1、 Check the solder joints

The LED strips produced by legitimate neon strip manufacturers are produced using SMT SMT technology, solder paste, and reflow soldering process. Therefore, the solder joints on the light strip are relatively smooth and the amount of solder is not too much. The solder joints extend in an arc shape from the FPC pad to the neon light electrode. However, the soldering amount of the counterfeit version of the light strip is uneven, often forming a circular dot that wraps around the solder legs, and there may be varying degrees of solder tips, which is a typical phenomenon of manual soldering.

2、 Check FPC quality

FPC is divided into two types: deposited copper and rolled copper. The copper foil on the copper plate is protruding, which can be seen from the connection between the solder pad and FPC upon closer inspection. Rolling copper is closely integrated with FPC and can be bent arbitrarily without the occurrence of solder pad detachment. If the copper plate is bent too much, it will cause the solder pads to fall off, and if the temperature is too high during maintenance, it will also cause the solder pads to fall off.

3、 Check the cleanliness of the surface of neon lights

If SMT technology is used to produce light strips, the surface cleanliness is very good, and no impurities or stains are visible. However, if the counterfeit version of the light strip produced by hand welding technology is used, no matter how it is cleaned, there will be residual stains and cleaning marks on the surface, and there will be flux and tin residue on the FPC surface.

4、 Look at the packaging

Legitimate neon light strips will be packaged in anti-static roll trays, usually in rolls of 5 meters or 10 meters, and then sealed with anti-static and moisture-proof packaging bags on the outside. The counterfeit version of the light strip will use a recycled roll material tray to save costs, and there will be no anti-static and moisture-proof packaging bags. Upon closer inspection of the roll material tray, you can see the marks and scratches left by the label on the surface.

5、 View tags

Regular neon light packaging bags and roll up trays will have printed labels on them, rather than printed labels. The labels in the knockoff version are printed, and the specifications and parameters are not consistent.

6、 See attachment

Regular light strips will be accompanied by instructions and specifications in the packaging box, and will also be equipped with light strip connectors or card holders; However, the counterfeit version of the light strip packaging box does not contain these accessories, because some manufacturers can still save as much as possible.