Smart control hot feature being added to dimmable LED strips

Pulse width modulation will still be the key dimming technology adopted in coming product releases from China suppliers.

LED strips, categorized in rigid and flexible types, are widely used in home and building lighting and decoration for their high efficiency, low power consumption and long operating life. In addition, these have no thermal radiation, making them energy efficient, and emit less harmful UV than other light sources. Depending on the design, such products are water- and shock-resistant.

To boost product advantages further, makers in China have been turning out dimmable types, and some are enhancing them with smart features to enable control through smartphones and tablet PCs. Dimming LED strips as they are can adjust color temperature and brightness for maximum energy saving, greater efficiency and longer operating life. They utilize mainstream methods such as 0 to 10V, PWM, DALI and TRIAC, with the second to remain the trend for its stability and reliability.

In the global industry, Bluetooth, ZigBee and Wi-Fi technologies are employed to support wireless connectivity. Local supplier Shenzhen Sonoff has released the Sonoff L1-5983 model based on the IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standard. The Wi-Fi-enabled unit with a free app can be turned on or off using an iOS or Android device, and is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Google Nest. It integrates 5050 SMD LEDs, and delivers more than 300 lumens luminous flux per meter. The color-changing and flashing 12VDC strip has an IP65 rating and lasts more than 25,000 hours.

Hangzhou Hemos Lighting Co. Ltd's IO-Wifi-LS series has an app that allows an Android device or an iPhone to control light brightness. This IP44 model with RGB or white LEDs has 24 or 36W rated power. It can withstand 25,000 hours of use.

Seven Lights Technology Co. Ltd has a dimmable flexible LED strip, P923 model, with smart control. The 5V product adopts 5050, 3528 or 2020 diodes in 30, 60, 120, 144, 150 or 200 units per meter. Versions with an IP20, IP64, IP65, IP67 or IP68 rating can be provided.

At present, smart kinds have a small share of production, although most companies have the capability to offer them.

Requirement for LED strips has been rising and benefiting local suppliers. Many companies see continued uptick in yield in the next one or two years.

China is a major source of LED strips worldwide. It ships output to key destinations such as Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region, and will increasingly do so to developing markets in South America and the Middle East.

Dimmable types, in particular, are gaining popularity locally and abroad, with overall demand expected to go up by more than 10 percent in coming months and raise the category's shipment share. Currently, these models represent about 30 percent of the total LED strips shipped.

For suppliers such as Fuzhou Tdrforce Technology Co. Ltd, dimmable kinds account for 50 percent of aggregate deliveries. The maker boosted production volume by 10 percent in the past year, and is looking to maintain this rate with the installation of new factory equipment. In terms of exports, it is anticipating an increase of between 10 and 15 percent.

There are over 1,000 manufacturers of LED strips in China. The majority domestic enterprises have small and midsize operations, while most of the large companies are foreign-invested. Regardless of the production scale, all suppliers offer conventional and dimmable rigid and flexible types. Those with dimming function represent 20 to 60 percent of output, which may go higher with the forecast demand rise. Many companies turn out SMD LEDs, LED modules and other LED lights as well.

Few new players are expected to join the line due to intense competition.

Guangdong province remains the center of this industry in China, playing host to more than half of the maker population in the cities of Dongguan, Shenzhen, Zhongshan and Shantou. The other companies are spread over the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

Mainstream choices

Rigid and flexible LED strips in China are in conventional and dimmable versions. These come in single- and multicolor kinds using SMD diodes, including those in sizes of 5050, 3528, 2835, 2216, 3014 and 5730. Products incorporating 5050 and 3528 LEDs form the bulk of shipments.

Based on emitted light color, there are warm, cold and natural white, red, blue, yellow, green, purple and RGB units.

Indoor-use products are IP20 to IP44-rated, and those for outdoor installation, IP54 to IP67. Variants with an IP68 rating can also be sourced.

Most releases comply with CE, RoHS and UL requirements.

Customization continues to drive R&D, and accounts for over half of shipments of most local makers.

SMD LEDs, rigid and flexible PCBs and glue come from local or foreign providers, depending on buyer preference. Some companies make their own diodes.

The cost of components and materials is projected to stay the same and keep product prices unchanged. Due to competition,however, some suppliers may lower their quotes to attract more orders.

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

Flexible LED strip exceeds 50,000 hours

Integrating 5050 SMD diodes, this flexible LED strip from Fuzhou Tdrforce Technology Co. Ltd, 5050SMDLEDstrip model, has a beam angle of 120 degrees and a life span exceeding 50,000 hours. The 5A unit with 300 LEDs per 10m has 110 to 240V, 50/60Hz input, and 12VDC output voltage. It syncs with music, and flashes in slow, jump, fade and fast patterns. An order quantity of 100 units is for delivery within 7 days.

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24W smart RGB LED strip

This IP44-rated smart RGB LED strip from Hangzhou Hemos Lighting Co. Ltd, IO-Wifi-LSRGB model, withstands 25,000 hours of use. The 24W dimmable unit has 110 to 230V input voltage. Its correlated color temperature can be controlled by Android and iOS devices. The product meets CE, FCC and UL standards. An order of at least 1,000 units is required. Delivery takes 35 days.

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Smart flexible LED strip in various IP ratings

In IP20, IP64, IP65, IP67 or IP68-rated versions, the model P923 flexible LED strip from Seven Lights Technology Co. Ltd adopts 5050, 3528 or 2020 diodes with RGB, white, red, green, blue, yellow or amber emitted color. The 5V-rated smart dimmable unit with 5.4, 10.8, 11.25, 15, 21.6 or 28.8W rated power has 30, 60, 120, 144, 150 or 200 LEDs per meter. The minimum order of 50 sets has a delivery lead time of 10 days.

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IP68 LED strip uses 3528 SMD diodes

For outdoor use, Zhongshan Golden Sun Optoelectronic Technology Co. Ltd's 12VDC LED strip, JY-SR-SE model, integrates 72 3528 SMD diodes and comes in red, amber, green, blue, white or warm white. The IP68-rated unit with a silicone rubber case operates in -20 to 60 C. The 100-unit minimum order has a 7-day delivery lead time.

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