Festoon vs rope light (LED strip light): which is better on site?
The short answer
Festoon gives bright pools of light from lamp heads at intervals; it's quick to hang and suits stairwells, scaffolds and open floors. Rope light, also called LED strip light, gives a continuous, even line of light with no dark gaps between heads, which suits long corridors, data halls and walkways. Both run on 110V, and both can be made emergency.
LED festoon (128266)
LED rope light / strip light (137890)
Light
20 heads x 6.5W on a 50m run
780 lm per metre, continuous
Length
50m kits
25m and 50m reels, link up to 100m
Power
About 130W per 50m
5.5W per metre
Emergency option
Emergency festoon 132706, or conversion pack 137646
Emergency pack 138223
A super bright rope light (137891, 1,200 lm per metre) is also available. For stairwells, see how to light a stairwell.
How many festoon lights can I run off one transformer?
Each of our 50m LED festoon kits draws about 130W (20 heads of 6.5W). A 16A outlet at 110V supplies up to about 1,760W, so add up the kits on each outlet, leave headroom, and keep the total within the transformer's continuous rating. Check the festoon spec sheet for how many kits can be linked in one run, or ask us and we'll work it out for your site.
Need it tomorrow? Order by 1pm.
Send us your list, a drawing or just a description of the job. We'll come back with a quote within an hour and have it on its way next day, or ready to collect from Bristol or London.
