You might have heard of RGB lights but remained largely in the dark (ahem) about what they actually are. Ultimately, this kind of lighting can give you a lot more control over the colour - or colours - of the illumination you produce for a home or workplace.
In this article, we provide a deeper insight into what RGB lights are, how they work, and how they can be used to achieve impressive lighting effects.
Of course, the actual quality of these effects will be influenced by the context - but RGB lighting allows for a pleasingly large degree of customisation.
Let’s take a look…
What are RGB lights?
RGB lights are basically fixtures capable of producing light in any colour. With RGB lighting, you can tailor each individual light’s colour and brightness.
With a set of these electrical fittings at hand, you can more easily customise the appearance and atmosphere of a given space.
These lights are also available in a wide range of designs - and can consequently be used as, for example, decorative lighting or accent lighting
How do they work to produce light?
The acronym ‘RGB’ refers to the colours of red, green, and blue - and each of the three diodes housed in an RGB light’s enclosure can produce light in one of these three primary colours.
Yes, these are light-emitting diodes - as RGB lights also happen to be LED lights. As the brightness of each diode’s illumination can be tweaked, you can combine various shades of red, green, and blue to produce new hues of light - over 16 million colours.
Types of RGB lights
RGB lights can be put to many different uses, such as creating ambience, setting the mood for a specific room or outdoor space, and imbuing this area with a little extra personality.
RGB lights can also work well at events and photoshoots and have been designed in various forms to suit.
RGB LED strip lights
We stock a generous selection of LED strip lights - so-called as they are provided in physical strips. These lights are designed in this way so that you are able to drape them through decorative means.
Hence, there is an impressive scope for customisation with how you are able to present LED strip lights. You can use them for such purposes as:
- Illuminating cabinets and TV sets
- Lining staircases
- Adding attractive lighting effects under countertops
LED strip lights come with double-sided tape, which you can use to stick them into place as desired.
RGB LED floodlights
The LED floodlights we offer are intended to illuminate large outdoor spaces - and, as a result, can be affixed to a range of exteriors, including those of:
- Pubs
- Restaurants
- Hotels
- Office blocks
However, floodlights can also be beneficially installed on domestic buildings, such as privately owned homes and large apartment complexes.
The RGB lighting available to buy from Vision Lighting includes the TradeLED Floodlight with Memory Function and Radio Frequency - which, from up to 30 metres away, can be used to change the RGB colours on display.
Other RGB lighting options
These include RGB LED pods, which can make an appealing alternative to LED strips on account of being much bigger and so able to cast light across a larger area.
While LED pods are provided with adjustable mounting brackets, RGB spotlights have adjustable heads that can be used for beaming light from specific angles.
If you are still using a few incandescent bulbs, you might want to swap them out for traditional RGB light bulbs - especially given how energy-efficient and long-lasting LED bulbs are known to be.
Choosing the right RGB lights
As we at Vision Lighting have years of experience in manufacturing and providing lighting solutions, we are well-positioned to help you with selecting the RGB lights that are most suitable for your requirements.
Here are several factors we advise you to weigh up.
Turn to a reliable provider of LED lights
Our own Leeds-based lighting company has been in the light-making game for more than a decade. In that time, we have refined our product range, such as by bolstering it with the latest innovations and certifications.
Our business is certified to the respected ISO 9001 quality standard and ISO 14001 environmental standard - the only standards accredited by UKAS, the UK Government’s national accreditation body.
Prioritise power efficiency
It’s a good idea to look for products that are proven and certified as energy-efficient lighting solutions - as, through using these, you will be able to save money over the longer term.
Pro tip: When shopping for LED bulbs, you should make sure those you do choose are at least 100 to 120 Lumens per Watt (Lm/W) in terms of efficiency.
Consider exactly how you intend to use the lights
This is important because different types of RGB lights are generally designed for different purposes. So, if - for example - you know you will need to use RGB lights outside, you ought to invest in ones that are advertised as waterproof or weatherproof.
Pro tip: Always make sure the IP rating matches your intended use. IP ratings have been devised by the International Electrotechnical Commission - for short, IEC. They’ve created this grading system to help identify how effectively enclosures resist against the intrusion of dust or liquids.
Each product we sell holds an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of at least 65, offering you reliable protection for both indoor and outdoor applications.
How to install RGB lights
1. Select the right RGB lights: Depending on your needs, you could opt for RGB strip lights, floodlights, spotlights - the list goes on, but whichever light type best matches the light’s intended purpose and surrounding aesthetic.
2. Decide where to fit the lights: Whether this will be in an indoor or outdoor space, you should consider how much visible light you need within it - and exactly where within it.
3. Wire up those lights: Once the power supply and RGB controller unit have been securely connected to each light, make sure none of the wiring is left exposed.
4. Finish setting up the lights: Using the controller unit provided, you can make your own brightness and colour selections for the RGB lights.
RGB lighting: Your questions answered
You could still have a fair few questions about RGB lights, given that they are not exactly ‘standard’ LED lights. Here are some informative, to-the-point answers to a number of questions that could be particularly playing on your mind.
How is RGB different from white light?
Each RGB light uses three individual LEDs - red, green, and blue respectively - to achieve a broad colour gamut. In addition, when all three of the diodes shine at their highest intensity, they can collectively produce white lighting.
Still, it bears emphasis that, while RGB lights can create various white hues, none of these are the ‘pure’ white advertised as being offered by alternative LED lighting products.
Do RGB lights use a lot of electricity?
This is an understandable question to ask, as conventional incandescent bulbs are known to turn only about 5% to 10% of the energy they consume into light, with the rest being wasted as heat.
However, LED RGB lights are energy-efficient and can slash energy consumption by up to 90%. Compared to traditional light bulbs, they are much brighter but still produce less heat. In short, they enable you to get a greater return on your energy bills.
How long do RGB lights last?
The lifespan of an RGB light can depend on multiple factors, including the quality of the light itself as well as how it is used.
As a guide, a high-quality LED RGB light that is used correctly over the entire course of its lifespan can work for up to 50,000 hours in total (that’s almost 6 years!).
Can you cut RGB strip lights?
The short answer is that, yes, you can. A major selling point of LED strip lights is how they can be cut down to custom lengths before being put on display.
However, this question has another, longer answer that carries a number of crucial implications: yes, you can often cut RGB LED strips, but you should be careful how you do so. Otherwise, you could inadvertently damage the lights and prevent them from working.
Our TradeLED RGBW (6000K) LED Strip can be cut at 100mm intervals along the marked copper cutting areas - and we have previously provided in-depth guidance for how to cut LED strip lights.
What’s the difference between RGB lighting and RGBW lighting?
The fact that an RGB light has three separate LEDs makes it 3-in-1 chip LED lighting. However, RGBW lighting differs in being 4-in-1 chip LED lighting.
How so? Well, an RGBW light still - like a standard RGB light - has one red diode, one green diode, and one blue diode. Included in addition to those, though, is a white LED capable of producing various whites.
Whether you want lighting in a white tone that is warm, pure, or somewhere between the two, rest assured that going down the RGBW route can unlock all of these lighting effects for you.
For high-quality RGB lights, choose Vision Lighting
You might be a homeowner and interested in using RGB lights to illuminate your domestic property. On the other hand, perhaps you are a business owner wanting RGB lights for your commercial premises, or a tradesperson seeking to offer RGB lighting to customers.
If you are in any of these situations in the UK, Vision Lighting can help:
To learn more about our credentials and use any of our services, simply fill out our online contact form and we’ll get back to you, or phone us directly on 01132 799 745.