At Adafruit, we're always excited to find new and amazing glowing items. These 'chip on board' ultra-flexible LED strips really caught our eye! With 480 SMT LEDs per meter soldered side by side and diffused by silicone epoxy, they look like 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, these offer a continuous, pure light source. They're thinner and more flexible than our 'Neon' tubing, without that chunky diffused look. This blue non - addressable LED strip 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, are super easy to use, and are perfect for lighting up your projects. The silicone casing is strong, durable, and weather - proof. It's not for long - term underwater use or extended outdoor exposure, but it's tough enough for outdoor projects like costumes, bike lighting, or festival decorations. With an adhesive backing, you can place it wherever you want. You'll receive a 1 - meter - long strip with black and red wires. Supply 9V for bright light or 12V for very bright light, and the strip will start to glow. It draws a maximum of about 800 milliAmps at 12V, and you can cut it to your desired length. Note that these aren't 'NeoPixel' LED strips, so you can't control individual LEDs. Check out our guide on analog RGB LED strip control to learn 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 various surfaces. Next, connect the black and red wires to a power source. You can use 9V for a bright glow or 12V for an even brighter light. The strip will start shining right away. If you need a shorter strip, you can cut it down to the length you need. When it comes to maintenance, keep in mind that the silicone casing is durable but not meant for long - term underwater use or continuous outdoor exposure. If it gets dirty, you can gently wipe it with a soft cloth. Remember, these aren't NeoPixel LED strips, so you can't turn on or off individual LEDs. To control the power to the whole strip, you'll need a microcontroller with a PWM output and either N - MOSFETs or a ULN2803.
