LED aluminum profiles are commonly used these days and are observed in almost all places, including residential projects, commercial spaces, malls, and restaurants. These aluminum profiles have multiple purposes to serve and hence are opted.
They are used to cover the LED lights, and by doing this, it protects the LED strip light and, at the same time, improves the aesthetics of the space.
There are many details about LED aluminum profiles, including their purpose, types, pros, cons, how they can be installed, and much more. This guide below captures every detail you might look forward to understanding about these LED aluminum profiles. So, let’s read below:
What is an LED Aluminum Profile?
LED aluminum profiles are also known as aluminum channels or aluminum extrusions installed to protect the LED strip lights. They cover the LED lights and protect them from all kinds of dust and dirt and, at the same time, also help dissipate the heat of the LED strip quickly.
LED aluminum profiles are quite popular and are capable of being used in all kinds of projects, commercial ones as well as residential ones. It even offers multiple advantages and adds durability to the LED strip lights because it protects them against environmental damage.
These LED aluminum profiles are commonly seen in restaurants and retail stores because they add aesthetic appeal to the spaces in no time.
Functions of LED Aluminum Profiles
Apart from just enhancing the look of a place, there are specific functions performed by the LED aluminum profiles. The functions carried out by these LED aluminum channels are discussed below:
1. Diffusion of Light
The LED aluminum profiles act as a diffuser for the lights. It helps the LED strip light diffuse and creates a scattered light, reducing shadows that are not required. Moreover, it enhances the appearance of the space in a very soft and mellow way that a calming effect can be enjoyed.
2. Heat Dissipation
Every electronic device produces heat in some or the other way. The heat produced by these devices can damage them in the long run; hence it is imperative to ensure that it is dissipated.
When you have an LED strip light installed, you will need to ensure a way that helps dissipate its heat so that it may last longer. Aluminum profiles could help you improve the life of your LED strip lights.
3. Protective Casing
LED aluminum profiles act as a casing that protects the LED strip lights from dust, damage, and even moisture, especially in places where environmental changes are very common this kind of protection is needed.
Types of LED Aluminum Profiles
Aluminum LED profiles are present in multiple options, and every kind of LED strip can quickly be encased into a profile that belongs to the relevant shape and style. Below we have discussed some types of LED aluminum profiles which will help you make an appropriate choice.
1. U-Shaped LED Aluminum Profile
The U-shaped aluminum profile that tends to cover an LED strip is also called a surface-mounted aluminum profile. It is one of the most basic and widely used LED aluminum channels and is very easy to install. It can be used for multiple applications in areas like cabinets, wardrobes, etc., and may easily be mounted using clips. The U-shaped LED aluminum channels are excellent when it comes to the heat dissipating of the LED light; hence it helps improve the life of these lights.
2. T-Shaped LED Aluminum Channels
As the name suggests, T-shaped aluminum channels are made in a recessed style, and this kind of LED profile is recessed within the surface. For instance, it is widely used for cabinets or on wooden shelves.
Installing them is also not very difficult, and it may be snapped by opening the slot of the required LED size and fixing it to the channel.
These LED profiles are available in multiple sizes and can be cut to any required size of the LED strip. Also, many kinds of covers are available in this kind of LED profile; some may be in a milky tone, some frosted, and some clear.
3. LED Aluminum Channels for Corner Lights
LED lights may be installed in the corner areas of space, in the corners of walls, ceilings, stairs, shelves, and wardrobes. These corner lights also need corner channels that comprise a curve and protect the LED lights from bending.
Installing the corner aluminum channels for LED lights is also more or less the same as U-shaped, and you can use clips. These channels are available in multiple sizes; hence, depending on the size of your corner lights, you can customize them.
4. Drywall LED Channels
Drywall LED aluminum channels hide wires and LED strips on the walls. They give a very nice look and do not let anything appear at the front with visibility. In fact, with a lot of care, it holds all the clutter of wires and enhances the wall.
You will come to access these channels mostly at commercial places, and installing them is not possible on your own. It may require professional assistance because it cannot be installed as it is; pre-planning is needed, and everything is fixed within it.
5. LED Aluminum Profiles with Suspension
The trend of suspended lights can never leave the interior designing industry because it creates a pleasing effect. However, do you know that by using LED aluminum profiles, you can even make that suspension effect where a light hangs from the ceiling having a covering of an aluminum profile.
Interior designers deliberately use aluminum profiles with the suspension to enhance the appearance of a place, allowing them to add a lot of versatility to the lighting style.
The LED aluminum profiles are suspended from the ceiling using rods made of stainless steel or ropes made using the same material, and it covers the LED light.
6. Round LED Aluminum Channel
Round LED aluminum channels are usually used for decorative purposes because they are suspended from the ceiling and are in a circular layout covering the LED lights. They look incredibly beautiful and suit residential spaces and highly luxury-oriented commercial places.
Multiple options are available for this kind of profile as they can be in different diameters, and there is a lot of room to adjust the light direction in this kind of aluminum profile.
7. Wardrobe Closet Hanging LED Aluminum Profiles
The railing style of the LED aluminum profile is quite suitable for a wardrobe as it can replace the hanger railing and offer a dual purpose; it can be used as a light and hanger.
The railing-style LED channels are usually of such a layout that they comprise the diffuser at the end of the rod and are a little oval in shape.
8. Waterproof LED Aluminum Channel
LED lights have been installed outdoors, and one of the main risks is protecting against rain because it could cause a lot of damage to the light. In this case, a water-resistant LED aluminum channel could be a savior because it protects the light from rainwater and, at the same time, improves its life.
9. Wall Mounted LED Aluminum Profile
An LED aluminum profile can be mounted on the walls so that indirect lighting can be created around the area, and it helps light up the passage to allow people to walk without any darkness or chance of hitting or falling.
10. LED Aluminum Profiles for Stairs
LED aluminum profiles are widely used to light up the staircases to allow people to walk carefully when the surroundings are dark, and the best example of these can be seen in cinemas.
However, apart from cinemas, these can also be used in commercial and residential spaces for lighting the staircase.
11. LED Aluminum Profile for Floors
The LED aluminum profile is present in outdoor areas of hospitals and commercial places because it acts as ground lighting, which helps to guide emergency exits and, at the same time, is helpful in darkness.
These profiles are installed within the ground and are quite durable because they are installed outdoors mostly and hence are subjected to the harsh environment with people walking over, yet they last longer.
12. Optic Lens LED Aluminum Channel
Based on an optic lens, the LED aluminum profile has a slightly curved diffuser rather than a flat one; hence, the lighting angle can be changed. These aluminum channels are primarily used in spaces where lighting with a narrow beam is needed.
13. LED Aluminum Profile with Glass Shelf
These aluminum profiles are used specifically with color-changing LED strip lights and for decorative purposes. These are more or less the same as the u-shaped LED aluminum profiles, but instead of a diffuser, they have glass installed, which helps in light illumination.
14. Bendable LED Aluminum Profiles
As the name suggests, LED aluminum profiles that are adjustable and may be bent with the help of a hand are called bendable LED aluminum profiles.
15. Custom Curved Aluminum Profiles
Curved LED lighting allows us to create different lighting designs. It can help us meet lighting designers requirements. We can arrange it into different patterns and shapes by using flexible circuit boards.
What is an LED Channel Diffuser?
PC diffuser is installed within the LED aluminum profiles and offers multiple benefits as they are very much sustainable; they do not harm the environment by using environmentally friendly plastics. On the other hand, this material does not burn; hence heat might not cause any damage.
The cover of the led aluminum profile provides dust, moisture, and UV radiation protection for the led strips inside the aluminum profile. The cover can also be used as a diffuser or lens for the LED strip. Covers can be transparent cover, opal cover, milky cover, smoked black cover, porcelain white cover. Our standard cover are opal PC cover. The transmittance is 75-85%.
Opal Cover
Opal Frosted Cover
Transparent Cover
Transparent Frosted Cover
Milky Cover
Milky Frosted Cover
Smoked Black Cover
Porcelain White Cover
Surface Finishing Options for LED Aluminum Profiles
LED aluminum profiles are anodized, which helps add multiple features to these profiles. For instance, they become long-lasting, a decorative finishing can be added through anodization, and it becomes corrosion-resistant.
Apart from anodizing, other methods could be opted for finishing LED aluminum profiles, which consists of painting them, dipping them in the gloss or adding a powder coating layer.
However, when choosing to anodize, the different kinds of anodized finishing options are white, black, and silver.
Silver(Anodized)
Black(Anodized)
Black(Powder Coated)
White(Powder Coated)
Components of LED Aluminum Profile
The LED aluminum profile is not just standalone aluminum used to create this profile. There are other components as well that form to be a part of it, and these are discussed below:
1. Heat Sink
A heat sink is an LED aluminum profile’s most basic and essential part. It is made using aluminum and helps the LED strip in heat dissipation, which is very important to ensure the durability of light.
2. Diffuser
There are two kinds of diffusers in an LED aluminum profile: PMMA or PC. The role of diffusers is to carry out light diffusion and add a covering over the LED strip.
3. End Caps
The end caps are at the two ends of the LED aluminum profile and may be made of plastic or aluminum. These consist of holes so that the wires of the LED strip may quickly get through them. Some of the LED aluminum profiles are even without holes.
4. Cable and Clips
A stainless steel cable is required to suspend the LED aluminum profiles, which is suitable for hanging or suspending LED lights.
Moreover, mounting the LED aluminum profiles on the wall or ceiling mounting clips are also used.
Apart from these, some accessories comprise brackets for suspension and rotation and connectors that help fix the LED aluminum profile.
Advantages of LED Aluminum Profiles
LED aluminum profiles are quite beneficial, and that is what makes them an essential consideration in terms of installing LED lighting. Some of the benefits offered by these aluminum profiles are discussed below:
1. Improvement of the Illumination
LED aluminum profiles help improve lighting effectiveness and eliminate light spots; choosing a relevant diffuser adds uniformity to the lighting impact.
2. Protective Covering
One of the reasons that LED aluminum profiles are chosen is because they add a protective layer around LED lights. LED lights can be damaged by environmental exposure, and hence to protect them from that, LED aluminum profiles are used because it protects them against dirt, dust, and moisture.
3. Balancing of Temperature
Electronic devices of all kinds are subjected to the release of heat, and when it comes to the LED aluminum profile, adding a covering to the LED light strip could protect it from overheating.
This covering dissipates the heat, so the light’s temperature stays balanced, ensuring it doesn’t damage.
4. Offers Flexibility
LED aluminum profiles are very flexible; you can find multiple shapes, sizes, and even styles which leads to adding almost every kind of adjustment to the LED light strips. You can play with the lighting effects by choosing the different types of LED aluminum profiles.
5. Easy to Fix and Maintain
LED aluminum profiles are straightforward to fix; most need no professional assistance except for a few; hence, you can easily set them up independently. They come with mounting clips, which can easily be fixed through drilling; therefore, installation takes no time.
Apart from installation, cleaning and maintaining them is also very easy, and the diffuser can be cleaned when needed without causing any damage to the LED strip. It doesn’t require any additional maintenance or care.
Disadvantages of LED Aluminum Profiles
LED aluminum profiles are backed with multiple benefits, but they do have some downsides as well, which must be focused and these are discussed below:
1. Additional Expense
LED aluminum profiles are an additional expense along with the space’s lighting. LED aluminum profiles are expensive. However, they are worth installing but will hit your budget for sure.
2. Impact on Lumen Output
LED aluminum profiles act as a covering over the lights; therefore, they tend to impact the color temperature and the lumen of light. Depending upon the diffuser, you have to choose the brightness, and sometimes you have to compromise on it.
How to Install LED Aluminum Profile?
Installing the LED aluminum profile is an important aspect to look into, and usually, it can be done independently with no professional help; however, in some instances, there might be a need for a professional installation depending on the type of aluminum profile selected.
However, the steps involved in installing the LED aluminum profile are as follows.
1. Mounting the LED Aluminum Channel
The first stage of installing the LED aluminum profile is mounting them using different accessories, including brackets, screws, cables, and fasteners. Every kind of aluminum profile has a different mounting technique used.
- As for the surface mount aluminum profile can be mounted using a double-sided table, screws, or fasteners, and once the profile is installed, the LED strip can be fixed inside using double-sided tape.
- In the case of a recessed mount LED aluminum profile, a recess needs to be dug in the ceiling or wall, and then the profile is mounted with the help of clamps.
- Corner mount profiles are mounted with the right beam of angles; for this, the mounting brackets offer an excellent way to mount the channel.
2. Fixing the LED Strip Light in the Aluminum Profile
The aluminum channel will have a peeling tape which you have to remove, and over this, you will stick your LED strip light, and it’s done. This stage is one of the most straightforward steps of installing the LED aluminum profile, which needs peeling and sticking and takes just a few minutes.
3. Assemble the Cover on LED Aluminum Profile
The final stage is fitting the LED aluminum profile cover into the LED aluminum profile. You have to insert it and press a little from the ends, and you will hear a click sound. Once you hear that sound, you can assume that the cover has been fixed.
Factors to Consider When Choosing an LED Aluminum Profile
Since there are many types of LED aluminum profiles hence choosing the one that is right for you is essential, there are some factors that you must consider when selecting the LED aluminum profile, and these may comprise the following:
1. Size of the Light
The size of the LED strip light is one of the primary considerations that need to be considered when choosing the LED aluminum profile. If the length and width of the LED strip light don’t match the LED aluminum profile, it won’t fix it and will be useless.
2. Density of Light
The density of light and diffusion of light is directly proportional, and when the LED has a higher density, the diffusion will also be higher. Hence, the type of diffuser installed matters a lot; if no attention is paid to this aspect, many spots will be seen in the light.
Different kinds of lighting requirements predict the type of diffuser needed. In case of high-brightness light, a transparent diffuser goes well; for indirect lighting, the opal diffuser is a better choice.
On the other hand, if you aim to install these LED lights for decorative purposes only, choosing the suspended LED aluminum profiles is a better option.
3. Defining the Project Expectations
Different kinds of LED aluminum profiles are suitable for different uses and places. For instance, when an aluminum profile has to be installed outdoors, it must be waterproof. On the other hand, corner LED aluminum profiles are present for corner light strips and much more.
So, you need to define your project in terms of purpose and location, and then you can choose the LED aluminum profile you need.
How you look forward to mounting your light also matters: the kind of surface you have, the type of ceilings where you wish to install the LED aluminum profile, etc., will help determine the right option.
Conclusion
Lighting is essential no matter which space it tends to cover. Hence, it is imperative to ensure that the LED aluminum channel is also carefully selected along with choosing the right LED light.
As you must have read above, the role played by LED aluminum profiles is essential, and choosing a different type of profile in terms of style and diffusers will cause an impact on its brightness and color contrast. So, consider the above-suggested details when making a selection and make sure to opt for a reputable manufacturer.
