Have you ever noticed that some light fixtures are made of plastic while others are made out of metal? Maybe you’ve even noticed that some types of plastic lights often have a moisture filter installed to prevent the dripping of water.
LED strip lights are no exception, and they come in different varieties as well. The different varieties can range from being LED strips that have a waterproof coating to LED strips that don’t have any moisture filters at all. Which is best?
Let’s take a detailed look at what this means and whether your choice will be worth it or not. Do You Need To Keep Your LEDs Waterproof?
Before we get into the details about whether an LED strip should be waterproofed, let’s first talk about why you should try to keep your LEDs dry in the first place. Keeping your lights dry is important for a few reasons; one of which is that moisture can cause damage by seeping into electrical components and leading to corrosion, just like it would if you left a wet bulb in an area where there was lots of humidity.
Additionally, moisture buildup can also be very damaging over time if your light fixture isn’t sealed properly or if you live in an area with high humidity levels year-round. Even so, there are instances where keeping your LEDs dry isn’t always possible with no harm done other than the inconvenience.
What to Look for in a Waterproof LED Strip Light
Before buying led light another factor you have to consider is that you have to check the ip rating.
Now that you know why you should keep your LEDs dry, let’s talk about some of the things that you should be considering before you decide to waterproof your lights. First, you should determine whether your strip lights are made out of plastic or metal. Plastic lights are often cheaper and are less likely to get damaged than their metal counterparts.
So, if you plan on waterproofing your strip lights, you should make sure that they are made out of plastic. Next, you should also determine whether your lights have a moisture filter installed or not. LED lights without a filter are often more expensive and are more likely to fail because they are less durable.
So, you should make sure that you are waterproofing your lights with the filter in place. Now that you know the things that you should be looking out for, let’s talk about waterproofed LED strips.
Related: Check the common problem with led light
LED Strips That are waterproofed
There are a few different types of waterproofing that you can apply to your LED strips and they each have their advantages and disadvantages. Each of these types of waterproofing has its pros and cons, so it’s important to look closely at what each one offers.
Plastic Coating
Plastic coating is a type of waterproofing that is the easiest type of waterproofing to apply to your lights.
Typically, you’ll just need to heat up the light strip for a few seconds to melt the coating and apply it to your strip. Plastic coating is applied using a hot glue gun, making it a quick and easy process. However, there are a few problems with plastic coating.
First, the coating is only water-resistant and not fully waterproof. Because water-resistant means that water can still seep underneath and damage the strip, you should only use it on lights that don’t experience high humidity levels or have irregular water seepage. Second, plastic coating is only water-resistant and not fully durable, so it won’t withstand rough usage as well as other types of waterproofing.
Waterproofing film
The most common type of waterproofing for LED strips is waterproofing film. Waterproofing films are often made of plastic, and they can be applied to your lights in a few different ways. You can either apply the film to your lights and then heat it to make it stick or you can apply the film to a sheet of magnetic tape. Next, you should decide whether you’d like to apply the film yourself or have a professional do it for you.
If you are looking to save money, then DIY is not recommended, as a professional can apply the film more quickly and with less mess. Waterproofing films are best suited to outdoor lights, as they are not fully waterproof and can be damaged by harsh outdoor conditions. They are also not fully durable, so they are prone to problems like cracking and fading.
Full-closed-cell foam
Full-closed-cell foam is another type of waterproofing that is best suited for outdoor use. The foam is typically made of plastic, and it is also water-resistant. However, the foam is fully durable and resistant to harsh outdoor conditions like extreme heat or cold. It’s often best suited to outdoor lights, as it is fully durable and resistant to harsh outdoor conditions like extreme heat or cold. Next, you should determine whether your strip light is waterproofed or not.
If it is, then you should also decide if you want to waterproof it yourself or have a professional do it for you. If your strip light is not waterproofed, then you should decide whether you want to apply waterproofing yourself or have a professional do it for you. If you want to do it yourself, there are three different ways that you can waterproof your strip lights.
LED strips that aren’t waterproofed
Now that you’ve gotten a detailed look at the different types of waterproofing that are available, let’s talk about strip lights that are not fully waterproofed. LED strip lights are often not fully waterproofed because they are more likely to be damaged by moisture.
However, there are certain LED strips that are less vulnerable to water damage that you can choose from, no matter what type of waterproofing they have. If an LED strip is not fully waterproofed and you choose to keep it outside, then there is a chance that it will get damaged by harsh outdoor elements like extreme heat or cold.
If you choose to keep the strip inside, then you should make sure that it is fully sealed off from any moisture.
Summary
When it comes to choosing an ideal light for your home or business, you’ll want to make sure that you choose the best light for your needs. When it comes to keeping your lights dry, waterproofing your strip lights is important for a few reasons; it can prevent damage to your lights that is caused by water seepage and it can also make your lights more durable.
Author Info:
With 12 years of experience, Besen is well-versed in the field of manufacturing led strip lights. Besen is CE and FCC-approved. More than 1000 kinds of led light-related products and an annual production capacity of is more than 1M Sets.
