Thanks to its versatility and flexibility, LED tape lighting is widely used as a creative lighting solution in residential and commercial work. Often called strip lights or ribbon lights, LED tape lights are popular with designers and decorators because they install easily and offer real range in color, length and customization. Tape light goes practically anywhere and illuminates nearly anything: kitchen counters, railings, toe kicks, stairs, behind mirrors, and tucked into spaces you wouldn’t think possible. Certain types display hundreds of colors, adding accents to cabinets, TVs, shelving or recessed cove details. Most LED tape can be trimmed to fit or extended for longer runs.
With so many options on the market, choosing LED tape lighting can drain the fun right out of it. There’s no simple rule and no one size fits all answer. At PROLIGHTING we’ve tried to make buying quality tape light easier for contractors and DIYers alike by carrying the Trulux™ LED tape lighting system from American Lighting. The system combines high CRI tape, compatible wireless controls and linear extrusions for genuine customization. Anyone from novice to professional can use the commercial grade Trulux™ system, and the difference against big box tape shows up quickly.
Trulux LED Tape Lighting Basics
Trulux™ is one of the more complete linear lighting systems available. With the tape and its matching components you can build custom fixtures for kitchens, laundry rooms, offices and more, in a range of white color temperatures, color changing and specialty options.
The LEDs sit on a 10mm circuit board sold in rolls or reels that cut to length. Which type you choose depends on the project. The Trulux™ system comes in standard grade, high output, spec grade, tunable CCT, RGB, and RGB plus CCT tunable, each with its own compatible controls. RGB refers to individual red, green and blue LEDs that mix to create colors with the help of an RGB controller.
Dotted or Dotless? SMD vs COB
Trulux™ now comes in COB (chip on board) alongside traditional SMD. SMD spaces individual diodes along the strip. COB runs a continuous phosphor coated line with no visible dots.
If the tape will be seen, reflected in a countertop, or installed in a shallow cove, COB is worth the small premium. For a concealed cove where nobody sees the source, SMD is still perfectly good.
We cover the full comparison, including when SMD is the better buy, in our guide to COB LED strip light.
Brightness
Lumen output is one of the most important factors when choosing LED tape lighting, because it determines the kind of light you get.
Trulux™ standard grade single color works well for accent light, giving soft illumination in four color temperatures from 2400K to 4000K. For task lighting where you need more, choose standard or high output with more lumens per foot. High output makes a noticeably bigger impact. Spec grade suits very large open commercial applications. All are available in the same temperature range.
Different projects need different brightness. Our PRO tip: go for the brighter option and add a dimmer. Guides for lumen requirements:
- Accent or mood lighting: 100 to 300 lumens per foot
- Under cabinet lighting: 175 to 350 lumens per foot
- Task lighting with greater distance from the source: 300 to 450 lumens per foot
- Recessed slot or cove lighting: 180 to 500 lumens per foot
Flexibility
Customizing lengths is simple thanks to cut marks along each strip. At each cut point there’s a black line with copper solder pads on either side. Those pads let you link sections together using connectors. Every section and spool has pre applied peel and stick 3M adhesive backing for easy mounting.
Worth knowing: connectors are the most ordered part of this system by a wide margin. The HD snap connectors, power feeds and jumpers outsell most individual tape SKUs, because almost every real install needs to get around a corner, jump a gap or feed power from somewhere awkward. Budget for them at the start rather than discovering the shortfall mid install.
Trulux™ isn’t limited to indoor projects. Each strip comes in unjacketed (IP54) and jacketed (IP65) versions. The IP65 jacketed versions are dust tight and water resistant for outdoor use: under eaves on gazebos and decks, around outdoor kitchens and bars, and under stairs for walkway visibility at night. High output tape suits outdoor areas when jacketed, since it’s three times brighter than standard grade. For anything outdoors, always choose IP65.
For harsher environments, Trulux™ offers silicone encased submersible tape. Available in single color and RGB, this IP68 rated waterproof tape holds its rating when sealed with IP68 end caps and neutral cure silicone. It suits pools, ponds, fountains, landscaping and coastal environments in constant contact with water or direct sun. Submersible is cuttable once per reel, and it’s a special order item rather than something we stock, so confirm lead time before you commit.
American Lighting also offers bendable tape, which installs around curves via preformed notches. That’s the answer for back lighting mirrors and signs, and for curvilinear coves where standard tape would kink.
Customization with Extrusions
Whether you want a quick way to lift kitchen cabinets or a fully built in look, the Trulux™ system covers it. The adhesive backing works well, but some applications want more. That’s where extrusions come in.
Extrusions give you a more professional finish and handle complex installations like under cabinets, display shelving and stairs. They should also be used on under railing applications, where they secure the tape for a far longer lasting install. The aluminum channel houses the strip against the bottom of the track and a UV protected lens slides over the top to diffuse the light into an even glow.
Two things extrusions solve that adhesive alone doesn’t. They act as a heat sink, which extends LED life in enclosed or warm locations, and they hide the diodes, which matters far less if you’ve chosen COB but matters a great deal with SMD.
Angled extrusions, including 45 degree profiles, lend themselves to window framing, jewelry retail, display cases and custom under cabinet fixtures.
Controls
Wall mount and handheld radio frequency controls are available alongside DMX. Wall controls come in dial and touch versions that pair with the Trulux™ app. Wi-Fi options suit larger projects needing control across multiple zones.
One thing to plan early: tape light needs a constant voltage driver sized to the run, at 12V or 24V. Use only about 80% of the driver’s rated wattage so it isn’t running stressed. A 96W driver should carry no more than 77W of tape. On longer runs, watch for voltage drop, which shows up as the far end of the run reading dimmer than the start. Feeding power from the middle of a run rather than one end is the usual fix.
Our Top Pick: Trulux Tape Light Kits
That’s a summary rather than a deep dive, and we know it’s a lot to hold in your head. For an easier all in one option, browse our Trulux™ LED Tape Light Kits.
Each ready to install kit comes with a handheld remote, driver, receiver, connectors and tape light, so there’s nothing to piece together. The current kit range includes COB Pro kits in standard and high output, plus Spektrum+ RGB and CCT tunable kits in a damp location rating.
At PROLIGHTING we carry everything you need to customize a Trulux™ system, including controllers, dimmers, power supplies, connectors and end caps. You can also browse our full range of LED tape lighting across other brands if Trulux isn’t the right fit.
If you have questions about which accessories your installation needs, our certified lighting PROs can help. They’ll work through a layout with you and make sure the driver, connectors and tape all match. Give us a call, email, or use the live chat on our website.
Updated September 2026
Comments are closed.