Tape Lighting

LED Ribbon Lights Retailer

LED ribbon lights, also known as flexible LED strip lights, are a popular lighting solution for undercabinet lighting, accent lighting, mood lighting, and cove lighting. Their flexibility and slim profile make them ideal for both residential and commercial applications.

Modern RGB LED strip lights allow you to create dynamic, color-changing accents that enhance the look and atmosphere of any space, whether it’s a home, retail store, restaurant, or office.

What Are Tape Lights?

Rope light is a versatile lighting solution commonly used for decorative and accent purposes, such as adding ambiance to decks, restaurants, and creative wall designs. Rope lights operate on either 12 volts or 120 volts and consist of a string of LED or incandescent bulbs encased in a flexible tube. They are available in single colors, multicolor options, LED neon rope lights, hybrid LED flat rope lights, and convenient all-in-one kits.

Can Tape Light Be Cut?

Most rope lights and LED tape lights can be cut at designated cutting points, which are typically marked by a white dashed line. Cutting anywhere other than the marked points will cause the lights to stop working. It’s important to note that cutting rope or tape light voids the UL safety rating. For outdoor installations, all connections must be properly shrink-wrapped to protect against moisture.

LED Drivers and Step-Down Transformers

For 120V rope lights, installation is simple—just plug the power cord into a standard outlet. However, 12V and 24V LED strip lights and rope lights require either an LED driver or a step-down transformer.

LED drivers and transformers reduce standard 120V power to the appropriate low voltage required by the lighting system. LEDs cannot be used with traditional transformers designed for incandescent lighting. Step-down transformers should only be used with 12V incandescent rope light, while LED strip and tape lights must be powered by a compatible LED driver. Without the correct power supply, uncontrolled voltage can permanently damage your lights.

Each LED driver or transformer has a specific maximum wattage rating. To determine the required wattage, multiply the total length of lighting by the wattage per foot specified by the manufacturer.

Total Wattage = Length of Light (in feet) × Wattage per Foot

For example, if you use 16 feet of LED strip lighting rated at 3.5 watts per foot, the total wattage is 56 watts. In this case, a 24-watt driver would be insufficient, and a higher-capacity driver would be required. The National Electrical Code (NEC) may also limit the maximum run length to prevent voltage drop, regardless of driver capacity.

Difference Between LED Strip Lighting And  Tape Lighting

Which One Should You Choose?

• Choose LED tape lighting if you want:
  
  
• Easy installation
  
  
• Low-profile lighting
  
  
• Under-cabinet or shelf lighting
  
  
• Clean, hidden appearance
  
  
• Choose LED strip lighting if you need:
  
  
• Higher brightness
  
  
• Longer runs
  
  
• Commercial or architectural lighting
  
  
• More mounting and voltage options
  
  

Top-Rated LED Tape Lighting Authorized Dealer & Supplier

Lightingandsupplies.com is a trusted distributor of indoor and outdoor commercial and residential light fixtures and bulbs. Based in the United States, we carry top LED lighting brands including EiKO, RAB Lighting, MaxLite, naturaLED, and Westgate Lighting, along with products from many of the top lighting manufacturers in the country.

For more information, call 888-325-4448 or email [email protected].