Have you encountered a discussion of neon rope light vs. LED strip online? This is one of the trendiest discussions among lighting industry enthusiasts. LED lighting, including neon rope and strip lights, is energy-efficient and sustainable.
Both lights have characteristics and applications that make them distinct and relatively confusing. If you want to purchase these lights but do not know which type best suits your needs, check out this detailed article.
It introduces each LED lighting type and explains the main differences between the two. Follow this discussion to understand the distinctions between these lighting options and make a good purchase decision.
LED Neon Rope Lights – An Overview
Before discussing the neon rope light vs LED strip lighting, let us introduce the former. Neon rope lights are a modern version of neon tubes that contain inert gases. Unlike neon tubes, rope lights contain small LED bulbs in bendable and translucent PVC tubes.
LED rope lights produce beautiful and radiant light effects, explaining why their main use is venue decoration. LED rope lights offer the following pros:
- They produce a radiant and stable glow that captures attention from a distance. Their aesthetic appeal allows them to change the atmosphere of any room.
- LED rope lights consist of bendable and flexible construction materials like PVC and silicon. These allow for thoughtful installations, as you can turn them into any intricate shape you like.
- Energy efficiency is their other top advantage. Rope neon lights use LED bulbs that produce ample light without wasting electricity or overheating.
- LED rope lights offer durability when compared to delicate and breakable neon gas tubes. Besides, LED lighting can provide thousands of hours without requiring expensive maintenance.
- Lastly, LED neon rope lights are safe because they do not break easily like neon tubes. These bulbs are safe to touch because they do not overheat.
Like any other lighting style, LED neon rope light vs LED strip have cons. The most common disadvantage of the rope light is the high initial cost. If you want to purchase them upfront, these lights will cost more than any conventional LED light.
However, they are cheaper than delicate neon tubes. Secondly, their color choices vary but are still fewer than those of conventional LED lighting.
LED Strip Lights – An Overview
Understanding the LED neon rope light vs LED strip options will be easier if you understand the latter. The LED strip is also known as the ribbon or tape light. These strips are a contemporary lighting solution consisting of flexible strips or ribbons.
They look like a circuit board with many lined LEDs and adhesive on the back for easier mounting on any surface. LED strip lighting is versatile, user-friendly, and catchy. Most people use LED strip lights to decorate their indoor spaces. These lights help improve the ambiance of a room and make its darker corners more visible. They offer these advantages:
- The LED bulbs that create a dotted-liked appearance inside are energy efficient. Using LED strip lighting can lower your electricity bills.
- LED strips can offer 25,000 useful hours. They are as long-lasting as other lighting options.
- LED strips have many designs. You can select them in any shape, size, and color temperature to suit your interior spaces.
- Stable illumination is their other advantage. LED strips do not flicker and blink, making them safe for your eyes.
Like other LED bulbs ribbon lights have disadvantages. First, the upfront cost of buying them is high. Luckily, they recover every penny down the line. Strip light can be sensitive to high temperatures and can react negatively to them.
LED Neon Rope Lights vs LED Strip Lighting – Top Differences
We will compare and contrast LED neon rope light vs LED strip lighting in the following section. Below are the top six differences between the two LED lights:
Light Production and Visibility
People apply LED neon rope light vs LED strip light in different ways. If your project requires more brightness and visibility, which of the two options would work best? LED neon rope light is the winner in this case because it has intense brightness that grabs attention from a distance.
Most entrepreneurs use neon rope lights for signage lighting and other advertising displays because of their radiance and high level of visibility.On the other hand, LED strips are ideal for general lighting in interior spaces. They produce an intense and stable glow that would enable you to see even the darkest corners.
Appearance
LED neon rope lights vs LED strip options vary in appearance and design. LED neon rope lighting produces a smooth, flicker-free, continuous glow. Their radiance is like the traditional neon signs, making them warm and inviting. Because of their seamless glow, LED rope lights are more aesthetically appealing than LED strips.
The flexible PVC or silicon tubes allow them to bend and adapt to complex shapes without breaking. On the other hand, LED strip lights have lined and equally spaced out tiny bulbs that create a superb dotted appearance. They feature flexible circuit boards that produce a consistently bright glow.
Ribbon lights are ideal for general and accent lighting. Many homeowners take advantage of their flexible design by using them under the kitchen cabinet, around a furniture piece, or down a staircase.
Color Variability and Brightness
The color of the glow matters when selecting and comparing LED neon rope light vs LED strip lighting. The PVC or silicon LED neon lighting tubing that protects its delicate inner components tends to turn yellow gradually.
This color change affects their brightness level. As a result, LED neon rope lights are not ideal if you want your lights to produce consistent brightness for various tasks. Instead, use these lights to improve ambiance and display your products.
On the other hand, LED strip lights are super bright especially those with larger interior chips. Their brightness level and color remain consistent over a long period. They make a great general lighting source because of their stable brightness and color temperatures. Strip lighting is easy to dim, enabling you to reduce the amount of light when necessary.
Applications
Another way to compare LED neon rope light and LED strip lighting is application. LED neon rope lights are ideal for creative applications in residential and commercial places. Many people use these lights to illuminate their business signage. Once the signage begins to glow, people will effortlessly stare and come inside.
LED neon rope lights have several applications at home, including outdoor and indoor decorations. These lights will automatically alter the ambiance of any venue and become irresistible visual displays.
On the contrary, LED strip lights are ideal for interior spaces of business premises and homes. At home, these lights can illuminate your countertop, kitchen island, and under the cabinet. These lights are perfect for accent and general lighting.
In your business, you can use LED strip lighting to enhance product displays or illuminate your shop. These lights blend easily with modern interior designs, making them easier to adapt to your themes.
Ease of Installation
Another way to demonstrate how LED neon rope light vs LED strip differs entails installation ease. LED neon rope lights are easier to install because of their flexible and bendable materials. Only your creativity can limit you when using these rope lights in your projects.
Turn them into intricate or simple designs depending on how you want your venue to look. Their level of customization during installation is matchless, and you need no special tools. If you want to do very complex projects with neon rope lighting, such as incorporation into signage, you can seek professional help.
Professionals will ensure accurate and safe installations. Conversely, LED strip lights are the easiest to install. They already feature adhesive on the back side, allowing you to fix them on any flat surface. Ribbon LED lights are a perfect choice when completing DIY projects fast. Their hassle-free mounting requires no professional assistance.
Longevity
Which option can last longer between LED neon rope light vs LED strip? Since these are LED lights, they are capable of lasting several hours. That translates into many years of uninterrupted usage.
However, LED neon rope light is more long-lasting since its lifespan amounts to 50,000 hours.
On the other hand, LED strip lighting can only last around half the time. While these LED neon light vs LED strip lights generally last longer, they are also advantageous because they need minimal maintenance.
Which Lighting Type is better?
When choosing an LED neon rope light vs LED strip, you must consider how these products are similar. For instance, they use LED bulbs that last longer and save energy. Additionally, both lights are ideal for residential and commercial spaces.
Another consideration when selecting between the two is their differences. Once you go through them above, you will know which LED lighting you can use. Lastly, allow your DIY and professional projects to guide you when picking the best choice between these two.
If your projects are decorative, LED neon rope lighting is your most appropriate option. On the other hand, buy LED strip lights if you want to enhance your kitchen task lighting by increasing brightness and color.
Final Say
LED lighting technology has become extensive and interesting. When planning to decorate your home or premises, you can compare LED neon rope light vs LED strip lighting. Weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each LED light before you can select the best for your project. Also, choose the light that will help you meet all your goals.