SK6812 4020 Side View LED Strip

A side view LED strip is designed for edge lighting, where you want the light to shoot out parallel to the mounting surface. Think of it for creating a 'glow' effect around signs, under shelves, or inside tight coves where a normal top-firing strip would just hit the back wall. It makes any edge-lit led project look clean because you can hide the strip itself completely from view.

It's all about the direction of light. On a standard LED strip, the LEDs point straight up, away from the PCB. A side emitting LED strip has its 4020 LEDs mounted on their side, so the light fires out at a 90-degree angle to the strip's surface. This lets you mount the strip flat on a surface and have the light project outwards along that surface, which is impossible with a top-firing strip.

For our SK6812 4020 side view LED strips, look at the connector or the markings on the PCB itself. The positive wire is almost always red for +5V or +12V/24V. The negative or ground wire is usually white or black (GND), and the data line is typically green (DIN/Data). It's a common mistake to mix these up, so always double-check the printed labels right next to the solder pads before powering it on.

These side glow LED strips are designed for accent and decorative lighting, not for primary room illumination. Their job is to create a distinct line of light or a halo effect. Brightness varies by density—a 144 LEDs/m strip will be much brighter than a 60 LEDs/m version. Always check the lumen (lm/m) rating on the product page, but plan on using them for visual effects, not for task lighting.

A DIY LED lighting project with these is very manageable if you get the three main parts right: power, data, and ground. Unlike simple strips, these are addressable, so you need a dedicated pixel controller, not a regular dimmer. You'll have three wires: positive, negative, and a data line that tells each LED what color to be. Just match the voltage of your strip, power supply, and controller, and you're most of the way there.

You must use an addressable, or 'pixel', controller that supports the SK6812/WS2811/UCS1903 driver IC. A standard RGB or RGBW controller won't work because it can't send data to individual LEDs. We stock a wide range of addressable SPI controllers, from simple remotes to powerful units that work with DMX or smartphone apps like WLED and Madrix. Match the controller's voltage to your strip's voltage (5V, 12V, or 24V).

The maximum run length for a SK6812 4020 side view LED strip before you see voltage drop depends heavily on the voltage. For 5V strips, we recommend injecting power every 5 meters (16.4ft). With 12V, you can often get to 10 meters, and with 24V, you might push it to 15 meters on lower-density strips. Running longer than that from one end will starve the LEDs at the far end of power.

Some are, but you have to select the right IP rating. A standard IP20 strip has no protection and is for indoor use only. For outdoor signs or damp locations, you'll need an IP65 (silicone coated) or IP67 (silicone tube) version. The coating protects against rain and splashes. For fully submerged use, you need IP68. Just remember to use waterproof connectors like our IP68 connector series to keep the whole installation sealed.

The main difference is how the light looks up close. An SMD (Surface Mounted Device) strip has visible, individual 4020 LED chips. A COB (Chip on Board) side emitting LED strip has the LEDs packed so tightly together under a continuous layer that it looks like a solid, dot-free line of light. If your strip is going to be visible or reflected in a glossy surface, COB gives a much cleaner, more professional look.

Absolutely. This is a huge part of what we do. A lot of the side emitting LED strips we ship are built to a customer's drawing. Just send us your required lengths, what kind of wire leads you need, and any other specs. An engineer will send back a complete parts list, wiring diagram, and a quote, usually within 12 hours. There's no fee for this service and no obligation to order. It's how we make sure your install goes perfectly the first time.