LED Rope Lights vs. Strip Lighting

[bluwtr49]

I'm looking for information on the pros and cons on rope lighting vs. strip lighting.

My objective is to use one of these products as illumination below the kitchen cabinets in lie of the existing 12 VDC puck lights. My puck lights are very difficult to access...especially the one behind the microwave...when it comes time to change the bulbs. Increasing the light level of the counter surface would be a big plus. As far as color temp is concerned I'm thinking more towards a natural white as opposed to a warm white..

Since this is for a specific purpose, I'm not very interested in comments regarding outdoor lighting.

Thanks in advance for any comments.

[bluwtr49]

Once again I would like to thank everyone for the responses and they have bee educational.

What I think I know is that strip are available with two types of LED's, the 5050 and a 3528. It appear that strips with the 3528 are a bit smaller which, for me, might be the best. However it is tough to find good info on the light output for each and since I would be replacing two G4 puck lights at ~370 Lumens each this is fairly important.....I think. I'm also thinking neutral white LED's at around 4,000K

My installation would be under the kitchen cabinets and eventually behind the microwave. The cabinets have a 3/4" to 1.0" lip on the underside and I'm thinking about mounting the strips on that which would keep them hidden from view and also direct the light horizontally towards the back-splash. It looks like the first phase would use about 5' or so and phase two would be behind the microwave which would only be about 2' but is tougher to access. I think I can drill a small hole in the false ceiling and run the power leads to one of the existing puck lights.

Anyway, that's my current thinking if I'm off in left field someplace I would appreciate a reality check.

[rekoj71]

4x4van wrote:
Here's mine:





Cheap ($20, Amazon) 16' strip, 600 3528 LEDs, waterproof. Cut into 4' sections for use under the cabinets. Fantastic light, super low power consumption, 2 years of use without a single failed LED. YMMV.

These are like the ones I have and they were easy. I haven't had a problem yet with voltage fluctuation and I haven't had any burn out (it isn't my primary light source though) They are 12V and just need to be soldered to the power wire (there are other connectors available) or if you want to run them on 120V you need a transformer (like a computer brick), and they have 3M tape on the back so they just stick up. You see the waterproof versions on the outside of RV's pretty often too.

[Strabo]

Once you go LED you'll wonder why you didnt do it sooner. The quality of light is amazing. I just replaced the 1141 bulbs, we like the white light.

[J-Rooster]

I prefer LED's

[4x4van]

Here's mine:





Cheap ($20, Amazon) 16' strip, 600 3528 LEDs, waterproof. Cut into 4' sections for use under the cabinets. Fantastic light, super low power consumption, 2 years of use without a single failed LED. YMMV.

[gonesouth]

Dick, I bought some two-wire leds off aliexpress.com, otherwise known as ' The Forty Thieves', and replaced the halogen ceiling lights for about $.15 each. Also bought a LED light rope off ebay to run under my awning. It cost about $16 and one strip under the awning was enough to read by at night.

[Nicholsfamily05]

We installed down LED strip lights, one side remote controlled and colored and one just blue. First thing we noticed is that the remote controlled lights were not as bright as the regular ones. Yes I had turned up the brightness.
At home I installed a strip light of daylight 12 volt LED and have been great so far. Left on for hours so far and haven't noticed any lights blinking out yet.
We did buy a cheap set of colored ones for our previous travel trailer that were outside strips. They last just shy of 6 months. Since then only have been purchasing the better quality ones.

[Johno02]

Here is another with the Led Strips..

[Johno02]

Here is a link to an album of one our lighting upgrades. I have used the LED strips in several areas of the Motor Home, and really like them.
lighting upgrade

[D_E_Bishop]

There are a lot of LED lights and channels to put them in for esthetics. I just bought a pack of 10, 18" strips mounted on aluminum to determine if they suit my needs. There are aluminum channels with and without lens to put the aluminum strips in. I like to experiment and spending a few bucks for samples is okay for me and I get what I want to fit where I want them.

channels longer than 36" are hard to come by on line due to shipping requirements.

Search for them on ebay.

[siggyd777]

A few years ago, I installed a rope led light under the kitchen cabinets.
It is hard to find just the right lenght and it is hard to install the rope
in a straight line.
Today I would use strip lights.
Siggy

[bluwtr49]

Thanks for the useful information. Yes, my intent is strictly functional but I'm beginning to question if this would be wise. I certainly don't want a failure rate higher than G4 replacements and these lights are on a lot. I was hoping to just tuck them behind the cabinet lip where they would not be visible and simply wire them into the 12 VDC switch.

May have to rethink this approach.

[Ivylog]

I tried a 5 amp buck boost regulator that over heated and burned up with a 13.2V in and a 12.0V/2.4 amp load out.:M

[CA_Traveler]

That failure rate may be due to the rig voltage. A voltage regulator to keep the voltage to say 12.0V might be a solution.

My puck LEDs have internal voltage regulators and yes they cost more. No failures to date.