Performing tasks under dim lighting can lead to eye strain and headaches. That’s why adequate brightness is crucial. However, the painful truth is that LED strips often lose their brightness for a number of reasons. So what can be done to make them brighter?
The brightness of an LED strip depends greatly on voltage and current flow. Increasing the voltage (to a certain extent) can make the LED strip brighter. In addition, LED density, color temperature, humidity, and LED quality all affect the brightness of the LED strip. The easiest way to control the intensity of an LED strip is to use an LED controller. But there are many more things to consider.

Why do LED strips lose brightness?
LED strips are known for their continuous light output. However, it may start losing its brightness for different reasons. These are as follows
LED Density
The density of an LED strip is the number of LEDs per meter. Therefore, the higher the LED strip, the brighter the light emitted. If you buy a low density LED strip, it will not emit as much light as a strip with a higher number of LEDs.

Color temperature
The color of the LED strip also affects the brightness of the light. For the same lumens, cooler light may appear brighter than warmer light. This is why it is important to consider the color of the LED strip before applying it. Warm light has a lower color temperature, giving a dim and cozy atmosphere. However, cooler light appears brighter due to its high temperature bullish light.

Heat
While LED strips don’t generate much heat compared to other forms of lighting, it can affect brightness. LED lights can overheat and dim for a number of reasons. Additionally, the strip’s housing or clear covering can turn yellow from the heat. This makes the light appear less bright.

Humidity system
Moisture is another no-no for LED strips. Moisture that builds up in an LED strip can corrode or rust the internal components. Over time, this reduces the brightness of the light. This is common when you are installing LED strips in highly humid areas. In this case, a fully sealed, waterproof LED strip is essential.

Strip length
Voltage drop becomes a major issue when extending the length of an LED strip. As you connect multiple LED strips to increase their length, the brightness of the LEDs gradually decreases. As a result, the LEDs closer to the power source appear brighter and get progressively dimmer as the length increases.

Design quality
Not all LED strips offer the same quality. Your strip may lose brightness due to poor design and low quality LEDs. Two identical LED strips from two different brands Lumens ratings will not give the same brightness. Many brands use low quality LEDs that do not provide the illumination specified on the package. Always purchase LED strips from reliable manufacturers that offer LEDs that are neatly aligned to avoid this.

Strip placement
The position or layout of the LED strip also depends on the brightness of the lighting. For example, if you have a room with high ceilings, the brightness of the LED strip alone will not provide sufficient ambient lighting. In addition, the availability of light, the color of the room, etc. can also affect the lighting effect or the appearance of the light output.

Exposure to elements
Installing the same LED strip indoors and outdoors will not produce the same brightness. If the outdoor light seems dim, it may appear too bright for an indoor application. Here, too, the surrounding lighting and the area of the space are important. Also, in outdoor lighting, LED strips may face dust buildup. This makes the LED strip lose its brightness.

Power supply
If the power supply is not strong enough, the LED strip will dim. You must ensure that the proper current and voltage are supplied to ensure that the LEDs emit sufficient brightness. However, loose wire connections can dim the lighting.

Aging
Prolonged use of LED light strips will dim the LED lights, which is a natural phenomenon. The brightness of new fixtures will vary after years of use. Therefore, as LED strips age, their brightness begins to dim.

16 Ways to Make LED Strip Lights Brighter

1.choose high brightness LED light strip
The lumen rating of the bulb determines the intensity of the light output. Purchasing an LED strip with a higher lumen rating will provide brighter light output. So, if your current LED light is 440 lumens and you notice it dimming, purchase an LED light with a higher rating. However, don’t install anything too bright to avoid eye irritation.

2.Increase LED density
LED density indicates the number of LEDs per meter. LED strips are rope luminaires that are measured in meters. They are available in different densities; for example, 60 LEDs per meter, 120 LEDs per meter, 180 LEDs per meter and 240 LEDs per meter. As the number of LEDs increases, so does the brightness of the fixture. Higher density LED strips not only provide brighter lighting, but also allow for a seamless finish. By installing low density strips you will see a similar point effect, but by increasing the density you will no longer face such issues. In addition to the size of the LED chip, SMD also affects the brightness of the strip. For example, SMD5050 is brighter than SMD3528.

3.Mounting the LED strip on the reflective surface
Another way to make LED strips brighter is to mount them on a reflective surface. You can use aluminum foil, white boards, or even mirrors for this task. When the light from the LED strip hits the surface, it reflects back, making the lighting output brighter. When you install lights on a flat wall, most of the light is absorbed. As a result, the light appears dim. In this case, aluminum foil is the cheapest way to create a reflective medium. All you need to do is adhere the foil to the mounting area. However, for best results, try installing a mirror image.

4. Enhanced power supply
If your power supply is not able to provide enough power to the strip, the fixtures will not be able to provide enough brightness. In addition, you will face problems such as flickering lights. LED strips use a variety of power sources. It can be a regular plug-in or a USB/battery powered LED strip. Also, connecting them to solar panels is possible. If you are not satisfied with the power supply, try to enhance it for better lighting. To do this, check that the power supply meets the current and voltage requirements of the LED strip. You should also keep the wiring accurate and avoid overloading.

5.Use the brightness controller
An LED controller allows you to adjust the brightness of the fixture. The LED strips are available with different types of controllers: IR, RF, 0/1-10V, DALI RGB, DMX LED controllers and more. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled LED strips are also available. You can choose the controller that best suits your application and light strip. This not only helps you to control the brightness, but also to change the light color, light mode, and so on. What’s even more impressive is that you can connect the LED strip to your phone and control the lighting from anywhere.

6. Choosing High Quality LED Strip Lights
The quality of the LED strip is critical to getting the right amount of brightness. There are many brands available in the market but all of them do not provide the same lighting output. Cheap brands of LED strips use low-quality LED chips that can affect the brightness of the lights. In addition, the intensity of the light does not match the rating on the packaging. To avoid this, make sure you purchase LED strips from reputable brands. If you are planning a large-scale lighting project, China is your best choice for importing high-quality LED light strips.

7.Use of radiators
LED strips can overheat for a variety of reasons, which can affect the brightness of the light. This can also cause permanent damage to the LED strip. To avoid this, the use of a heat sink is essential. LED lights generate heat when they are in operation. The use of a heat sink removes the heat emitted by the LED chips, thus keeping the circuit cool. It therefore prevents the fixture from overheating without affecting its brightness.

8.Choose bright white fixtures
If you use yellow, orange or any warm colored lights, your room may appear dark. For this reason, I recommend that you use bright white light. You can choose a cool color light from 4000K to 6500K. This range of color temperatures provides shades of blue that look much brighter than warmer tones. Bright cool white light is great for task lighting. It will produce enough light intensity to keep you focused.

9.Pay attention to the beam angle
Did you know that the angle of lighting affects its brightness? When you use a wider beam angle LED strip, it spreads the light over a larger area. As a result, the intensity of the light is split and the light appears less bright. An LED strip with a narrow beam angle looks brighter with the same lumen rating. In this case, the light is not diffused; instead, it is concentrated in a specific direction. This makes the light appear brighter.

10.Using multiple strips
The easiest solution to increase the brightness of your LED strips is to use multiple strips. If you’re finding it difficult to boost the power supply or implement other processes, then adopt this idea. Mounting multiple LED strips side by side produces a more intense light output. With this technique, you don’t need to purchase fixtures with high lumen ratings. In addition, this provides even light throughout the ceiling.

11.Using a diffuser
Many times, too much brightness can be uncomfortable for your eyes. To solve this problem, use a diffuser. Now, what is a diffuser? It is an overlay or cover for an LED strip that emits a softer light output. These diffusers can come in a variety of types – clear, frosted, or milky. With these, you’ll get clean, soft lighting that keeps the brightness intact.

12.Increase the distance between the surface and the fixture
If the LED strip is mounted too close to the surface, the fixture will not have enough space to spread its brightness. Therefore, it is important to maintain enough space between the mounting surface and the LED strip. This will provide enough space for the light to shine properly with proper light distribution.

13. Check voltage drop
LED light strips are sensitive to voltage. If there is not enough voltage behind the LED strip, it will directly affect the brightness. For example, if you have a 24V LED strip, using a 12V supply will not provide enough brightness. Increasing the voltage will result in more intense lighting. In addition, increasing the length of the LED strip will also introduce a voltage drop. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the voltage flow meets the requirements of the LED strip.

14.Keep fixtures clean
Dust and dirt buildup on LED light strips can make fixtures dirty. Especially if you install the LED strip in a greasy or humid environment, it will make the fixture even dirtier. This covers the LEDs and creates a layer of dirt that dims the lighting output. As a result, your LED lights don’t look as bright as they used to. So, be sure to clean your lights regularly. Use a dry cloth; if it’s too dirty, dampen it slightly. But make sure the power is off. Do not turn off the lamp until it is completely dry. However, the IP rating of the lamp is also important. If the LED strip is cleaned wet, the LED strip may be damaged if it has a low IP rating.

15. Replacing faulty LEDs
LED strips combine numerous LED chips to bring uniform illumination. If any one of the LEDs is defective, it can affect the overall lighting output. You may experience problems such as flickering lights or sudden shutdowns. In this case, test the defective LED and replace it with a new one.

16. Check for wiring problems
If you notice that the LED strip suddenly dims, check that the plug is properly connected. You must also check the other wiring to make sure the current is correct. Turn off the light and check the wiring. Once repaired, turn the light on. If there are any wiring problems, your LED strip will emit a brighter light when the wiring is fixed.

LED lights get brighter with increasing voltage – true or myth?
LEDs get brighter as the voltage increases – this statement is partially accurate, but can be misleading. Each LED has a specified forward voltage. It provides optimal brightness at this specific voltage input. When you increase the voltage beyond the LED’s forward voltage, the LED strip may initially appear brighter. However, it does not necessarily result in a linear increase in brightness. It will gradually overheat the fixture and burn out the LEDs when the voltage rises beyond the LED strip’s ability to withstand. This can eventually shorten the life of the LEDs or even lead to permanent damage or failure.
To avoid this, use an LED driver that provides the correct voltage and current specified by the manufacturer. This regulates the voltage and current to the LEDs and maintains the expected brightness and life of the LEDs.

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LED strips may lose brightness due to a number of internal and external faults. This is not only related to the lumen rating or quality of the LEDs; it is also related to the lumen rating or quality of the LEDs. The environment and installation can also affect its final light output. But the fact remains that all LED fixture trends lose brightness as they age; it’s a natural phenomenon. However, they must be well maintained to stay bright for a long time.