Category Archives: lighting

24 Volt LED strips are increasingly replacing 12 Volt ones. Many have experienced their benefits with both single-color and RGB LED strips. The most important advantage is that with the same cross-section, double the power can be transmitted, allowing for generally half the number of connection points during installation. This facilitates the installation process, meaning that noticeable luminous flux reduction occurs further from the connection points. Many manufacturers already offer 10-meter rolls instead of the usual 5-meter rolls for 24 Volt versions.

Of course, this is not always true, as the power per meter and the construction of the strip also affect this.

A reasonable question arises: what about CCT, or color temperature-adjustable LED strips? Is it enough to connect these 10-meter sections at both ends?

We will also examine how to interpret the nominal consumption of LED strips, as when a controller mixes colors, or in this case the color temperature, manufacturers consider that during mixing, fluctuations in luminous flux are eliminated. Thus, it can be assumed that a mixed color or color temperature will not light up with twice the power as if only one color channel were used. Therefore, we cannot assume that using a multi-color LED strip through a controller will reach nominal consumption.

Continue reading Power consumption and luminous flux analysis of adjustable color temperature, or CCT LED strips with different wiring methods →

It is common to install an LED strip on a cornice running around the ceiling of a room to achieve a diffused ceiling lighting effect. This not only looks beautiful but also provides a discreet base lighting for the room, which can be made exclusive with additional accent lighting.

Those who have switched from the previously used 12 Volt strips to 24 Volt ones have already experienced the advantage, especially if they have created longer, larger systems. The fact is, with LED strips of the same performance and cross-section, the 24 Volt ones allow for nearly twice the distance between connection points while maintaining almost the same light experience when examining the lighting further from the power source. Thus, installing longer systems becomes simpler with 24 Volt LED strips.

Let’s examine this with specific strip measurements to discuss more than just theory!

The above graph shows the changes in light performance of a 30-meter 12 Volt and a 24 Volt Pannon LED strip at different power connection densities. If you find the graph too complicated, read on as we break down the topic in detail for easier understanding.

Continue reading Comparison of the light performance and consumption of 12 Volt and 24 Volt white light LED strips at different power connection densities →

The actual power consumption of a DRGB LED strip depends on several factors.

These include:

• Manufacturers provide nominal power consumption values for LED strips, but they never specify under what power connection density these values are true.
• We buy Digital RGB LED strips to have different colors run along them. However, our lighting needs to be designed with the maximum possible consumption in mind, which logically can only be achieved with fixed white light – but only logically.
• Some DRGB controllers manipulate the lights. Certain manufacturers’ DRGB controllers light up weaker in fixed white light mode compared to any colored flashing effect mode.

Let’s look at it in detail:

Continue reading Which DRGB LED strip has what power consumption? →

Customer Request:

Since I have already received the measurement data for the Pannon 30 LEDs per meter 24 Volt RGB strip per meter, could I get the same for the V-TAC 60 LEDs per meter 24 Volt strip in a per meter breakdown?

I’ve done it! Not just up to 10 meters, but up to 15 meters, which is understandable as 30 meters with both-end connections.

Continue reading V-TAC 60LED/meter – 24 Volt RGB LED strip measurement data between 1-15 meters, powered from one end →

Question regarding the Pannon 30 LED per meter 24 Volt RGB LED strip:

On the following page: HERE the 24 Volt RGB LED strips were compared to show how much better they are compared to the 12 Volt ones. I understand that because the rolls are 5 meters long, the performance of 5 meter lengths were compared, and since the V-TAC roll is 10 meters long, its values ​​for 10 meters were also shown. I also understand that this V-TAC strip has been adequately praised for how good it is, with 60 LEDs per meter and only 40% of the light at the end of 10 meters, but I’m curious about the 10-meter performance of two Pannon LED strips (30 LEDs/meter) that I solder together, as I feel that the decrease in light would be even smaller. And Pannon is still expected to be of higher quality because it is double-layered PCB and at such a great length many people may not mind that there are only half as many LEDs. After all, consumption is theoretically the same order of magnitude, so luminous flux is similar.

So I would like to know what the Pannon 30 LED/meter 24 Volt RGB LED strip produces over 10 meters, because I think it would win.

Continue reading When comparing 24 Volt RGB LED strips, the V-TAC performed well even at 10 meters, but it would also be good to know what the Pannon 30 LEDs per meter would produce over 10 meters! →

Of course, it can happen by accident that we publish a picture of a product that has nothing to do with reality, but it can also be intentional. The problem is that RGB LED strips can emit light in many colors — practically any color of the rainbow. This puts manufacturers in a difficult position when they have to showcase an RGB strip with just one photo while it’s lit. To convey everything an RGB LED strip is capable of, they resort to various image manipulations. This manipulated image is provided to distributors and is also featured on the product’s box (if it has one). Photoshopped images like these are created:

In the above image manipulation, we see stunning combinations of RGB LED strip colors. Unfortunately, these are not real; they are mere manipulations. There are, of course, LED strips capable of illuminating in every color simultaneously, but these are not them.

Products sold with such photoshopped images not only belong to the group of cheaper and less reliable RGB LED strips, where even the seller doesn’t know what the product is capable of because they’ve never seen it in person or, if they have, haven’t tested it. What I don’t want to delve into right now is that, in many cases, not only can’t these RGB sets achieve the lighting suggested in the pictures, but buyers frequently report issues with improperly sized, overheating, melting RGB controllers, and exploding power supplies, as well as poorly soldered LED strip connections in their product reviews. However, this article is not about these problems; it’s about the misleading representation of lighting experiences and ultimately deception.

What’s wrong with these depictions of RGB LED strips?

Continue reading A disappointment may occur if you believe any RGB LED strip photo to be real →

The current going to the LED strip does not pass through the electronics of the digital LED strip controllers (they are connected in parallel). As a result, there is no performance limit in the same sense as with an analog RGB controller, where the manufacturer specifies the maximum current output of the controller, which cannot be exceeded without adding a signal amplifier. In the case of DRGB, such a limit does not exist; at most, the cross-sections of the wires soldered to the controller can be limiting factors. But this can easily be circumvented in the case of digital running lights due to the parallel connection, as it is enough to power the strips, and the controller will also get power from the strip itself, thus the wire cross-section of the controller won’t matter, since only the current necessary for the operation of the controller will load it.

If we only look at the two sets shown in the picture above. It is completely illogical that the right set, operating 150 LEDs on a 5-meter roll in full white light mode, has almost twice the consumption as the left one, which operates 300 LEDs. In contrast, in colorful running light mode, the consumption is proportional to the number of LEDs, but surprisingly, the left one can boost in white light, while the right one falls short as expected. WHAT IS THIS ANOMALY?

Background:

Continue reading When the running light RGB LED strip seems weak, even though it’s just the digital controller being tricky →

Just as various interior design styles draw inspiration from the trends of bygone eras, so too does the nostalgia for older lighting forms emerge. With pendant lights, chandeliers, and other traditional-looking lamps, the variations seem endless. However, the question arises: what light sources should we use to ensure these lights appear authentic while also being energy-efficient? The so-called Edison bulbs from around the 1920s evoke the most emotion among those interested in older styles. These bulbs had relatively weak light, glowing dimly with a nearly golden hue. The plentifully used filaments, arranged in various winding methods, created uniquely beautiful shapes. Because they didn’t glow too brightly, we could admire the play of the filaments. The glass bulbs protecting the filaments also came in much more varied shapes compared to today’s mass-produced world.

This is why the old bulbs had a strongly yellowish light; we could look into them because energy efficiency was not a concern – longevity was more important. Energy efficiency? They were happy to have electric lighting at all. They glowed weakly, with a color temperature between 1800-2600 Kelvin. For the sake of authenticity, similar bulbs are still made today with similarly energy-wasting consumption. If someone chooses these light sources for their entire home and relies on them to meet modern lighting needs, they might be surprised by the significant increase in their electricity bill.

Continue reading Vintage style enthusiasts don’t have to give up energy-efficient lighting →

We could instantly say that, of course, the 24 Volt one. With twice the voltage and the same Amperage, you can transfer twice the power.

What does this mean in practice for LED strips?

Advantages of 24 Volt RGB LED Strips:

• The maximum current load is specified for an LED controller.
  • For example, if an LED controller is 12 Amperes, you can connect up to 144 Watts of 12 Volt strip to it, meaning you can connect 10 meters of a 14.4 Watt per meter RGB LED strip.
  • In contrast, if your LED strip with the same power is 24 Volts, you can connect up to 288 Watts of LED strip to it.
  • So, for the previously mentioned 14.4 Watt per meter, 24 Volt RGB strip, you can connect 20 meters. Yes, this is a basic calculation method, but the point is clear.
  • This example also means that if you are indeed using a 12 Ampere RGB LED controller and want to install 20 meters of RGB LED strip, you will need 2 RGB controllers (or one controller and a signal amplifier) for the 12 Volt strip to operate 20 meters. In contrast, if you use a 24 Volt strip, one such RGB controller will suffice.
• The most important advantage of the 24 Volt strip is that for the same circuit cross-section strip with the same consumption, you will experience less loss on the LED strip.
• LEDs farther from the power connection point on a 24 Volt LED strip lose less brightness than on a 12 Volt strip.
  • This means that an evenly strong light experience can be more easily achieved with a 24 Volt LED strip, as you need approximately half as many connections for the same illumination. (It is generally true, – obviously depending on the parameters of the specific LED strip – that usually 2-5 meter sections of LED strip need to be created to establish power wire connections at both ends. If you do this over longer sections, the middle of the strip may light up weaker – even visibly.)
  • With the use of 24 Volt LED strips, connection points can be spaced out, meaning you can create 5-10 meter sections of LED strip and only need to establish power connection points at their ends.
  • Moreover, along the LED strip, you need to create a power backbone wire to the connection points, which for RGB is 4-core. Naturally, with 24 Volts, for the same power transfer, you can use a thinner (half the cross-section) wire, which can make installation easier in tight spaces.
• Obviously, for smaller systems of a few meters, the advantage of 24 Volt systems does not appear. However, if you want to hide RGB LED lighting in a ceiling plasterboard cornice of a room, which may require 15-30 or more meters of LED strip, the advantages of 24 Volt systems are not negligible.

Disadvantages of 24 Volt RGB LED Strips:

Continue reading Comparison of 12 Volt and 24 Volt RGB LED strips – Which one should I buy? →

Blue light is present in sunlight (which is cool white – just to heighten the concerns). Moreover, blue is one of the three primary colors. Without it, you can’t mix turquoise, purple, or even trendy pink – and white wouldn’t exist either. So, the sun shines with all the colors of the rainbow, which are filtered (and refracted) by the atmosphere, reflected by the environment, and the result is a clear noon sunlight – cool white.

In the image below, you can see the spectrum of daylight sunlight: – around 5600 Kelvin

You can see somewhat similar images in many places, but I dare not claim any of them to be absolutely accurate, and depending on environmental conditions, every such measurement will be slightly different. So, the light of the noon sun consists of such strength variations and such color spectrums.

Continue reading Didn’t you know anything about the harmful effects of blue light until LED and fear-mongering journalism appeared? →