Amphenol Spectra-Strip Fiber Optics

Amphenol Spectra-Strip

New TapeLite® and XpandoLite® Fiber Optic Lighting Cables

Ribbon Fiber Lighting Technology - this ain't your father's neon!

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TapeLite® is a new, rugged, and totally passive optical lighting flat cable.
TapeLite intentionally violates the fiber's maximum acceptance angle by simultaneously twisting all the optical fibers, thus causing most of the light to escape through the fiber's outside cladding.
TapeLite fibers are then laminated between a combination of reflective and clear plastic films. The reflective film is intended to reflect any available light that is side emitted back towards the viewer.

Other Videos:
TapeLite in Moving Color
Shows how colors "wash" across the cable...very unique!

TapeLite as Room Perimeter Lighting
TapeLite as Room Perimeter Lighting 34 ft cables, driven by two RGB LEDs in a conference room, DMX controlled.

TapeLite in Union Square Manhattan
Exciting architectural lighting application of a major installation in New York City.

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XpandoLite ® can bend in any axis and expands up to 2 feet wide wherever the expansion is desired.
XpandoLite intentionally violates the fiber's maximum acceptance angle by simultaneously twisting all the optical fibers, thus causing most of the light to escape through the fiber's outside cladding.
As the entire cable is continuously "transverse split" between pairs, this "web" type expansion provides for wave like effects anywhere your creative application requires.
Themesh/web like construction allows for endless opportunities forpresenting exciting indirect lighting effects. This flexibility towrap, twist, bunch, hang, and attach gives designers a new set ofcreative options.
Color opportunities are unlimited. XpandoLite allows for incorporating all of the capabilities provided by the various illuminator styles and types.
No bulbs to burn out. Remote power source keeps electrical components at a safe distance.
Perfect for wet or hazardous areas.
Much more distribution friendly; one size can be used for many applications.

Why Design with Tapelite or XpandoLite?

TapeLite ® and XpandoLite ® represent a whole new dimension in lighting from Amphenol Spectra - Strip . These unique, patent pending, non-electrical, flat side emitting lighting cable system s achieve side light emitting by intentionally violating the fiber 's maximum acceptance angle by simultaneously twisting all of the optical fibers , thus causing most of the light to escape through the fiber's outside cladding.

TapeLite ® and XpandoLite® are designed to accept a wide range of illuminator s including quartz halogen, metal halide, and RGB LED. Color wheels can be added to provide a variety of constant or changeable color options. When color wheels are used, a very interesting visual effect occurs: as the color wheel turns, color changes actually "move" across the width of the cable . When TapeLite or XpandoLite are coupled with RGB LED illuminators , almost endless combination of colors, dimming, cross fading, and blinking can be simply programmed into the illuminator and controlled via DMX. Cables are intrinsically safe. No electricity flows through the cable, so installation under water is easy and safe. Cables are "green" technology. A 50 foot length driven by two illuminators uses only 1.4 watts per foot. There are no bulbs to burn out.

Amphenol Spectra-Strip TapeLite Video from YouTube

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Amphenol Spectra-Strip XpandoLite Video from YouTube

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Fiber Optics vs. Neon

Fiber offers almost infinite colors. Neon can not change colors
TapeLite is 3.3" wide. Neon is limited to half inch diameter
Fiber uses as little as 1.4 watts/foot. Neon uses 4.25 watts/foot.
Fiber is virtually maintenance free. RGB LED illuminators are rated for 50,000 hours. Neon is maintenance intense, especially in cold weather and can break.

Fiber Optics vs. LED Light Strips

LED strip lights consist of many LEDs wired and mounted onto a PC board inside a protective housing. Fiber is much simpler: A fiber system consists of illuminators and a length of all plastic cable . Mounting track is optional but not required.
LED strip lights required electrical connections between each tube length by an electrician, sometimes even soldered, Illuminators simply plug into standard power outlets.
On a small building, LED strip lights require tens of thousands of LED bulbs and hundreds of connections with section failures as different times. As they expand and contract, the seals will separate and water will short out the LEDs. Fiber eliminates these serious problems. There is nothing to short out and no safety hazard.
LED strip lights can not be used under water due to the electrical hazard. Fiber can be used with absolute total safety under water.
LED strip lights generally use 4 watts/foot for a 1" wide strip (as high as 17.5 watts/foot). TapeLite uses as little as 1.4 watts/foot for a 3.3 inch wide strip.
TapeLite is RoHS compliant; LED strip lights do not meet RoHS requirements for elimination of heavy metals in the environment.
TapeLite has high visibility with a wash of color that changes and can blink or color change at any rate. The high power consumption and cost per foot of LED strip lights make wide displays cost prohibitive.
Maintenance of LED strip lights is expensive for replacement of degraded LEDS and labor costs. TapeLite's illuminators are rated for 50,000 hours and the TapeLite cable itself has a service life of 10 years (limited only by UV exposure).