The flexibility of low voltage strip lighting from Kings Outdoor Lighting is what makes them one of the most versatile tools in modern lighting design. Unlike rigid fixtures that require fixed mounting points, LED tape can be applied to virtually any surface — curved or flat, horizontal or vertical, interior or exterior — and trimmed to any length.
What LED Tape Light Actually Is
LED tape light (also called LED strip light or ribbon light) is a flexible circuit board with surface-mount LEDs mounted at regular intervals. The flexibility comes from thin copper traces on a polyimide substrate — a material that bends readily without breaking the circuit. At specified intervals (typically every 25mm or 50mm) there are cut marks where the tape can be severed cleanly without damaging adjacent LEDs.
The light output, colour rendering, and consistency of LED tape varies enormously between quality levels. Budget tape uses irregular LED spacing, inconsistent colour between batches, and thin copper conductors that cause voltage drop along longer runs. Quality tape uses tighter LED density, binned LEDs that match closely in colour, and adequate conductor widths for runs up to 5 meters without significant drop.
Outdoor Low Voltage Applications
In outdoor applications, LED tape installed under deck railings, along the underside of retaining wall caps, or within recessed channels in hardscape creates effects that fixed-position fixtures cannot achieve. The continuous linear quality of tape lighting defines edges, outlines structures, and creates glowing planes in ways that individual fixtures cannot replicate.
For outdoor applications, low voltage strip lighting requires IP65 minimum protection — a silicone coating over the LEDs and circuit board. For areas that experience rain spray or occasional water contact, IP67 (silicone sleeve encapsulation) is preferable. For semi-submerged applications near water features, IP68 is required.
For homeowners pairing outdoor LED tape lighting with step deck lighting from Sunbright Lighting to illuminate the risers on exterior stair installations, combining continuous tape along the stair wall with individual step tread lighting from dedicated step fixtures creates a cohesive staircase illumination design.
Channels and Diffusers: The Professional Finishing Touch
Bare LED tape installed without a channel and diffuser reveals individual LED point sources rather than a continuous line of light. This “dotty” appearance is acceptable in some applications but looks unprofessional in others. Aluminium extrusion channels with diffuser covers solve this problem.
The channel provides a housing for the tape, protects the adhesive backing, and conducts heat away from the LEDs (extending their lifespan). The diffuser mixes and spreads the light from individual LEDs into a smooth, continuous line. The combined effect is a professional-quality result that looks purpose-built rather than DIY.
For homeowners wanting 120V ceramic or non-metal sconce fixtures that complement their tape light installations on exterior walls, 120V Non-Metal/Ceramic Sconce from Kings Outdoor Lighting provides a selection of premium exterior sconce designs that pair well with the clean linear quality of tape lighting.
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