4 Indirect Lighting Ideas Using LED Strip Lights...

Many people come to Flexfire LEDs with an interest in using LED strip lights for an indirect lighting project. Using indirect light is a vast aesthetic upgrade over cold, direct overhead light, and by using LEDs you will save on energy costs while living a more responsible and sustainable lifestyle. Here then are four indirect lighting ideas to add focus, texture and layering for your next home lighting redesign. Above and Under Cabinet LED Lighting Does your kitchen lack good lighting? With LED strip lights, also known as “tape lights,” adding beautiful, bright, indirect lighting to your kitchen is easier than ever. With our strong adhesive-backed strips, kitchen light remodeling is now a DIY project. Our experts can help walk you through the installation process, so you can easily attach lights where you want them, without any visible wires or components. Adding strips to a kitchen will add character, color and effective task lighting to the space you use to prepare and enjoy meals on a daily basis. For under and above cabinet lighting, we suggest our UltraBright™ Architectural series, which comes in three different color temperatures of white — warm, natural and bright. Under Counter LED Lighting Indirect, under counter LED lighting is a great way to add lighting appeal to commercial and residential spaces. Popular in bars and restaurants, the technique is also used at home to add flash, personality and warmth to home bars and kitchens. Adding RGB remote-controlled or single color strips  is great for parties and giving the lighting setup a creative flare. Also, consider adding light strips under the counter kicker for floor lighting in kitchens and bathrooms. Flexfire LEDs’ UL listed UltraBright™ and ColorBright™ series LED strip lights come in a variety of colors and light temperatures to match...

Installing LED Strip Lights In Boats And Yachts Aug25

Installing LED Strip Lights In Boats And Yachts...

Looking to increase your boat lighting’s functionality and/or “bling” factor? If so, you’re not alone — we here at Flexfire LEDs get calls all the time with questions about installing LED strip lights in boats and yachts. So many in fact, that we’ve decided to share a few ideas and address some of the more common issues with this sort of installation. Whether you’re running a skipper or a barge, taking your boat out for pleasure or for fishing, LED strip lights are a great solution for low energy lighting that can be fully customized to meet the individual size and lighting demands of your boat. The first thing to consider when looking into LED strip lights for your boat is to determine whether the lights will be exposed to environmental elements such as water or sand. If you’re considering LED strips for your deck lighting, or perhaps outside of the hull, make sure the lights are rated for outdoor use and water protection. Each of our LED strip lights has an IP rating that specifies the amount and type of protection it receives from the elements. IP ratings consist of two numbers — the first number refers to the amount of protection against solid objects, and the second refers to liquid protection. The numbers for solid object protection run from 0 (no protection) through 6 (full protection), while the numbers for liquid protection run 0 through 8. A fully waterproof LED strip light would thus have a rating of IP68. For deck accent lighting, we suggest our colorful, customizable and versatile IP65 Outdoor ColorBright™ LED strip lights, which come in static red, green and blue, as well as remote-controlled color changing RGB. Many people call us looking to generate the attractive indirect glow they’ve seen on other boats. To achieve this...

Customer Testimonial: Travel Trailer LED Strip Light Installation Jul30

Customer Testimonial: Travel Trailer LED Strip Light Installation...

Flexfire LEDs customer Don Bickley recently installed our ColorBright™ Natural White LED strip lights to provide task and ambient illumination in his unique travel trailer. Pleased with the product quality and service he received, Mr. Bickley felt inspired to write a rather thorough review on his blog. The review is part of a longer piece in which he provides great detail of his travel trailer LED strip light installation. We’ve excerpted some of it for you here below; head over to Explore With Don for his full review. Review Of Colorbright™ Natural White LED Strip From Flexfire LEDs, Inc.   I was creating a map board in my travel trailer (TT) and I needed much better lighting than what I currently had. This is a review on an LED light strip that I chose.   I installed the strip lighting under a cabinet for map board illumination in my TT cargo bay, and I installed 3 separate strips on the ceiling for general “room” lighting. At the bottom of this page is a link to my article detailing how I did this upgrade.   I never much thought of using LED strip lighting before, but I’m now solidly sold on the idea. The install went easily, quickly, and I’m very satisfied with the results.   There are many LED sellers out there, but I found FlexFireLEDs.com’s LED Lighting Specialist Ruy Lopes very informative and pleasant to deal with. Never once did he make me feel like I was wasting his time. He answered my questions, gave me advice, and guided me along.   After much research (as always), I decided on FlexFire LEDs’ Colorbright™ LED strip light; based on Ruy’s recommendation, but also on the specs. They have light strips for nearly any type of application, whether that be for recreational, household, outdoor, or commercial needs.   Other facts that persuaded me:...

Understanding The Different Numbers Used In LED Strip Lights...

When shopping for LED strip lights, you’ll regularly come across numbered terms such as 3020, 3528, and 5050. So what do these numbers mean, and why are they important in your buying process? This simple explanation will help you in understanding the different numbers used in LED strip lights. First, a basic understanding of how the strips themselves are constructed. The LED chips are mounted onto a thin, flexible metal strip that acts as a heat sink, drawing heat from the light chips and allowing them to remain cool during operation. This construction accounts for the “SMD” you’ll often see in strip light specifications, which stands for Surface Mount Device. The four-digit designation refers to the dimensions of the chip itself, in millimeters. A 3528 chip, for example, measures 3.5mm by 2.8mm, while a 5050 chip is 5.0mm by 5.0mm square. These different sizes dictate how many chips can be placed on a strip, which in turn determines its particular light qualities. Each has its benefits, so let’s break them down one at a time. The 5050 chips that Flexfire LEDs uses are actually composed of 3 light diodes, a construction sometimes referred to as a tri-chip. With 3 diodes, a 5050 chip will be brighter than other chips with one individual diode. But while a tri-chip is theoretically three times brighter, their larger size means fewer of them will fit onto a strip’s PCB (Printed Circuit Board). It also means they will generate more heat, requiring a thicker PCB to act as a heat sink. Finally, a tri-chip can be constructed with different types of diodes in the same chip, generating unique visual results. The three diodes can be combined to create millions of different color combinations, making them an excellent choice for...

Flexfire LEDs Spring 2014 Photo Contest May27

Flexfire LEDs Spring 2014 Photo Contest...

We take pride in helping customers complete all sorts of LED lighting installations. From restaurants and hotels to basic kitchen redesigns, each project has a unique story. For this reason, we are always eager to see photographs of completed projects using Flexfire LEDs strip lights. To this end, we encourage you to participate in the Flexfire LEDs Spring 2014 Photo Contest. Every Entry Wins! We now have two separate contests, and everyone who submits a qualifying entry will win! Our standard photo contest awards prizes in each of three categories, while our new “Step-by-Step Tutorial” contest rewards those who share thorough details of their projects. Furthermore, everyone who sends us a qualifying submission for either contest will receive a coupon for $30 off any reel of Flexfire LEDs strip lights. Below you’ll find details for each of our two contests. Contest 1: Photo Contest Send us a high-resolution photograph of your completed project using Flexfire LEDs products and we’ll reward you with a coupon for $30 off any reel of Flexfire LEDs strip lights. One winner will be selected in each of these three categories: 1. Best Residential Installation (kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, basically anywhere in your home) 2. Best Commercial Installation (retail stores, bars/restaurants, offices, signage, etc.) 3. Best Hobby/Creative Installation (past examples include terrariums, Halloween costumes, and a flying wingsuit!) The winning project in each category will receive a FREE reel of Flexfire LEDs ColorBright strip lights. Again, please be sure to send us a high-resolution photograph, as blurred, low-quality images will not be considered. Contest 2: Step-by-Step Tutorial Contest Many of our customers see these great project photos and wonder, “How did they do that?” We’d love to share your step-by-step installation story on our blog. Everyone who submits a qualifying “Step-By-Step Tutorial” entry will receive a...