[wpramazon asin=”B002Q907EW”]
5 Meter Reel Warm White 2700k Flexible LED Ribbon 300 Leds 16 Ft by LEDwholesalers, 2026ww-27k
351 Montreal Ave, Staten Island, NY 10506
9876543210, 1234567890
Expample@gmail.com 12345@gmail.com
Perfect for DIY Cabinet/Shelf Lighting,
Get your solder gun ready! This is NOT plug-and-play, but if you have a little experience soldering, you’ll have no problem turning this low-voltage LED ribbon into a custom lighting set up.
It’s basically a linear, flexible circuit board with three LEDs every two inches. There’s a well-marked place to cut the ribbon every two inches, with corresponding solder points etched into the clear insulation. Indicators also point to + and – soldering locations for easy connections.
I’m a photographer, and 2700k color temperature means a little “warmer” than tungsten (standard incandescent bulb). Daylight is between 6500k and 7200k, which appears much bluer or “cooler” indoors. If you want the finished project to look like warm incandescent light, get these lights. They do NOT look like LEDs. The only caveat is that they do not get warmer at low dimmer settings — color temp is consistent throughout the output range, unlike standard lights.
They’re extremely low-profile, and the 3M tape backing sticks readily to any surface. I put them under my book shelves and they are invisible. The indirect light is so pleasing, and any plug-and-play option with LEDs would have cost $70 per shelf. I have 35 shelves, so that was out of the question.
The entire project required four reels of these lights, two dimmers, and two transformers. Total cost was $300, plus my own labor. Total power for all of that is just eight amps, and the lights themselves are absolutely cool to the touch. The 12v operation means no risk of fire or serious electric shock.
I bought a couple of rolls of red/black 18 gauge hookup wire from Radio Shack; some small gauge solder; and a “helping hands” soldering iron stand. This has the alligator clips required to hold the ribbon and wire in place while you hold the solder and the iron. One drop of solder per spot, and you’re all set. I hadn’t soldered in decades, so I watched a YouTube video as a refresher. After a few connections, it was no sweat.
LED Wholesalers uses Amazon.com for fulfillment, so that means you’ll get your stuff on time, and for those of us with Amazon Prime, delivery is “free.”
Be sure to order the 12v power supply and stepless dimmer from these guys. They’re great, too.
I took a leap of faith ordering these with almost no reviews, but trust me, these are great lights. Someone could make a business out of installing these for people!
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|Inconsistent Product,
At least four reviewers wrote that these lights are cool (e.g. ~4000 K) and not warm (2700 K). Others wrote that they are indeed warm. Confusing? The problem is that LEDWholesalers is shipping out two different LED products under the same name and specs.
On January 8, March 15, and March 21, 2011, I purchased three reels of these lights. They were as expected, non-waterproof warm lights that I installed in my bookcases. I was very happy with them. On November 16, I ordered two more of these reels. When I finally got around to inspecting them last week, I noticed that they were both waterproofed, with the leds encased in a thick clear plastic. I installed one of these strips over a mirror on the wall opposite the bookcases. When I turned them on, the difference in color temperature was obvious. I went back over my orders to double check and yes, I had ordered the exact same reels. The new reels do not match the color of the older reels and I am out the $38 I paid for them. Incidentally, I am also out the $20 I paid for three non-working PWM dimmers also shipped from LEDWholesalers.
My recommendation: If you do purchase this or any other LED product, inspect it immediately on arrival so that you can send it back for exchange if it does not work or does not fit the advertised specifications.
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|Great choice for tight spaces,
We have wanted under cabinet lights for a long time but our cabinets have a very short “lip” extending below the base of the cabinet. All lighting products we found were too bulky and showed the fixture below the lip of the cabinet – not too good looking. With this product, I am able to measure and adhere a very thin tape strip which is easily hidden… then supply the voltage and viola! lights. I used this with the recommended transformer and dimmer. I used all of the lighting under various sections of cabinets and connected them with DC voltage type of wiring.
Be careful that you put the lights where you want them the first time…they adhere great but if you have to pull it off and move it, you run the risk of having problems with them staying stuck. Also, pushing the end of the tape into a connector must be done carefully because the tape crinkles easily.
Choose the warm whites… 2700K or lower to get more natural (like incandescent) light.
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