A Guide to LED Strip Lights

What is an LED strip light?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. Unlike a filament bulb, which works by heating a wire until it glows, an LED produces light when electrical current passes through a semiconductor — a process called electroluminescence. This is why LEDs are so efficient: almost all of the energy goes into making light rather than heat.

An LED strip light is a flexible circuit board with a series of LED chips mounted along its length, grouped into cut sections at regular intervals. Strip lights come on reels, usually 5 metres long, and connect to an LED driver that converts your mains supply to the low-voltage DC current the strip requires.

How do LED strip lights work?

The LED chips on a strip are wired in series-parallel. Within each cut section, LEDs are connected in series so the voltage is shared between them. Each cut section connects to the bus bars running the full length of the strip in parallel, so every section receives the same voltage regardless of strip length.

This is why voltage matters. A 24V strip needs a 24V driver. Connect it to 12V and it will not reach full brightness. Connect it to a higher voltage and you risk permanently damaging the chips. The driver also regulates the output so the strip receives stable, consistent power even as the load changes.

The main types of LED strip light

Single colour white — fixed at a specific colour temperature (2700K warm white through to 6500K cool daylight). Simplest to install — just a driver, no controller needed. Right for under-cabinet lighting, cove lighting, stair nosings, and any application where the colour temperature does not need to change.

Tunable white (CCT) — two sets of LEDs (warm and cool white) alternating along the strip. A CCT controller lets you blend between them on demand. Needs a two-channel driver and CCT controller.

RGB — Red, Green, Blue channels produce any colour in the spectrum. Wired with four conductors. Note: RGB white is greenish, not true white.

RGBCCT — adds a dedicated tunable white channel alongside RGB for proper white light quality. Requires a RGBCCT receiver and the universal remote control.

COB LED — continuous line of LED material producing a seamless, dot-free line of light with no visible hotspots. Ideal for applications where the strip is visible at close range.

What does IP rating mean?

IP (Ingress Protection) ratings tell you how well a strip is protected against water.

• IP20 — no water protection. Indoor use only, away from moisture.
• IP44 — protected against splashing water. Bathroom zones 2 and 3, above sinks, sheltered outdoor areas.
• IP65 — protected against water jets. Shower recesses (zone 1), outdoor use under cover.
• IP67 — protected against temporary immersion. Most outdoor applications.
• IP68 — protected against continuous immersion. Underwater and permanently wet environments.

How long do LED strip lights last?

LED lifespan is measured in hours to L70 — the point at which light output drops to 70% of its original brightness. For a quality LED strip, this is typically 50,000 hours. At 8 hours per day, that is over 17 years before you notice a significant drop in brightness.

Lifespan depends on three things: how well the strip is driven, how well it dissipates heat, and the quality of the chips. Always use an aluminium profile — the thermal mass draws heat away from the chips and significantly extends lifespan.

What else do you need for an LED strip installation?

The strip itself is only one part. A complete installation requires:

• LED driver — 24V constant-voltage. Sized at least 10% above the total strip wattage.
• Aluminium profile — holds the strip, dissipates heat, controls light output with a diffuser. Available in surface, recessed, and corner configurations.
• Connectors — for joining strips, making corners, and connecting to the driver without soldering.
• Universal remote control — to dim single colour, blend CCT, or control RGB/RGBCCT.