When I initially started using LEDs, I was immediately struck by the confusing descriptions and names associated with the different products. Although the products still have the same names, I have become more proficient in understanding the language and terminology related to LEDs. If you can relate to my experience, then I encourage you to continue reading this article to become familiar with LED terminology.
General LED terminology
What is LED:
First and foremost, an LED is a light emitting diode. Instead of heating a metal coil to produce light, LEDs charge particles and cause them to glow. This process is much more efficient and safer.
AC/DC Power:
AC stands for Alternating Current, while DC stands for Direct Current. AC is what your home is most likely connected to, as most of the country still uses AC power. AC involves electrical charges going one way for a fraction of a second, then turning around and going the other way, while DC causes the charge to move in one direction the whole time. Low voltage DC current is much safer than AC! LEDs are safer and need DC power to run on low power.
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Cold white, warm white and RGB:
If you’ve been browsing lights, you’ve definitely seen the terms “cool white” and “warm white.” What’s the difference though, white is white right? Not quite, warm white is the light you’re used to from incandescent and fluorescent lights, a very “indoor” type of light, where cool white is closer to sunlight and usually brighter. And in terms of color, it is closer to true “white”. RGB means red, green, and blue, and specifies lights that use RGB LEDs to create many colors in the spectrum.
UL, RoHS and CE certification:
Each of these safety and technology certifications are different. UL stands for Underwriter’s Laboratory, and many professionals require that any product they use be UL certified to ensure that the product they are using is of the highest quality.
CE also is very similar to UL, only focusing on European markets. So if you see UL or CE, you know the product is well made and safe. RoHS is Restriction of Hazardous Substances, so if something is RoHS certified, it means it was made safely and does not contain dangerous or dangerous substances.
Terms of threads:
SMD 2835 & 5050:
SMD stands for Surface Mount Device and the numbers are actually just the dimensions of the LED, 3.5mmx2.8mm and 5mmx5mm. So if you need brighter light, 5050 is the way to go. However, due to their smaller size, more 2835s can fit on a strip, allowing for a softer, more consistent light than 5050s.
IP Protection:
The IP rating is the “intrusion protection rating” or weather resistance rating of a thread. IP ratings from dust resistant to weather resistant and waterproof products to full!
RF , IR and PIR signals :
RF signal is a remote frequency used by our strip remote control. These are strong signals that can pass through walls (but not metal). IR stands for Infrared and PIR stands for Passive infrared or motion sensor. Infrared technologies have shorter signals and can be blocked by hands or other objects. For this reason, an infrared component must be visible or easily pointed at for optimal control.
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PWM and CCR light reduction:
PWM dimming is how most of our components control the brightness of our LED products. RGB controllers, dimmers and amplifiers all use PWM signals. CCR dimming is the method used by our replacement dimmable LED drivers that allow you to use LED products with conventional AC wall dimmers. However, using CCR adjustable drivers means that you cannot use any PWM components with the driver.
HD and RD tapes:
High Density (HD) strips use twice as many diodes as regular density strips, so if you need more light, HDs are the way to go, but be aware that HDs use twice as much power and cost more. Their RD counterparts! It’s also important to note that in some cases our HD tapes may require alternative connectors or special long beam considerations.