Spotless NEON Effect LED Strips, which is Best? Govee, ...

LED strips have surged in popularity as a go-to option for implementing indirect accent lighting. In scenarios where a seamless lighting effect is desired, LED strips deployed with 60 or even 30 LEDs per meter can provide a distribution that minimizes hotspots. But what if you desire to showcase the LED strip itself? I embarked on a quest, investing over $600 into 10 different types of 'neon effect' spotless LED strips. Here, I will evaluate factors such as brightness, energy consumption, color intensity, uniformity, installation options, and user-friendliness to determine the optimum choice for your needs.

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Among the tested options, the most economical LED strip is a 12V RGB model from BTF-Lighting, priced at $39 for a 5-meter length. This strip attains a spotless appearance through chip-on-board (COB) LED technology, which impressively packs 840 LEDs per meter. However, this figure includes each red, green, and blue LED individually. For fair comparison, we'll adjust that number to reflect the typical array density of RGB groups, resulting in an outstanding 280 LEDs per meter. It’s important to note that the BTF-Lighting strip is not individually addressable; thus, the entire strip emits a uniform color, restricted from creating patterns. Additionally, it comes without a controller or power supply, and it is not waterproof. This strip measures 10mm in width.

For testing, I used a 12V, 10A power supply and the Shelly RGBW2 Wi-Fi LED controller to operate the BTF strip. At full brightness in white, it drew 39 watts and registered a brightness of 260 lumens. The Shelly controller and power supply consume approximately 0.4 watts in idle mode when the LEDs are off, but non-addressable strips do not have standby energy consumption.

Next up is an almost identical strip from BTF Lighting. Priced at $39 as well, this one operates at 24V, which usually helps mitigate voltage drops over longer runs.

I powered this 24V strip with a 24V, 10A supply and controlled it with the same Shelly RGBW2 Wi-Fi LED controller. At full brightness white, the 24V variant consumed 54 watts, which is an increase of 15 watts from its 12V counterpart. Notably, it delivered a brightness of 518 lumens, nearly doubling the output of the 12V strip. Much like its predecessor, this non-addressable strip exhibits zero energy consumption in the powered-off state.

Moving on to another contender priced at $40, we have a 24V RGB Addressable COB LED strip from Pautix. This strip showcases a slightly lower density at 210 LEDs per meter, leading to a total of LEDs across the 5-meter strip. Unlike the earlier choices, the Pautix strip benefits from addressable LEDs, allowing different segments to illuminate in various colors. Still, these segments can only be controlled in large banks, measuring 10cm each, resulting in 50 controllable segments along the 5-meter length. Like previous models, it lacks waterproof capabilities and does not include a power supply or controller. The strip's width is 12mm.

To power the Pautix, I utilized a 24V, 10A power supply and controlled it through a QuinLED DigUno running WLED software. During tests at full white brightness, it drew the highest energy yet, at 63 watts, and achieving a brightness of 330 lumens. It’s noteworthy that addressable strips draw power in standby as the chips maintain readiness to process color data, which I measured at 6 watts for idle power consumption with all LEDs off.

Next on our list is a 24V RGB-W COB LED strip from SuperlightingLED, priced at $50, featuring a dedicated white LED chip for a purer white appearance and reduced energy usage. This strip boasts a density comparable to the BTF strip at 280 LEDs/m, although the actual density of color LEDs is a touch lower due to the extra white LED channel. This Superlighting strip, similar to its predecessors, is non-addressable, non-waterproof, and excludes a power supply or controller. Its dimensions are 12mm wide.

Testing revealed that this strip, powered by a 24V, 10A supply and managed via the Shelly RGBW2 controller, consumed only 21 watts for warm white light using its dedicated white LEDs, generating 192 lumens. Conversely, when all LEDs were powered to their max, the Superlighting strip consumed 68 watts, exhibiting an impressive 594 lumens—the brightest strip tested.

Shifting gears, let’s explore silicone diffuser strips, designed differently to achieve a spotless aesthetic by integrating traditional LED strips within flexible silicone diffusers. These strips emit light sideways into the silicone tubing, enhancing diffusion for a flawless output.

At $50, the first variant we assessed features a 12V RGB Strip from Lamomo paired with a diffuser. Distinctively, this Lamomo strip includes a 12V power supply and Bluetooth controller within its price. Though it features a lower LED density at 100 LEDs per meter, totaling 500 LEDs for the entire strip, its reliance on the silicone diffuser for achieving a spotless light source must be noted. Like previous models, this strip is non-addressable but claims low heat emission, is fully waterproof, and fire-resistant. Its dimensions include a 5mm width and 12mm height without double-sided tape.

Testing revealed that the Lamomo strip drew 60 watts at full brightness white, showcasing a brightness of just 35 lumens, indicating a significant light obstruction caused by the LED diffuser. When using the provided power supply and controller, idle power consumption was 0.9 watts out of action.

Similarly priced at $50, Lamomo offers another silicone diffuser variant, this time a 24V RGB addressable strip. Like its predecessor, it includes a power supply and controller, yet operates via an infrared remote compared to Bluetooth. The LED diffuser measures 17.5mm tall and 8mm wide, lacking double-sided tape for mounting.

This strip shares non-individual addressability and is controlled in 10 cm segments with 50 segments over 5 meters. Claimed to be IP65 waterproof, it doesn't carry the same fireproof certification. In my tests, it drew 36 watts at full brightness white and emitted just 13 lumens, with standby consumption reaching 1.8 watts.

Taking things further, the silicone diffuser strategy gets a significant boost with a $54 12V RGB addressable strip from Aclorol, advertised with 540 LEDs or an impressive 108 LEDs per meter. Each controllable segment spans 5.5cm, resulting in 90 segments across the 5-meter strip. This option is also IP65 waterproof but does not include a power supply or controller. Its dimensions are 6mm wide and 12mm tall.

For this strip, I used a 12V, 10A power supply and QuinLED DigUno controller with WLED software to regulate it. When set to full white brightness, the Aclorol drew 60 watts and projected 91 lumens, with idle consumption measuring 1 watt when turned off.

Next, for $65, we see Alitove similar to Aclorol yet featuring a larger black diffuser. The Alitove strip is also a 12V RGB addressable variety, showcasing identical specs with 108 LEDs/m for 540 total LEDs, although the brightness outcomes differ. Each 5.5cm segment results in 90 segments throughout the strip, and it holds IP65 waterproof accreditation but lacks a controller or power supply. The strip measures 6mm wide and 16mm tall.

I used the same setup as the Aclorol for the Alitove strip. It executed slightly less power usage at 59 watts but yielded only 18 lumens, a stark contrast to the Aclorol. In standby mode, it was recorded at 1 watt of power use.

For the costliest option, I examined the $70 TOP XCDZ 12V addressable COB LED strip, flaunting 240 LEDs/m and a total of LEDs per strip. Each segment of this strip measures 5cm, offering a total of 100 segments. Like others, it comes devoid of a controller and power supply and is not waterproof, measuring 12mm in width.

I employed a 12V, 10A power supply alongside a QuinLED DigUno controller for operation. At full brightness in white, the XCDZ drew 57 watts while producing a remarkable 424 lumens, paired with a standby power usage at 1.4 watts.

Lastly, we evaluated the most expensive LED strip at $100—Govee's RGBIC neon rope, a 24V addressable strip integrated with a silicone diffuser. It features 84 LEDs per meter, totaling 420 LEDs across the 5-meter measurement. Each segment in the Govee strip extends 11cm long, consolidating into 45 segment controls, but the app limits them to only 15 controllable segments during animations. This strip additionally includes a power supply and Wi-Fi controller. Notably, while Govee promotes the strip as waterproof, the power supply and controller remain non-waterproof. The diffuser measures 17mm tall and 10mm wide.

Using the included power supply and controller, the Govee's energy draw peaked at 76 watts for full brightness white, producing 57 lumens. When off, the standby consumption was higher than its counterparts at 11 watts.

The brightness levels revealed that the COB LED strips overshadowed silicone diffuser options significantly, with Superlighting's 24V RGBW strip yielding 594 lumens and BTF Lighting's 24V RGB strip delivering 518 lumens. In contrast, the brightest silicone diffuser was Aclorol, producing mere 91 lumens, while the Lamomo 24V addressable variant trailed with only 13 lumens.

To measure efficiency, I calculated the lumens produced per watt consumed. The BTF Lighting's 24V strip achieved the highest efficiency at 9.6 lumens per watt, whereas the Aclorol's stood at only 1.5 lumens per watt. Interestingly, Alitove, nearly indistinguishable from Aclorol but housing a larger black diffuser, performed poorly at only 0.3 lumens per watt.

Nevertheless, it’s crucial to recognize that these strips don't solely revolve around light output. They also market a spotless neon effect; hence, I assigned each strip a spotless score ranging from 1 (clear visibility of spots) to 10 (complete spotless appearance).

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The lowest-rated strip, scoring a 5 for spotless performance, was the Lamomo 24V addressable variant, which not only fared poorly in terms of brightness and efficiency but also showcased visible LED hotspots owing to its sparse 60 LED/m density.

The leading performers, on the contrary, were also silicone diffuser varieties—the Lamomo 12V and the Alitove addressable strips, each achieving a perfect score of 10 with no visible hotspots. Between the two, the Lamomo 12V strip excelled with double the light output at 36 lumens as opposed to Alitove's 18 lumens.

Among COB LEDs, the TOP XCDZ strip earned an 8.5 score due to its considerable LED density; however, direct gazes at the strip revealed the visibility of individual LEDs, given that RGB LEDs are spaced in a linear formation as opposed to clustered as seen in conventional LED packages.

The Superlighting RGBW COB LED strip also excelled when using both white and color channels, but gaps were perceptible when solely functioning on white LEDs. For optimal spotless conditions while utilizing white, it is advisable to set color channels to at least 30% to eliminate gaps. The Superlighting strip secured a score of 6 for the white channel, 7 for color lanes, and an 8.5 when white and color channels were harmoniously combined.

While COB LEDs may not harbor an outstanding spotless score, it’s vital to remember that their brightness operation is tenfold higher, with the TOP XCDZ generating 424 lumens, and the Superlighting RGBW strip producing a staggering 594 lumens in its most flawless configuration.

Next, I evaluated color saturation, gauging lumen outputs for red, green, and blue in addition to white brightness. Typically, we expect the white output to approximately equal the sum of red, green, and blue outputs, factoring in potential voltage drop reductions. However, in strips integrated with their sequential controllers, companies may ramp up individual colors' brightness by drawing some light from adjacent LEDs, leading to desaturated, washed-out colors.

For example, the Govee strip's individual colors summed up to 182% of the white brightness, revealing reduced saturation proportions, particularly in the red and green channels, with blue colors holding full saturation due to its superior lumen output.

This uniformity issue could also be observed to a minor extent with the Lamomo 12V and 24V strips that apply their controllers.

The 24V BTF Lighting non-addressable strip dominated in color saturation, closely followed by the Superlighting RGBW strip and the TOP XCDZ respectively. Difficulty arose in evaluating color accuracy within the Alitove strip due to dim individual colors, but they appeared relatively accurate based on observations.

I also focused on color uniformity, determining how similar hues were from one end of the strip to the other. Any discrepancies may arise due to voltage drop as electricity traverses the strip, resulting from the copper traces’ resistance.

Six of the ten strips demonstrated no differences in color from end to end. However, Govee displayed minimal differences at the last 10% of its length, while the Lamomo 12V, Alitove 12V, and Aclorol 12V exhibited noticeable color integrity loss around 25 to 30% toward the end. Both Alitove and Aclorol come fitted with wiring at both strip ends to counteract voltage drop by connecting a 12V power source on the opposite side; however, the Lamomo 12V strip lacks this feature.

For strips capable of daisy-chaining to elongate lengths, I measured the voltage drop at their terminals. As predicted, the 24V strips registered minimal voltage drop, thus accommodating longer runs without color irregularities. The Superlighting 24V RGBW strip excelled with only 0.2V drop during dedicated white LEDs testing, and an impressive 0.8V drop with full brightness across all LEDs, suggesting high-quality, broader copper traces.

A critical difference among the strips lies in their bendability around corners. Typical LED strips bend solely in one direction regarding the light source, causing challenges in traversing 90-degree corners. Conversely, silicone tubing models facilitate left and right bends in relation to the light source, simplifying design creations.

I found the Govee, Alitove, and Aclorol strips remarkably pliable; they could even fold 180 degrees without damage. The Lamomo 12V strip maintained flexibility but struggled with 180-degree bends, while the Lamomo 24V strip proved sturdy and difficult to manipulate.

Lastly, we explore usability and features. Govee provides unparalleled ease of use in LED strips, offering a power supply, controller, mounting hardware, comprehensive instructions, and an intuitive app. Anyone could confidently set up and operate Govee strips with ease. The Lamomo 12V strip, while more economical, also includes mounting hardware, a high-quality power supply, an intuitive controller with onboard buttons, an infrared remote, and a user-friendly app, ensuring smooth installation and functionality.

Conversely, the Lamomo 24V strip bundled with subpar power supply hardware and a controller reliant solely on an infrared remote equipped with a series of unlabeled buttons rendered its individually addressable feature almost pointless.

The remaining strips necessitated purchasing separate power supplies and selecting controllers, which can offer more flexibility and superior components but might present complexities for novice users. Personally, I utilize the Shelly RGBW2 for controlled non-addressable LEDs, while using a DigUno or DigQuad with WLED for addressable strips, links to those units are provided below, along with quality power supply recommendations.

So, which strip stands as your best option? Let's focus on silicone diffuser lights first. If you aim to design art on a wall, the Lamomo 12V strip's value is hard to overlook. Priced under $50, it includes a power supply, Bluetooth controller, remote, and a thin, bendable strip, achieving a near-perfect spotless effect with commendable color saturation and suitable brightness. My lone concern with the Lamomo 12V strip is slight color variation toward the strip's end, affecting continuity when bent to join ends together.

If you're inclined to purchase your dedicated controller and power supply, the Aclorol silicone diffuser strips may be the ideal choice for wall designs, albeit I would suggest connecting power on both strip ends to mitigate potential color deviations from voltage drop. Additionally, while the spotless effect is commendable, it does not rival the Lamomo 12V strip or Alitove, which I hesitate to recommend due to its inefficiency.

Regarding COB LED strips, I firmly believe the standout is the Superlighting RGBW LED strip, exhibiting outstanding color saturation, exceptional efficiency, remarkable spotless results when utilizing all channels, and an exclusive white LED channel that provides a significantly better white output in comparison to RGB alone. If an addressable strip is what you seek, then TOP XCDZ's performance places it at the forefront, demonstrating the best spotless quality, maximum LED density, and superior color saturation.

As an interesting side note, I constructed an ultimate super strip. By merging the 24V BTF Lighting RGB strip with an additional Muzata side-firing silicone diffuser, I fashioned an exceptionally bright, thoroughly diffused strip at an overall cost of $70, given an openness to some assembly and DIY.

Upon employing the silicone diffuser, the total brightness fell from 518 lumens to 98 lumens, producing a five-fold reduction; yet, with this dimming still stands as the brightest and most efficient silicone options overall while remaining flawlessly spotless at any brightness level. It's essential to mention that this may be the only option I assessed sans drawbacks, with the exception of cost and the necessity for assembly, alongside some possible concerns surrounding longevity due to heat dissipation issues via the silicone tubing.

For your convenience, the links to all products reviewed here are listed below. Additionally, I would like to clarify that none of the reviews conducted here are sponsored, as each product was purchased with my personal funds. That said, the links are affiliate links, meaning if you choose to utilize them, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you kindly to my amazing Patrons on Patreon for their unwavering support of my channel. If you're interested in aiding my efforts, please examine the provided links. Should you have enjoyed this video, consider subscribing, and thank you once again for engaging with The Hook Up channel.

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