LED strips with more compact but brighter diodes advance to mainstream supply

Rigid and flexible LED strips adopt SMD diodes in 2835 packages, although makers still offer popular 3528 and 5050 kinds.

Further miniaturization has been realized as planned in China's LED strips line. Suppliers of flexible and rigid types now widely use 2835 SMD diodes, which, although smaller, have higher brightness and better heat dissipation. To meet other requirements, however, they continue to turn out units with 3528 and 5050 LEDs, the former mostly adopted in custom products and the second in multicolor models. There remain options with diodes in 5730, 2216 and 3014 packages as well.

Companies have also switched from epoxy to PU resin as encapsulation material for improved performance in outdoor applications. Besides better water resistance and transparency, the material helps protect from breakage after being folded 500 times, and offers UV stability to prevent yellowing in the long term. Its other advantages include high tolerance to cold weather, ozone, acid, alkali and changes in temperatures. Epoxy resin, in contrast, is prone to bubbles, breaks easily and is not resistant to cold and heat.

Combining PVC and other materials for encapsulation and using an injection technology, U Light Lighting Electronic Co. Ltd has achieved an IP68 rating, in addition to UV and flame resistance.

Typical local products for use in the open have ratings of IP54 to IP67, while those for indoors are usually IP20-rated.

OEM designs account for about 75 percent of exports and those based on ODM orders the rest.

Even so, makers invest in R&D. U Light spends between $100,000 and $150,000 every year, while Chinese Clean Tech Components Co. Ltd allocates 5 percent of sales for development work with its clients. Global PCBA Co. Ltd allots at least $300,000 annually to product initiatives. Its current focus is on smart designs, which enable remote control, light flashing with music, timer on/off and brightness adjustment.

Companies interviewed for this report said export value posted a 5 percent YoY increase in 2017. They are looking forward to 10 percent growth by the end of 2018, anticipating higher demand especially from overseas markets.

There are more than 2,000 LED strips suppliers in China, the majority of which are in the cities of Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Huizhou in Guangdong province. The rest of the companies are in the provinces of Zhejiang and Sichuan.

LED strips are mainly shipped to US, Germany, the UK, India, Spain, the UAE and Turkey.

Mainstream lineup

Production of LED strips in China is split equally between rigid and flexible variants. The target applications are in the lighting, furniture, advertising and automotive fields.

Units come with 30, 60, 90, 120, 144, 216 or 240 diodes per meter, with those integrating 30, 60 and 120 are popular. These have up to 120 lm/W luminous efficacy, while those with 200 lm/W are being developed.

In terms of emitted light, the choices are warm, cold and natural white, red, blue, green, yellow, pink, purple, RGB and RGBW.

Rigid variants are easy to install but because they cannot be bent do not suit narrow and irregularly shaped spaces. These carry 18, 24, 30, 36 and 40 diodes.

Flexible kinds have 18 or 24 LEDs per 30cm, or 15, 24 or 30 units per 50cm. These can be cut or extended. Typical thickness is 1mm. There are versions in lengths of 60 and 80cm as well.

Products typically run on 12 or 24VDC. Suppliers such as Global PCBA can offer 5V models, while Rocky Light Co. Ltd turns out models with 110, 220 and 240V ratings. Regardless of type, LED strips from China manufacturers have a life span surpassing 30,000 hours, with the average at 50,000. Some reach between 80,000 and 100,000 hours.

The majority of output is CE-approved and complies with RoHS. U Light's units have an additional ETL certification and are UL-listed.

Product prices are expected to increase slightly in the months ahead due to the exchange rate. Some makers, however, will reduce their quotes to stay competitive.

The products in this gallery have been handpicked by our China-based market analyst for representing current trends in LED strips from China makers.

12V flexible LED strip with 48 RGB diodes

This IP20-rated LED strip from BOSMFC Optoelectronics Co. Ltd, B-F12V-16L-48LED model, integrates a WS2811 driver and has 48 RGB diodes on a 10mm-thick flexible PCB. A roll is 5m in length. The 12V product is priced at $2.55 per meter. The maker requires a minimum order of 5m. Delivery is within 7 days.

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Water-resistant LED strip has 60 5050 SMD diodes

The model CTC-ST-1800 green flexible LED strip from Chinese Clean Tech Components Co. Ltd features 60 5050 SMD diodes per meter. The water-resistant unit with a 1.78m-long LED channel comes with a power supply and 2-way splitter cable. A set is $24.50. The minimum order is 500 units for delivery within 30 days.

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LED strip uses double-sided flexible PCB

Exceed Electronic Co. Ltd's model YGL-LS2835*8-60P LED strip adopts a double-sided flexible PCB, and is 5,000x8mm and 200g. It comes in various colors.

The CE- and RoHS-compliant unit is $1.36 per meter. The minimum order is 200m, and delivery takes 10 to 15 days.

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9.6W/m LED strip in IP20 to IP68

From Global PCBA Co. Ltd, this model SC-2216IB-XX LED strip with 120 LEDs per meter has 720, 790 or 830 lumens luminous flux, >90 CRI and 120-degree beam angle. The 12V, 9.6W/m unit comes in white, neutral- and warm-white variants. IP20, IP64, IP65 and IP68 versions are available.

The unit is quoted at $13. There is no minimum order requirement. Delivery is within 3 days.

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