RGBW LED strips

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2835? 3528? 5050?

Are these:

a) LED dimensions?

or​

b) The number of sites found selling LED strips when searched for on the interwebby?

Answer: Both.

Can anybody recommend some reputable sellers with decent products?
 
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Not sure about these days but a while back we used to replace faulty stuff that was used in 3 stores, we noted the stuff on Ebay hong kong appeared to be the same as what you got in uk but was 1/4 of the price so worth a gamble at the time, however we purchased the power supplies from RS to be safe.
Though nowadays a lot more uk companies sell it.
 
"Quite simply the name given to each LED chip is actually the size of the LED. For example the 3528 SMD is actually 3.5mm x 2.8mm, while the size of a 5050 LED strip SMD is 5mm x 5mm."

Also SMD = (surface mounted diodes).

The problem is supplying those diodes with the current they require. Each colour has a different threshold voltage at around 3.3 volt for the 5050 a current of around 120 mA maximum of 180 mA the question is how to control that current. Using something like a 3 to 50 volt supply with a regulated current of 120 mA one can power a whole string of SMD's from a single regulator chip using PWM technology and get around 100 lumen per watt.

However having 3 SMD's in series with a resistor to limit current is the more normal way to use them for lighting. However some of the SMD chips now come with built in driver "Make your own smart LED arrangement with the same integrated LED that is used in our NeoPixel strip and pixels. This tiny 5050 (5mm x 5mm) RGB LED is fairly easy to solder and is the most compact way possible to integrate multiple bright LEDs to a design. The driver chip is inside the LED and has ~18mA constant current drive so the colour will be very consistent even if the voltage varies, and no external choke resistors are required making your design minimal. Power the whole thing with 5VDC and you're ready to rock."

So not even all 5050 SMD's are the same. What I find is the main point is cost v efficiency is it really worth paying extra for a unit giving 100 lumen per watt when one giving 50 lumen per watt is 1/10th of the price? It you are lighting a whole room with role out strips may be. But as Christmas type lights to just look good hardly worth the extra cost.

Seem to remember reading there is now a mains voltage SMD with the driver built in.
 
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Hi

I can recommend this company:-

https://www.hiline-lighting.co.uk/gb/

They know what they're talking about and don't sell any tat. The vast majority of the stuff on eBay is rubbish.

Strongly suggest you mount it on aluminium strip to ensure longevity of the LEDs. If you stick LED strips to thermally non-conductive surfaces, they overheat and fail much more quickly.
 
If you are buying several strips then ask for them all to be from the same production batch since the colour can vary between different batchs of LED elements. Good quality manufacturers will print the Batch Code on the label.
 
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