When it comes to adding a touch of ambiance and style to your space, lighting plays an important role. With the advancement in LED technology, lighting options have become more versatile and diverse than ever before. Two popular types of LED lights that people often consider for their interior or exterior decor are rope lights and strip lights. However, while they may look similar at first glance, there are many differences between these two options that can make them preferable over one another depending on your specific needs.
In this article, we will explore the basic differences between rope light vs strip light along with how to choose which is best for you based on factors like lighting source, input voltage needed, size & brightness levels available, the ideal run length allowed by each type of light fixture/bulb combination(based on resistance), bending capabilities such as flexibility around corners and contours, etc., color choices (RGB or single color variations), viewing angles provided, costs associated with purchasing, as well as installing these lights.
Basic Differences between Rope Light and Strip Light
Rope lights are made up of small incandescent bulbs or LED bulbs that have flexible plastic tube casings. They offer soft, dispersed lighting, perfect for setting up an inviting and snug environment. Meanwhile, strip lights are a set of LED bulbs connected to a slim and flexible circuit board. These provide concentrated and focused lighting that’s suitable for enhancing specific features or achieving a contemporary feel. You can jump to this part to view the Rope Light vs Strip Light Comparison Table.
Light Source
The lighting source is the primary difference between rope light vs strip light. Rope lights have miniature bulbs that are embedded along their length while encased within plastic tubing fillers, which diffuse the emitted light, giving off a soft glow in all directions without making out individual bulbs.
In contrast, strip lights use tiny LEDs mounted on flexible circuit boards arranged closely together to create an even illumination across its area with lower power consumption and offer brighter output compared to wire filaments used in rope lights.
Depending on your needs, both types of lighting sources offer unique features suitable for different applications at home or anywhere else illumination might be required.
Input Voltage
When it comes to input voltage, rope lights typically use 120V AC power which is suitable for most households. This eliminates the need for transformers or power supplies, making them a convenient option. On the other hand, strip lights require low voltage DC power supply – usually 12V or 24V – since individual LED bulbs require low-voltage power to operate. For this reason, you would need to buy a separate power supply that can transform high-voltage AC into low-voltage DC required by strip lights.
Even though having to purchase an additional transformer adds extra work during installation, it also provides more versatility and control over lighting compared to rope lights; you can dim and adjust the strip lights using remote controls.
Size
When it comes to size differences in rope light vs strip light, rope lights generally have a larger diameter encompassing the lighting fixtures as well as plastic casing. They are typically available in sizes ranging between 0.5 inches and three-quarters of an inch, while strip lights come in narrow widths ranging from 0.2 inches – 0.8 inches and with thinner profiles approximately one-third of an inch thin.
Light Colors
In terms of color options, rope lights present a range of single colors like white, red, green, blue, and others. For most rope lights, the light’s color output remains fixed for these lighting options. However, if you prefer rope lights with different colors and lighting modes, you can check the LED rope light with 16 colors (shown in the image below) and 7 lighting modes including fade, jump, twinkle and so on.
On the other hand, LED Strip Lights offer greater flexibility in terms of choosing your preferred color configuration. They come with customizable color output settings such as tunable white, RGB, RGBW, or digital which allow you to adjust and change their hues according to your needs.
Brightness
The brightness level is an important factor to consider when choosing between rope lights vs strip lights. Strip lights have numerous tiny LED bulbs packed closely together, allowing them to emit brighter light than rope lights with miniature bulbs embedded in their plastic casing.
LED strips are more powerful and can cover large spaces or create distinct lines of bright illumination across your interior or exterior.
Rope lighting might be the better option for those who prefer a softer-glowing ambiance rather than particularly emissive fixtures’ intensity levels within a particular indoor/outdoor space.
Ultimately, understanding the desired atmosphere you’re trying to achieve will help determine which choice suits best for you based on how impactful each type of light appears within its respective environment/setting.
Run Length
Both rope lights and LED strip lights have limitations on the length of their run before experiencing voltage drops. Rope lights operate at an 80-meter run length when utilized with AC voltage, but this shrinks down to only 15 meters for DC voltage. Moreover, they require additional power input beyond this range.
On the other hand, LED strip lights come equipped with a DC input option that includes either 12V or 24V. However, for their DC version, there is a reduction in light output over longer distances as the voltage easily drops. Typically sized at around 5M per reel, these strips offer a diverse array of widths.
Bending
LED strip lights offer considerable flexibility, thanks to their bendable design that generally allows for up to a 90-degree curve. With this feature, they can easily fit and instill into corners without any hassle.
Although rope lights are also somewhat flexible in nature, they cannot curve up to the same degree angle as LED strip lights. As such, these lighting options are more appropriate when wrapping around poles or other immovable objects.
Viewing Angle
Rope lights can offer a wide and all-encompassing 360-degree angle illumination, primarily due to their unique design that allows them to curve around surfaces with ease. This can be attributed to the clear PVC tube construction material in which they are encased. Best suited for wrapping around Christmas decor or other objects where full coverage lighting is necessary.
In comparison, typical LED Strip Lights have an average beam angle of up to 120 degrees due to one-side adhesive tape application, whereas COB (chip on board) LED strip lighting technologies allow for a wider range of luminance at up to 180 degrees.
Cost
When comparing rope lights vs LED strip lights, the cost is a critical factor to consider. Generally speaking, rope lights are less expensive than LED strip lights due to their simplicity in configuration and features.
In contrast, LED strip lighting technologies can be more costly due to the higher quality of components utilized in manufacturing along with advanced engineering that allows for color-changing capabilities.
When it comes to choosing between these options based on cost, finding the correct balance becomes especially important. While cheaper alternatives may fit within your budget constraints better, they may not offer comparable brightness levels or color output options as pricier counterparts.
Furthermore, high-end products provide superior lifespans and overall quality but sometimes require budgets beyond what buyers had initially considered spending – hence careful consideration when choosing is necessary.
Installation
Installation of both rope lights and LED strip lights is relatively easy to install with minimal tools. However, LEDs on Strip Lights come with a self-adhesive backing that allows them to be easily mounted onto any surface without much difficulty while Rope Light’s thicker casing makes it require clips for secure mounting along walls or ceilings.
Rope Light vs Strip Light Comparison Table
| Aspects | Rope Lights | LED Strip Lights |
|---|---|---|
| Light Source | Miniature bulbs embedded in plastic tubing | Tiny LEDs mounted on flexible circuit boards |
| Input Voltage | 120V AC power (no transformer needed) | 12V or 24V DC power supply (transformer needed) |
| Size | Diameter ranges from 0.5 inches – 0.75 inches | Width ranges from 0.2 inches – 0.8 inches |
| Brightness | Emit softer light than LED strip lights | Brighter and more powerful than rope lights |
| Run Length | Up to 80 meters with AC voltage, 15 meters with DC voltage | Around 5 meters per reel (DC version has reduced light output over longer distances) |
| Bending | Somewhat flexible but can’t curve as easily as LED strip lights | Highly flexible and bendable, up to 90-degree curve |
| Light Colors | Single color (fixed output) | Customizable color options (tunable white, RGB, RGBW, digital) |
| Viewing Angle | 360-degree angle illumination | Up to 120-degree beam angle (up to 180-degree with COB LED strip lights) |
| Cost | Less expensive than LED strip lights | More expensive due to higher quality components and advanced engineering |
| Installation | Easy to install with minimal tools | Easy to install with minimal tools, LEDs on strip lights need to be soldered or use connectors |
Rope Light vs Strip Light: Where to Use
Rope lights and LED strip lights can be used in many different ways, depending on your lighting needs. Below are some examples of where to use each type:
Rope Lights:
- Ideal for accenting outdoor railings, steps, or pathways with their flexible design
- Used for outlining architectural details such as columns around a building façade.
- Appropriate for holiday decoration light applications including Christmas trees and other seasonal decorations.
Strip Lights:
- Suitable for installing under cabinets or bookshelves due to the thin nature of how the wattage supplies fit locations where space is at a premium.
- Strip Lighting is great when utilized as primary fixtures indoors like home theatre rooms and commercial spaces with high ceilings requiring quality evenly distributed illumination such as offices
- Usually an optimal option when designing ambient lighting systems that include custom color fading or scene switching which can create incredible ambiance changes throughout bars, nightclubs, or dining area setups.
Wrap Up
When comparing rope lights vs strip lights, it’s important to consider their respective advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, the decision between these lighting options will come down to your unique needs and personal preferences.
