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LED strip for the kitchen - choose wisely, install quickly

Do you want to add LED lighting to your kitchen but don't know how? Let's go through all the stages of this simple path together. I will tell you in detail which tape to choose, where it can be fixed, and most importantly, how to properly install all this equipment with your own hands.

Choose, calculate, buy

In fact, it is quite easy to hang such a backlight with your own hands, for an amateur it is much more important not to make a mistake when purchasing components.

Choosing an LED strip

LED strips differ in several parameters and the first characteristic is the number of diodes per linear meter:

The minimum here is 30 points per 1 m/p. Next comes 60 and 120 diodes per meter. But in the SMD3528 model there is a double tape, where 240 LEDs are located per 1 m / n.

Naturally, the more lighting points, the more powerful the luminous flux, as for the kitchen, I recommend choosing models from 60 diodes and above. If you need intimacy and twilight, you can easily adjust this with a dimmer (more on that later).

The next characteristic is the dimensions of the diodes themselves, they can be determined by the first digits of the marking. So in the SMD3528 model, the size of the diodes is 3.5x2.8 mm, and 5x5 mm elements are installed on the SMD5050 tape. There are also SMD5060, SMD5630 and SMD5730 models on our market, but they are not very popular in everyday life.

Now let's talk about the degree of moisture protection. There are 3 main areas in this niche:

• IP33- not a protected tape at all, with completely open conductive paths and LEDs. Designed for dry rooms, it is not recommended to mount it in kitchens, but I install IP33 in a closed box and it works fine;
• IP65- this tape is filled with silicone on top. Such models were developed just for kitchens;
• IP67 and IP68- fully sealed illuminators. That is, silicone is poured both from above and from below.

Silicone protection is a good thing, but it is advisable to mount such tapes on a metal base, because closed LEDs overheat and quickly burn out.

Now let's look at the intricacies of marking. For example, I took the standard marking LED 12V RGB SMD 5050 120 IP65, this model is used more than others for kitchen lighting.

If you want to install lighting with a full color spectrum, then take models with the WRGB marking - these are the most powerful tapes, but they are also the most expensive.

Choosing a power supply and control system

Such lighting is considered low-voltage and requires a step-down transformer or power supply, as it is commonly called. The vast majority of such tapes are supplied with 12V, 24V blocks were previously used, but now they are rare.

Calculating which block you need is simple: any tape comes with an instruction that indicates the power consumption of the product per 1 m / n, you need to multiply the number of meters by the design capacity and add 20-30% to the reserve.

By the way, the control unit (dimmer) is selected in the same way, only the current is taken into account there: find out from the instructions how many milliamps go per 1 m / n, multiply by the number of meters and add a margin.

When selecting tapes and power supplies for them, please note that 1 tape cannot be longer than 5 m, if you need more, you will have to connect the next tape, but they are connected not in series, but in parallel and so on ad infinitum, the main thing is that the power of the block and the dimmer enough.

Below I give the 3 most common schemes:

1. This circuit is considered the simplest, here the connection goes directly from the power supply to the LED strips. Such a system will cost inexpensively, but it turns out to be unregulated, the diodes will shine at full power;

1. In this case, you will have the opportunity to adjust the level of light flux, because a dimmer is included in it. Although there is a full-fledged regulator with a control panel, it makes no sense to buy a conventional rheostat attached in a convenient place. Ribbons are used monochrome, that is, one-color;

1. This is how full-color RGB systems are connected. The inclusion of amplifiers in the circuit is not necessary, but desirable, especially if the length of the tapes is taken to the maximum (5 m) and there are several such tapes.

We mount the tape under the cabinets with our own hands

Most often, an LED strip is installed in the kitchen under the cabinets, so it turns out the simultaneous illumination of the working area and the illumination of the apron. Although, according to the same principles, this lighting can be mounted anywhere in the kitchen.

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Tool and material: Screwdriver; soldering iron; Side cutters; Solder; Rosin; Heat shrink or electrical tape; Voltage indicator; If you plan to cut the tape into the bottom of the cabinet, you will need a router.
	Accessories: The photo shows the order of connection: The power supply unit converts the voltage from 220V to 12V; Further, this voltage is applied to the controller, which in this case simultaneously performs the function of an amplifier; The controller also receives a signal from the control panel, for this it has an IR sensor, in other words, an antenna; From the controller, power is supplied to the LED strip itself. Power supplies, controllers, amplifiers and tapes may be different, but the principle of connection does not change from this.
	Light box. Of course, the tape can be glued directly to the base, for example, on the bottom of a kitchen cabinet, but this will heat it up, plus not everyone likes the exposed tape. Therefore, we will hide it in an aluminum box covered with a translucent overlay. The aluminum box will act as a radiator and cool the LEDs; Such a box is easier to clean and the tape is protected in it, therefore, you can take an inexpensive IP33 model.
	Choice of boxes. The box can be selected for any mounting location - in a corner, on an edge, internal or external, as well as choose a smaller or larger angle of illumination. On the market, I took an ordinary box for 350 rubles. per bar 2m, in the store the price for the same bar is 90 rubles higher.
	Measure and cut the tape. The tape is sold by the meter, but you only need to cut it in places intended for soldering, on many models scissors are drawn there.
	tape extension . If you need to go around a corner or build up a longer section of lighting, then in the places of the cut, the contacts are stripped and soldered with jumpers. It’s hard to make a mistake there: you connect plus with plus, and minus with minus.
	Multicolor Ribbons. In RGB tapes, 4 wires are soldered by color (there are symbols on the tape): R - red (red); G - green (green); B - blue (blue); V - common. The main thing for you then is not to confuse the connection of the plug from the LEDs with the plug from the controller, for this they have arrows.
	Using a connector. The connector is a kind of clamp, the contacts are inserted into the grooves and clamped with a bar. These adapters allow you to do without soldering, but I don’t use such things and I don’t advise you. In the kitchen, the contacts can oxidize, and then you get tired of looking for the point where exactly the break occurred, so far nothing has been invented better than soldering.
	Preliminary check. It is advisable to connect the wires from the very beginning, so that later you do not climb into uncomfortable places with a soldering iron. Do-it-yourself installation begins with assembling the circuit and connecting it to the network, you must make sure that everything works correctly. If you plan to install a stationary switch, then remember - it is placed before the power supply.
	Box fixing. For outdoor installation, the box can be glued to a kitchen set or wall using liquid nails or double-sided tape. But it is better to take special grips and mount on them. Everything is simple there: the grip is screwed to the base with a self-tapping screw, and then a box is inserted into the grooves.
	Insert option. Outdoor installation is much easier, but the LED box can be cut directly into furniture, although you will need a hand router for this. Of course, more work, but the effect is much better.
	Installing the innards. It is better to hide the power supply and controller. The photo shows the placement option in the closet above the hood, but you can choose any place. The only thing I do not advise you to do is to throw the control group on the roof of the cabinet. In the kitchen, after a couple of months, all appliances will be covered with a sticky coating and it will be difficult to wash it.
	Finished result. Job done, now you can use it. I talked about the option of installing a small backlight in the box, but this is far from the only way to arrange it. Below in the video in this article there are alternative and, by the way, quite easy-to-install options.

Output

It doesn't matter if you are planning to illuminate the work area, an apron or a stream, according to the recommendations above, you can easily cope with any of these tasks. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

June 16, 2017

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Lighting effects have long been successfully used by designers as a decorative element or to highlight various functional areas. But not every one of us is so friendly with an electrician to mount lighting fixtures as we wish. But with the advent of LED strips, it is quite possible to arrange additional light sources and various interior "chips" with your own hands, not only in living rooms, but also in the kitchen. Therefore, we propose to learn everything about the LED ceiling lighting with a ribbon: how to install, choose the right components and use it for the original design of the room.

To illuminate a false ceiling, there are several types of illumination - from various "point" devices to a system with conductive paths on which diodes are mounted. The latter option is interesting in that it does not require special skills for installation, consumes a minimum of electricity and can be used to illuminate any interior element. Agree, such a decision deserves attention, therefore, we will consider it in more detail.

Lighting effects can be an interesting accent for the interior of the kitchen:

Interesting! LED backlighting is considered the most profitable in terms of savings, because 1 diode will consume only 0.65 kW / h for 12 hours of uninterrupted operation.

Types of LED backlight

For decorative lighting in the store, you can be offered dense “rulers” on a rigid substrate or duralights - cords with a glow angle of 360 degrees. But the most widely used boards on a flexible basis, which we used to call LED strips.

Boards with diodes are produced wound on round bobbins, this protects the system from creases and other damage.

LEDs can be used as a primary, additional light source or simply for decorative purposes. Therefore, choose the option that is most suitable for your interior and ceiling configuration.

1. General lighting - involves the complete replacement of traditional lamps with LEDs. To do this, several powerful tapes are installed around the perimeter and behind the stretch ceiling film. True, this option is not common, since the purchase of a large number of diodes will have to spend an impressive amount.
2. Highlighting the contours - conductive paths with diodes installed behind the cornices or in specially equipped niches along the perimeter of the ceiling create subdued diffused lighting and visually increase the height of the room.
3. Figured lighting - with the radiance of LEDs, you can highlight a certain area, emphasize various protrusions or recesses in suspended structures.

Flexible tapes can take even the most intricate and curvilinear shapes

On a note! LEDs can be used not only for ceilings, but also for the design of a working apron, floor podiums, window and door openings. Ribbons effectively emphasize the contours of furniture, appliances, it is easy to focus on paintings, beautiful dishes and other accessories with them.

Options for LED decor for the kitchen:

Illumination "starry sky"

Speaking about original lighting solutions, of course, one cannot mention the hit of recent years - lighting with the romantic name "starry sky". True, this type of decor is easiest to arrange for stretch ceilings. The principle of operation is quite simple: LEDs of various diameters and radiant strengths are placed behind the canvas or film, which create an effect reminiscent of twinkling stars.

To arrange such a backlight, individual LEDs of various powers and sizes are selected, which must be soldered into a network, and then glued to the base ceiling with building silicone. This is the most difficult stage, since, in addition to observing the polarity, it is important to enclose each terminal in cambric - an insulating tube that will protect your "sky" from short circuits. For a more realistic effect, several miniature light bulbs can also be brought out by making neat punctures in the film.

Then a power supply is selected and installed, the power of which is calculated according to the number of crystals (10 W will be required for 100 pieces). It is also worth purchasing a breaker controller for each section of 5-10 diodes. With it, the "stars" can not only shine, but also blink.

Choosing a space-themed stretch ceiling film will increase the realism of the "star" effect

On a note! If you wish, you can install a "starry sky" in a plasterboard ceiling. But for this you will have to cut a niche in it or drill holes according to the size and number of light points.

How to choose and install LED strip

Manufacturers present us with such a variety of Led solutions that it is not surprising for a person who is far from electricians to get confused. But since the correct installation of the diode backlight and its operation depend on the purchase, we will try to sort out the most important technical nuances in order.

Varieties of LED strips

All systems with LEDs can be classified according to several parameters: mounting type, number of diodes, color, power. What exactly to pay attention to depends on the design idea that you want to implement with the help of lighting effects.

For example, for decorative lighting, the most important parameter is the color shade of the glow. And according to this characteristic, the tapes are divided into single-color and multi-color. The first, when turned on, emit light of only one tone. And not necessarily the traditional white, it can be red, green, yellow, purple or bright green color. Of the non-standard options, it is worth noting tapes with ultraviolet or infrared glow.

You can choose the shade of the backlight for any interior

Despite the wide range, the choice of backlight gamut should be approached with caution - psychologists assure that prolonged exposure to color affects the psyche. So, the “calm” tones, which can be safely used both for the kitchen and in living rooms, include all shades of green and turquoise, as well as yellow and orange. Red, pink and burgundy lighting should be left for the bedroom. But bright blue lights are alarming, a person subconsciously tenses up and feels uncomfortable. The combination of dark blue and yellow is generally not recommended for impressionable natures - such a backlight acts depressingly and can cause a nervous breakdown.

Keep in mind that even the classic white color can have different shades and emit a glow of warm or cold light. These "temperature" nuances are important when creating an organic interior, you can determine them by studying the documentation. So, a backlight with an indicator of 3000-3500K will emit warm light, 5500-6000K - neutral, 6500-7000K - cold.

Important! For open mounting, you should pay attention to the color of the base so that the tape does not stand out from the general background. In addition to the standard white, you can find a gray, brown or transparent substrate.

Multicolor RGB systems can change shades in turn or glow with all the colors of the rainbow at the same time. But they cost an order of magnitude more expensive than their monophonic counterparts and work only in combination with a transformer and a controller that sets the color switching mode.

One of the most important parameters from a technical point of view is the power of the LEDs and the density of their placement. The most popular Led strips with 60 and 120 diodes per 1 m, but there are other options - 30, 72, 90, 240, and the bulbs can be arranged linearly or in several rows.

Varieties of Led-systems according to the density of LEDs

Important! The smaller the gap between the diodes, the brighter the backlight will be and the greater the power consumption. For decorative purposes, 30-60 diodes / meter is quite enough, but if you plan to replace the main light source, you should choose a tape with 120-240 bulbs.

Inspection and purchase of tape and accessories

To determine which material is suitable for your ideas, study the designations on the board. Standard household lighting strips are abbreviated as SMD (short for SurfaceMountedDevice). The numbers indicate the dimensions of each LED. For example, SMD 3528 means that the parameters of 1 diode are 3.5 by 2.8 mm.

On a note! The most common are 3 types of LEDs: small - 3020, medium - 3528 and large 5050.

The intensity of the glow directly depends on the size of the diodes and the density of their placement per 1 m of the ribbon. We dealt with density above, and now we’ll tell you how to find out the power of the system, because the choice of power source depends on it.

Power consumption of the backlight at different frequency of placement of LEDs

To calculate the required footage, arm yourself with a tape measure and measure the perimeter of the illuminated area. Multiply the resulting figure by the power of the meter of the selected type of tape and get the value that you should be guided by when buying a power supply (transformer), and for multi-color products - and a controller. These accessories can be rated for 5, 12 and 24V, but if you do not plan to replace the main lighting, 12V fixtures will suffice.

Important! The total power consumption of the backlight should be no more than 80% of the rated power of the transformer.

LED strips have a different protection class. This indicator affects their ability to withstand moisture, dust and other negative external factors. To determine it, you need to find the abbreviation with the letters IP (stands for IngressProtectionRating) on ​​the package.

• IP 20 - designed for indoor use and not sealed.
• IP 65 - suitable for lighting areas in contact with water: work apron, sink, aquariums, etc. Such material can be used not only for indoor work, but also on the street.
• IP 68 - fully insulated systems that are even approved for use in water.

You can determine the presence of protection even with a visual inspection - ribbons that are not afraid of a humid environment will be filled with a thin layer of transparent silicone.

Important! To illuminate ceilings (including in the kitchen), you can use a conventional board designed for open mounting. The fact is that the silicone layer not only dims the light intensity, but also leads to heating of the substrate and the surfaces in contact with it. Therefore, do not use protection where it is not needed.

Do-it-yourself LED backlight installation

To independently install the backlight on the kitchen ceiling, it is important to know that according to the type of fastening, all tapes are divided into:

• Self-adhesive (most common) - mounted on a sticky base, which is equally suitable for wood, plastic or glass. The disadvantage is that the glue can “move away” over time, from moisture or several re-gluings.
• With fasteners - fixed with special brackets-clamps on any material. Such installation will be more reliable, but will take much more time and effort than adhesive-based tape.

Important! The tapes are available in 5m rolls, but most retailers offer retail cuts of the required length. The places for separation are most often indicated by the image of scissors; you need to cut strictly along the dotted lines so as not to damage the chain.

On some tapes, the cuts can only be indicated by a vertical line.

When installing yourself, consider another important feature for any LED products - thermal conductivity. The fact is that manufacturers have not yet been able to achieve one hundred percent efficiency from miniature crystals, so part of the energy is dissipated in the form of heat, which heats the surfaces in contact with the tape. And since high temperatures are common in the kitchen, for powerful or often spaced LEDs it is worth considering insulation, for example, attaching a substrate to a thin aluminum profile. But if we are talking only about decorative lighting, you can do without it.

To assemble the track necessary to highlight the selected area, the cut points must be fastened with a connector or a conventional soldering iron. Please note that the temperature of the device should be no higher than 260 degrees, and the exposure time should be a maximum of 10 seconds.

Single-color track connection diagram

The connection is carried out according to the following principle:

• In single-color boards, the "plus" and "minus" contacts are soldered.
• In multi-color RGB, 4 wires are combined with the same-name contacts on the block, focusing on the marking (R-red, G-green, B-blue, fourth - 12 or 24 V).
• The power cord of the transformer is connected to the N and L pins.
• In RGB ribbons, a controller is additionally connected to the power supply. It is important here not to confuse the positive and negative terminals, otherwise the device will fail.

Ready-made kit for connecting colored lights

Important! The maximum length of a circuit designed for one transformer is 15 meters or 3 standard reels. If your site is larger, you will have to use another power supply.

Depending on the type of finish of the kitchen ceiling, there are various options for mounting tape lighting. The easiest way to hide the decor is in suspended plasterboard structures, but even if your kitchen has a smooth single-level ceiling, you can arrange lighting effects using a regular cornice.

Installing the tape in the plinth on the ceiling

This installation method is applicable even in the case when the kitchen renovation has long been left behind. It does not require special alterations, the main thing is to buy a beautiful ceiling cornice that matches the overall interior design and stick it on “liquid nails” at a distance of 80-120 mm from the ceiling. In order for the design to come out even and look spectacular, it is first necessary to make markings under the level.

Important! When choosing a cornice, pay attention to its thickness - through thin walls, the tape can shine so brightly that the baseboard itself will shine.

When the plinth is installed and the glue has set, we proceed in stages:

1. We clean the surface of the eaves from dust and degrease.
2. Peel off the adhesive backing from the back of the tape.
3. We mount the LEDs on the wall or from the side of the eaves. True, many experts do not trust the factory “self-adhesives”, and recommend additionally insuring the design with silicone glue or double-sided tape.
4. We connect the power supply (and for multi-color RGB - and the controller), observing the polarity.
5. We check the voltage in the board itself and all components - they must match. Now you can connect the power supply to the 220 W network.

Step-by-step installation of lighting in the ceiling plinth

Installation in plasterboard cornice

Installation of lighting in suspended ceilings is best done at the stage of their construction. For this, a standard construction of a metal profile and plasterboard sheets is used, which provides for an open or closed niche for a line of LEDs.

You will need the following tools and materials:

• Drywall and screws.
• Metal profiles CD and UD.
• Dowels and screws.
• Hacksaw and hand shears for metal.
• Drill, screwdriver.
• Level, measuring tape.
• Pencils or markers.
• LED strip with accessories.

The algorithm of work is the following:

1. A drawing of the future box is created, according to which the markup is performed.
2. The frame is raised. To do this, with the help of screws and dowels, load-bearing UD-profiles are screwed to the walls, and CD-elements are attached to them, in turn. The recommended step is 50 cm. Then, segments 10-15 cm high are installed perpendicular to the ceiling and connected to the profile on the ceiling so that a niche is formed.

On a note! The design may consist of one or more levels. In any case, it is important to keep a gap of at least 10 cm for the passage of light from the diodes.

1. The finished frame is sheathed with plasterboard sheets, laid joint to joint. At the ends of the structure, a niche is left to accommodate the LED strip. The outer perimeter must be closed with a side to mask the constituent elements of the backlight.

Plasterboard cornice device for hidden lighting

To create a bright or subdued strip of light, the right choice of the height of the protective side will help

Important! Do not forget to provide a place in the design for power supplies and a controller.

1. The seams are masked with putty, and after complete drying - with a primer and painting.
2. Now it's time to mount the backlight. The ribbon must be fixed to the adhesive base directly to the drywall (you can additionally use clamps or an aluminum profile). The light from the diodes should be directed from the bottom up. Then you can connect the system to the current conductors, not forgetting to observe the polarity.

Connection diagrams with one and several transformers

Video: installing LED strip

To clearly demonstrate the work of mounting the backlight, we suggest that you study a small video selection of training materials:

1. How to connect an LED strip - important nuances that will help you properly mount the backlight circuit.

1. How to make a drywall cornice for hidden lighting is one of the options for arranging a U-shaped box for LED strip.

As you can see, you can cope with the installation of LED backlighting with your own hands. Therefore, the main task is to choose the right material length, transformer and controller, taking into account the configuration of the kitchen ceiling and the expected decorative effect. But if you doubt your abilities or the correctness of the calculations made, it is better to entrust the purchase of components and the installation of the backlight to a qualified electrician.

During the renovation, special attention is paid to lighting, which, as you know, sets the main atmosphere for each room. Along with the rapid development of energy-saving technologies, the use of diode lamps is increasing, which can significantly reduce electricity consumption. The combination of practicality and attractive design is distinguished by LED strips. They are attached directly to the ceiling and create even soft lighting.

What is a device

LED strips are flexible boards made in the form of strips and equipped with LEDs. The latter are located at an equal distance from each other.

In addition to the luminous elements, there are resistors on the tape that protect the entire system from high voltage and limit the current flow.

Table. Variety of LED strips.

Characteristic	Varieties
Diode type	1. SMD 3028. 2. SMD 5050. The diameter affects the coverage area.
Fixation method	1. Self-adhesive with a reliable adhesive layer. 2. Fastened with plastic brackets.
tightness	1. Without sealant, used in ordinary rooms. 2. Medium water resistance, can be used next to the sink or in the bathroom. 3. Sealed, capable of functioning under water.
LED color	1. White ribbon. 2.RGB.

Product Benefits

The main advantages of LED strips include:

• saving electricity;
• uniform and directional lighting;
• service life up to 10 years;
• the possibility of choosing different colors;
• in multi-color tapes - stable color throughout the entire service life;
• flexibility that allows you to give the tape any shape;
• environmental friendliness and fire safety due to the absence of mercury and low heating;
• the ability to adjust the length of the tape;
• lack of influence on TV signals due to the absence of interference.

Due to these qualities, the diode strip is often used not only for additional illumination, but also as the main light source. At the same time, the energy consumption of 10 meters of such a tape will be even less than that of an incandescent lamp familiar to many.

Selection of tape by type of diodes

The most common diodes for such tapes are SMD 3028 and SMD 5050. They are mounted directly on the surface of the tape and differ in size, which is displayed as numbers in the name. In terms of brightness, small SMD 3028 diodes are not inferior to large ones, but due to their small size they can illuminate a smaller ceiling area. Therefore, to create a brighter backlight, you should stop at SMD 5050.

As for the color parameter, you should pay attention to the crystals used in the LEDs.

There are currently 4 options available:

• yellow;
• Red;
• blue;
• green.

White crystals are not currently produced. Instead, the design uses a blue element that emits ultraviolet light. Since the coating of the diode is carried out using a phosphor that glows under the influence of such rays, the output is white light.

But such a solution to the problem negatively affects the quality of the tape. It is the most short-lived due to the rapid burnout of the phosphor. The result is not only a decrease in the brightness of the tape, but also the manifestation of a blue glow.

The classic combination of RGB, in turn, allows you to get not only one of the proposed three colors. As is known from optics, white is obtained by mixing all three colors. In combination with the stable operation of the crystals, which do not require additional coatings, this significantly increases the service life of the product. Usually such tapes come with a remote control, with which the lighting is adjusted. This gives more room for experimentation.

Tips for choosing LED strip for different rooms

Depending on where the installation of ceiling lighting is planned, the type of product and its placement are selected. The change in brightness occurs due to variations in the number of diodes within one meter of the tape. The more backlight elements, the brighter and more expensive it is.

In the corridor

Since this area does not require stable bright lighting, purchasing a tape with SDM 5050 and higher diodes will not be practical. Mostly corridors and passage areas need additional light at night. The use of incandescent lamps will lead to high energy costs, and darkness is not the best solution. The best option would be to install low power LED strips. Their light will not irritate the eyes at night, and using a dimmer, you can change the brightness, which will also have a positive effect on the family budget.

In the bathroom

Since this is a room with high humidity, it is necessary to use a sealed design. This will prevent electrical problems in case of water ingress. The brightness of the lighting is selected at the request of the owners of the house, because for a small space the tape is suitable both as additional lighting and as the main light source.

In the bedroom

Most of those who want to purchase LED strips install them in the bedroom to give coziness and a more relaxed atmosphere. In this case, options with RGB crystals are suitable, giving more room for imagination, working in certain parts of the spectrum and providing finer tuning when using a dimmer.

In the nursery

It will be a great joy for a child to choose interesting color combinations together with their parents and adjust the backlight according to their mood. For this reason, it is worth paying attention to diode tapes with advanced features. These are models with RGB + W diodes.

The advanced mode allows you to adjust both pure white light during normal times, and various shades of the spectrum for games. In this embodiment, the use of dimmers will also be appropriate. Then a weak voltage will make it possible to weaken the glow of the diodes as much as possible and use the backlight as a night light.

In the living room

This place performs key functions in almost any home. All relatives gather here, holidays are held and guests are received. Therefore, it is important to choose not only the optimal interior design, but also responsibly treat the installation of lighting. Massive chandeliers with incandescent lamps have long given way to diode systems. The latter allow you to embody a greater number of design ideas. For example, creating a multi-level ceiling with internal lighting.

Such an idea will appeal not only to guests, but also to households. Monochrome ribbons are the way to go for natural white lighting, while RGB ribbons are the best solution for creating a festive atmosphere, the variety of colors and customization options of which will be a great addition to the fun.

In the kitchen

Here, in most cases, ribbons are used not only for decorative, but also for practical purposes. In addition to the ceiling, they can be glued to the top edges of wall cabinets, which will bring unusual features to the kitchen interior. You can increase the functionality with the help of sensors - they are convenient to use when you need to turn on the light, but your hands are busy. When using a tape over a work surface, this solution is especially convenient if your hands get dirty while cooking.

Video - RGB LED strip

DIY installation

Since adhesive-backed tapes are in the greatest demand, consider this way to create LED lighting.

For work you will need:

• LED strip, purchased with a small margin for safety;
• scissors for cutting the required length of the product;
• heat shrink tubing or electrical tape;
• soldering iron with solder and rosin or LED connectors;
• wires for connecting tapes.

Additionally, you may need ceiling plinths and a level for marking the ceiling. The best option is a ceiling plinth glued to the wall. Using a level, you will need to mark the walls to obtain horizontal lines along which the part will be glued.

Installing a ready-to-install tape

Step 1. Measure the heights in different corners of the room and find the lower value from which the markup will go.
Step 2. Using a level, mark the horizontal lines for installing the skirting board. At its lowest point, it should be 5 cm from the ceiling. So the light will freely penetrate the upper area of ​​​​the room.

Step 3. If you have the necessary wiring, install the skirting board with an adhesive known as "liquid nails".

Step 4. Degrease the surface on which the LED strip will be installed. It is also necessary to get rid of crumbling coatings. To increase the reliability of fastening, glue the installation site with strong double-sided tape.
Step 5. Peel off the adhesive layer from the diode tape and stick it parallel to the ceiling or at an angle to it to create the desired lighting.

Connecting to the power supply with wires

The easiest way is to use an LED connector. In this case, the contact end of the tape is applied to the connector contacts, after which the cover is closed. But this option is more expensive and less reliable, like soldering.

Steps to connect power using soldering.

Step 1. Tin the contact pads on the tape, cover them with solder.

Step 2. Remove about 8 mm of wire from insulation, tin them, solder them and cut them to a length of 3 mm.
Step 3. Lay the wires on the pads and use the soldering iron tip and solder to solder.

Solder at different sites should not be connected to avoid a short circuit on the wires.

Step 4. Despite the low voltage, it is better to insulate the soldering place with a heat shrink tube or ordinary electrical tape.

Tape cutting and fastening

To cut the tape, use a special marking applied to the surface of the product. The standard step through which the contact pads are repeated is 3 diodes. Usually, the place for the cut is indicated by a line or a scissors pictogram.

The tape is connected in one of three ways:

• LED connector;
• soldering with wires;
• soldering without wires.

Regardless of the method chosen, it is necessary to follow the rule - do not connect the tape in length exceeding 5 meters. This value allows all diodes to burn evenly without losing brightness, which will suffer when going beyond 5 m.

The first method, as mentioned, is simple, but expensive, so let's pay attention to soldering.

Soldering with wires.

Step 1. Tin the cleaned ends of the wire. Cover with solder.
Step 2. Coat the pads at the end of the tape with solder.

Step 3. Solder the ends of the wire and the end of the tape so that the solder from different sites does not connect.

Step 4. Repeat with the end of the other tape.

This method is convenient when mounting the tape at an angle is required. It is forbidden to bend the tape itself at a right angle for fastening. The use of soldering the ends with copper wire of a suitable diameter solves this problem.

Another option is to use a corner connector.

Backlight powered by mains

After installing the tape in place, a switching power supply is connected to it, which reduces the voltage from 220 volts to the optimal value for the operation of the structure. The operation of the tape itself is supported by a voltage of 12 or 24 volts. When installing the product, it should be taken into account that the power consumption of LEDs should not exceed the power of the power supply. Otherwise, automatic shutdown will occur according to the protection system. This characteristic is selected based on the length of the installed tape. The size of the power supply also plays an important role. The smaller it is, the easier it will be to hide it. Therefore, it is better to think over the connection scheme in advance.

A special controller is used to operate the multi-color ribbon. Upon completion of installation, it is desirable to hide it together with the power supply. The result of the work will be functional lighting and aesthetic appearance of the equipped premises.

As practice shows, the popularity of LED strips only increases over time. This is due to the convenience of using structures in everyday life and when working with the design of the room. Well-chosen lighting will not only provide visibility in the house. Using the custom setting, you can achieve the desired emotional effect when changing several lighting parameters, which cannot be noted with classic chandeliers with incandescent lamps. There is also an economic benefit. The purchase of a diode tape will save you from large energy bills and the need to replace lighting for the next 10-20 years (depending on the type of product).

Video - DIY LED lighting

LED lighting for interiors of apartments and houses is gaining more and more popularity. Lighting issues can be approached in different ways. Some prefer to turn to specialists for the selection of suitable equipment and its installation. Others decide to show their creativity and do it on their own. Due to the relative ease of installation of LED lighting, this is quite possible, but in order to achieve the desired result, it is necessary to take into account some features. The first question that arises is how to choose a tape that suits your desires among a large number of varieties of LED strips? We will talk about this in this article.

1) Installation location of the LED strip.

First you need to decide on the room where the LED strip will be installed. An open LED strip is suitable for LED lighting of the ceilings of rooms, kitchens, hallways and corridors. Due to high humidity, only sealed LED strip is used to illuminate bathrooms. To illuminate the working surface of tables in the kitchen, as well as when mounting the LED strip at a low height from the floor, for example, illuminating stairs, lighting the floor, it is also recommended to use a sealed LED strip, because. during wet cleaning, water can get on it or it can be mechanically damaged. We will talk more about the selection of LED strip in specific rooms further.

2) Type, brightness and power of the LED strip.

The next step is to select the LED strip according to the required brightness. One of the factors affecting the brightness of the tape is the type of LEDs. The most common LED strips are SMD3528 and SMD5060 (sometimes also called SMD5050). LEDs of the first type have a housing size of 3.5x2.8 mm and contain one semiconductor crystal. LEDs of the second type are larger - 5.0x5.5 mm - and contain three crystals in one package. Accordingly, SMD5060 LEDs are almost three times brighter than SMD3528 diodes. Also, the brightness of the LED strip depends on the density of the LEDs on it. There are LED strips of standard density, double (2x) and double-row tapes of double density (2x2). For strips with SMD3528 LEDs, these are 60, 120 and 240 LEDs per meter, respectively. For strips with SMD5060 LEDs - 30, 60 and 120 LEDs per meter. The table below shows the most common tapes in ascending order of power and, accordingly, the brightness of the glow.

Power consumption per 1m, W	Power consumption per coil	LED type and marking	Number of LEDs per 1m	Number of LEDs per coil	Multicolor (RGB)
4,8	24	SMD3528	60	300	No
7,2	36	SMD5060	30	150	possible
9,6	48	SMD3528 2x	120	600	No
14,4	72	SMD5060 2x	60	300	possible
19,6	98	SMD3528 2x2	240	1200	No
28,8	144	SMD5060 2x2	120	600	possible

It is also worth noting that the luminous flux of 1 W of LEDs is approximately equal to 100 Lm, i.e. For backlighting, LED strips with a power of up to 10 watts per meter are well suited. And LED strips with a power of more than 10 watts per meter are already suitable as a main light or for illuminating dark surfaces with low reflectivity.

3) The color of the LED strip, the type of its connection.

We decide on the color of the backlight - do we want the backlight to be white or some one constant color of the glow. Or do we want to change the backlight color depending on current desires and preferences?

If we need a white backlight, then we also need to decide which one. The fact is that white light can be of different shades (with different, so-called, color temperature of the glow) cold white (10000K-6500K), white (6500K-5500K), day white (4500K-4000K) and warm white (3500K- 2700K).

For decorative lighting, a colored LED strip is more suitable, it can be monochrome (single color) or multi-color (RGB). Note that the RGB LED strip can only be with large SMD 5060 LEDs.

To connect a single-color LED strip, you only need a power supply and the strip itself. If you want to adjust the brightness of the glow, then you will need another additional device - a dimmer for the LED strip. To connect a multi-color RGB LED strip, you will need not only a power supply and a strip, but also an RGB controller that controls the color and brightness of the RGB strip.

The power supply must be selected in accordance with the supply voltage of the LED strip (12V, 24V, 36V), its power and length.

To calculate the required power of the power supply, you need to multiply the length of the tape connected to the unit by its power consumption per meter and add a power margin (10-25%). The reserve is necessary for the reliable operation of the system. For example, (10m x 7.2W) x 1.25 = 90W. Since there is no power supply for an LED strip with a power of exactly 90 W, a unit with a higher (but by no means less) power of -100 W will do.

How to choose LED strip for the room.

Usually, LED lighting of different rooms in an apartment or house has different purposes, for example, room lighting is mainly decorative, and kitchen lighting is practical.

The most common use of LED strip in a room is for curtain or stained glass ceiling lighting, lighting walls, floors, niches or curtains. Such rooms have normal humidity, so LED strip without moisture protection is used here. The purpose of such a backlight is most often decorative, so almost any type of LED strip can be used and the choice depends only on the required brightness and color. The backlight will look spectacular using an RGB LED strip and an RGB controller.

How to choose LED strip for the kitchen.

The use of LED lighting in the kitchen is quite wide. It is not only decorative, but also practical. In addition to all the applications in ordinary rooms, which we wrote about above, the lighting of cabinets and the working surface of the kitchen is used. An interesting and unusual option for using LED strip in the kitchen is LED lighting of the lower (floor lighting) and upper parts of the cabinets. Base cabinets are usually installed on legs, which are then covered with a panel or left open. The LED strip is attached to the bottom of the cabinet and illuminates the floor. For such a backlight, you need to use a sealed LED strip, because. water can get on it, for example, during cleaning.

To illuminate the top of the cabinets, you can use an open LED strip, because. it is mounted on the top of the wall cabinets and is practically not exposed to external influences.

Well, now let's talk about practical and functional LED lighting. You can highlight not only the space above and below the cabinets, but also inside them, which is not only beautiful, but also functional. The LED strip for illuminating cabinets from the inside can be connected in such a way that it turns on together with the main kitchen lighting, or it can be used together with special sensors. There are several types of sensors, among them sensors that respond to the opening of the cabinet door, to touch and even non-contact ones - to turn on or off the light, you just need to move your hand next to them, which is very convenient if your hands are wet or dirty.

Illumination of the working surface is even more practical. Usually when cooking, the light source is behind your back, so the work surface is closed from light, so LED lighting of the kitchen work surface will come in handy. It is installed under hanging cabinets. It is important to position the LED strip so that the light falls straight down or at an angle and does not fall directly into the eyes.

There are several ways to organize work surface illumination:

1) Sealed LED strip, which is simply glued to the bottom of the wall cabinet.

2) Finished LED. They are simply mounted with clips or double-sided adhesive tape, have a touch switch and are easily joined together, forming a chain of lamps. Inside the lamp there is an LED ruler, on top it is closed with a plastic screen, which can be matte or transparent. We recommend choosing a matte screen, because with it, the LEDs are not so visible, the light is more diffused and will not irritate the retina.

3) Do-it-yourself LED lamp assembly. To do this, you need an LED strip (or LED strips) and. Our catalog contains a wide selection of aluminum profiles of various shapes and screens for them.

A white LED strip is used to illuminate the work surface. But it should be borne in mind that products look as natural as possible when illuminated with daylight white light, and when illuminated with warm white, they look even fresher and better than they are. Food looks less appetizing under cold white.

How to choose LED strip for the bathroom.

Due to the high humidity and the risk of water intrusion in the bathroom, a sealed LED strip is usually used.

LED lighting in the bathroom is most often used to illuminate the ceiling and walls. But there are other options, for example, highlighting niches and mirrors. The illumination of the mirror can be either background (backlight glow behind the mirror) or illuminating the space in front of the mirror. In the second case, the illumination made behind the mirror, on which the amalgam layer (reflective surface) is partially removed, looks spectacular.

How to choose LEDs for a nursery.

When choosing a design for a children's room, parents usually strive to create an environment that will bring an atmosphere of joy, warmth and comfort to the child's world. Much attention should be paid to the lighting of the nursery. Bright but soft light, psychologically comfortable and at the same time not harmful to the baby's eyes, is best suited for a child's room. And if you have chosen LED technologies for lighting your apartment, pay attention to white LED strips of warm and moderate tones. To adjust the brightness of the glow, you can use a dimmer - a regulator of electrical power. There are devices of both the classical model (a mechanical regulator mounted in the wall in the standard size of the switch), and modern dimmers with an electronic control system and remote controls.

A separate joy for the baby can be colored LEDs. If instead of conventional white LEDs, multi-color RGB+W LED strips are used as the main lighting, the possibilities for decorative lighting of the room will be truly endless. By experimenting with the RGB controller remote, you and your child can create a variety of color combinations, turning the room into a children's fairy tale. And white LEDs, also present in the LED strip, will help to use it for its main purpose. Also in the design of children's rooms, monochrome colored LEDs are most widely used, which can be used to illuminate furniture and interior elements.

LED strips for corridors and walk-through rooms.

Such places in the house as corridors, walk-through lobbies, flights of stairs do not need constant bright lighting. After all, people are not in these places all the time. However, often residents of a house or apartment have to cross such zones in order to get into a particular room, kitchen or bathroom. And it is quite inconvenient if every time on the way an unlit corridor will be waiting for you. What to do in such cases? Some prefer to burn lights around the clock in walk-through rooms, while others usually leave these areas dark.

However, the best solution to this problem is the use of economical LED technology. LED strips are the most economical light sources, they consume several times less electricity than conventional incandescent lamps. Place a moderately bright LED strip along the corridor or along the perimeter of the walk-through room, creating uniform illumination of the entire area. And to save even more energy, use a dimmer. This device will help reduce the brightness of LED lamps up to a barely noticeable glow, which may be suitable for night lighting in an apartment.

Bedroom lighting with LED strips.

LED strip lighting in the bedroom can be used both as an additional backlight and as the main lighting. To create a cozy atmosphere, many use colored LEDs as wall lighting, backlighting mirrors and wall decorations, as well as to illuminate the ceiling area, hidden under the eaves or using a multi-level ceiling architecture. You can choose a variety of colors for backlighting, limited only by matters of taste - modern LED technologies today make it possible to produce light sources that operate in almost any spectrum. With the help of LEDs, you can also make original furniture lighting or built-in cabinet lighting.

A chandelier can be used as the main lighting in the bedroom. However, why not use super-bright LED strips for this purpose? Today, LEDs are able to create comfortable, natural lighting for the bedroom with flexible settings. These are both white LED strips and multi-color RGB LED strips. Using dimmers and advanced RGB controllers, you can control the light in your bedroom as you wish.

LED technology for the living room.

The living room is the heart of your apartment, the place where the family rests, relatives and guests gather. That is why many approach the design of the living room especially carefully. As a rule, this is the most spacious room in the house, so a variety of ideas for interior design find a place here. This also applies to lighting.

If you decide to use LEDs for living room lighting, you should know that you made the right choice! With their help, you can create a powerful stream of natural white light, and fancy lighting, hidden in the depths of a multi-level ceiling or under a system of cornices. Also, a good idea would be to design interior lighting using LED strips. And if you use the living room as a space for family celebrations, you should consider purchasing multi-color LED strips for this room, which, if desired, can easily create a party atmosphere in the living room, being controlled by the owner, which is carried out using an RGB controller. You can also use dimmers for white LED strips so you can control the brightness of the light by choosing your own comfort zone.

» How to choose LED denta

How to choose LED strip for lighting ceilings?

The LED strip is a flexible strip with electrical conductors on it (the width of the flexible strip can be different from 5mm to 50mm), LEDs and resistors are soldered on one side of this strip, and double-sided tape on the other, so that this tape can be easily glued.

LEDs of different sizes and different numbers per meter can be soldered onto the LED strip. Also, sometimes, to enhance the brightness, when the place already does not allow the LEDs to be soldered close to each other, the LEDs are soldered in the second row, third or even fourth row.

Let's take a closer look. The main difference between ceiling lighting strips is the type of LED, currently the main types are SMD 3028 and SMD 5050. They are shown in the picture below.

Flexible strip LEDs SMD 3028 and SMD 5050

SMD is an abbreviation for "Surface Mounted Device", which in Russian means "surface mounted device". You see, the LED is tightly soldered to the surface of the tape. Hence the name. The number indicates the dimensions of the LED in millimeters. 3028 - this means the size is 3.0 by 2.8 millimeters, 5050 - respectively, 5.0 by 5.0 millimeters.

The dimensions of the SMD 5050 LED are 5x5 millimeters

SMD 5050 LEDs are made up of three dies, you can see this as they have 6 legs coming out of the case. They are about three times brighter than single-chip SMD 3528. Usually, the term luminous flux is used to characterize the emission of an LED, which is measured in lumens. The documentation for SMD 5050 LEDs says that they have a luminous flux of 12 lumens, while SMD 3528 LEDs have 4 lumens. Then everything converges three SMD 3528 LEDs, they shine like one SMD5050. The luminous fluxes from each of the three LEDs are added, and the total luminous flux is three times greater.

Glow color of LED strip depends on what LEDs it contains. If an SMD 5050 LED is used, then in a colored tape in one LED housing there are three crystals of different colors, red, green, blue.

And if we light only the red color, then the whole ribbon burns red, if we light green, then the whole ribbon is green, etc. An interesting option is obtained if one color is lit at full brightness, and the other, not at full brightness, you can get very beautiful shades . The brightness of the LEDs of the desired color is controlled by the controller, I will talk about them in another article. By mixing the brightness of the three components, you can get 16 million different shades. A very interesting option, if you add white to these shades, then you can get very delicate colors, such as pale pink. This color is obtained when white is lit at full brightness and a little red is mixed in with it, etc. for creative people, there are huge opportunities for setting the backlight.

Some color options for self-adhesive tape

To illuminate the ceiling, we recommend installing either a white ribbon, or three-color, or both white and three-color together. We do not recommend installing a single-color color on the ceiling, because when you get tired of the same color, it will not be possible to change it, only if you change the entire tape.

How is white obtained? There are two ways

Since an LED with a white glow does not exist in nature, it is made from blue by adding a phosphor to the crystal. The phosphor looks like a light yellow spot on the LED chip. On this basis, it is easy to distinguish which LED is in front of you, if you see yellow spots on the LEDs, then these are white LEDs.

White LED and yellow phosphor on it

But over time, the phosphor loses its ability to convert blue to white, and the color of the glow of the tape begins to give off shades of blue. After about a year, the brightness can decrease by 20-30% and ask the seller if he will give a guarantee that the brightness of the white LED will not change in a year, no one will give you such a guarantee. In this case, I suggest using the second method of obtaining white. As you know from the school physics course, white is obtained by mixing the three colors red, green and blue. We have a three-color LED and if we light all the colors at the same time at the same brightness, then we will get a white color, and the problem with the phosphor does not bother us. Three-color LEDs are on an RGB strip, so we suggest using it to get white color and to get any other shades.

RGB ribbon can glow in different colors

This tape will last much longer. Let's say you want it to be just light, turn on the white backlight. You can choose any other according to your mood, the romantic atmosphere is red, green promotes relaxation.

All this is very easy to do with the push of a button on the controller's remote control.

Remote Control RGB Tape

Just as mentioned above, the tapes differ in the number of LEDs and the more LEDs, the more expensive the tape. The figure below shows various modifications of LED strips.

Tapes with different number of LEDs and different density of their installation

From our experience, we can advise you to install a strip of SMD 5050 3 0 LEDs per meter or more, a warm white glow, or an RGB strip in the ceiling. For decorating furniture, ceiling niches, interiors, it is better to take SMD 3028 tape with 60 LEDs per meter, it will do its job well. The light from a brighter tape will “hit the eyes”, besides, a brighter tape requires more powerful, and therefore larger power supplies, which are problematic to hide in the interior.

Now you can make the backlight yourself, without resorting to the services of installers. The cost of their work ranges from 50-150% of the cost of lighting components.

In addition, you will have to invite strangers home to install the backlight, which is not always convenient. Using our kits, you can save up to 100% of the cost of LED lighting in your home, as well as your nerves and time.

Just choose the set that suits your needs and order it, delivery is free. All components in the kit are already connected and tested by qualified installers. To check the backlight kit, you just need to plug the plug into the socket.

You don't need any electrical skills to install the kit, you don't need any tools. The tape is glued to the double-sided tape that is already on it. All electrical connections have already been made and checked by professional electricians.