How to Choose LED Strip Light Voltage, 110V or 220V VS 12V or 24V ?

Why do certain lights operate on 110V or 220V versus 12V or 24V ? And why does voltage even matter? It’s all about wattage, right? Not exactly. Lights operate on different voltages, and in America, 110V, 12V, and 24V lighting systems are the most common, while in Europe, 220V, 12V and 24V. So what are the differences between them?

110 volts and 220 volts are the standard voltage supply for American and European homes. This is the voltage that travels to your home from your local utility substation. 110 or 220 volts is commonly referred to as “line voltage” by electricians. Nearly all indoor residential light fixtures and appliances in the U.S. run on line voltage. A 120-volt light bulb can typically be screwed into an indoor light fixture and operate correctly without further complication. Likewise, most appliances run on 120 volts and can simply be plugged into an indoor outlet.

Meanwhile, 12 volts and 24 volts are commonly used for outdoor lighting and are referred to as “low voltage” lighting. A transformer or LED driver is required to convert the standard 120 volts supply provided to your home into a 12 volts or 24 volts supply for your lights.

When it comes to LED strip light, LED rope light or LED tape light for that matter, you may have the option to choose between a 12 volts or 24 volts light. The one you need depends on how long you need your strip, rope or tape light to be. The longer your continuous strand of strip, rope or tape light, the more voltage you will need to travel across its entire length without losing brightness, this phenomenon is called voltage drop.

Should you use 12 or 24 volt strip light? One of the first things to figure out is whether you need 12 volt or 24 volt strip light. This really depends on the size of the place where you will be using your strip light. 12 volt strip light is typically used for shorter runs while 24 volt strip light is better for longer runs. The reason is because higher voltage strip lights can sustain longer runs without voltage drop becoming a problem. Basically, the further your lights are from the power supply, the lower the voltage becomes down the line, which can cause the LEDs on the end of the strip to appear dimmer than the LEDs near the front. To avoid voltage drop, observe your LED strip light’s maximum run, which should be specified on your lights’ packaging or data sheet.

The reason low voltage lighting is used outdoors is because it’s safer. If the wire for a 120 volts light source (which would run underground or on a building’s exterior, if used outdoors) were to become exposed, it would be very dangerous for someone to come in contact with, possibly resulting in a dangerous electric shock. For a low voltage light source, this risk is significantly reduced and would result in little to no harm in most scenarios. The rule of thumb: if your lights are being used somewhere where the wiring could become exposed, and therefore hazardous, it is always better to opt for low voltage lighting if given the choice.

These are just the most common residential voltages. Some lighting systems require even more volts. When purchasing a new light source, first and foremost, you must always match your light bulb to the requirements of your fixture.