UV LED Strip: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

FACTS CHECKED BY  Bob Smith

Are you familiar with professional applications like reprography? You may be puzzled about the UV LED strip if no is your answer.

Not to worry, this article will give you comprehensive details about the topic.

First, the UV LED strip is a flexible circuit board. It also contains variables like constant voltage layout, driving voltage, color, etc. And it usually has an adhesive backing with SMD LEDs (surface-mounted light-emitting diodes).

The UV LED strip is also valid for outdoor and indoor use (depending on its water-resistant abilities).

In this post, we shall elaborate more on the subject—alongside other aspects like the applications, different types of LED strip lights, etc.

If you’re ready, let’s begin!

What Is a UV LED Strip?

UV LED Strip

A UV LED strip is a new lighting form. Plus, it’s a flexible linear circuit board—like we mentioned earlier. The LED tape strip has many single LED emitters on its narrow frame. And the standard UV LEDs have 5050 and 2835 SMD.

The UV LED strip’s flexibility permits mounting and installation on different surfaces—whether uneven or curved. Furthermore, it has a cutline and adhesive backing. So, the description helps you cut the strip easily.

But that’s not all.

The copper oval surrounding the cutline is the electrical connection point.

With this part, you can feed power through the LED strip. And it tells you the distance between LEDs. Also, the peel and stick adhesive at the back promote easy and quick installation.

The UV LED strip is usually about 5 meters in length. Hence, the width ranges from 10 – 12mm. Also, the density of each LED on the strip determines the entire quality and light color. And, it helps you to know if there will be dark spots and hotspots between LED emitters.

How can you know the brightness of a UV LED strip?

Simple!

A quality strip should have at least 1500 lumens per meter or 450 lumens per foot. You can determine that with the metric lumens. However, the wattage rating isn’t vital since UV LED strips have different levels of efficiency.

Also, three factors affect an LED strip’s brightness:

  • The efficiency and light output per emitter.
  • The LED strip’s power draw per foot.
  • And third is the number of LEDs per foot.

While at it, avoid UV LED strips without a brightness specification in lumens. Also, it’s ideal for preventing low-cost strips that claim high brightness.

UV LED Lights

UV LED Strip

Now that you have an idea of UV LED lights let’s dive into the types. There are three types of UV LED. And they all have different wavelengths and effectiveness.

They are:

UV-C LED Strip

UV-C LED is the most powerful among the other types of strips.

But that’s not all.

It has a wavelength of (100-280 nm). And it can kill pathogens like viruses, mold, bacteria, etc., on surfaces, air, or water. Moreover, the UV-C attacks the DNA and RNA of microscopic organisms and pathogens.

Uracil and Thymine (the genetic makeup of the RNA and DNA, respectively) are sensitive at wavelengths 250 nm or closer to 265 nm. But, when the wavelength is above or longer than 300 nm, absorption of the nucleic acid is almost impossible.

In summary, the UV-C LED has a high sterilization potential. But, to achieve success with the UV-C LED, it would be best to consider factors like:

Distance

You have to be particular about the area you intend to sterilize. Then, be clear about how close in proximity you need.

The UV-C LED’s Angle

If you want to be most efficient with a powerful UV-C LED, it’s ideal to choose optics that would help. That way, you’ll easily focus the light on your target.

Power of light

It’s essential to ensure that you have sufficient power to affect pathogens.

Duration of Exposure

How long do you plan on sterilizing the area? The answer will help you get the right UV-C LED to achieve the best results.

So, before you jump at any UV-C LED, double-check the accuracy of its specifications. This step is necessary to avoid false claims that will put you at risk—especially for sterilization.

UV-A LED Strip

This strip has the highest range of wavelengths (315-400 nm). So, it means the UV-A LED strip has lower energy. Even though UV-A LED radiation is the weakest, it could be harmful under excessive exposure.

The UV-A LED strip is helpful for lithography, printing, sensing, medical applications, curing, etc. Also, UV-A LED has a limited sterilization potential.

UV-B LED Strip

The UV-B LED strip or fluorescent backlight has a wavelength of (280-315 nm). Considering the wavelength of UV-B, it’s stronger than UV-A.

Hence, it can cause skin cancer and sunburn. Regardless of the UV-B LED strength, it has limitations with sterilizing and inactivating viruses. Plus, it has a short lifespan and doesn’t work with low power.

Asides from the wavelength ranges listed above, other wavelength LEDs like 405 nm, 365 nm, and 310 nm are available.

UV LED Lights Applications

UV LED lights are helpful in different applications. But the UV-A stands out—amongst the three UV-LEDs.

So, UV LED lamps are helpful in the following applications:

  • Medical devices (phototherapy, drug discovery, protein analysis)
  • Sterilizing units (cosmetic sterilization)
  • Fume purification equipment
  • Light-curing systems (polymer and ink printing)
  • Exhaust gas treatment
  • counterfeit devices
  • Gemological devices
  • Herpetology
  • Plant factory devices
  • Forensic, bodily fluid detection, and analysis
  • Magnetic surface analysis
  • Lithography
  • Dye penetrant inspection
  • Optical sensors and instrumentation
  • Barcodes and UV ID verification

Are the UV LEDs Dangerous?

UV LED Strip

With the numerous benefits and applications of UV LEDs, it’s necessary to know if it has cons.

The short answer is Yes.

The UV LEDs could be dangerous if you handle them carelessly. So, taking precautions while using the UV LEDs would be best.

Here are two safety measures that will help.

First, when the UV LED is in operation, it produces intense radiation. So, it’s best to avoid looking directly into it, even briefly—because it could harm your eyes.

Second, if you must look at the UV LED directly, use suitable eyewear (e.g., goggles or UV-filtered glasses).

How Can I Connect the High Power UV LED?

When you connect a high-power UV LED to a current source, it will try to expend a lot of power. And this can lead to damage.

So, the best approach is to control the current flow with resistors.

Why?

It’s simple. Resistors are effective in limiting the flow of electrons. Plus, it stops the UV LED from drawing excess current. So, you can use the formula below to know the best resistor value.

Resistor = (battery voltage – LED voltage)/ Preferred LED current

UV LED Brands

Buying a UV LED with false claims comes with a lot of risks.

So, here are some examples of brands you can trust.

Phobya UV LED Strip

The Phobya UV strip is an ideal option if you want your PC to have a “light lift.” And thanks to its flexible strip, it’s possible to add more LEDs. In essence, you can rely on this product for a modding highlight.

This brand also allows you to use a PSU connector with a 4-pin Molex extension. And the extension loops through the needed energy. Plus, it’s easy to mount this LED strip in any position—because of its pre-applied adhesive tape.

But there’s more.

The strips consume low power. Plus, it has little heat dissipation, and the strip is watertight. So, you can explore its possibilities with a cooling water system.

Nichia UV LED

The Nichia UV LED (365-370 nm) generates true longwave light. And the light comes from 5 Nichia LEDs. So, UV light can be a vital tool for customs, medical forensics, postal inspections, and law enforcement.

This brand is also helpful for authenticating documents, detecting minerals, and forgery. But, it’s ideal to use eye protection when the Nichia UV LED operates.

Cree Ultraviolet LED

Cree UV LED is yet another brand on this list that is user-friendly and top-notch. This brand is helpful for different lighting ranging from portable, outdoor, and automobile to indoor lighting.

Another striking feature of the Cree UV LED is its 370 lumens of light. Plus, it’s energy-saving—which translates to a great return on your investment.

Wrapping Up

UV LED strip is a technology that has come to stay. And it’s helpful in various sectors of society.

No doubt, it comes with its risks. The best way to handle the UV LED strip is by taking note of the precautions in this article.

Also, we can’t overemphasize that avoiding UV LEDs with false claims is crucial—as it increases the risk of damage.

Are you ready to take up a project with a UV LED strip? Or do you still have safety concerns? Feel free to contact us.

Need custom LED services?