Technical articles

Cut LED strip only on the printed mark. See cut intervals by model, how to rejoin with a clip or solder, how to seal IP strip and how to test each piece.

IP67 is a number, not a construction. Compare top coat, sleeve and full silicone tube, why every cut end is the weak seal, and how to choose by exposure.

A connector must match pins, PCB width, current, IP rating and joint type. Five checks with our 5 A connector rating and the current of real strip runs.

LED strip itself rarely starts a fire. The risk sits in overloaded drivers, loose joints and trapped heat. See how Class 2 limits, channels and listings help.

When to buy LED strip manufacturer-direct, from an importer or through a distributor: who holds the test file, who answers a claim, and what to ask for first.

The gaps in a commercial linear LED design that turn into RFIs, and what to draw instead: intent, cove sections, load and zones, callouts and acceptance.

How to read a commercial LED strip spec sheet in six steps: environment, voltage and max run, lumens, color, control and test reports, with real model limits.

A commercial LED strip installation guide: bench test, cut points, channel fit, feed wiring, power-up order, dimming checks and handover, with model limits.

A seven-step guide to linear LED wall washer design: wall survey, wash or graze, optic, layout, power and DMX zones, plus a mockup check before you order.

Size an LED strip power supply in four checks: watts per foot, headroom, feed limits and Class 2 circuits. Worked examples use real model numbers and loads.

UL Listed, UL Recognized and ETL Listed are not a ranking. See what each mark certifies, how to read a certificate's scope, and look it up before approval.

The NEC edition that governs an LED strip job is the one your jurisdiction adopted. Voltage limits, Class 2 supplies, a wet-contact check and an AHJ list.