An LED Rope Light Is Primarily Used as a Decorative Lighting Fixture

An LED rope light is primarily used as a decorative lighting fixture, featuring small Light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs linked together and encased in a PVC jacket to create a string of lights. LED rope lights can be used in many applications both indoors and outdoors.

The design of a LED rope light generally depends on the end-use of the product.

• Wiring: The basic design of a LED rope light involves stringing together LED bulbs on a wire and then encasing the wire in a clear plastic jacket. The number of wires depends on the functionality required of the rope light. A basic rope light features two wires, which generally allows users to make bulbs dim or flash. However, an LED rope light with three wires allows users to exercise greater functionality including chasing, dimming and flashing.

• Tube: The outer plastic tube is also an important feature that greatly affects the end use of any rope light. A rope light with relatively wider plastic tubing is more durable to external elements but less flexible. A rope light with relatively thin plastic tubing, on the other hand, is far more flexible but less robust. Generally, LED rope lights used for heavy use outdoors feature thicker plastic casings while those used for more decorative purposes indoors feature relatively thin plastic casings.

• Voltage: LED rope lights are generally sold in three different voltages: 12 volts, 24 volts and 120 volts. Generally, the 12 volts and 24 volts variants are better suited for situations where a battery is used to power the lights. Hence, this is the best option for cars, boats, etc. The 120-volt version is more appropriate for household or industrial lighting requirements.

• Bulbs: LED rope lights feature bulbs that are available in different colours and the bulbs themselves generate the colours. In contrast, incandescent rope lights typically feature bulbs that come with a coloured filter that is applied around the bulb. Therefore, when an LED rope light is switched off, it appears colourless, while incandescent bulbs will still appear coloured.

• Power consumption and performance: LED rope lights require far less energy than incandescent rope lights and generate comparatively less heat. LED bulbs use about 1 watt per foot in power while a traditional rope light uses close to 3 watts of light per. In general, LED rope lights are rated for 100,000 hours while a comparative incandescent rope light is rated for 25,000 hours.

• Price: LED rope lights are generally more expensive than incandescent rope lights. Therefore, the latter is a better choice for simple one-time lighting tasks that do not require large up-front investments.

Many brands of LED rope lights are rated for either or both indoor and outdoor use. Due to the versatility of this lighting technology, it can be used in a variety of different environments without compromising the quality of the lighting.

• Indoor lighting: LED lights are used for both decorative and practical lighting purposes. Some common indoor uses including outlining the edge of a kitchen counter or bar, comprehensive ceiling lighting and under-lighting the baseboards in a movie theatre. Rope lights are also ideal for room with no permanent layout like a garage, attic or kid's rooms, where it can provide comprehensive lighting throughout the entire room regardless of how things are arranged. Users who want to add ambient lighting also use rope lights, in areas like the TV/gaming room, bedroom and bathroom.

Outdoor lighting: There are many outdoor uses for LED rope lights including staircase lighting, outdoor patio or deck lighting and outdoor artistic displays. Since LED rope lights are quite durable, they are perfect for use around the garden, pool, driveway, shed, etc. During the holiday season, LED lights can be used to crate beautiful messages or designs with different colours and patterns.