At Adafruit, we're always excited to find new and amazing glowing items. These 'chip on board' ultra-flexible LED strips caught our eye. With 352 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, they offer a continuous, pure light source. And compared to our 'Neon' tubing, they're thinner and more flexible, without that chunky diffused look. This particular green non - addressable LED strip is extremely flexible. 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 very easy to use, perfect for lighting up your projects. The silicone casing is strong, durable, and weather - proof. While not suitable for underwater use or long - term outdoor exposure, they're 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 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 the 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 various surfaces. Then, 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. Remember, the strip draws about 800 milliamps at 12V. If you need a shorter strip, you can cut it down to your desired length. But keep in mind, these are not NeoPixel LED strips, so you can't turn on or off individual LEDs. You'll need a microcontroller with a PWM output and either N - MOSFETs or a ULN2803 to control the power. As for maintenance, since the strip has a weather - proof silicone casing, it can handle some outdoor conditions. However, don't submerge it underwater or leave it outside for a long time. Just give it a gentle wipe if it gets dirty, and it'll keep glowing beautifully for your projects.
