Rope Lighting Guide

Factors when Purchasing Rope Light

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Rope light is a hot item frequently used by decorators and installers, to provide affordable accent lighting. Rope light, made of flexible PVC tubing with lights on the interior, can be used for indoor and outdoor decor, in virtually any place that could be made more beautiful and festive with lighting. LynxLite rope light is the leading choice in rope light, offering high quality and a wide selection, to meet endless decorating needs and ideas.

Consider the following important factors when choosing rope light:

• Power usage
• Color
• Diameter
• Wire count

Use rope light in the following creative ways:

Rope Light for Weddings

Parade Float Ideas with Rope Light

Rope Light Holiday Decor

Choosing Incandescent and LED Rope Light

LED White (left) vs.
Incandescent Clear (right)

LynxLite rope light, whether incandescent or LED, offers more lighting, with twelve bulbs per foot with one inch spacing. The bulbs are encased in a strong PVC tubing.

Incandescent rope light - has the benefit of lower up-front costs and lasts up to 3,000 hours.

LED rope light - features concave bulbs, allowing light to cast at a wider angle, as opposed to standard round bulbs. LED rope light uses less energy, which allows for longer runs to be connected together. It can be expected to last up to 100,000 hours. To read more about rope light power consumption, see this chart below:

Rope Light Colors

Color

Both incandescent and LED rope light are available in a wide range of colors such as bright red, green, clear and other cool colors like aqua blue or florescent orange. Bicolor rope light is another creative option, with two colors gradually changing into each other.

What Diameter of Rope Light Do I Need?

Rope light is readily available in 1/2"(13mm) and 3/8"(10mm) diameters. Rope light accessories are typically designed for specific diameter.

1/2" rope light - is the top selling rope light diameter, commonly used for outlining buildings and general holiday decorating.

3/8" rope light - has a thinner PVC tubing and is ideal for designing signs, decorative motifs and anytime making sharper curves becomes necessary.

Flexible LED strip - is a flatter material, so it can be applied to many surfaces similarly to rope light, and uses low voltage.

Animated Rope Light

Wire Count

When using rope light, the wire count needs to remain consistent through all runs of rope light and accessories.

2 wire - is the most popular choice for steady light.

3, 4 and 5 wire rope light - allows for special effects, such as chasing, animated or flashing between multiple colors. It must be paired with a controller for the effects to work. Without the controller, the rope light would be steady.

When to Choose 120V or 12V Rope Light

120V rope light - can be used when there is a power outlet within close proximity.

If there is not a power outlet nearby, 12V rope light should be used. Also known as DC rope light, 12V rope light is ideal for parade floats, bikes, and boats because it uses a convertor or battery for its power supply.

Rope Light Kits vs. Spool- Rope light kits are ideal for smaller projects. Spools are longer in length and allow for customization, making them great for larger projects. For details on customizing and installing rope light, visit the Rope Light Instructions page.