The market is full of many lights that make people confused about purchasing lights. Due to the rush of these lights, we often asked what the difference is between strip lights and rope lights. In this article, I will explore the knowledge regarding both types of light, and then we will decide which type is best suited to our project.

As we know, our lights are used to illuminate our place. So, we have to choose the best lighting system that would be cost-effective, safe, and eco-friendly. In my observation, one of the best choices is an LED lighting system because they use less power and are exceptionally bright.

To fulfill the creative lighting needs, these lights (LED Strip lights and LED rope lights) are flexible solutions. Since the purpose of these lights is the same, many things are in common, but on the other side, many things are different.

What are Rope Lights?

In lighting, a rope light is a long cylindrical tube that contains an internal light source that is spaced every few inches to create the appearance of a "glowing" or "twinkling" light. The light tube is made of plastic, epoxy, or other clear materials that make them shinning. We have been using Rope lights for a long time to illuminate their places. We use these lights for indoor and outdoor decoration purposes.

Some Important facts about LED Rope Lights 

The source of illumination: Rope lights are available in both incandescent bulbs and LED bulbs. Mostly we use LED lights because they are flexible and durable. In the market, they can come in 120/220vAC input or 12/24vDC input. There is a wide range of single colors available; however, changing the color of LEDs is not possible. Examples include the numbers 3528, 5050,3014.

Dimensions: In comparison to strip lights, rope lights are small enough to be used in narrow areas, but they can be bulky when compared to strip lights. The tubes are generally 1/2′′ or 3/4′′ in diameter. Occasionally, the mounting clips increase the width of the product. As a result, they can be quite noticeable no matter where they are installed.

Radiance: In choosing between rope lighting and strip lighting, the brightness of your LED lights is an important consideration. Tape lights are the best option if you need to illuminate a workspace or other area that requires much light. They put out much light, but you can adjust the brightness to match the situation.

While on the other hand, LED rope lighting has a lower brightness. You can use it to create a relaxing atmosphere around a swimming pool or gazebo by illuminating the area with a soft glow. This is not the kind of lighting you need if you need bright task lighting.

The LED chip configuration determines the strip light's brightness. In comparison to 3528, 5050's chips are brighter. When we use 3528 in larger quantities, it has the potential to shine brighter. On the other hand, the 3020 and 3014 can shine brighter than the two previous models. In a brief overview, the brightness of strip lights can range from a low to a high level depending on the model.

Usages They are best suited for decorative lighting or lighting with a very low level of illumination. Since these lights have 360-degree viewing angles, they can wrap around objects like trees or bend into shapes and letters.

What are the Pros of Rope Light?

• In terms of price, they are competitively priced and, if they are of high quality, they can be cost-effective in the short run.
• We can use rope lights for up to 250 feet with an alternating current power source and 50 feet with a direct current power source without the need for an additional supply of electricity.
• There is a 360-degree viewing angle. It makes it possible to form them into shapes or use them more effectively for Christmas decorations.

What are the Cons of Rope Light?

• The low luminous intensity of rope lighting is its primary drawback. When it comes to many applications, rope lighting is not the best choice. For example, under cabinet lighting, task lighting, and high visibility applications are better suited to LED strips than rope lighting. Many projects require the use of smaller working spaces to complete.
• When using rope lights, this is a very common occurrence. The epoxy or plastic tubing quickly dried out and cracked when we exposed these lights to the sun. Over a short time, the tube can become yellow and occasionally brown in color. This will result in a reduction in light output and a change in the color of light emitted.
• Because of their thickness, rope lights are difficult to install in various situations like narrow areas.
• When mounting the rope light to the wall or ceiling, we use more mounting clips. In contrast to strip lights, it does not have an adhesive back.
• Too much bending of the rope light's light can cause it to fail due to the internal wiring of the rope light.

What are LED Strip Lights?

This light is also known as a tape LED light or a strip LED light. It is equipped with a flexible circuit board containing surface-mounted light-emitting diodes are hooked up to the board using adhesive. Because there are many different quality levels of LED strip lights, it is vital to comprehend the distinction between high quality and low-quality LED strips.

With its low-profile, flat design, this flexible LED strip can be installed almost anywhere and cut at any point to suit your needs. There is a wide range of uses for LED strip lights because of their brightness and customizability, from under cabinet lighting in the kitchen to replacing fluorescents in the ceiling to lighting a small hobby project or a large conference hall. Wireless dimming systems, DMX controllers, and wall switches are all options for controlling them.

Some Important facts about LED Strip Lights

The source of illumination: Surface-mounted LED chips of LED strip lights are adhered to a flat piece of tape to form a light source. Although they do not come in a variety of single color schemes, they come with color-changing options. When compared to rope lighting, these tend to produce more diffuse light.

Dimensions: LED strip lights are small and nimble in size. Standard strip lights have a width of 3/8," and a height of 1/16" and are no wider than that. It can be concealed in places where no other type of lighting can.

Radiance: It ranges in brightness from very low to extremely high. LED strip lights have the capability of generating an extremely large amount of illumination. For each project, the amount of light output will be different. Please don't be concerned; we have professionals who will guide you to the most appropriate product for your application. Our LED strip lights are some of the brightest on the market, and they can all be dimmed and controlled.

Usages: Their applications range from decorative to task to display to backlighting. They are even used to grow plants in space vehicles and interiors and on planets. Some examples of other uses include lighting an indoor garden, a refrigerator, jewelry displays, and lighting a cafe.

What are the Pros of using LED Strip Light?

• There are several high-brightness options available, all of which are dimmable.
• Using strip lights in a variety of environments is a simple procedure. Because they resemble tape, these lights are also known as 'tape lights.'
• It is simple to install and comes with a 3M adhesive on the back to make the process easier.
• These lights can bend at a 90-degree angle.
• Although it makes a difference from organization to organization, LED strip lighting generally provides: a considerably higher color rendering index (CRI),light purity, color consistency, and color accuracy than other types of lighting. In addition, they provide a more comprehensive circuit system for controlling colors, whether through remote control or a more complex DMX system, which increases their versatility.

What are the Cons of LED Strip Light?

• Generally, strip lights are available with DC inputs of 12V or 24V. Strip lights with direct current (DC) power have a maximum run time before Voltage Drop takes effect.
• Most strip lights only have a 120-degree beam angle, making it more difficult to install lights around the entire perimeter of a room or building.

Conclusion

Even though the price of LED strips lights and rope lighting can vary widely, the lighting quality is usually comparable with the price. You should always consider investing a little more in high-quality lighting if you plan to use your lights every day and keep them for many years.

While both rope lights and LED strips are excellent and versatile lighting options, there are some differences between the two. We have discovered that customizing the lengths, angles, and colors of LED strips gives our customers significantly more flexibility in realizing their vision for their projects when it comes to brighter lighting.

References

LED rope lighting vs strip lights: What’s the difference? (n.d.). Birddog Lighting. https://www.birddogdistributing.com/blog/led-rope-lighting-vs-strip-lights-whats-the-difference

Led rope lights V/S led strip lights - A comparative guide. (2019, November 15). LEDMyplace. https://www.ledmyplace.com/blogs/stories/led-rope-lights-v-s-led-strip-lights-a-comparative-guide

What is difference between LED rope lighting and strip lighting? (n.d.). LED sensor light manufacture, LED cabinet light factory, LED light sensor switch manufacture. https://www.led-sensor-light.com/news/Industry-news/what-is.html

What is the difference between rope lights and LED strip lights? (n.d.). Brightest LED strip lights, Flexible LED Strip Kits, LED Distributors. https://www.flexfireleds.com/what-is-the-difference-between-rope-lights-and-led-strip-lights/