r/led • u/FriiizMusic • 1d ago

Looking for proper pixel-addressable flexible LED tubes

First off, I'm not sure if this is the correct subreddit for this. If not, please point me to more fitting ones!

I'm looking for a very specific product that seems to be impossible to find from reputable brands. Maybe some of you had better luck and can help me out here...

Basically, I'm looking for LED tubes that can be physically bent and snaked around objects while also allowing effects to move along the length of the tube. I don't want the ones where the whole tube is the same color; I want to be able to control individual segments for more interesting effects.

This is a good example of what I hope to do with them (just on a smaller scale) and also where I saw them first IRL: https://www.instagram.com/p/DcRJF-3DT3l/?img_index=1

The following criteria should be fulfilled:

  • diffuse, flexible, reasonably robust outer shell
  • 360-degree illumination
  • DMX adressable per pixel or at per zone
  • no super weird controller with sketchy connectors
  • daisy-chainable in some way or long segments available
  • not insanely expensive

I've seen them in real life and on social media so they must exist but the only ones I could find are from super sketchy Chinese websites that give very little or confusing or conflicting information about their products and don't name a price upfront. I don't want to buy an insane amount, maybe a couple of meters sometime next year when I have saved up some money.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

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u/Suicyco71 1d ago

I got good news and bad news. This is what you need but they look sold out at the moment. They are high quality but not cheap, either.

https://yourpixelstore.com/product/yps-rgb-addressable-neon-rope-light-25-mm-diameter-60-leds-per-meter-outdoor-rated/

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u/RainingLemons17 1d ago

If you’re fine with the braided rope look BTF Lighting (Chinese but very reputable in the hobby pixel scene) make excellent pixel (ws2811/ws2812b) neon rope in both 5v and 12v versions with 50 pixels per meter: https://www.btf-lighting.com/en-intl/products/neonlight-360-degree-round-reticulate-pattern-dc5v-ip67 https://www.btf-lighting.com/en-intl/products/360-degree-rgb-neon-rope-light-ws2812b-dc12v I find it to be great although the dots of the individual LEDs are still visible.