At Adafruit, we're always excited to find new and amazing glowing items. These 'chip on board' LED strips are a real gem! With 352 SMT LEDs per meter soldered side - by - side and diffused with silicone epoxy, they give off a continuous, pure light. They look similar to neon or incandescent tubing or high - quality EL wire, but without the need for costly transformers, glass tubing, or inert gases. Unlike pixel - dot strips, they offer a seamless light source. And compared to our 'Neon' tubing, they're much thinner and more flexible, without the chunky diffused look. This specific strip is a non - addressable blue LED strip. It has a solid piece of translucent silicone rubber as a diffuser on top of the LEDs, encased in a sealed silicone tube that can be removed. They look amazing and are super easy to use, perfect for lighting up your projects. The silicone casing is strong, durable, and weather - proof. While not suitable for long - term underwater use or extended outdoor exposure, they're tough enough for outdoor projects like costumes, bike lighting, or festival decorations. Plus, with the adhesive backing, you can place it wherever you want. You'll receive a 1 - meter long strip with two wires (black and red). Supply 9V for bright light or 12V for very bright light, and the strip will start glowing. It draws a maximum of about 800 milliAmps at 12V. You can cut the strip if needed. Note that these are not 'NeoPixel' LED strips, so you can't control individual LEDs. Check out our guide on analog RGB LED strip control to see how it works. You'll need a microcontroller with a PWM output and N - MOSFETs or a ULN2803 to control the power to the whole LED element.
Using this LED strip is a breeze. First, decide where you want to place it. Thanks to the adhesive backing, you can stick it on almost any clean and flat surface. Connect the black and red wires to a power source. You can use 9V for a bright glow or 12V for an even brighter one. Just remember, at 12V, the strip will draw up to about 800 milliAmps. If you need a shorter strip, you can cut it to the desired length. But here's what you need to watch out for. These are not 'NeoPixel' LED strips, so you can't turn on or off individual LEDs. To control the power, you'll need a microcontroller with a PWM output and either N - MOSFETs or a ULN2803. Also, while the strip has a weather - proof silicone casing, it's not meant for long - term underwater use or constant outdoor exposure. For maintenance, just keep it clean. You can gently wipe it with a soft, dry cloth if it gets dirty. That's all you need to know to enjoy this awesome LED strip in your projects!
