Are there waterproof full spectrum LED strip lights for outdoor use?
Yes. Every full spectrum board can be supplied as waterproof LED strip lights for outdoor use — IP65 silicone coated, IP67 sleeved or IP68 fully potted — plus DENO WAP conformal coating, which stays optically clear instead of yellowing under UV. Because the coating adds thermal resistance, outdoor builds use 2-3 oz copper and are specified one drive step below the same board indoors so the colour point and lumen maintenance hold through the warranty period.
Sealing methods and what they cost you
IP65 is a silicone coating over the board, suitable for splash, kitchens and covered exteriors. IP67 uses an extruded silicone sleeve with sealed end caps for exposed façade and landscape work. IP68 is a filled or injection-moulded build for submerged and in-ground installations. Each step adds thermal resistance, so DENO derates drive current on sealed variants to protect lumen maintenance — expect roughly 5–10% lower output at the same nominal wattage.
Yellowing is the failure mode to design out. Standard PU-coated tape yellows under UV and shifts colour, which is unacceptable on a Ra 95 board; DENO WAP conformal coating stays clear and flexible, so the spectral advantage survives outdoor exposure.
Long outdoor runs
Distance, not sealing, is usually the limiting factor outdoors. A 24V constant-voltage full spectrum board covers about 5 m single-feed and 10 m dual-feed at 14.4 W/m with 2 oz copper. Constant-current 12 mm and 20 mm versions regulate per segment, so a single feed holds output flat across 10 m, and 48V builds extend that further where cable trenching is the dominant cost.
Industry references and standards
- Energy & compliance — EU Regulation 2019/2020 (ErP for Light Sources) — Efficacy, flicker (Pst LM) and SVM limits that apply to strips sold in the EU.
- Energy & compliance — ENERGY STAR Lighting Program — North American efficacy and lumen-maintenance benchmarks.
- Engineering standards — IEC 62717 — LED Modules for General Lighting — Performance and lumen-maintenance requirements for LED modules.
More full spectrum answers
- What is the difference between a high CRI LED strip and a full spectrum LED strip?
- Is violet-excited high CRI LED lighting better than a normal blue-chip white LED?
- Is 90 CRI enough, or do you need a 95 or 98 CRI LED strip?
- Which high density LED strip stops you seeing dots in a shallow cove?
- Are high CRI LED strips available in 24V, and do they dim without changing colour?
- Can you use a full spectrum LED strip to grow plants?