24V DC LED Strips: COB, SMD, RGB and CCT for Any Indoor or Outdoor Project
24V LED strips are the format that now solves almost any linear lighting job, from a kitchen unit to a twenty metre cornice. The reel is cut to size, stuck down and fed from a power supply.
This category brings together the four types of strip in the catalogue, COB, single colour SMD, CCT and RGB, all at 24V DC extra low voltage, a voltage that has taken over both technical lighting projects and decorative lighting.
Why 24V is the professional reference in LED strips
At the same power, twice the voltage means half the current. That lower current heats the copper track less and allows longer runs from a single feed point.
The low consumption 24V LED strip makes better use of the energy because it loses less in the conductor itself, and the compatible 24V power supply is what closes the system, always oversized by twenty per cent over real consumption.
No voltage drop over long distances and better thermal behaviour
The no voltage drop argument for 24V LED strip is what sets this format apart from 12V. At 12V the last metre of a five metre reel arrives noticeably dimmer than the first.
At 24V you work without voltage drop over long distances up to around ten metres per line, and with a double feed from both ends you go further. Less current also means less heat on the adhesive, so the strip peels off less over time and its service life is longer.
Types of 24V LED strip available
The COB versus SMD difference lies in how the diode is placed. In COB the chips are embedded under a continuous phosphor layer, and in SMD they are packaged one by one and can be told apart with the naked eye.
| Type | LEDs per metre | Power | CRI | Common use |
| COB | 320 to 512 | 12 to 15 W/m | 90 | Continuous light on show |
| SMD 2835 | 120 to 140 | 11 to 14 W/m | 90 to 98 | Single colour and CCT |
| SMD 3535 RGB | 60 to 120 | 15 W/m | Not applicable | Colour |
| RGBW | 60 to 96 | 19 W/m | 80 | Colour and white together |
COB continuous light with no visible dots
The 320 LED per metre 24V COB strip throws a line of light with no dots, so it can be run exposed or in a profile without a diffuser. It is the option when the strip stays in view.
The 512 diode versions move up to high density and take tight curves without the break in the beam showing. COB technology is the top of the range in this category, because it allows a simple installation in profile and needs no diffuser.
Single colour SMD and CCT for maximum versatility
The 24V SMD 2835 single colour strip covers general work in warm, neutral or cool white. The 24V CCT selectable colour strip carries two rows of diodes and covers the temperature range from 2700K to 6500K, from warm white to cool white, adjustable from the controller.
When colour rules, the CRI98 high quality 24V strip gives almost perfect chromatic fidelity. It is the choice in clothes shops and in bathrooms with a mirror.
RGB and RGBW for colour and creativity
The 5 metre 24V RGB strip mixes red, green and blue in one package. The RGBW range completes the catalogue with the version that adds a fourth white diode so the white comes out clean and not washed out.
Every colour strip is dimmable by definition, since the controller already varies the intensity of each channel.
How to choose the right strip for your project
Four figures decide the purchase, density, power, CRI and IP. The price per metre of 24V LED strip rises with the first three, so it is worth matching each one to what the project really asks for.
Density power CRI and IP by application
The LED density per metre tells you whether dots show. Below 120 diodes per metre a diffuser is advisable, and from 320 upwards the light is already continuous.
The power per metre in watts sets the output and also the supply. A strip of 15 W per metre over five metres calls for 75 W, so a 100 W supply is chosen.
The IP20 or IP65 criterion by environment is simple. The IP20 indoor 24V strip works in furniture and false ceilings, while the IP65 outdoor 24V strip carries a silicone coating, an IP protection that seals it against dust and water, for porches, bathrooms and facades.
The 24V strip for kitchen units goes under the wall cabinet with profile and diffuser so the light point is not visible. The 24V strip for stairs is fitted on the tread or the skirting, nearly always with a presence detector.
Every reel can be cut every 50mm at the marks on the track, and reconnected with quick connectors or by direct connection with solder. The 24V strip for aluminium profile is the option when heat has to be dissipated and the strip protected.
Profiles and diffusers are in LED aluminium profiles, and the power supplies the system needs are in 24V power supplies.
Frequently asked questions about 24V DC LED strips
What is the difference between COB and SMD LED strip at 24V?
COB gives a continuous line of light because the chips sit under a phosphor layer. SMD leaves visible dots and needs a diffuser if it stays in view, although it usually offers more colour options.
Why is 24V recommended over 12V on long installations?
Because at the same power half the current flows, and the voltage drop along the track is reduced. At 12V brightness falls off at the end of a five metre reel and at 24V it holds.
What power supply do I need for 5 metres of 24V strip?
Multiply the watts per metre by five and add twenty per cent of margin. A strip of 15 W per metre draws 75 W, so the right supply is 100 W.
Can I install 24V LED strips outdoors?
Yes, with IP65 protection or higher and sealed connectors. It is also worth housing it in an aluminium profile.
How often can a 24V LED strip be cut?
Every 50 millimetres on most models, always at the printed scissor mark. On high density COB strips the cutting pitch can drop to 25 millimetres.
Are 24V LED strips compatible with any controller?
The voltage and the number of channels have to match. A 24V RGB controller will not work with an RGBW strip, which needs four channels plus the common.