You will get efficient and thoughtful service from Moonleds.

Looking to buy an addressable LED strip but don't know where to start? This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know about these fascinating devices, from their types and capabilities to the best ways to use them. By the end of this article, you'll be able to confidently choose the perfect addressable LED strip for your needs!

What Are

Addressable LED Strips?

Addressable LED strips are a type of LED strip that is controlled by an addressable controller. These controllers allow the user to individually control each LED in the strip, allowing for more complex animations and patterns. Addressable LED strips are often used in decorations or lighting projects where a high degree of control is desired. They typically consist of three parts: the LEDs, the control circuit, and the power supply. The LEDs are arranged in a serial fashion, and each led has its own address. The control circuit contains the microcontroller that controls the LEDs, and the power supply provides power to the LEDs. Addressable LED strips are available in a variety of colors, and they can be used with a variety of controllers.

• How Do Addressable LED Strips Work?

Addressable LED strips are a type of LED lighting that allows for individually controlled LEDs. That is, each LED on the strip can be independently controlled, rather than being controlled as a group. This gives you much more flexibility in terms of lighting design and allows you to create more complex and dynamic lighting displays. There are two main types of addressable LEDs: those with 3-pin connectors and those with 4-pin connectors. The 3-pin strips use a common anode design, while the 4-pin strips use a common cathode design. Addressable LED strips typically use one of two control protocols: WS/WS (also known as a neuron) or DMX512. DMX512 is the industry-standard protocol for stage lighting and is used in a wide range of professional applications. WS/WS is a newer protocol that is becoming increasingly popular for hobbyist and home applications. Both protocols allow for very precise control of the LEDs, but WS/WS is typically easier to use for amateur users. Addressable LED strips are powered by a low-voltage DC power supply and use very little power compared to other types of lighting. They are also very easy to install and can be cut to size, making them a versatile lighting solution for a variety of applications.

Important Factors to Consider When Choosing Addressable LED Strips

There are a few important factors to consider when choosing addressable LED strips for your project.

First, you need to determine the number of LEDs per meter. More LEDs will result in a brighter light, but they will also use more power.

Second, you need to decide on the color depth. This refers to the number of colors that the LEDs can display. A higher color depth will allow for more vibrant colors, but it will also use more power.

Finally, you need to choose a control method. The most common methods are DMX and SPI, but there are other options available as well. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, so be sure to research each option before making a decision. By considering these factors, you can choose the best addressable LED strip for your project.

1. Consider the size of the area you want to light

2. Decide on the colors you want

3. Choose a style that fits your décor

4. Make sure the strip is dimmable, in case you want to change the mood or ambiance

5. Check the wattage to make sure it's compatible with your electrical system

6. Compare prices and reviews before making a purchase

Voltage

Voltage is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing addressable LED strips. The voltage of an LED strip will determine how much power it uses and how bright it will be. Most LED strips use either 5 volts or 12-volt power, but there are also strips that use 24 or even 48-volt power. When choosing an LED strip, it is important to make sure that the strip is compatible with the voltage of your power source. If you are not sure what voltage your power source is, it is best to consult with an electrician before making a purchase. In addition to voltage, you will also need to consider the current rating of the LED strip. The current rating determines how much amperage the strip can handle without being damaged. If you plan on using multiple strips in parallel, you will need to make sure that the sum of the currents does not exceed the rating of your power supply. Once you have considered these factors, you will be able to choose the right addressable LED strip for your project.

The Type of LED IC

One important factor you'll want to consider when choosing addressable LED strips is the type of LED IC that is used. The most common type is the WSB, which features SMD LEDs that are addressable. This means that each individual LED can be controlled, making it easy to create sophisticated lighting effects. Another popular option is the SK, which is similar to the WSB but uses an alternate chip from a different manufacturer. The main difference between these two types of chips is the way in which they control the current. The WSB uses direct internal feedback, while the SK uses external resistors. As a result, the SK is slightly less efficient than the WSB. However, it's still a great option for those who want to create eye-catching lighting displays. Whichever type of chip you choose, you'll be able to create stunning light shows with addressable LED strips.

LED Density

LED density is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing LED strips. LED density is simply the number of LED chips per unit of area. The higher the LED density, the brighter the LED strip will be. However, high LED density also means that the LED strip will be more expensive. For most applications, a LED density of around 30-60 LED chips per square inch is sufficient. Another factor to consider is the color temperature of the LED chips. LED chips are available in a wide range of color temperatures, from cool white to warm white. The color temperature you choose will depend on the application you are using the LED strip for. Finally, make sure to choose an LED strip that is compatible with the power supply you are using. Most LED strips require a 12V power supply, but some higher-end models may require a 24V power supply. Check the specifications carefully before making your purchase.

The Nature of the Installation

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing addressable LED strips is the nature of the installation. For example, if the strips will be installed in a wet or damp environment, it is important to choose a strip that is water-resistant. Additionally, if the installation will be exposed to direct sunlight, it is important to choose a strip that is rated for outdoor use. Another factor to consider is the length of the strip. For example, if a long strip is required, it is important to make sure that the chosen product is capable of handling that length. Finally, it is also important to consider the power requirements of the installation. For example, if a large number of LEDs will be used, it is important to make sure that the power supply can handle the additional load. By taking all of these factors into consideration, you can ensure that you choose the best addressable LED strip for your specific application.

Types of Individually Addressable LED Strips

Individually addressable LED strips are a type of LED strip that allows each individual LED to be controlled. This means that you can create any kind of light show or animation that you want, limited only by your imagination. There are a few different types of individually addressable LED strips.

• WS
• WS
• WS

WS Vs WS Vs WS

WSB, WS, and WS are all individually addressable LED strips. WSB is the most common type of individually addressable LED strip. WS is very similar to WSB, but it has a built-in development board. WS is a much older type of individually addressable LED strip. It is not as common as WSB, but it is still used in some projects. All three types of individually addressable LED strips are controlled by a microcontroller. The microcontroller sends signals to the individual LEDs to turn them on or off. The LEDs can be controlled individually, or they can be controlled in groups. Individual control gives you the ability to create complex patterns and animations. Group control is often used to create simple lighting effects, such as fading or blinking. WSB, WS, and WS are all compatible with the Arduino platform. You can use Arduino to control your individually addressable LED strips.

WS

The WS is an external chip that you can find in 12V and occasionally, 5V varieties. The 12V is preferable as it is less likely to be damaged by static electricity. The WS is a very popular chip, used in a wide range of applications including LEDs, motors, and displays. It is a highly versatile chip that can be programmed to do a variety of tasks. In terms of LED control, the WS is often used to create dynamic and complex lighting effects. It can also be used to control motors, making it ideal for use in robotics applications. Overall, the WS is a very versatile and popular chip that offers a wide range of potential uses.

The WS is an integrated circuit chip that allows you to control a channel of 3 LEDs with each command. Therefore, it is not your ideal choice if you need to control each and every LED on its own. However, the WS is extremely versatile and can be used in a wide variety of applications. For example, you could use it to create unique lighting effects or to add some extra personality to your project. In addition, the WS is also relatively affordable, making it a great option for those on a budget. So, if you're looking for an integrated circuit chip that offers big features at a reasonable price, then the WS is definitely worth considering.

WSB Vs WS

• Voltage-WSB and WS are two popular choices for addressable LED strips. Both WSB and WS ICs are often 5V models, while WS can do a 12V model too

• Controller Type-WSB and WS strips can be controlled with the same type of controller. Different colors can be produced by mixing different colors of LEDs together in each WSB or WS pixel. For example, an RGB LED strip can have red, green, and blue LEDs in each WSB or WS pixel. When all the colors are lit at equal brightness, white light is produced. Mixing different colors together at different brightness levels can create millions of different colors.

• Refresh Rate- WS is brighter than WSB and has a higher refresh rate.

• Price- WS is also more expensive than WSB. WSB is more common than WS because it is cheaper and easier to find.

• Digital signal -WS and WSB are two very similar LED products. Both have 2 channels in order to receive prompts, data in, and backup in. In the event that the data-in circuit WS breaks, signals can still be passed onto the backup-in channel safely as long as no more than one LED chip has failed. WSB on the other hand does not have this safety measure, meaning that if one WSB LED fails then it will cause the rest of WSB LEDs down the line to also fail. WS is therefore a much more reliable product when it comes to maintaining consistent light patterns even when individual WS LEDs fail.

Where to Buy Addressable LED Strips

Addressable LED strips are one of the most popular ways to add dynamic lighting to any space. They are easy to install, easy to use, and offer a wide range of customization options. However, with so many different brands and models on the market, it can be difficult to know where to buy addressable LED strips. In general, there are three things to consider when choosing a supplier: pricing, quality, and customer service. 

• Pricing is often the most important factor for buyers on a budget. However, it is important to remember that cheap strips may come with lower quality control standards or reduced customization options. as a result, it is important to strike a balance between price and quality when choosing a supplier. 

• Quality is also an important consideration when choosing a supplier. In particular, look for suppliers who offer high-quality products with robust warranties. This will ensure that you are getting a product that will last for years to come. 

 

• Customer service- finally, consider the level of customer service offered by the supplier. A good customer service team will be able to help you with everything from installation to customization. This is especially important if you are new to using addressable LED strips. 

• Customize Service-There are a lot of lighting companies out there that sell addressable LED strips. But if you have special installation or addressable lighting requirements, your ideal brand is one that can rise to the challenge and customize your addressable LED strips to your needs. 

 

That's why we're proud to offer customization services on all of our addressable LED strips. Whether you need a special length, width, or color, our team of experts can create a custom solution that's perfect for your project. 

 

For more square led chip supplierinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

In addition, we also offer a wide range of accessories and options that can be added to your customized addressable LED strip, such as mounting brackets, diffusers, and controllers. 

 

So if you're looking for a company that can provide you with the perfect addressable LED strip for your project, look no further than us. We're here to help you find the perfect solution for your needs.

In conclusion

So, what are you waiting for? Get started on your project by browsing the wide selection of addressable LED strips at MSH Lighting today. With our help, you're sure to find the perfect strip for your needs. If you have any questions about our products or how to use them, don't hesitate to give us a call. We're always happy to help!

LED strip light buying guide: How to choose LED strip lights

This is an all-inclusive purchase guide for LED strip lights. It explains in details the nine major factors to consider before choosing LED strip lights. With so many options on the market, it is really hard to tell which one is good. We have prepared this article to educate new and experienced users. It has greatly helped buyers to determine the right LED strips for a lot of projects.

1. Need single white or tunable white light? Select the white color temperature you need.

If you need install white lights, the color temperature of white lights should be carefully considered.

• K is the orange color. It is unique and very impressive, super warm with reddish and yellowish tone.
• K is the amber color. It is very warm lighting with yellowish tone.
• K is similar to light color that incandescent lamps generate. It is a warm and relaxing lighting.
• K looks like the light of halogen lamps. It is slightly brighter than K, and puts a slightly yellowish or reddish tone on objects illuminated.
• K or K, also known as neutral white, is a whiter white than K or K. It is commonly used in office and commercial lighting.
• K, also called cool white or daylight bright, is the brightest pure white. It mimics the natural sunlight of a sunny day. School, work and production environment widely utilize K strip lights to increase productivity. K light is an essential element for high end modern hotels, restaurants and clubs.

Recommended Reading
K vs K

Tunable white LED strip lights, also called white adjustable, can produce lights with color temperatures from K to K, or from K to K. They are made by using both warm white and cool white LEDs on the same FPC board. The lights of warm white and cool white LEDs are mixed to various levels of relative brightness to produce light of varied color temperatures.

2. Prefer color changing light? Consider RGB, RGBW, or RGBCCT.

If you like colorful light, you can choose RGB LED strips, or RGBW and RGBCCT. They all have colorful light. The difference is that RGBW or RGBCCT has pure white light, but RGB doesn't.

RGBW LED strips have white light of single color temperature, which can select only one from K, K, K, K, K, or K. It is worth mentioning that we offer super high brightness version, which has three rows of high density LEDs with RGB in the middles, white on each side. It is suitable for almost anywhere, because if it is too bright, you can dim down anyway. But if you use a lower brightness LED strip, you can not bring up the brightness higher than its designed limit.

RGBCCT Tunable White LED strips have all the colors, and various adjustable whites at the same time from one single strip! That means you can enjoy not only millions of colorful light, but also and all the whites mentioned above.

3. Indoor or outdoor waterproof.

For indoor applications, please choose IP20 indoor LED strips. Choose outdoor waterproof LED strips, IP65 or above, for outdoor or semi-outdoor applications. Waterproof ones are also good for indoor use, as their outside layer of waterproof tubing can protect electrical parts from dust and impact.

4. Voltage: 12V or 24V DC.

Compared to 12V, what advantages do 24V LED strip lights have? 24V lights operate with half current as 12V ones, which is determined by the relationship of power, current, and voltage.

If a lighting project needs continuous and long run installation of LED strips, 24V version is better. The reason is a commonly known issue "voltage drop". Voltage drop is the phenomenon that electrical voltage decreases along the road because the electrical resistance is inevitable along the circuit.

Due to voltage drop, the light at the beginning part of a long LED light strip will be brighter than that at the end. The voltage drop is smaller for a 24V LED strip than 12V. Many 24V LED strips can run continuously up to 10 meters (about 32 feet) without noticeable brightness decrease from end to end.

Current Controlled LED strip lights can resolve the voltage drop issue, to certain degree. But they are more expensive, because they have more complicated electrical circuit design, utilize more electrical parts, and need longer time for manufacturing.

Most cars, RVs, boats and yachts have 12V power system on board. So, 12V LED lights are the only choice.

5. Brightness.

Light creates atmosphere via its brightness and color. In light science, brightness is measured by using lumen. It is indicated in the value of lumens.

What is lumen?
Lumen. Lumen is the measure unit for the total quality of visible light emitted during a unit of time. It indicates the brightness level of the light produced by the light source. Traditionally, electricians use foot-candle as the measure to tell the light intensity, as is the customary unit used in the United States. A foot-candle equals one lumen per square foot. The brightness level roughly equals to the light that is one foot away from a common wax candle.

If you need brighter LED strip, you will select those marked with higher value of lumens per unit length. Please be careful that different manufacturers may use different brightness marks.

For example, one strip is marked as "240 lumens/ft", another marked as "700 lumens/meter". We cannot say that the second one is brighter than the first, because the length units are different.

Unit conversion is necessary for meaningful comparison. Say we convert the brightness mark of the first strip to lumens/meter. 1 meter equals 3.28 feet. The first LED strip would be 240 lumens/ft*3.28 = 787.2 lumens/meter. Now we find out that actually the first one is brighter than the second.

Luminous efficacy. Luminous efficacy is another important factor regarding brightness. It is the ratio of the light strip's lumen value to its wattage. By this definition, we can see that the ratio measures the efficacy of emitting light when using one watt of power.

When consuming the same amount of power, a light strip with higher luminous efficacy can produce more lumens of light. To put it from another perspective, when generating the same brightness, higher luminous efficacy means less energy consumption, saving more on operation cost.

Relationship between brightness and wattage. The brightness of a strip light is correlated to its wattage, the power it consumes. Similar to light bulbs, the higher wattage a light is, the brighter it is.

How many lumens do I need for a space?
When installing LED strip lights for homes, we often encounter the questions: how many lumens do I need for the space? How many lumens per square foot should be planned to illuminate the rooms optimally and comfortably?

To achieve optimal brightness for different rooms, you can refer to the following table as a general guidance:

Applications

How many lms/sf

Bedroom lighting

10-20 lms/sf

Stair and hallway lighting

10-30 lms/sf

Under cabinet lighting

20-40 lms/sf

Under counter lighting

20-40 lms/sf

Kitchen island toe-kick lighting

20-50 lms/sf

Bathroom lighting

50-70 lms/sf

Kitchen countertop lighting

60-80 lms/sf

6. The number of LEDs, LED density, and LED types.

LED density: the meaning of the number of LEDs on a unit length

The number of the LEDs has meaning only when it is viewed by the length of the strip, e.g., how many LEDs per meter or per foot. It is commonly referred to as the LED density.

LED Density indicates how far away one LED is from the next, indicated by the LED quantity per meter or per foot, such as 60 LEDs/meter, 120 LEDs/meter, 18 LEDs/foot, or 36 LEDs/foot.

How does LED density affect the brightness?

In general, all other factors comparable, a higher density LED strip is brighter than a lower density one. This is because there are more LEDs emitting light on the higher density ones. By comparable factors we mean the same type of LEDs, the same current drawn, etc.

Light spotting: How does LED density affect light distribution?

A common phenomenon of LED strip lighting is that for certain projects, you can clearly see the light spots or LED dots on the diffuser of a light strip fixture. This is so called "light spotting" in light distribution. Perfect distribution would mean no light spotting.

Light spotting is affected by two factors: the distance between LED and diffuser, and the distance between two adjacent LEDs.

Distance between LED and diffuser.
How the distance between LED and diffuser affects light spotting can be understood this way. If you stand 10 meters away from a wall and project a flashlight onto the wall, you'll see the whole wall area is lighted, we consider the light distribution good.

As you move closer to the wall, the lighted area becomes smaller and smaller till the point it reaches to the same size of the flashlight head. At this time the light distribution is not good because of the light spotting is very pronounced. This character is universal to a spot source of light.

Same as the flashlight, LED is a spot source of light. So if the light spotting is an issue, we can choose to increase the distance between LED and diffuser. If we are using LED strip channel assisting installation, we can choose deeper channels so that the distance between LEDs and the diffuser is larger.

Distance between two adjacent LEDs.
In contrast, the shorter the distance between two adjacent LEDs is, the higher the LED density, the better the light distribution of the LED strip. It is because the shorter the distance is, the easier for the LEDs to cover each other's blind spots.

There is a situation when the distance between LED and diffuser can't be longer any more due to limitation on installation space. In this situation, in order to obtain less light spotting or better light distribution, light strips with higher LED density are the right choice.

Some of our LED strip lights are specially designed to achieve perfect light distribution. They come with high density of LEDs. Even used in shallow aluminum channel, they present very nice light distribution with no light spotting. At the same time the light strip produces high brightness with low current drawn, generates little heat, and promotes long lifespan.

LED types.
The type of SMD LED package is often indicated by a number, such as , , and . The number is actually the LED package's dimensions in size

• : The size of a LED is 2.2mm x 1.6mm, height is 0.6mm. LED has the smallest and ultra slim body, perfect to make high density LED strips, such as tunable white, to get the best mixing effects for tunable white color temperatures. It is also the best LEDs to make ultra slim light strips to fit small grooves. Each LED usually has the power of 0.06W, 0.15W, or 0.2W.


• : The size of a LED is 2.8mm x 3.5mm, height is 0.7mm. Each LED usually has the power of 0.1W, 0.2W, or 0.5W. It is one of major LEDs to make white LED strip lights. It is also used to make colored light.


• RGB: The size of a RGB LED is 5.0mm x 5.0mm, height is 1.6mm. Each LED has three chips inside, red, green and blue. It is the major LEDs to make RGB LED strip lights. Each LED usually has the power of 0.2W.


• RGB+White: It is also known as RGBW. The size of a RGBW LED is also 5.0mm x 5.0mm, height is 1.6mm. Each LED has four chips inside. In addition to red, green and blue, it has the fourth white chip. Due to this, it is also called 4-in-1 LEDs. The white chip is able to produce pure white light. The 4-in-1 design makes this LED the best to make RGBW LED strip light. Because the white chip is so close the colored chips, this 4-in-1 RGBW LED produces the best light mixing distribution when blending white into colored light.


• RGB+Tunable White: It is also known as RGBCCT. It is the same size as RGBW LEDs. In addition to the three colored chips, it has two more white chips: one is warm white, one is cool white. In this sense, it is also called 5-in-1 LEDs. The two white chips can produce tunable white. Because the white chips are very close to the colored chips, the 5-in-1 RGBCCT LED is the best LED to make RGB Tunable white LED strip light. It has much better white and colored light mixing effect than other types of RGB Tunable white LED strips.

In summary, the size of LED makes it perfect to make tunable white LED strip lights. LED has bigger heat dissipation base and lower height, and is perfect to be used to make white led strips. LED has bigger light emitting surface and multiple chips inside, and is widely used to make white and colored strip lights.

LED has the smallest and ultra slim body, perfect for high density LED strips, such as tunable white. It is also the best LEDs to make ultra slim light strips to fit small grooves.

7. Color rendering index (CRI).

Recommended Reading High CRI LED strip lights

CRI is the measure that indicates the light source's ability to render the original colors of objects lighted by the light source. The original color is defined by the color when the object is illuminated by sunlight.

The closer the color of an object rendered by a light source is to the color of the same object under sunlight, the higher CRI the light source has. CRI has a value range running from 0 to 100. By definition, sunlight has the perfect CRI with the value 100.

Note: The higher the CRI value is, the better the quality of a light source in the sense of its ability to render colors. This is important to lighting applications where color matters.

For example, we take a look at the produce area where a supermarket sells vegetables and fruits. When high CRI light is used, the produces appear in natural and saturated colors, looking juicy, glossy and fresher. Hence, they are apparently more attractive to customers.

Same with fresh meat. Under light of high CRI, the meat is in purple red that looks fresher. If CRI is lower than 80, the colors of the object illuminated are distorted in such way as if they were covered with a gray veil. The object looks gloss-lacking and dull.

From the perspective of protecting vision of human eyes, light strip intended to be used long time need to have CRI higher than 80. Light with CRI lower than 80 will affect human eyes' ability to differentiate colors. Long time exposure to light with CRI lower than 80 may cause various vision problems.

All our LED strip lights have CRI 85+. For your professional needs, we also carry high CRI 97+.

8. Length and width.

The length is usually 5 meters(16.4 feet), or 10 meters(32.8 feet). Why they are made into 5M or 10M long? It is because of the voltage drop along the strip. For a 12V LED strip, if it is longer than 5M or 16.4FT, the LEDs at end will look noticeably lower in brightness.

When purchasing LED strips, pay attention to the length noted by sellers or manufacturers. There are ones in 2 meter or 3 meter long. Be aware that with the money you paid, how long the light strip you are getting.

The width varies from 5 mm, 8 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm to 20 mm or more. The 5 mm ultra slim version is designed to meet the needs of special lighting projects.

Note: If you use LED strip channel, need to consider if the inner width matches the light. Also if you used LED solderless connectors, the connectors are usually wider than the LED strip. Need to check if the connector's width fits the inner of the aluminum channel.

9. Choose LED strip power supply.

Should I choose power adapter or switch power supply?

1. Power adapter is easier to install. What you need to do is just plug the power adapter into LED light strip. Usually a power adapter can power one to two strips, fit for small installation.

2. Quality power adapters are UL listed. Make sure you are buying power adapters with real UL certificate.

3. For medium to large installation, choose professional brand name power supply. LED Power supplies usually can provide power for many strips.

4. Quality power supplies and power adapters can provide full indicated amperage for continuous operation. Inferior power supplies provide less amperage than indicated. When put into continuous operation, inferior power supplies will become too hot, and usually fail in short time.

6. Voltage and Wattage of LED strip power supplies

For more information, please visit dip led bulb.

• Voltage. LED power supplies should provide proper voltage for light strips. 12V and 24V LED strips should use 12V and 24 power supplies respectively.


• Wattage. Power supply should be able to provide enough power for the lights. The power or wattage needed is determined by the wattage of the light strip to be installed. Wattage calculation formula: Wattage= Length x wattage/meter. For example, if you are installing a 3.5 m light strip with 16 W/m output, the total wattage is 3.5 m x 16 W/m = 56 W.


• Then we calculate the wattage of power supply needed. Rule is that power supply should not be used to its full capacity, because full load will cause too much heat and shorter lifetime for the power supply. 20% more capacity is recommended.
  
  For example, for above installation, the power supply should be: (1+20%) x 56W = 67.2W. There is no such a power supply with this exact wattage on the market. We choose the next level of output, which is 72W. A power supply with higher than necessary output won't harm the strip lights. It will provide only necessary output needed.