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Best Warm White Led Strip Lights : Review And Buying Guide

Brandon Forder
  Mar 28, 2024 3:40 PM

Let us introduce you to the world of warm white LED light strips if you are searching for a home renovation project that is simple, inexpensive, and can make a significant impact on a space. These bendable strips have sticky backs, so you can stick them to railings and walls, underneath cupboards, above beds, or wherever else you'd want a little extra glow. LED light strips can be bent to illuminate picture frames, attached to artwork on the wall, or used to encircle door frames to generate a calm mood.


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Last update on 2024-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API


Buying Guide

Color Temperature

The color temperature is a crucial factor to consider when shopping for warm white LED strip lights. White light can be classified as cool (sometimes called bluish), neutral, or warm, and this has nothing to do with the actual temperature at which it is emitted (yellowish). Not all manufacturers will tell you the exact Kelvin temperature, but if you want a warmer light, look for a value closer to 3,000K.

Water Resistance Rating

Not everyone will need this function, but if you're putting your lights outside, it's essential. It's important to remember, though, that not all water resistance ratings are created equal. For typical outdoor use, you should look for strip lights with at least an IP65 rating. Nonetheless, you should search for IP68 or above if you plan to install LED lights in a location where they will be constantly immersed (such as a pool).

Power Source

You should use a power supply of the appropriate wattage for the LED lighting, as not all LED light strips come with a power adaptor. For instance, a low voltage power source of 1.2V will not function with LED strip lights that require 24 volts. You can avoid the hassle of dealing with wires by purchasing a pre-wired installation kit that also includes a power supply. When shopping for LED light strips, if you already have some expertise installing them, you can broaden your selections to include those that require you to supply your own power adaptor.

Length

Warm white LED light strips are sold in a variety of lengths. Usually the length of an LED strip is measured in feet. Some, however, are made to be adjusted in length so that they can be fitted precisely to the installation space. For first-time LED light installers, packages with many pre-cut strips may be a better option.

Consider smart home integration

Strip lights from the same brand that your smart bulbs came from may be the best option, especially if you need to use a hub or bridge to connect them together. While the Philips Outdoor light strip does not have Wi-Fi built in, the Sengled and Wyze light strips we tested do. The cost of the hub, if you don't already have one, must be added to the price of the strips.

Verify that the light strips are compatible with your preferred smart home platform, be it Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit. While the vast majority are compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant, only two of the options we tested were Apple HomeKit-enabled. This is crucial so that the light strips may be operated by voice.

Location

Before you stick the light strips anywhere, give some thought to their eventual location. Where would you put it—under the bed, in a bookcase, on the deck? Put them wherever you like; the only requirement is access to an electrical socket. A light strip that can withstand splashes or other forms of moisture should be considered for use in a bathroom.

If you plan on using the strip outside, it should be able to handle getting wet and being sprayed with water, with an IP44 rating being the very minimum. Govee's Outdoor LED Strip Lights are weatherproof to IP65 standards.

Make sure there is something for the lights to reflect off of. You'll only be able to see LED lights if you turn them so that they face you. Place them facing away from you, toward a wall or the ceiling, to provide the desired diffused appearance, unless you intend to use them to shine down and add direct light.

Double-sided glue on the back of the strip is the standard method of securing light strips in place, although the supplied mounts and screws are more effective when used with strips that have a heavier silicon coating or are slightly thicker and bulkier for waterproofing. Before settling on this type, be sure screws may be used in the mounting surface.

Since you'll need to clean the area and wipe it down with an alcohol pad before you can do a proper hold, you should move any furniture out of the way. The LED strips won't fall off without the right kind of preparation first.

Brightness

Lumens are the standard for evaluating the output of LED bulbs. A common 60-watt bulb, as a point of comparison, emits about 800 lumens. The majority of the lights we examined have lumen outputs between 1,400 and 1,800, making them highly powerful. Knowing how bright they are and how low they can be dimmed is vital when deciding where to put them. Even at their lowest settings, some of the ones we tested were too bright to be used in a bedroom.

See how many LEDs there are in one single strip. The greater the number of LEDs, the brighter the illumination and the more true to life the hues will appear.

The color temperature of a light indicates how hot or cold the color is. Kelvin (K) degrees are used to express temperatures. The lower the temperature, the more yellow the light, whereas the higher the temperature, the cooler the light will be. Most strips have a temperature output between 2,700K and 6,500K, with the latter creating an artificial daytime temperature.

Flexibility

The circuit boards of most light strips are flexible, allowing them to be shaped to follow an irregular surface or to pivot to illuminate an area. You may bend some LED light strips by up to 90 degrees without worrying about breaking the circuitry.

Nonetheless, an LED light strip's adaptability declines with its intensity; some are even fully stiff. These rigid goods are typically much shorter than conventional light strips—sometimes barely a foot in length—and substantially brighter. Motion-sensing technology is another option that makes them perfect for use on stairwell lighting.

Wattage 

The wattage rating indicates the amount of power required to keep the light strip glowing brightly. A light strip won't function properly and will typically emit significantly less light if it needs more energy than the power supply can provide. LED light strips can be powered in three different ways: by batteries, by power adapters hooked into wall outlets, or by being hardwired directly into the home's electrical system.

A 540-LM LED light strip, for example, will only need a fraction of the power of a 1000-LM strip. A 16.4-foot standard-density light strip uses 27 watts of power while a 16.4-foot high-density LED light strip uses 40 watts of power.


FAQS

Why would I want warm white LEDs instead of neutral or cool?

Warmer LED lights have been shown to be easier on the eyes and aid in winding down before bed. This is a fantastic target for domestic settings. On the other hand, neutral or chilly lights have been shown to increase energy and alertness. Because of this, most commercial and industrial buildings use a cool white light source.

What Kelvin temperature range should I consider if I want warm white LED light strips?

If you prefer warm white LEDs, look for bulbs with a Kelvin temperature of between 2,700 and 3000. If you want the hottest light possible, aim for 2,700 Kelvin, which is almost red, while 3,000 Kelvin is more yellow.

Are LED light strips safe?

If used and installed correctly, LED light strips pose no risk to users. Some lights, for instance, shouldn't be installed in damp areas, while indoor lights shouldn't be used outside.

How long can you run LED light strips?

It is not necessary to turn off LED light strips for long periods of time. They heat up, but they don't get too hot because they're made to underdrive the LEDs.

Do LED light strips have to be plugged in to work?

LED light strips do require constant power in order to function. One cordless type, a 16-inch strip powered by batteries, passed our tests.


Conclusion

Light-emitting diode (LED) strip lights are a great way to add some whimsy to your house or office. The equipment is cheap, easy to set up, and exciting even at a subpar level. With any luck, we've narrowed down the seemingly endless possibilities for you.


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