Side-Emitting LED Strips: Energy‑Efficient, Versatile Lighting for Any Space

Do you need to brighten up a certain area but don’t know where to start? Side-emitting LED strips might provide you with the perfect solution! A side-emitting LED strip consumes very little power and emits light horizontally or vertically, suiting your everyday life in various settings. You don’t need expert-level electrical knowledge to take advantage of its features.

In this article, you will learn about the purpose of an edge-emitting LED strip along with any provided benefits. If you want more variety, we also talk about a side-emitting RGB LED strip. It applies different colors for decoration or to suit your lighting needs.

At WellPCB, we will guide you through the article!

Side Emitting LED Strip

A 12V side-emitting LED strip beams out light sideways. Common installation areas include flat and curved surfaces. Applying the LED strip on curved surfaces allows the light to shoot upwards or downwards. Flat surfaces keep the edge-emitting LED strip hidden.

You don’t need electrical expertise to use and install a side-facing LED strip. Instead, you can easily cut it for any design and contain a 3M adhesive backing, making it beneficial for any indoor area.  Flexible and thin, the compact side LED strips are some of the brightest. These can consist of 300 LEDs in a single 5-meter long strip.

Side Emitting RGB LED Strip

Meanwhile, a side-emitting RGB LED strip measures 8.2 feet. These provide flexibility, allowing horizontal and vertical light beams. This is perfect if you need to apply lighting to RGB letters, stages, perimeters, and even bars. It can also outline shapes you want to stand out, giving them appealing visuals.

To take advantage of its features, you need an RGB controller to change colors and adjust brightness. Some can automatically cycle through each color in a loop. A smartphone app can also offer controllability.

An RGB LED strip contains a 3M tape backing for installation purposes. It can extend to different applications since it runs on low voltage.

Side Emitting LED Strip Lights Applications

LED strips provide you with lighting upgrades for everyday life. Here, we’ve listed the main applications for side-emitting LED strip lights:

• Bedroom: A variety of LED side lights can enhance lighting levels in your bedroom.

•  Living room: Side-emitting LED strip lights provide you with a brighter area where it’s otherwise dark. Perfect for setting the mood when you have guests!

•  Conference room: You can never go wrong with an edge-emitting LED strip in a conference room when hosting an important meeting. They make the room more accessible with a bright output.
  
• Display counter: You can install side-facing LED strip lights around or underneath a display counter to maximize brightness.

Side emitting LED strip benefits

Using a side LED strip provides many unique benefits, which we outlined below.

• Energy-efficient:

A side-emitting LED strip uses up to 90% less energy than other types of lighting that output the same brightness level. This is because the LED strips generate very little heat, so they always run at a cool temperature.

• Versatile:

An edge-emitting LED strip provides you with the ability to illuminate any area, making it very versatile. Additionally, the flexibility allows you to install them in various shapes and sizes.

• Last longer:

Compared to other lighting installations, a side LED strip lasts a lot longer. That’s because it generates little heat, requiring fewer replacements. These could have a 50,000-hour lifespan, which means they will still run efficiently for 17 years.

• Eco-friendly:

An LED side consists of recyclable materials, making them 100% environmentally friendly. This means they lessen your carbon footprint over time. Unlike fluorescent and incandescent lights, side-emitting LED strips don’t contain mercury, a toxic chemical. 

FAQs of side-emitting LED

Q1: Are LED strips harmful?

Long-term exposure to blue LEDs can cause eye and muscle damage. It still poses a risk to your retinas, even with high exposure for a short period.

Q2: Can LED strips be powered from either end?

Yes. Use a ring main to wire the LED strip lights to power it from both ends.  

Q3: Are LED strips directional?

An LED strip emits light in a certain direction, making them directional.

Q4: How do you do corners with LED strips?

Bend the LED strips at a cut line to apply them around corners. Another solution involves cutting the LED strip light and soldering a wire halfway at separate sections. Waterproof LED strips cannot bend.

Conclusion:

Overall, if you require a light source to boost brightness levels in a poorly lit area, a 12V side-emitting LED strip presents the perfect solution. You will quickly discover how the installation process works. The 3M adhesive backing enables it to stick on flat surfaces. Even better, you can apply it to a corner. Side LED strips generally last longer than other lighting installations, so you can’t go wrong with this choice! Feel free to contact us if you have questions regarding side-emitting LED strips.