How long is the lifetime of the led strip

LED strips have a life expectancy of 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours, which means you can use these fixtures for decades! That means you can use these fixtures for decades. They will dim as their useful life decreases. Voltage, wattage, temperature, weather, and many other factors can affect their life. However, with proper maintenance, the life expectancy of LED strips can be effectively extended.

Average life expectancy of LED light strips

LED light strips utilize LED technology, which is extremely durable compared to other traditional lighting methods.LED light strips have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours. This means that if you turn these lights on for 10 hours a day, they will last for more than 13 years! But that doesn't mean that after that time the lights won't work at all. They will still work, but they won't be as bright as they were during the climb. They will begin to dim as they reach the end of their useful life.

Factors affecting the life of LED strip lights

Usage patterns and duty cycles
The lifespan of an LED strip depends directly on its usage pattern. Leaving the light on for long periods of time without interruption increases the thermal stress on the LEDs. Due to overuse, this will gradually shorten its life. Turning the light on and off too frequently also affects the service life.

Rapid changes in the power state can wear out internal components such as the LED driver, resulting in a shorter service life. However, you can change the landscape by operating LED light strips on shorter duty cycles and in cooler environments to extend their life.

Excessive Voltage
LED strips are sensitive to voltage. As the length of the strip increases, they are constantly exposed to voltage drops. As a result, the light will dim over time. However, applying a voltage lower than the required rating will not affect the service life because it will not allow the LEDs to shine.

The actual effect is seen when using a high voltage power supply with a low voltage LED strip. While it may appear that the LEDs are emitting more light than the desired result, it will eventually cause the LEDs to overheat and shorten their life.

Temperature and Heat Management
Heat management plays an important role in ensuring the life of LED strips, which are often known for their low temperature operation. They are usually not prone to heat generation. However, due to the poor quality of the LEDs, using a higher power supply or connecting multiple strips to a single power supply can heat up the LED strip. This directly affects the efficiency and lifespan of the LED strip.

In addition, the quality of the resistors used in LED strips can also affect their life. Low quality resistors can overheat the LED, shorten the life of the LED strip, or even damage it. Therefore, a reputable resistor brand should be used to keep the resistance value of the resistor constant.

Power Supplies and Battery Capacity
LED power supplies power most LEDs. An inferior power supply will not maintain voltage consistency. It cannot filter out sudden voltage drops or spikes that can interfere with the LED circuitry. This can shorten the life of the LED strip. To avoid this, you must use a quality power supply with compatible voltage and wattage ratings. Remember that LED strips should not exceed 80% of their rated maximum capacity. Power Supply.

Now, you may be wondering how battery capacity affects the life of an LED strip. Some LED strips use batteries as a power source. These are a popular choice for temporary installations or for lighting areas where there are no available electrical outlets. The lifespan of these LED strips is directly dependent on their power consumption and battery capacity.

For example, using a low wattage LED strip and a high capacity battery will allow the LED strip to shine longer. However, if you use the same battery with a high wattage LED strip, it will consume more power and won't glow as long as in the former case. As a result, you will need to charge or replace the battery frequently. In other words, in the case of battery-powered LED strips, the service life of the fixtures depends on their battery capacity.

LED Chip Quality
Poor quality LED strips are made from cheap LED chips and drivers. They are not packaged correctly and are not tested to ensure proper operation. In addition, these cheap LED strips do not have an adequate thermal management system.

As a result, they can overheat and fail to cope with voltage drops, which can shorten their lifespan. Therefore, to ensure that your LED strips last longer, you must buy them from a reliable manufacturer. Also, make sure they have all the test reports such as LM80 or LM70 and other certifications.

Light Weathering
What happens if you use LED strips with a lower IP rating outdoors or in areas that come into close contact with water? It won't last longer, but why? IP ratings are protection levels against solid and liquid ingress, and the higher the IP rating, the better the protection against dust, moisture, rain, etc. Therefore, LED strip lights with lower ratings will not last as long as those with lower IP ratings. Therefore, LED strips with lower ratings are not dust and water resistant.

If you install this luminaire in an open-air environment, the luminaire will soon be damaged if exposed to extreme weather or rain. Therefore, it is important to use the right IP rating for your luminaire in order to prolong its lifespan.

However, in general, LED strips with higher IP ratings have a shorter lifespan. This is because higher IP rated strips (e.g. IP65) have a waterproof outer silicon coating. This reduces the LED strip's ability to dissipate heat and therefore shortens its life.

As a result, an IP20 rated LED strip without waterproofing will last longer than an IP65 rated waterproof luminaire. This does not mean that you can expect IP20 rated LED strips to last longer when installed outdoors. The weather must be taken into account.

Electrical and Mechanical Stress
Fluctuations in current or voltage can stress LED strips and shorten their life. In addition, vibrations or physical shocks can negatively affect their lifespan. This is especially true when these luminaires are not securely mounted. As a result, they are constantly exposed to vibrations that affect the internal components.

Incorrect polarity
Wrong polarity does not usually damage LEDs, but it can affect the life of the fixture. Connecting an LED strip to the power supply incorrectly for a prolonged period of time can result in a polarity reversal. Although this will not light the LED, it will overheat the LED. This can damage the internal circuitry and lead to short circuits or fires. As a result, this not only reduces service life, but also poses a potential risk to life.

Using poor quality double-sided tape
The adhesive backing of special LED strips plays a crucial role in ensuring proper installation and better thermal conductivity. However, many suppliers offer no-name or worse, counterfeit brand adhesives. If you use this low-grade double-sided tape, it won't stick accurately to the surface. As a result, the LED tape will peel off and be subjected to frequent vibrations, which will affect its lifespan. Therefore, always consider using 3M brand VHB tape for best results. We use genuine 3M brand VHB tape on all of our LEDYi LED strips to ensure a secure installation.

Effect of Current
You might think of maximizing current because it provides a brighter light. But remember, there is no free lunch in physics! Drive current plays a critical role in determining the brightness and life of an LED. Higher drive currents make your LEDs brighter, but they also generate more heat. Therefore, maximizing the current supply will increase the temperature inside each bulb, which will significantly shorten its life expectancy.