Laying LED strip. Installation of LED strip on the ceiling: what is needed for connection, advantages and disadvantages, installation

The choice of the type of main lighting and auxiliary lighting can be considered one of the most important stages of repair work. If the presence of lamps, lamps and LED strips is provided, it is necessary to develop an installation diagram for additional structures on which they will be installed. This principle is relevant if it is planned

Drywall is often used for these purposes. This is the simplest and most economical way to construct interior niches and reliefs, especially when it comes to installing LED lighting. Installation in this case consists of proper assembly, connecting all elements of the electrical circuit and fixing it inside the niche.

What is LED backlighting?

Today lighting is widely popular. Many factors contribute to this:

• High brightness.
• Significant energy savings.
• Easy installation and maintenance.
• Environmental friendliness.
• Safety.
• Possibility of using multi-colored lighting.

Manufacturers offer LED lamps for a wide variety of purposes: from full-fledged light bulbs with a standard base to a variety of devices used for lighting. For those who like to do their own repairs, it is easiest to deal with LEDs produced on strips. Installation is not a difficult operation. The main condition for an effective and high-quality installation is careful adherence to the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations, as well as general rules for working with LEDs.

Types, equipment and cost of LED backlighting

LED strip consists of LEDs placed in a certain sequence on a flexible base with a width of 8 to 20 mm. The thickness of the tape, designed for a voltage of 12 V, does not exceed 3 mm, and the length of the skein is usually 5 m. The high flexibility of the base, its small thickness and adhesive fragments on the reverse side greatly facilitate the installation of the LED strip. The price of such a design depends on several parameters:

• Type of LEDs and their brightness level (1-3 light-emitting crystals).
• Distance between LEDs on the strip (30-120 lamps per meter).
• The width of the base and the number of rows along which the LEDs are located.
• The number of backlight colors available after connection.
• The degree of protection of the device from moisture (presence of a silicone case or coating).

Experts insist on purchasing only high-quality tapes: their service life directly depends on this. The cost of monochrome LED strips ranges from 90-600 rubles per meter, multicolor - 170-1300 rubles per meter. Installation of an LED strip necessarily involves connecting a power supply, the main task of which is to stabilize the voltage and convert it from 220 to 12 V. The price of this backlight element also varies depending on the size and power: 170-500 rubles.

The importance of preparatory work

Before you go to the store to buy tools and materials for organizing the backlight, you should correctly calculate how much tape you will need to buy, how much power the power supply should have, and whether a controller is needed.

In cases where you plan to install an LED strip sparkling in several colors, you cannot do without a switch or controller. With its help, you can change the color and type of LED glow (from steady burning to blinking or “chameleon” mode).

power supply

The power of the power supply must be sufficient for the proper functioning of the network, so its numerical value can be calculated by adding up the power indicators of all the LEDs located on the strip. It is not recommended to connect in series tape fragments whose total length exceeds 15 m. It is better to connect several shorter ones in parallel.

If it is necessary to shorten the tape, it is cut in the designated places.

The connection of individual fragments can be done with a regular soldering iron (however, overheating of the contacts should be avoided).

Specifics of installation work

The surface of the wall, ceiling, countertop or furniture on which the LED strip will be installed must be clean and grease-free. The tape should be fixed so that it can fully perform its functions. The glow angle of the LEDs reaches 120 degrees, so it is enough to mark the approximate mounting location. However, if placed incorrectly, it will be the depth of the niche or the projection of the ceiling that is illuminated, and not the room.

In accordance with the recommendations of experts, the actual installation of the LED strip should begin after assembling the entire circuit on a table or on the floor and checking its functionality. The system must be disconnected from the network during installation.

When installing the LED strip with your own hands, you should avoid too sharp bends, as they threaten to damage the strip.

The design of LEDs contains an anode and a cathode, so the installer should be careful about observing polarity. An LED strip installed according to the rules can provide long-lasting and high-quality lighting.

The highlight of any renovation will be the lighting created using lighting equipment such as LED strip. It is an original and unusual alternative to traditional lamps and lamps.

LED strip lighting

But in order for such an LED to look impressive and work for the longest possible period of time, you need to know how to mount it yourself. This article will tell you how to install this lighting product.

General installation rules

Despite the fact that today LED strips are quite widely represented on the lighting market, do-it-yourself fastening of them is carried out in a similar way and has general rules.

Note! Having a large assortment of LED strips, these products can be installed on various surfaces in the kitchen, bedroom, living room, hallway and even the bathroom.

LED strip in the kitchen

To attach any type of LED strip to a surface, you must adhere to the following installation rules:

• LED must be connected exclusively through a special power supply, which reduces the 220 V network voltage to the required level (12 or 24 V). This need is dictated by the fact that all LED products are low-voltage products;
• since the tapes can be cut into fragments of different lengths, they must be connected to each other using certain connectors and sockets;
• You should avoid excessive bending of the tape during installation. Otherwise, the electrical component of the product may be damaged;
• when cutting a product and connecting individual pieces, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the conductive paths through which the LEDs are powered;

Connecting pieces of LED strip

• if the segment is more than 4A, experts recommend using good old soldering rather than special connecting elements. In this case, soldering will create a more reliable connection of conductive elements;
• When organizing lighting in the kitchen or bathroom, you need to choose models that have a high class of protection against dust and moisture. For other rooms, such as the bedroom and living room, you can choose cheaper products with a low moisture resistance class;
• Before attaching the LED strip, you need to properly prepare the surface: clean it of dirt, dust and dirt;
• Self-adhesive LED strips can only be used once. In this regard, the length of the LED should be thought out in detail before installation begins. The best solution in this situation would be to pre-mark the installation path of the LED strip on the surface;
• Serial connection is possible only for five LEDs. Otherwise, the LEDs at the ends will glow less brightly. In the future, this situation will overload the stable plan of the entire lighting system.

Following these rules will allow you to install an LED strip with your own hands and make the lighting in any room (kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc.) impeccable.

The most advantageous installation locations

LED strip can be installed on a wide variety of surfaces. But it will look most impressive in certain places:

• niches on the ceiling. Here it is necessary to create special boxes. In this case, you will get hidden lighting;
• on the ceiling or walls using special devices - plastic corners;
• behind the ceiling plinth;
• lighting set in the kitchen;
• niches in the walls, as well as figured partitions.

Now let's take a closer look at the LED installation methods listed above.

Methods for installing lighting on the ceiling

The most common place to install LED strips is suspended ceilings (especially plasterboard). This product can be installed on the ceiling in the following ways:

Note! The methods for attaching an LED strip to the ceiling are similar to placing it on the wall (for example, in a niche in a partition or wall).

• creating hidden lighting by installing LED in a box;
• placement of the light source on a special profile;
• installation of the product on the ceiling plinth.

The most common way to create hidden lighting is using a box. In this case, you need to create a box with a hidden cornice from drywall.

Hidden LED lighting in a plasterboard box

This is a rather complicated implementation method, as it involves creating a box around the entire perimeter of the backlight.
In addition to the box, the LED strip can be installed on a profile, which today can differ both in the material from which it was made and in type. The most popular is the aluminum profile. It is best to choose when installing in the kitchen.

Profiles for LED strip

But a plastic profile can also be used here. This profile is suitable for the bedroom and living room. Modern models, which have increased resistance to temperature changes and moisture, are perfect for installation in the kitchen.
Profiles for LED strip come in three types:

• corner. Used to create ceiling lighting around the perimeter of rooms. With such a profile, you can create an unusual illumination of the ceiling surface, even if there are various figures on it;
• mortise More relevant for furniture lighting. They are often used in the kitchen to illuminate the work surface;
• built-in When installed, it looks three-dimensional, which allows you to play with it in the interior of the premises in a variety of ways.

Another rather original way to attach an LED strip to the ceiling is to install a ceiling plinth. The main advantage of this installation method is the simplicity of the work, on which you will spend a minimum of effort and time. Here you just need to install the plinth at a distance of 8-10 cm from the ceiling.

Ceiling plinth for LED strip

Once the installation method (box, profile or plinth) has been selected and implemented, you can begin installing the light source itself.

Installing lighting on the ceiling

Installing an LED strip in the kitchen or any other room in the house will include the following steps:

• select the type of tape;
• determine the required backlight length;
• we purchase all the necessary equipment and materials: power supply, connectors, fasteners;

Note! To make LED lighting controllable by brightness, as well as changing the color of the light flux, you need to purchase a controller and remote control.

Controller with remote control

• Next, we cut the LED into the required pieces and connect it using a connector or soldering. The type of connector (round or flat) is selected depending on the model of the LED strip;
• Next, we calculate the power of the LED and, based on the obtained figures, select the type of power supply. Remember that you need to add 20-30% of the power reserve for the converter to the final figure;
• all components must be assembled according to a scheme that depends on the length of the lighting installation, the presence or absence of a controller, as well as the number of power supplies;

LED strip connection diagram options

• carefully place the lighting in the box/profile/plinth;

Note! Since the power supply gets very hot during its operation, it can quickly fail. Therefore, it must be placed in such a way that it can be replaced without destroying the integrity of the ceiling structure.

• After this, the lighting system is connected to the power supply.

Ready-made ceiling lighting

As you can see, illuminating a plasterboard or other type of suspended ceiling is not that difficult. But when working with suspended ceilings, you need to adhere to a certain sequence of work. Here, the backlight is first created and installed, and only then it is masked with a stretch fabric. This option is very difficult to implement with your own hands due to the need for special knowledge and tools (for example, a heat gun). Therefore, when installing a stretch ceiling, it is recommended to contact specialists who will do everything quickly, competently and efficiently.
The actual fastening of such a tape to the ceiling can be done either using a self-adhesive base or using special fasteners or glue. Thus, you can install LED on the ceiling in the bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc.

Installing lighting on kitchen units

LED lighting is very common today in the kitchen. Moreover, LEDs are often used for high-quality and complete lighting of the kitchen work area.

LED illumination of the working area

In addition to the work surface of the sink, stove and countertop, LED strips can be used to illuminate kitchen units quite effectively. In the kitchen, lighting can be installed in the following places:

• inside hanging cabinets. In this way, the internal contents of the shelves are illuminated with high quality;

Kitchen cabinet interior lighting

• on top of wall kitchen cabinets or below floor units. In this case, lighting performs only a decorative function;

Headset illumination from below and above

• illumination of drawers for spoons, forks and other necessary things in the kitchen.

Drawer lighting

You can create any type of lighting here in two ways:

• Directly stick the tape equipped with a self-adhesive base onto the surface of the kitchen unit;

Installing tape with self-adhesive base on the surface of the cabinet

• use a mortise or overlay profile. A mortise profile will make the lighting as comfortable as possible for use, but its installation requires a significant investment of time and effort to cut the required hole in the cabinet. The overlay profile is easier to install, but it will stand out a little from the background of the kitchen unit.

Mortise and overlay profile in the kitchen

As you can see, the easiest way to attach the tape in this case is to simply glue it using a self-adhesive surface. All stages of mounting this product will be similar to the previously described installation on the ceiling.

Installing lighting in niches

Today, niches and partitions made of plasterboard are very popular in home interiors. To effectively highlight them against the general background, LED strips are often installed in such niches and structures.

Wall niche lighting

The easiest installation method is used here - on a self-adhesive base. As a result, the installation here, after assembling the lighting installation, looks like this:

• the surface of the niche must be thoroughly washed and free of greasy contaminants;
• Next, remove the protective film from the self-adhesive base;
• carefully apply it to the surface;
• Next, we align the tape along its entire length;
• Only when you are satisfied with the result do we press the product firmly.

To avoid peeling off in the future, the base of the tape can be coated with superglue. But in such a situation, in the future you are unlikely to be able to remove the LED without damaging the surface of the niche or plasterboard partition.

Conclusion

You can easily install an LED strip with your own hands on almost any surface in the house. Different options for its installation allow you to create a specific lighting option, saving time and effort. Which mounting method to choose depends only on your desire, as well as the characteristics of the surface. If you take into account the necessary recommendations, you should not have any problems.

How to check the performance of an LED strip We calculate lighting using the luminous flux utilization coefficient method

They have been used for illumination or as main lighting for more than one year. The price for them is constantly falling, and the range is growing. But if there is a need, you can make an LED strip with your own hands.

Advantages of LED strip

The LED strip has a number of advantages over other light sources:

• like all LED lamps, this is the most economical light source;
• a strip with LEDs takes up little space, it can be hidden under a shelf, cornice or in another inaccessible place;
• the most common supply voltage is 12 V, so this strip can be used in damp areas;
• The flexibility of the base allows the device to be mounted on curved surfaces.

Using homemade LED strip

This design can be used for lighting in a variety of places - if hidden behind a cornice or cabinet, then illumination of a suspended or regular ceiling will give the room a romantic look. Installation in the kitchen, on the lower surface of the kitchen unit, will illuminate the work surface, and above pots with indoor plants will add light to them in cloudy weather.

This homemade product can be used in a car and on a bicycle, as side lights or a car turn signal. On a music center, using an RGB controller, it will provide lighting effects - the lights will flash to the beat of the music.

How to make an LED strip with your own hands

It is very difficult to make a copy of a factory-produced LED strip at home. It is a printed circuit board on a flexible base on which LEDs and SMD series resistors are mounted. At home, these materials can be replaced with a textolite strip and conventional LEDs and resistances on legs.

Required tools and materials

To make your own LED strip, you need the following tools:

• scissors or cutter for cutting the textolite strip;
• an awl or thin drill corresponding to the thickness of the legs of the LEDs and resistors;
• soldering iron with solder and rosin;
• construction hair dryer for heating the heat-shrinkable tube.

In addition to tools, the following materials are required:

• LEDs. The quantity depends on the voltage required to operate each LED, the supply voltage - 12 V or 24 V, and the desired brightness. The homemade strip also connects to a battery or USB. When making RGB strips, diodes are needed in different colors - red, green and blue.
• Resistors. They are necessary to limit the current flowing through the LEDs.
• A strip of getinax or textolite 0.5 - 1 mm thick. If you have foil getinax, you can make a printed circuit board.
• Pieces of wire for mounting the circuit. The cross-section can be any, but no more than 0.35 mm2, otherwise they will be too rigid.
• A strip cut from an opaque plastic bottle or other thin plastic. The dimensions of this strip coincide with the dimensions of the textolite strip.
• Transparent heat shrink tube. The diameter should allow it to be put on the finished strip, and the length should be 30 mm longer than it.

Manufacturing process

Making a homemade LED strip consists of several stages:

1. Drawing up a schematic diagram. Each LED has a voltage and current rating. Based on this, they are connected in groups in series with a current-limiting resistor. Its rating and power can be calculated using Ohm's law or use one of the online calculators.
2. The textolite strip is cut off. The length and width of the strip should allow all the elements of the circuit to be placed on it.
3. Using an awl or a thin drill, holes are drilled for mounting parts. The LEDs are placed in a row, at the same distance from each other, and resistors are placed between them, on the side or on the back side of the strip, depending on local conditions. To produce an RGB strip, the LEDs are arranged in alternating colors.
4. Strip elements are inserted into the drilled holes.
5. All elements are connected using pieces of wire using a soldering iron according to the diagram.
6. Wires are soldered for connection.
7. To give the design a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, strips with LEDs and a cut-out strip from a bottle are placed in a transparent heat-shrink tube. The bottle strip is placed on the back of the LED strip.
8. The heat shrink tube is heated with a hairdryer to tighten all the parts into one. To use the structure in water, for example, in an aquarium, its ends are sealed with silicone sealant. This makes the structure waterproof.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Specialist in repair and maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.

Carefully! The sealant must be neutral. Vinegar fumes from vinegar caulk can destroy wires or cause short circuits.

Glow control

If you simply connect the LED strip to a power source, the only result is constant brightness of the light. If multi-colored LEDs are installed on the LED strip, they will light up simultaneously.

To easily adjust the brightness from min to max, you can use a dimmer with a power 20% higher than the power of the LED strip.

To control the RGB strip, it is better to take a controller.

Controller selection

Without a controller, you can control the brightness of only a single-color ribbon. A controller is required to control the multicolor. It will make it possible to smoothly adjust the color and change it according to a given program, for example, transfusion. Its power should be 20% higher than the power of the LED strip. In addition to power, controllers differ in type:

• Controller without remote control. The cheapest. Control is carried out directly on the device manually or using a built-in program.
• Controller with infrared (IR) remote control. Such remote controls operate within a line of sight of up to 10 meters.
• Controller with radio remote control. Such remote controls operate at a distance of up to 20 meters. Control can be carried out through walls and partitions.
• Controller operating via WI-FI channel. Such devices can be equipped with any remote control, but they can also be controlled using a computer or mobile phone, and can also be connected to the Smart Home system.

This is done to reduce the length of cables that carry high current. If the cable is long, the voltage drop is too high and the light becomes dim.

Installation

The finished structure is fixed in place in different ways:

• plastic clamps;
• the structure in the heat-shrinkable tube is secured with double-sided tape;
• an unsealed textolite strip is also secured with self-tapping screws or screws through pre-drilled holes;
• silicone sealant or “liquid nails”.

Attention! To secure the strip without heat shrink tube, use a neutral sealant.

A DIY LED strip can replace a ready-made one, and in some cases it is better suited to the task.

You can also watch a video on the Internet about how to make an LED strip with your own hands.

Useful video material

Lighting of a modern apartment is carried out using various design techniques and technical means, one of which is LED ceiling lighting. The most practical, cheap and effective way to organize such lighting is to use LED strips.

Advantages of LED strip

1. Diode lighting provides ample opportunities for the implementation of design ideas. In particular, using an LED strip, you can create uniform illumination along the entire perimeter of the ceiling, organize internal lighting of ceiling panels or light zoning of rooms, and also achieve the required intensity and direction of the light flux.
2. Easy to install and connect. Thanks to the simple electrical circuit and the small number of elements included in it, it is quite possible to make LED lighting yourself.
3. Low electrical energy consumption.

Types of LED strips

Waterproof tape. A special feature of this type of LED lamps is the use of a silicone shell to prevent moisture from affecting the elements of the electrical circuit.

Using tapes of this type, you can create a lighting system both indoors and outdoors.

Single-color and multi-color ribbons. The type and color of LED radiation mainly regulates their use in a particular room interior. At the moment, there are a large number of models of these lighting devices, which have in their design elements with varying degrees of light intensity.

What color temperature lamps do you prefer?

Poll Options are limited because JavaScript is disabled in your browser.

Neutral or natural white – 3500–5000 K 43%, 909 votes

Warm white – 2700–3500 K 39%, 822 vote

Cool white – 5000–6400 K 18%, 386 votes

11.03.2018

Features of LED strip installation

Installation of LED lighting is quite simple. Its main stages are cutting the tape, its installation, as well as connecting the adapter and controller.

Trimming

Most models of this product are available in rolls or lengths of 5 meters. Naturally, when placing the tape around the perimeter of the room, segments of a strictly defined length are required.

Important! It is impossible to cut the tape in a randomly selected place, as this can lead to disruption of the electrical circuit and failure of the entire device.

To obtain a segment of the required length, it is necessary to make cuts in strictly defined places, which are marked with a dotted line, as well as an arrow or a scissors symbol.

The choice of adapter should be dictated primarily by the total power of the tape sections connected to it; to evaluate this parameter, their total length and the power of one meter of the product should be taken into account.

Connection diagram

Connecting LED lighting systems in most cases requires the use of a reduced voltage of 12 volts. The required voltage value is obtained by using special devices - adapters, which are connected to the household electrical network via a plug connector or terminal connection.

In cases where it is necessary to provide several modes of operation of the LED strip (changes in brightness, flickering or operating in Christmas tree garland mode), a controller is used. This small device consists of a housing in which the elements of its electrical circuit are located, a plug for connecting an LED strip, and a sensor that allows you to control the operation of the controller from a remote control.

Installation

Since the LED strip is not intended for open installation indoors, it is placed in such a way as to be able to illuminate certain areas while remaining invisible. The most popular ways of installing these products is to place them behind a stretch ceiling, hiding the tape in baguettes or in plasterboard niches around the perimeter of the ceiling.

LED lighting can be organized quite simply. The most popular way is to place a strip of LEDs along the upper perimeter of the room. Almost all models of these products have a self-adhesive backing. To attach to the surface, simply remove the protective film from it and apply the product to the surface along the perimeter of the ceiling, gently pressing it with your fingers along its entire length.

To connect to the electrical network, in most cases you will have to use a soldering iron. Depending on the total length of the mounted lighting system, as well as on the availability of places in which fairly large adapters and RGB controllers can be hidden, a parallel circuit for connecting LED strips can be used, providing for their connection after leaving the adapter.

The advantage of this connection scheme is that it uses only one adapter, but in this case it is quite large in size, which creates certain difficulties in discreetly placing this device. In addition, when connecting several LED strips, there is a significant voltage drop across their elements, which leads to a noticeable decrease in the intensity of light emission from the LEDs located at the end of the connection opposite from the adapter.

In many cases, it is more preferable to use a parallel connection, which can be done using one or two adapters.

It is often easier to covertly place several small secondary power sources around the perimeter of a room than one larger one. In this case, you should use a parallel circuit for connecting LED strips, in which the connection is made on the phase wires before entering the adapters.

RGB controllers are used to control the operation of color LED strips. Connecting these devices is also not particularly difficult. The red and black wires coming from the adapter are connected to the controller input. When connecting them, it is important to observe the polarity (red wire is “plus”, black wire is “minus”). Next, the wires going to the LED strip are connected to the controller output.

Markings used:

• R – wire with red insulation.
• G – with green.
• B – blue.

The fourth wire is common. As when connecting a single-color tape, it is undesirable to combine sections of them with a total length exceeding 5 m into serial connections.

When connecting several color tapes in parallel, you often have to use fairly massive power supplies or, as an option, install additional signal amplifiers.

The infrared sensor with which the controllers are equipped should be placed in such a way that its location does not interfere with the transmission of the control signal from the remote control.

LED ceiling lighting is most in demand as additional lighting systems that can advantageously highlight certain interior details, emphasize some of its elements, or highlight functional areas of the room. Since the installation of LED strips is quite simple, and their price is quite reasonable, today these devices are quickly gaining popularity as an element of home electrical wiring.

How to install LED strip with your own hands

When I first wanted to do the installation myself, everything seemed very simple. But in the end I had to redo everything, but I photographed the results of my efforts to show my mistakes as an example. Today I’ll tell you how to install an LED strip on a ceiling or kitchen with your own hands; I think it will be clear to both a child and a pensioner.

To avoid repeated alterations, carefully consider the lighting design. If you have any doubts, it is better to consult a specialist once again. Learn from other people's mistakes, not your own.

Installation on a plasterboard ceiling, video

In the video clip, a colleague will tell you a diagram of how to install a plasterboard suspended ceiling. Shows the dimensions of the box and side for laying the diode strip.

Types of installation

Example of overhead method, type No. 2

To ensure that LED lighting does not dazzle and is safe, 3 mounting methods are used. The color design of the room plays a big role: light reflects, dark absorbs. My apartment is not located on the sunny side, so the decoration had to be light, only the laminate on the floor is dark, it eats up some of the light.

Reflective placement

The light flux is directed upward and then reflected downward. Works well on a white ceiling or stretch ceiling. The glossiness and matteness of the coating plays a role. It is better to check the ability to reflect light with a lux meter on site to find out a more or less accurate percentage of lost light. Here you will also lose up to 50%, if measured by floor illumination. If you want to reduce the percentage of losses due to reflection, then opposite the LED diodes can be painted with reflective paint. Or you can coat it with a colorless varnish with a reflective pigment.

Most often, this method is used when installing on a regular or two-level one. The installation location also depends on your imagination. I've seen design projects where LED lighting is mounted inside a tensioner, the diodes shine through the film, and it turns out they shine like stars.

Wall mounting in aluminum profile

The tape is installed in an aluminum or plastic box with a matte diffuser, like LED lamps. Depending on the transparency of the diffuser, you will lose from 20 to 40% of the brightness on it. In addition, in a closed volume the LEDs will heat up more. The box can be installed on the wall and ceiling.

Ceiling mount

Middle option, part is reflected and passes directly

A compromise option between the previous two. An overlay aluminum or plastic profile is glued to the wall so that some of the light enters the room directly, and some is reflected.

If you are designing main lighting, and not additional lighting for a chandelier, then it is better to install it in the second way. The advantage is lower losses of luminous flux. The matte diffuser retains from 20 to 40%. If you choose a good one, then you will lose only 20% of the light, and with reflection 50%. You can avoid losing 20% ​​of brightness if you find one with a prismatic or grooved reflector. This is used on Armstrong LED lamps, about which I wrote a review. It has virtually no reduction in brightness and no glare.

Installation in the kitchen, video

A colleague will tell you in detail how to install work area lighting in the kitchen. An overhead aluminum profile with a matte cover is used. Instead of a profile, you can use a plastic cable channel; it turns out to be 20 times cheaper. Moreover, it is not necessary to cover the LEDs if the height of the edge of the profile is sufficient to cover them from your eyes. The only exception is children. Due to their small stature, they will see diodes if they come close to the kitchen countertop.

Example of a bad installation

Example of how to not attach it, it has come off in places

Let's figure out how to install an LED strip in the kitchen with your own hands. The need for LED lighting arose because the chandelier with LED lamps is located in the middle of the kitchen, its area is 11 sq.m. The area is quite large, so it contains a dining area and a corner folding sofa with a sleeping place. The LED lamp is located behind my back and I block the light, resulting in a shadow that no longer allows me to clearly see the cooking area.

I do not recommend turning it on immediately after installation. If there were unevenness or tension in the copper base, then heating will cause the adhesive layer to come off in these places. You can see an example in the photo; I turned it on almost immediately, and within 12 hours it fell off in many places. These rules also apply when installing LED strips for ceiling lighting.

The diode strip on the reel sometimes bends in waves; it must be carefully straightened. Otherwise, uneven areas will peel off.

Since I didn’t put it in a box, and the LEDs are clearly visible, these places stand out strongly from the rest, it looks absolutely terrible. Repeated attempts to secure these areas to the surface of the cabinet were unsuccessful; it still falls off. Complete dismantling is required, cleaning the surface of the laminated chipboard from remnants of the adhesive layer; isopropyl alcohol does this well. We buy good expensive 3M tape of a suitable width and glue it to the cleaned base of the tape. Activator wipes are sold complete with tape or separately to increase surface adhesion. Simply put, whatever would stick to the surface better. This activator is quite poisonous, so use it very carefully.

Average prices for installation and installation

You have found out an approximate list of works, now you just have to decide whether to install it yourself or invite a professional. I will provide a table of average prices for installation work. Cost may vary depending on region.

Now a reader has contacted me; one company has calculated a basic lighting project for an apartment with an area of ​​105 square meters. The cost was 600 thousand rubles. looks like a high-end lighting project, like the presidential suite. Although the client was interested in a project that was optimal in price and quality. Organizations can sell you an Italian designer profile at a huge price and prestigious components. Be careful and consult independent experts.

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Your feedback and questions

Tape 12 V, 14.4 W/m. 5 meters consume 2 A. It should be 6 A. I will quarrel with the store. In another store I measured the current before purchase - also 2 A on the reel, although the tape is 14.4 W/m. In the city of Petrozavodsk there is Ketai guano everywhere:(

Expert answer 01/18/2016 at 17:10

If it is 24 watts per 5 meters, and not 72W, then this is a deception from the manufacturer or store. They sell junk. If the tape is 12 volts, then the power is calculated at a voltage of 12 volts. Current multiplied by voltage. Soon I will have a section for store reviews, where you can expose the deception.

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How to install LED strip yourself

October 21, 2014

Using LED strip as a means of lighting has a number of advantages. First of all, these are energy savings, ease of installation, absence of high voltages and other advantages. This type of lighting appeared relatively recently and has already come into widespread use for various purposes.

LED strip is a flexible plastic strip on which LEDs are soldered and connected into an electrical circuit. Thus, they are already ready for use and all you need to do is connect the power supply to it.

The main use of the device is decorating any place with light or spot lighting. Due to its brightness and color, it is used in car tuning, in the interiors of restaurants and cafes, and in individual home design.

However, despite the ease of operation and installation, there are some peculiarities when using this type of lighting. Before installing the LED strip, you need to choose it correctly and determine the power of the power supply. You also need to know how to properly cut the required length and connect the power wires. The lines of this article will tell you about all this.

Selecting LED strip by glow

Before you make an LED strip, you need to decide what color glow you need. There is just white light and multi-colored light. A tape with different colors is labeled as RGB (R - red, G - green, B - blue). In the case of the usual single-color version there are only two contacts, and in the color version there are four. It is worth noting that a multi-colored ribbon can have different glow modes, while a single-color ribbon can have only one.

The choice of LED strip type will also affect the characteristics of the power supply. It must provide the necessary power and polarity of the supply. In addition, the power supply must have a power reserve of 20% upward.

It is also worth considering that before connecting the RGB LED strip, you need to plan where the controller for it will be located. Since it is often controlled by a remote control, access to it must be within line of sight.

Calculation of LED strip and power supply

The density of LEDs per meter of strip can be different. Basically it is in the range of 30, 60 and 120 pieces. There is also a dual wide strip with 240 diodes. The methodology of how to calculate the LED strip for its correct operation depends on this.

For SMD 3528 diodes, the power consumption is:

• 60 diodes per meter consume 4.8 watts.
• 120 diodes per meter consume 7.2 watts.
• 240 diodes per meter consume 16 watts.

For SMD 5050 brand diodes, the power consumption is:

• 30 diodes per meter consume 7.2 watts.
• 60 diodes per meter consume 14 watts.
• 240 diodes per meter consume 25 watts.

For all cases, if the length of the tape is more than one meter, it is necessary to sum up the entire load and select the appropriate power supply. For example, if the tape has SMD 5050 diodes with a density of 60 pieces per meter, and the length of the tape is 5 meters, then the power of the power supply must be at least 70 watts.

Selecting a power supply

To make a high-quality LED strip with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable power source for it. Once the power consumption has been determined, you need to decide on the type of power supply. This procedure depends on where the backlight is installed. If the tape will work in harsh outdoor conditions, then you should pay attention to sealed plastic or metal versions. They are completely protected from harmful influences and are compact in size. But for these advantages you will have to pay a little more.

If the installation location is indoors and there is enough space for installation, then it is advisable to choose an open power supply. It is larger in size compared to previous options, but its cost is much lower.

There are also portable power banks that are similar to phone chargers. They are designed to operate in portable devices that do not exceed a power consumption of 60 watts.

Determining the protective properties

To protect from external influences, the LED strip can be coated on top with a protective layer of silicone or transparent plastic. This applies to those options when outdoor installation is needed. If everything will be installed indoors, then you can use tapes without protection.

Silicone tape is suitable for use in corridors, large rooms or other places where both mechanical stress and the possibility of exposure to liquids are possible. For outdoor use, full protection is required. This tape is a round elastic rod. It has complete protection against all influences, including temperature. Therefore, before installing this type of LED strip, special fastenings may be required.

How to connect two ribbons together

In order for the diodes to work properly, you need to know how to connect the LED strip correctly. For this purpose, two options are possible. The first and easiest way, in which you need to purchase special connectors, when using them, you can make a connection in a matter of seconds. The disadvantage of this method is the likelihood of contact oxidation and, as a result, loss of power.

The other method is more reliable, but requires some skills in handling a soldering iron. The two ends of the tape are soldered with special solder. In this case, the connection is very reliable. After this procedure, it is advisable to cover the contacts with heat shrink tape or special glue. In both options, in order to know how to properly connect the LED strip, you need to not mix up the polarity of the conductors. They are connected according to the principle “+” to “+” and “-” to “-”. It is worth noting that multi-colored ribbon cannot be combined with a single-color ribbon. Only tapes of the same type can be summed.

Connecting the tape using soldering

Before soldering the LED strip to the power wire or connecting two pieces together, you need to purchase the necessary tools and consumables. We will need:

• Low power soldering iron.
• Tin based solder.
• Flux.
• Connecting wires.
• A sharp knife for stripping insulation.

First of all, we clean the contacts on the tape. If there is silicone protection, then carefully remove it with a knife. We also strip the wires for soldering. The length of the bare conductor should be approximately one centimeter. Then we take a heated soldering iron and lower it into the flux, and then quickly into the solder. After making sure that some of the solder has stuck to the tip, we apply the stripped conductor to it. After this operation, part of the solder should transfer to the conductor. The next step is to solder the prepared conductor to the corresponding contacts on the tape. To do this, a conductor is placed in the right place, and a little flux is placed on top of it. After this, you need to touch the assembly with the soldering iron tip for one second. The result should be a soldered conductor.

Connecting the tape using connectors

Before you connect the LED strip to power or another strip using connectors, you need to select them correctly and attach them properly. In the case of connecting two segments, you will need a pair of connectors, which must first be soldered together. For soldering, you can use the guide described above.

After the two connectors are ready, insert the stripped edge of the tape into its special slot with the locking buttons open. After this, you need to press these buttons and fix the contacts of the tape. If you connect power, everything will happen the same way, but with one connector.

In both cases, care must be taken to ensure that the polarity of the connection matches correctly. If you mix anything up, the tape will not burn. But you shouldn’t be too upset about this outcome, it won’t burn her out.

How to cut the required length of ribbon

Before attaching the LED strip, you need to make a segment of the required length. To simplify this operation, the LED strip has a clear location for possible cutting. Often these places are located every four light elements, but there may be another cutting frequency. Therefore, we find a suitable place and use a sharp knife or scissors to make an even cut. It should turn out that both ends have two contacts to which you can connect power.

If the tape has special protection in the form of silicone or plastic, then before cutting it, you need to clean out a small gap. You can use a knife for this purpose. You need to act very carefully so as not to damage the contacts.

Preparing for installation

Before attaching the LED strip to the chosen location, the entire system must be checked for functionality. To do this, the entire electrical circuit is assembled on the table and checked. If there are no comments in the work, then you can proceed to inspect the installation site. To do this, you need to make sure that the tape will not be affected by negative factors in the form of liquids and mechanical influences. It is necessary to design the place for laying the tape so that the bending radius is not less than 20 millimeters. Otherwise, strong bending may damage the tape.

Sometimes the LED strip has an adhesive side for installation. It allows you to attach it to any hard surface. But before you do this, you need to clean this surface and degrease it with gasoline or acetone. If you do not have the means for installation, you can use double-sided tape or other means.

Features of connecting RGB tape

Before connecting an LED strip of this type to a power supply, you need to check its operation with a special controller that regulates the voltage. It supplies power to those LEDs that should be lit. When connecting, you need to match all four contacts. All terminals on the controller and power supply are labeled, and this operation is not difficult. If everything worked out and the tape works in all color modes, then you can start installing it on your workplace.

Special plugs and sockets can also be used to connect power. They greatly simplify all the work and allow you to ensure a reliable connection. To do this, a socket with the required number of contacts is soldered onto the tape, and a corresponding plug is soldered onto the power wire.

Installation in the car

Before installing an LED strip in a car, you need to make sure that it is not exposed to harmful factors. This may include physical activity, bending and increased vibration. For this purpose, it is usually installed in specially prepared places. For example, it could be a special corner made of plastic or metal that is attached to the body.

In addition to the correct installation location, you need to use a stabilized voltage to power the backlight. To do this, a special electronic stabilizer is connected to the circuit. It will allow you to equalize the voltage to 12 volts when lowering and increasing it in the on-board network. This device can be purchased at any auto parts store. It always comes with connection instructions, and if there are none, the seller must explain everything.

During direct installation and when connecting the power cable, it is necessary to remove the terminals from the battery. This action will avoid short circuits and other unpleasant situations.

This article provided basic tips on how to install an LED strip and connect it correctly. Compliance with these rules will help to avoid unpleasant operational situations in the process, as well as in the future.

If you decide to make spectacular lighting in a car or beautifully decorate certain places in the house, then for this purpose it is better to choose a ribbon with a multi-colored glow. This will allow flexible control of external design.

For lighting that should be purely practical, white light is more suitable. It does not impose additional shades on surrounding objects and will be more natural.

Finally

LED strip is one of the long-lasting light sources. It is preferred in cases where low voltage power is required. When connecting it, it is impossible to suffer an electric shock, since it is too small for this. Therefore, such lighting can be used without fear in damp rooms and basements.

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How to secure an LED strip when organizing different types of lighting

The highlight of any renovation will be the lighting created using lighting equipment such as LED strip. It is an original and unusual alternative to traditional lamps and lamps.

LED strip lighting

But in order for such an LED to look impressive and work for the longest possible period of time, you need to know how to mount it yourself. This article will tell you how to install this lighting product.

General installation rules

Despite the fact that today LED strips are quite widely represented on the lighting market, do-it-yourself fastening of them is carried out in a similar way and has general rules.

Note! Having a large assortment of LED strips, these products can be installed on various surfaces in the kitchen, bedroom, living room, hallway and even the bathroom.

LED strip in the kitchen

To attach any type of LED strip to a surface, you must adhere to the following installation rules:

• LED must be connected exclusively through a special power supply, which reduces the 220 V network voltage to the required level (12 or 24 V). This need is dictated by the fact that all LED products are low-voltage products;
• since the tapes can be cut into fragments of different lengths, they must be connected to each other using certain connectors and sockets;
• You should avoid excessive bending of the tape during installation. Otherwise, the electrical component of the product may be damaged;
• when cutting a product and connecting individual pieces, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the conductive paths through which the LEDs are powered;

Connecting pieces of LED strip

• if the segment is more than 4A, experts recommend using good old soldering rather than special connecting elements. In this case, soldering will create a more reliable connection of conductive elements;
• When organizing lighting in the kitchen or bathroom, you need to choose models that have a high class of protection against dust and moisture. For other rooms, such as the bedroom and living room, you can choose cheaper products with a low moisture resistance class;
• Before attaching the LED strip, you need to properly prepare the surface: clean it of dirt, dust and dirt;
• Self-adhesive LED strips can only be used once. In this regard, the length of the LED should be thought out in detail before installation begins. The best solution in this situation would be to pre-mark the installation path of the LED strip on the surface;
• Serial connection is possible only for five LEDs. Otherwise, the LEDs at the ends will glow less brightly. In the future, this situation will overload the stable plan of the entire lighting system.

Following these rules will allow you to install an LED strip with your own hands and make the lighting in any room (kitchen, bedroom, living room, etc.) impeccable.

The most advantageous installation locations

LED strip can be installed on a wide variety of surfaces. But it will look most impressive in certain places:

• niches on the ceiling. Here it is necessary to create special boxes. In this case, you will get hidden lighting;
• on the ceiling or walls using special devices - plastic corners;
• behind the ceiling plinth;
• lighting set in the kitchen;
• niches in the walls, as well as figured partitions.

Now let's take a closer look at the LED installation methods listed above.

Methods for installing lighting on the ceiling

The most common place to install LED strips is suspended ceilings (especially plasterboard). This product can be installed on the ceiling in the following ways:

Note! The methods for attaching an LED strip to the ceiling are similar to placing it on the wall (for example, in a niche in a partition or wall).

• creating hidden lighting by installing LED in a box;
• placement of the light source on a special profile;
• installation of the product on the ceiling plinth.

The most common way to create hidden lighting is using a box. In this case, you need to create a box with a hidden cornice from drywall.

Hidden LED lighting in a plasterboard box

This is a rather complicated implementation method, as it involves creating a box around the entire perimeter of the backlight.
In addition to the box, the LED strip can be installed on a profile, which today can differ both in the material from which it was made and in type. The most popular is the aluminum profile. It is best to choose when installing in the kitchen.

Profiles for LED strip

But a plastic profile can also be used here. This profile is suitable for the bedroom and living room. Modern models, which have increased resistance to temperature changes and moisture, are perfect for installation in the kitchen.
Profiles for LED strip come in three types:

• corner. Used to create ceiling lighting around the perimeter of rooms. With such a profile, you can create an unusual illumination of the ceiling surface, even if there are various figures on it;
• mortise More relevant for furniture lighting. They are often used in the kitchen to illuminate the work surface;
• built-in When installed, it looks three-dimensional, which allows you to play with it in the interior of the premises in a variety of ways.

Another rather original way to attach an LED strip to the ceiling is to install a ceiling plinth. The main advantage of this installation method is the simplicity of the work, on which you will spend a minimum of effort and time. Here you just need to install the plinth at a distance of 8-10 cm from the ceiling.

Ceiling plinth for LED strip

Once the installation method (box, profile or plinth) has been selected and implemented, you can begin installing the light source itself.

Installing lighting on the ceiling

Installing an LED strip in the kitchen or any other room in the house will include the following steps:

• select the type of tape;
• determine the required backlight length;
• we purchase all the necessary equipment and materials: power supply, connectors, fasteners;

Note! To make LED lighting controllable by brightness, as well as changing the color of the light flux, you need to purchase a controller and remote control.

Controller with remote control

• Next, we cut the LED into the required pieces and connect it using a connector or soldering. The type of connector (round or flat) is selected depending on the model of the LED strip;
• Next, we calculate the power of the LED and, based on the obtained figures, select the type of power supply. Remember that you need to add 20-30% of the power reserve for the converter to the final figure;
• all components must be assembled according to a scheme that depends on the length of the lighting installation, the presence or absence of a controller, as well as the number of power supplies;

LED strip connection diagram options

• carefully place the lighting in the box/profile/plinth;

Note! Since the power supply gets very hot during its operation, it can quickly fail. Therefore, it must be placed in such a way that it can be replaced without destroying the integrity of the ceiling structure.

• After this, the lighting system is connected to the power supply.

Ready-made ceiling lighting

As you can see, illuminating a plasterboard or other type of suspended ceiling is not that difficult. But when working with suspended ceilings, you need to adhere to a certain sequence of work. Here, the backlight is first created and installed, and only then it is masked with a stretch fabric. This option is very difficult to implement with your own hands due to the need for special knowledge and tools (for example, a heat gun). Therefore, when installing a stretch ceiling, it is recommended to contact specialists who will do everything quickly, competently and efficiently.
The actual fastening of such a tape to the ceiling can be done either using a self-adhesive base or using special fasteners or glue. Thus, you can install LED on the ceiling in the bedroom, living room, kitchen, etc.

Installing lighting on kitchen units

LED lighting is very common today in the kitchen. Moreover, LEDs are often used for high-quality and complete lighting of the kitchen work area.

LED illumination of the working area

In addition to the work surface of the sink, stove and countertop, LED strips can be used to illuminate kitchen units quite effectively. In the kitchen, lighting can be installed in the following places:

• inside hanging cabinets. In this way, the internal contents of the shelves are illuminated with high quality;

Kitchen cabinet interior lighting

• on top of wall kitchen cabinets or below floor units. In this case, lighting performs only a decorative function;

Headset illumination from below and above

• illumination of drawers for spoons, forks and other necessary things in the kitchen.

Drawer lighting

You can create any type of lighting here in two ways:

• Directly stick the tape equipped with a self-adhesive base onto the surface of the kitchen unit;

Installing tape with self-adhesive base on the surface of the cabinet

• use a mortise or overlay profile. A mortise profile will make the lighting as comfortable as possible for use, but its installation requires a significant investment of time and effort to cut the required hole in the cabinet. The overlay profile is easier to install, but it will stand out a little from the background of the kitchen unit.

Mortise and overlay profile in the kitchen

As you can see, the easiest way to attach the tape in this case is to simply glue it using a self-adhesive surface. All stages of mounting this product will be similar to the previously described installation on the ceiling.

Installing lighting in niches

Today, niches and partitions made of plasterboard are very popular in home interiors. To effectively highlight them against the general background, LED strips are often installed in such niches and structures.

Wall niche lighting

The easiest installation method is used here - on a self-adhesive base. As a result, the installation here, after assembling the lighting installation, looks like this:

• the surface of the niche must be thoroughly washed and free of greasy contaminants;
• Next, remove the protective film from the self-adhesive base;
• carefully apply it to the surface;
• Next, we align the tape along its entire length;
• Only when you are satisfied with the result do we press the product firmly.

To avoid peeling off in the future, the base of the tape can be coated with superglue. But in such a situation, in the future you are unlikely to be able to remove the LED without damaging the surface of the niche or plasterboard partition.

Conclusion

You can easily install an LED strip with your own hands on almost any surface in the house. Different options for its installation allow you to create a specific lighting option, saving time and effort. Which mounting method to choose depends only on your desire, as well as the characteristics of the surface. If you take into account the necessary recommendations, you should not have any problems.

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