Method for Identifying LED Strip Quality

Due to the low production threshold of led strip lights, the quality is very very different. However, experienced friends still have a way to identify them. The LED strips produced by regular manufacturers and the low-end LED strips (made by Zhongshan) can be seen from the appearance.

1. Look at the solder joints

   The LED strips produced by the regular LED strip manufacturers are produced by the SMT chip process using solder paste and reflow soldering processes. Therefore, the solder joints on the LED strips are relatively smooth and the soldering amount is not large, and the solder joints extend in an arc shape from the FPC pads to the LED electrodes.However, the soldering spot of the low-end LED strip is not uniform, and a dot surrounds the solder fillet. At the same time, different degrees of tin tip appear, which is a typical phenomenon of manual soldering.

2.  Look at the quality of FPC

   FPC is divided into copper and rolled copper. The copper foil of the copper plate is convex. If you look closely, you can see it from the connection between the pad and the FPC. The rolled copper is closely integrated with the FPC and can be bent freely without peeling off the pad. If the copper plate is bent too much, the pad will fall off, and if the temperature is too high during maintenance, the pad will fall off.

3. Look at the cleanliness of the surface of the LED strip

   If the LED strips produced by the SMT process are clean, the surface is very clean and there are no impurities or stains. However, if the cottage version of the LED light strip produced by the hand soldering process, the surface will remain stained and cleaned regardless of how it is cleaned, and flux and tin residue will remain on the surface of the FPC.

4. Look at the packaging

   The regular LED light strips will be packed in anti-static coils, usually 5 meters or 10 meters, and then sealed with anti-static moisture-proof bags. The low-end LED light strip will use the recycling coil tray because  of cost saving, and then there is no anti-static moisture-proof packaging bag. If you look carefully at the coil tray, you can see the traces and scratches left when the label is removed.

After using this method, it's easy and obvious to identify the quality of led strip lights, and ledodm lighting is willing to offer led strip for high end market.