Do LED Light Strips Get Hot? A Thorough Overview

From the shores of North America to the very end of the ‘Land of Rising Sun, LED light strips are everywhere now. Considering that you are a fan of these strip lights, it is quite a valid point to ask if LED light strips get hot or not. Here’s what we know about this so far.

Preventing the LED light Strips from getting Hot 

Yes, the LED strip lights are quite famous throughout the world. But at the end of the day, these lights are just extensions of light bulbs. So, this fact also exposes the LED strip lights to problems like overheating.

But compared to the traditional light bulbs, the heating problem of LED strip lights is not severe. You can easily prevent the overheating issue by trying one of the three given methods.

  • Heat Sinks

From home appliances to industrial electronics, heat sinks are widely used for the only purpose. To radiate the extra heat from the electric component and keep the component’s temperature at a cool and workable level. Like many other electronic components, heat sinks are also compatible with LED strip lights.

The working dynamics of the heat sink are very simple. All you need is an aluminum-made heat sink of an appropriate length. The heat sink will be attached to the maximum or complete length of the LED strips and act as a cooling. That’s it; that’s all you need to do to place an effective heat sink.

  • Ventilated spaces for LED light strips

Using heat sinks to ensure that the LED light strips don’t get hot is not always the brightest idea, especially when you look forward to placing the strips in a false ceiling or in an area where there is very little space already. How will you ensure the LED strips don’t get too hot?

Simple, all you need to do is to use some creativity at the time of LED strip installation. Place the LED strips so there is always some space left for air ventilation. The ventilation will act as a natural cooling agent.

  • Controlling the voltage rating

Also, you must pay close attention to the LED voltage ratings if the LED strips are constantly overheated. No, we are not talking about the 12V or the 24V rating necessary to operate certain LED strips. 

We are talking about the voltage rating supplied by the main power outlet to the strips. Any kind of fluctuation in this rating can cause damage to the connection points of the strip. Also, such damage to the connection points can be a major cause of short circuits.

Heat Sink Parameters to Prevent LED light Strips from getting Hot 

Although using heat sinks to prevent the LED strips from getting too hot is not a full-proof idea. But this idea is widely used at both industrial and household levels. Especially when the strip lights are marked to run for longer periods throughout the day. 

Here’s what should be the measurement of the heat sink following the strip length,

For LED strips having a width between 8-10 mm, the appropriate heat sink to use will be 13mm in width. For an LED strip of 12-15mm in width, it is better to use a heat sink having 18mm width. And for 27mm ultra-wide strips, the width of the heat sink should be 30mm. 

Is there a Potential hazard?

If you do not pay attention to the overheating issue, it is a potential hazard. And to make you realize how crucial the topic is, we are not talking about the voltage or current hazard alone.

Overheating wiring is the number one reason behind short circuits throughout the globe. Plus, the LED strips are connected in a series orientation which can break the voltage or current leakage quite effectively. But overheating of the strips is something that needs attention. 

A Potential answer to the LED light strips overheating issue

Now you know how to prevent overheating when the LED light strips get too hot. But what is the actual cause behind this spontaneous overheating? The answer is simple, the flow of current and voltage rating in a wire.

No matter the voltage rating of an LED strip light, there is always a considerable amount of current flowing through the strip. Current that is known to make its path and cause heating/expansion if there is a potential barrier on the path. 

Over time, the LED strips may lose end in the path of current flow, which can cause overheating.

Final Note

If you have noticed that the LED light strips get hot easily when used for even a minute, it is an indicator that you need to check the strips for overheating. Remember, ignoring the issue can lead to any kind of unfortunate event.

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