes, bars, restaurants, hotels, and other locations that require lower luminosity or single color lighting.  

3528 SMDs are available in IP67 and in a waterproof silicone covering.

Lumenstar supplies 3528 in 12V using 60 SMDs per meter or 24V, manufactured to draw double the amount of LEDs, using 120 SMDs per meter. This double power 3528 can be used in similar applications, however, can additionally be used for ambient as it features a high power.

5050

In comparison to 3528, 5050 SMD is larger and three times brighter.  The chip is 5.0 x 5.0mm which and uses four LED chips (also called quad LEDs) in one housing.  The 5050 LED chip is used for general lighting applications subject to high levels of ambient light such as corridor light in homes, bars, restaurants, hotels and, also, replace florescent tube lighting.  This chip features high performance in single colors or colour changing RGB/W.

5050 RGB/W

The 5050 SMD uses a 5050 tri chip that includes three smaller chip in each SMD which provides a color changing function with red, green and blue all in one SMD.  Also, RGBW SMD chip uses a quad chip which is like the RGB SMD chip but uses an additional white chip.  As the strip is colour changing, a controller is required to link the strip and select any colour desired.  The RGB/W LED chip is used for feature lighting applications optimal for colour-washing in homes, bars, restaurants and hotels.

Also available in IP65 (moisture proof) and IP67 (weatherproof).

2835

The 2835 LED is 2.8 x 3.5mm which is similar in size to 3528, but is 4.6 times brighter.  Additionally, the 2835 SMD LED is a more efficient replacement for 5050 as it products 20% more light with less wattage.  This chip can be used for task and work lighting applications in homes, bars, restaurants and hotels.

2835 SMDs are available in an indoor, moisture proof, and curved ultra thin version.

2016

The 2016 SMD is newly designed to avoid unpleasant hot spots or dark areas with shallow aluminum profile.