outdoor LED strip
OUTDOOR LED STRIP
Under a deck railing, along a staircase, around a pool or under the eaves, outdoor LED strip lights, also called LED tape, turn a home or a business into a light display. In Quebec, they have to withstand frost, summer humidity, rain and snow, year after year. LEDCO offers IP65 and IP67 strips in 24 V, in warm white, cool white, RGB and RGBW, along with LED flex neon and the waterproof accessories to power and connect them.
IP65 or IP67 outdoor LED strip lights: protection to suit the location
The difference between IP65 and IP67 is often misunderstood. An IP65 strip has a silicone coating on its top face that protects it from water jets and splashes: it suits covered decks, fascias, the underside of stair railings and raised planters. An IP67 strip is fully encapsulated in silicone or resin and withstands temporary immersion, up to 1 metre for 30 minutes.
IP67 is what you need at ground level, where water can pool: at the edge of a pool, along a path or near a fountain. And because Quebec's freeze-thaw cycle is demanding, the quality of the silicone coating, which must resist UV and temperature swings without cracking, makes the difference between a waterproof strip that lasts through the winters and an economy model that degrades after a few seasons. Our full selection is in our outdoor LED strips.
Where to install exterior LED strip lighting
The strip is almost always hidden: you see the light, never the source. The spots that work best:
- Under the guardrail's bottom rail: a 24 V warm white 3000 K strip at 10 W/m, slid into an aluminum profile, lights the deck floor and creates the floating deck effect.
- Under the stair nosing: on a wood, concrete or aluminum staircase, the line lights each step and makes the way down safer.
- Under the eaves or fascia: IP65 is enough, since the roof overhang shelters it from direct rain.
- At ground level, along a path: where water pools, only IP67 holds up.
Everywhere, the light falls toward the ground: enough to move around, without lighting up the whole neighbourhood.
10x10 mm anti-glare and 18x16 mm wall washer LED flex neon
When the line of light stays in view, along the outline of a pergola, the edge of a roof or a deck border, LED flex neon gives a uniform stroke with no light points: it is the flexible outdoor light tube. The 10x10 mm anti-glare flex neon softens the light where it is seen up close. To graze a wall or a fence, the 18x16 mm wall washer flex neon, which bends in two directions, follows the contours of the structure.
The bending direction, side or top, and the protection rating are listed for each model: choose the one that follows your curve and suits its location.
Pool and RGBW flex neon: colour at the water's edge and through the seasons
At the water's edge, coloured light creates a spectacular atmosphere at night. The 12x25 mm pool RGBW flex neon, with side bend, follows the perimeter of a pool and draws a halo of colour on the coping and the water. For an outdoor spa, an IP67 warm white 2700 K strip under the rim defines the relaxation area.
In RGB or RGBW, a strip or a flex neon also changes colour with the holidays: red and green for Christmas, orange for Halloween, blue for Canada Day. The 16x16 mm RGBW flex neon traces a highly visible coloured line on a facade or a railing, and LED dimmers and controllers program the colours and the intensity.
100W outdoor power supply, IP68 junction box and waterproof connectors
An outdoor installation calls for a power supply sheltered from the weather, in a waterproof enclosure or inside the building, or one designed for outdoor use such as the 100W outdoor power supply. Wiring is protected in corrugated conduit, or in buried conduit if it runs underground. Connections are made in an IP68 waterproof outdoor junction box or with the IP68 SP21 2-pin power cable connector. The custom Configurator then lets you order strips and profiles at the lengths of your project.
Technical tips for outdoor LED strip lights
The water decides the rating. IP65 under a roof or a railing; IP67 anywhere water can sit.
Put the strip in a profile. The aluminum protects the strip and turns the light points into a soft line.
Stay with warm white on the deck. A 3000 K strip lights the floor without the cold look of a parking lot.
Keep the power supply dry. A waterproof enclosure, the inside of the building or a supply designed for outdoor use: never an indoor unit in the rain.
Every connection is a weak point. Use an IP68 junction box or a waterproof connector, and run the cable in conduit.
Contact our team for a deck, pool or garden lighting plan.
Outdoor LED Strip Lights FAQ
What are the best outdoor LED strip lights for Canadian winters?
The ones with a silicone coating that resists UV and frost without cracking, with the right rating for the spot: IP65 under a roof, IP67 at ground level or near water. The rest depends on the effect you want: warm white, cool white, RGB or RGBW.
IP65 or IP67: what is the difference outdoors?
IP65 has a silicone layer on top: it resists water jets and splashes. IP67 is fully encapsulated and withstands temporary immersion, up to 1 metre for 30 minutes. Under a covered deck, IP65 is enough; along a path or at the edge of a pool, choose IP67.
Can the strip stay outside in winter?
Yes, a strip made for outdoor use stays in place all year. It is the freeze-thaw cycles that wear out economy models, whose silicone cracks and lets water in.
Strip or flex neon: which one should I choose?
A strip hides: under a rail, a stair nosing or the eaves, you only see the light. Flex neon shows: its line stays even, with no dots, even up close. For the outline of a pergola, a roof or a pool, it is the right choice.
Where should the power supply go?
In a waterproof enclosure, inside the building, or outdoors if it is a model designed for outdoor use, like our 100W power supply. The cable to the strip runs in corrugated conduit, or in buried conduit underground.
