New (cheaper) type of LED neon.
Added 2019-09-27 05:16:29 +0000 UTCThere's a new kid on the block and it's using some clever techniques to reduce the manufacturing cost, size and weight of classic linear line LED "neon".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR-bepWcplc
I have to admit I was a bit cynical about the low price and size of the material, but it turns out it looks pretty good. If you under-run it at around 9V the intensity is good for home use with the added benefit of a longer lifespan.
Comments
You do get very compact wireless DMX transmitter and receivers, and you would then need a decoder and driver. Sometimes it's a lot easier and more reliable to have a waterproof switch on a prop and have the holder flick it on cue for a single colour.
Big Clive
2019-10-02 01:02:12 +0000 UTCFascinating! I've been doing a lot of looking into various LED tape and kept seeing this neon style sets on Amazon for ludacris prices. Like $200 USD for 30ft. I do believe those sets were all A-RGBW, though. Still, there's no way they're THAT much more to manufacture. I design competitive high school marching shows, and I REALLY want to incorporate some high intensity LED effects on props and maybe inside the color guard flag poles, which just happen to be the perfect diameter to fit 18650 batteries. π I would be interested in hearing the best way to control a bunch of ARGB lights wirelessly. We only have about 2 minutes to get all our equipment setup. I haven't checked to see if wireless DMX is a thing, or if maybe there's some radio protocol that could be used. All fun stuff, I just don't have all the knowledge in that field.... yet.
Brooks Andersen
2019-10-01 19:38:01 +0000 UTClong time watcher first time commenter (hmm that sounded less suss in my head...) anywho... thankyou for the explanation, excellent timing may i add as i was trying to explain this neon tape to a family member the other night and feel like i failed horribly, ill be referring him to this video. Cheers
2019-10-01 13:27:53 +0000 UTCThanks Clive, thatβs what I understood from the video. Unfortunately one wants a light, the other doesnβt and I was hoping for a low glow over something fairly bright. Will share once itβs all setup ππ»
2019-09-30 15:38:19 +0000 UTCFor full intensity this material needs to be run with a 12V supply, but a 9V supply will probably make it glow at a reasonable intensity for night light use.
Big Clive
2019-09-30 14:52:11 +0000 UTCWould I need an LED driver for this to work? Iβve purchased a 9V 2A switch mode psu (similar to a laptop charger) and Iβd like to put an inline switch between that and the Led Neon effect strip. This will be a homemade night light but it suddenly dawned on me that maybe I should be using a driver to run leds? Thanks Guys & Gals TL;DR How can I power strips like this? Led Driver, 12v wall wart, dc psu?
2019-09-30 14:10:07 +0000 UTCThat's a technique used with standard LED tape too. My main concern would be how warm the strip would get with a high current flow on a long run.
Big Clive
2019-09-29 16:27:31 +0000 UTCIt's like Lego, but less harmful to stand on.
Big Clive
2019-09-29 16:26:23 +0000 UTCDisposable neon.
Big Clive
2019-09-29 16:25:28 +0000 UTCI think one workaround for a very long run would be to connect the power supply to the positive at one end and the negative at the other end. This should result in an even voltage drop across the entire line. I remember a fairy LED string tear-down video that did this to avoid using resistors as it relied on the voltage drop across the light string with 5V + and - connected to opposite ends of the string.
SeΓ‘n Byrne
2019-09-29 14:00:27 +0000 UTCEspecially with a Bad Dragon brick! Apparently YT hasn't heard of them ;)
Dustin
2019-09-28 18:55:35 +0000 UTCThe intensity only really gets usable at around 8V. There may be a 5V version, but I'd guess it would only be suitable for short lengths.
Big Clive
2019-09-28 05:06:37 +0000 UTCThat's odd. Last time that happened was when I reviewed an Indian mosquito plug. All the recommended videos were kids channels.
Big Clive
2019-09-28 05:04:22 +0000 UTCYep, snagged a 5M Red Roll to experiment with. I wonder how bright this would be using a 5V USB dongle, it would be easy to solder a USB plug to the end of the strip.
2019-09-27 23:15:20 +0000 UTCOK, I may be a bit twitchy because of '"shitty" is now a swearword... But is anyone else seeing ONLY children's videos in the "recommended" list for this one? 3 or 4 different "Peppa Pig" channels and something called "Toys and Colours". YouTube's algorithm and I do not get on at the best of times, but this is particularly egregious.
Graham Reed
2019-09-27 22:07:14 +0000 UTCI plan on decorating my house windows with these for the coming holidays. So far I have Christmas trees, angels, and reindeers. They have dual power supplies: battery packs and USB.
2019-09-27 19:41:21 +0000 UTCI've seen that double sided stuff listed. I can guess that it will have the side emitting tape central and a white reflector stripe on either side.
Big Clive
2019-09-27 14:30:33 +0000 UTCDarn. Now I need to dream up a use for it! Itβs very interesting. Thanks for updating us on led neon.
2019-09-27 13:09:43 +0000 UTCI just last week bought a funky cactus light, similar to your neon-like toucan, it has a very similar style of LED strip to this, but it's dual side emitting; it's transparent on both front and back of the tape. Tried to pull it off the cactus frame, but it began tearing the molding.
BangDroid
2019-09-27 10:22:51 +0000 UTCThat is a change for this stuff! It makes me want to find an application for it someplace... Really neat stuff
Michael Thompson
2019-09-27 09:55:38 +0000 UTCShitty neon?
2019-09-27 09:50:02 +0000 UTCJust ordered 5 mtrs for Β£13 bargain!
Neil Tonks
2019-09-27 06:44:23 +0000 UTC
