LED Lighting Kits: Strips, Pucks and Bar Sets

Counting what the kit actually contains

'Kit' means different things in this aisle. Some listings are a pack of identical lights, such as packs of two, three or four lights that each run on their own. Others are a bracket, connector or mounting set for one fixture model, with no lamp at all. Read the title for the piece count, whether a power adapter, switch or remote is included, and the cable length, because a kit without its adapter is only half a product.

Magnetic, adhesive or screwed down

Installation type is the spec that varies most. Magnetic and adhesive mounts suit rentals and quick changes, but they hold only light fixtures on clean, flat surfaces. Surface and flush mounts take screws and stay put, and bracket or pole mounts are meant for outdoor and industrial use. Check the recommended use too: 'Indoor Only' fixtures should stay out of damp spaces, while indoor/outdoor kits should list a water-resistance rating you can compare.

Questions about LED Lighting Kits: Strips, Pucks and Bar Sets

What does an IP rating on a lighting kit mean?

The first digit rates protection against solid objects, from fingers down to dust, and the second against water. IP20 is indoor only, IP44 survives splashes, and IP65 handles dust and jets of water. A kit with no rating should be treated as dry-location use only.

Can I run several kits from one power supply?

Yes, if the voltage matches and the total wattage stays comfortably below the supply's rating, leaving some headroom. Long cable runs lose voltage, so lights at the far end can look dimmer than the first one.

Are battery-powered lighting kits bright enough?

They suit closets, drawers and cabinets without an outlet, but most are dimmer than plug-in sets and run for hours rather than days at full output. Rechargeable models with a dimmer setting last longer between charges.