Criteria We Used to Determine the Best Rope Lights for this List
Like all other applications, finding the perfect rope lights that suit your preferences comes with a little research. If not, then there is a high likelihood that you will end up with rope lights that do everything but perform what you intended them to. Here are some of the critical factors to consider when shopping for the perfect rope lights for different occasions.
LED Length
It is crucial that you always look at the LEDs per length before making a purchase. Light strips with high a high number of LEDs per yard or meter are excellent for higher light quality. LEDs that are spaced too far across the strips usually emit spotty lighting that isn’t consistent or clean. However, this can be especially confusing as different manufacturers use different measuring units when advertising their products. The best recommendation is to stick to a common unit then convert it to find the best number of LEDs per length that suits your preferences. It is, however, essential to note that this isn’t the only factor that determines brightness or light quality. Some rope lights may have more LEDs per foot but produce dim light.
LED Strip Brightness
The LED brightness also comes to question which rope lights you buy. Technology advancements now allow for even brighter LED strips. However, there are still dim options in case you are not looking for the super-bright strips. The LED brightness is measured in lumens. So, know the brightness strength you are looking for then consider the other features it has as well.
Most outdoor celebrations and occasions, for example, may require you to buy the brighter rope lights. But when lighting a bookshelf, for instance, you may want to opt for the dimmer options. The best way of determining LED brightness is by checking Lumens/length with the LEDs/length. These two features significantly effect light quality and even the type of light that the strip gives off.
Color Temperature
LEDs produce different white colors. Knowing the color temperature of different LEDs is the best way of determining how warm or cold you want your light to appear. Temperature, measured in Kelvin (K), enables you to know which color temperature to choose. The higher temperatures represent cool colors while lower temperatures represent warmer colors, usually yellow light you see from bulbs.
Temperatures as high as 5000K, for example, show more of a bluish hue. 4000K produces more of a natural white and temperatures below 3000K give out more of a warm white. So, know the color temperature you want your rope lights to produce before purchasing any.
The Installation of LED Rope Lights
It is also essential that you have an idea of how you plan to mount your rope lights and set them up in advance. Some rope lights like DC LED Flex Strips to allow you to expose their adhesive backing and stick them onto a clean surface. Whereas, other applications are much more difficult to mount as there can also be a lot of cutting and wiring strips together before your application functions as intended. Ensure, therefore, that you consider these features when factoring installation method into your purchase.
- The flexibility of LED strips
- Total length of LED strips you need
- The durability of LED strips
- Whether there are other components like connectors needed
- How many separate strips you need
Final thoughts
That about does it when shopping for a good Led rope light. Our team used the factors and considerations mentioned above to arrive at our top ten picks. There is a high likelihood that you should find the rope lights of your choice here. But if not, then our considerations and list of features should be the perfect guide to help you make the best buy decision. Shop for the best LED rope lights that do much more than simply illuminate your space.
