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LED strip lights have been
quoted as the most widely applicable form of LED lighting. Since most LED strip
lights operate at 12V, they are also suitable for various uses in cars or other
vehicles with 12V systems. Since LED strips are generally available with
various brightness and colour, you can use them functionally as well as
decoratively. Therefore, you either need some extra light in your car or you
want to create a unique atmosphere, LED strip lights will be just what you
need.
The main reasons why it is
worth using LED strip lights are the same as for any LED light: they are highly
energy-saving, have a very long life-span and require no maintenance once
installed. They are also resistant to shock and vibration, which is especially
important in a car application. The colour range of the LEDs covers the full
spectrum of colours, so if you are thinking about turning your car green in all
senses, a green LED strip light would be the best solution for you.
Though as I mentioned
earlier, LED strip lights come with different performances, they can also be
cut into smaller pieces, some as short as 5 cm. So if you would like to use the
same coloured strip at various parts of your car, you just buy a full roll of
strip, and cut it into pieces you wish to use them. This way you can determine
how bright each part of your car is illuminated; use shorter pieces of the
strip where you need less light, and double the strip where you want a brighter
source of light.
Installing these lights in
your car is also very easy, requiring only some extra wires and tape, if your
strip does not already contain it. First of all, cut the strip light into the
desired lengths, uncover the pinpoints in the end you want to connect it, and
connect the wires with blocks or soldering. You can include some extra switches
or dimmers in the system, but you can also just connect it to the car's wiring
circuit. By connecting them to the wire controllers, you can also make them
light up with the doors opening. This can turn the LED strip into a functional
light, and give some extra light to the inside of the car when you are
entering, or searching for something. Some diffused source of light can also be
useful if you want to provide the kids at the back with some dim light to play
during travelling. But obviously low voltage LED lights, and LED strip lights
in particular, can be used not only in cars but all vehicles operating at low
voltage. In a motor-home or van, or even in a boat, the use of strip lights is
nearly endless.
As for light decoration in your car, the limit is really only your
imagination. Since LED strips are available in indoor and outdoor versions too,
you can light any part of it. Outdoor decorations on cars are common at and
below the doors, or all along the side of the car; behind the splash shields or
below bumpers. These strips are always fully waterproof, thought you need to
make sure that in this case wires and connections are also insulated fully.
Indoor décor, on the other hand, needs sealing to keep safe from human touch,
and such strip lights often occur within or underneath the dashboard, along
windows, or basically anywhere in a van within the habitation area. And if you
can't make up your mind about the colour of your car, use RGB colour changing
strips, and control and change the displayed colour of your car as often as you
wish.
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