Many clients might hear that: the low-voltage strip lights are more durable than the high-voltage strip light.
Is it correct? Why? Let us analyze it.
The Difference
1.Different lengths
The picture above is one of our most common low-voltage strip lights: SMD5050, which is usually used in 12V or 24V.
According to PCB thickness and overcurrent capability, the standard length is 5m. If the strip lights required for much longer, It’s easy to solve it that connecting to many power supplies. Besides, 10m,20m, also could make with a thicker PCB. Which increases the current-carrying capacity or lower brightness/wattage required.
The high-voltage strip light is 220V or 110V, and the length of the high-voltage strip light can be longer to 100m.
2.Different Cuttable Length
When the low-voltage stirp light needs to cut, look at the cutout mark on the surface. There is a scissors mark on every low section, which means that this place can cut off. How often is the extended cut? It depends on the working voltage of the strip light and LEDs quantity per meter.
For example, DC24V strip light is cuttable every 6 LEDs, and Like some 12V, it is cuttable every 6 LEDs. For the standard type of 60LEDs/m, each segment is 10cm in 24V and 5cm in 12V.
High-voltage strip lights are generally cut at 0.5m or 1m. Remember not to cut from the middle (need to cut whole meters). Otherwise, the entire lights will not work. Suppose we only need a light strip of 2.7m, what should we do? Cut it out 3m, and then fold back the excess 0.3m. Or wrap it with black tape to prevent light leakage and avoid local over-brightness.
3.Different Applications
The low-voltage strip light is very convenient to use. After tearing off the adhesive tape, it can attach to narrow places. Such as bookcases, showcases, kitchens, and kitchens, etc. The shape can change, turn, arc, etc.
The high-voltage strip lights are generally installed with clips for fixed installation. Due to the high voltage, it is more dangerous if used in places that can be natural touches. Such as steps and guardrails. So, It is used in the area that higher and untouchable by people, and outdoor. Such as the ceiling, outdoor buildings.
4.Difference Of Their Power Supplier
When installing the low-voltage strip light, you must install the DC power supply in advance.
Generally, high-voltage strip lights have flicker, so the appropriate driver should be chosen. And It is driven by a high-voltage and AC driver. Typically, the factory offers the high-voltage strip lights with its driver and plug directory.
Why Are Low-Voltage Strip Lights More Durable?
It mostly says the low-voltage strip light has a longer lifetime. Why?
From the above, we understand the characteristics of low-voltage and high-voltage strip lights. So why are low-voltage strip lights more durable? Next, please open our school physics book.
First of all, we must know that the light strips rely on the small lamp beads (LED chips) on the PCB to light up. The lamp beads will be connected in series to share the voltage evenly.
It’s like a series circuit we learned in school.
Then the strip light is the same. For example, the circuit of DC12V has three LEDs and one resistor, a total of 4 electronic components in each 5cm. Theoretically, the voltage will be evenly distributed to each electronic component. And each LED will withstand a voltage of 3V.
But in fact, each LED is different and the parameters cannot be precisely the same. Which will cause the voltage of some LEDs withstand to become larger, and some to become smaller.
Therefore, compared with other LEDs, the one with higher energy is naturally easier to burn in advance. Because it is a series circuit, then it will let other LEDs can’t bright together.
Thus, if the strip light wants to be stable and has a long lifetime. The parameters of the LEDs are preferably consistent or not much different.
So you know why the low-voltage strip light will last longer than the high-voltage light! Still do not know? Because of the 220V high-voltage strip light, there will be dozens of LEDs to share the voltage in the case of 1m cut.
It is not difficult to find 3 or 6 LEDs with the same parameters and little difference in a low-voltage strip light. But what about 60 high-pressure strip lights? Will the problem of disagreements become larger?
However, to avoid such a problem of high-voltage strip light, the manufacturers will also join Zener tubes. When the LED burns out, the current will break through the Zener tube, allowing the other LEDs to continue to work. (Of course, the area burned in advance is still black)
Generally speaking, the lifetime of low-voltage LED strips will technically be 50000-100000 hours. And the actual use can also reach 30,000-50000 hours.
Because of the high voltage, the high-voltage LED strip light generates more heat per unit length than the low-voltage LED strip light, which directly affects the lifetime of the high-voltage LED strip light. It’s about 10,000 hours.
