LED RGB Strips Price List - What one should I get?

[l0chte]

I asked around to several suppliers about RGB lights. Here is what I'm currently looking at. What do some of these numbers mean? If I get any I would use it with a DC controller. I thought someone might find this helpful and some could help me out. What do you think?

http://goo.gl/Pfmtl

[l0chte]

has anyone looked at this? Thanks

[JBullard]

I don't think the SMD3528 will work with a LOR DC controller.

Perhaps a little more research is in order to answer your question "What do some of these numbers mean?" I just don't have time to do it for you, sorry.

I did my research and started using RGB products in 2009 and 2010. Have more on order from China right now.

[l0chte]

JBullard wrote:

I don't think the SMD3528 will work with a LOR DC controller.

Perhaps a little more research is in order to answer your question "What do some of these numbers mean?" I just don't have time to do it for you, sorry.

I did my research and started using RGB products in 2009 and 2010. Have more on order from China right now.

From what I've read recently, I thought that was in reference to the size, They work but are just smaller? Anyways, I know I'm going for 5050 due to brightness. Now I have to decide 30/m or 60/m. RGB should be fun!

[paul sessel]

JBullard wrote:

I don't think the SMD3528 will work with a LOR DC controller.

Perhaps a little more research is in order to answer your question "What do some of these numbers mean?" I just don't have time to do it for you, sorry.

I did my research and started using RGB products in 2009 and 2010. Have more on order from China right now.

the 3528 is just a little smaller than the 5050.

[edvas69]

It appears that they have a minimum order quatity of 200 metres.

If your unsure about RGB lights then you need to spend some time reading through this thread, watching the videos and looking at the presentation, im sure you will have a much better idea by the end of it

http://auschristmaslighting.com/forums/index.php/topic,1208.0.html

At a cost of 20 cents more per metre and no minimum order quantity you can get the 5050 30 LED per metre RGB strip that is the most commonly used

http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/701799/209843764-329544925/5m-one-roll-5050-SMD-30LEDs-m-led-strip-waterproof-by-silicon-tubing-and-coating-RGB.html

The main thing is dont rush out and buy anything until you understand your choices, there is plenty of time and you dont want to end up buying something that you may regret later

[l0chte]

Does anyone have any opinions on the different types of waterproofing?

[l0chte]

And I have read all of the posts on that link and watched the video series. Thanks.

[edvas69]

l0chte wrote:

Does anyone have any opinions on the different types of waterproofing?

I prefer to use the solid silicone coating as it has better light dispersion than the silicone tube. Its also much stronger than the tube and is rated for running underwater. But thats just mt personal choice

[edvas69]

RGB strip LEDs only come in the 5050 LED and not the 3528. The 3528 is only single colours per LED package. It will still work with an LOR controller as long as it is common anode (common +)

[l0chte]

I really think I'm getting to understand this stuff, My question is how many amps can I run over CAT5? I want to do dmx over cat5 with power injected. How many strips at 3amps can I power without reinjecting power?
thanks!

[l0chte]

-adding to the above, If I doubled some of the pairs up for power would I be able to send more current?
The reason I want to go cat5 is because it is readily available and I have the end connectors and crimper available through school. Thanks
Eric

[edvas69]

Cat5 is only good for 1 amp per core, the common return will draw 3 amps and each colour will draw 1 amp per 5 metres of 30 led/m strip. Each strip should have power reinjected at every 5 metres. by doubling up the conductors you will be able to increase the current capacity

[Ken Benedict]

If you're going this route, make sure you don't accidentally plug one of your 12vdc power cables into something that can't take the voltage.

You will let the Secret Smoke escape, and it's very difficult to it put back in.

[l0chte]

Ken Benedict wrote:

If you're going this route, make sure you don't accidentally plug one of your 12vdc power cables into something that can't take the voltage.

You will let the Secret Smoke escape, and it's very difficult to it put back in.

Lol, I've had the secret smoke come out of a router before.. Very hard to put back in. ;p

[bob_moody]

edvas69 wrote:

RGB strip LEDs only come in the 5050 LED and not the 3528. The 3528 is only single colours per LED package. It will still work with an LOR controller as long as it is common anode (common +)

If the 3528's are only single colours per LED package, then what are we looking at here?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-5M-RGB-3528-SMD-300-LED-Strip-light-IR-remote-controller-DC-Wire-/120853100389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2367f765

Is this basically a "multi-color" strip?

Not being sarcastic .. just confused be the images and descriptions.

Bob

[edvas69]

Jeff Millard wrote:

edvas69 wrote:

l0chte wrote:

Does anyone have any opinions on the different types of waterproofing?

I prefer to use the solid silicone coating as it has better light dispersion than the silicone tube. Its also much stronger than the tube and is rated for running underwater. But thats just mt personal choice

Ed,

I have both styles and was wondering what I would do if a pixel failed on the solid cover. Have you had the need to repair any yet? I guess if you're very careful not to get silicone near the 5050 it probably wouldn't affect the way it looks in operation. The solid cover type does seem to be nicer as its more compact and doesn't deform when you wire tie it. I just wish they wouldn't put the 3M backing on it. I tried to take it off, what a mess that was.

Jeff

Jeff,

I have had a few fail as this was my second year so I had to repair a few from 2010, generally what happens is just one colour dies, so i dont worry about it during the season because its only 100mm long and really is very hard to notice in the scheme of things.

All my strip is mounted on conduit or corex and so to repair the solid silicone strip i just cut that defective 100mm section out, cut the silicone off each end (make sure when cutting the silicone that you dont cut too hard or else you will damage the PCB) the silicone actually comes off very easily to expose the solder pads. i then ensure there is no silicone on any of the solder pads as this will make it hard if not impossible to solder. I then cabel tie both end and line up the strip pads and then just solder in the new piece with the correct orientation. I then use non corrosive silicone to seal it all up.
Worked great as when the lights were up and on you couldnt tell the difference at all

[edvas69]

bob_moody wrote:

edvas69 wrote:

RGB strip LEDs only come in the 5050 LED and not the 3528. The 3528 is only single colours per LED package. It will still work with an LOR controller as long as it is common anode (common +)

If the 3528's are only single colours per LED package, then what are we looking at here?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-5M-RGB-3528-SMD-300-LED-Strip-light-IR-remote-controller-DC-Wire-/120853100389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2367f765

Is this basically a "multi-color" strip?

Not being sarcastic .. just confused be the images and descriptions.

Bob

 

what you see in this image is that each section is a different colour and this is why it is shown with a solid colours. because the strip is wound up the colours appear to mix to actually create other colours.

But i can tell you this is not a true RGB strip and colour mixing would be very coarse at very least and from my experience as well pictures usually are not a good thing to go by, its the specs of the strip that is important.

[james campbell]

edvas69 wrote:

bob_moody wrote:

edvas69 wrote:

RGB strip LEDs only come in the 5050 LED and not the 3528. The 3528 is only single colours per LED package. It will still work with an LOR controller as long as it is common anode (common +)

If the 3528's are only single colours per LED package, then what are we looking at here?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Waterproof-5M-RGB-3528-SMD-300-LED-Strip-light-IR-remote-controller-DC-Wire-/120853100389?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2367f765

Is this basically a "multi-color" strip?

Not being sarcastic .. just confused be the images and descriptions.

Bob

what you see in this image is that each section is a different colour and this is why it is shown with a solid colours. because the strip is wound up the colours appear to mix to actually create other colours.

But i can tell you this is not a true RGB strip and colour mixing would be very coarse at very least and from my experience as well pictures usually are not a good thing to go by, its the specs of the strip that is important.

here is a good video showing 3528 strips

[bob_moody]

Thank you for the info and the links....

I picked up a 5M 5050 reel today from a US vendor with free shipping for $24.95 just for testing and to see if Sandra will sign off it (she is NOT an LED fan) . The specs looked just like the ones I'm looking at from China and Hong Kong.

I have a LOR 16 Channel DC board I bought a couple of years ago for another project that never made it to the developement table. I have several flavors of 12Vdc power supplies (switching and non-switching... actually that leads to another question... does it matter which PS I use? switching (aka PC pwr)? Non switching?

I created an RGB channel with LOR S2 tonight and the light bulb (no pun intended) came on and it all started making sense.

Since I have the LOR DC board, I understand I can drive 5 strips (15 channels) with what I have. Given that .. I dont think I am ready or at this point understand the need to run this DMX.

GREAT POST guys .. thanks for the info...