How to choose LED strips for your home? What are the types, power and color of the glow? LED strip for ceiling lighting

LED strip is one of the most popular solutions today for the manufacture of decorative lighting or economical main lighting systems. It could be light in an apartment or lighting in a car, a luminous strip under the ceiling or near a bookshelf, finally, a festive decoration of the facade of a house or New Year's lighting of a composition on the street - anything you like can simply be decorated with LED strips, you just need to choose the right strips for one application or another.

In this article we will talk about choosing LED strips for various purposes, note important aspects of the choice, and warn the consumer against possible mistakes.

Single color or RGB tape

First, you need to decide whether you want a single color or multi-color LED strip light. Single color ribbons shine a certain color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet or white. One ribbon - one color. Or another option - .

No, this does not mean that there are several LEDs of different colors installed on the strip, it means that special three-color LEDs are installed on the strip, each of which can, in principle, give any shade, depending on the mode of power supply to it from the RGB controller.

Such multi-color tapes are well suited for making iridescent decorative lighting for shelves, architectural compositions, ceilings in a bedroom or living room, in a car, etc. If you need to set up a general lighting system, then it is better to choose a single-color white tape (warm yellowish light for the bedroom or cool bluish tint for the garage).

Selecting brightness and power

When the issue of choosing a color has been resolved, the next step will be to determine the expected brightness, and, accordingly, the power of the tape. The determining factors here will be: the standard size of the LEDs installed on the strip, as well as the density of their installation along the length of the strip.

The most popular sizes of LEDs are: SMD5630 - for a luminous flux of 18 Lm, SMD5050 - for 15 Lm, SMD3528 - for 5 Lm. The numbers after the letters “SMD” are, as you may have guessed, the size of each LED on the strip in tenths of mm: for example, 5630 is 5.6 mm by 3.0 mm, etc. The larger the LED, the higher it is power.

And the more densely the LEDs are installed on the strip, the higher the brightness of the strip will be, the higher the power of the light source thus obtained will be. Typical mounting densities are: 30, 60, 72, 120 or 240 LEDs per meter of strip.

As for power, 15 watts per meter is usually enough to form a general lighting system, and here the smaller the LEDs, the more densely they should be installed on the strip.

For example: SMD3528 with a density of 60 pieces per meter will give approximately 300 Lumens luminous flux per meter of tape length, and from SMD5050 with a density of 30 pieces per meter of tape - we get 450 Lm. The order of the numbers is now clear.

power unit

Without a power supply, the LED strip will not work, so next you need to select a power supply. When choosing, proceed from the supply voltage and the total power of the connected tapes. The rated power of the power supply should be taken with a margin of 10-20% compared to the total power of the connected tapes.

As for the strips themselves, depending on the type of LEDs on the strip and their density on it, the power of a meter of strip will be strictly defined.

Let's say you need 4 pieces of 2 meters of tape with single-color white SMD5050 LEDs, and with an LED density of 120 pieces per meter of tape. The supply voltage for the tape is most often chosen to be 12 V DC.

A strip with LEDs of this size and with the named density consumes 25 W per meter. Therefore, 4 pieces of 2 meters are 8 meters - 8 times 25 watts, that is, 200 watts.

So, with a power reserve of 20%, we will choose a network stabilized AC-DC power supply for a constant voltage of 12 V, with a power of 240 W. What if we were talking about colored tape? In this case, you would also have to choose an RGB controller with the appropriate power and the same supply voltage as the unit.

Tape quality

When calculations regarding the power and size of the tape have been made, it’s time to purchase the tape. And here the main thing is not to go wrong with the quality of the product. You shouldn’t chase cheap prices and immediately go to a Chinese online trading platform.

In cheap tapes, wanting to get maximum brightness and , manufacturers install resistors that are underrated, for example, instead of the required 150 or 300 Ohms - only 100 Ohms. It is better if the resistors are of a higher value.

In addition, the base of the tape should not be very soft - the conductive tracks will have to withstand the operating current and not overheat.

Finally, installation: the LEDs must be installed evenly on the strip, not crooked. It's better to pay a little more, and then you can be sure of quality for many years. Otherwise, if you save money, you end up with bad soldering and overheating. The miser pays twice.

Where do you need to install this LED strip? Will it be placed in the bathroom, where there is regularly high humidity, or is it intended for a dry living room, or maybe even for the outdoors? This is where you need to think about the degree of security of the tape.

Silicone or epoxy coating with a shell protection rating of IP65, IP67, IP68 will protect the tape from precipitation, moisture and dust - this is practically an analogue of duralight. If the tape is placed on a shelf or in a closet, where it will always be dry and clean, then you can get by with the most ordinary IP20 tape without a protective coating.

The same applies to the power supply. The power supply to provide light to the bathroom must be installed either in a separate room, or its housing must be protected from moisture.

Andrey Povny

Lighting effects have long been successfully used by designers as decorative element or to highlight different functional areas. But not each of us is so friendly with electricians that we can install 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 suggest you learn everything about LED ceiling tape lighting: how to install, select the right components and use for original design rooms.

To illuminate a suspended ceiling, there are several types of lighting - from various “spot” devices to a system with conductive tracks on which diodes are mounted. The latter option is interesting because 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 solution deserves attention, so we will consider it in more detail.

Lighting effects can become an interesting accent for the kitchen interior:

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

Types of LED backlight

For decorative lighting in a store, you may be offered dense “rulers” on a hard substrate or duralights - cords with a 360-degree glow angle. But it is boards on a flexible basis, which we are accustomed to calling LED strips, that are most widely used.

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

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

1. General illumination - implies complete replacement traditional LED lamps. To do this, several powerful tapes are installed around the perimeter and behind the stretch ceiling film. True, this option is rare, since you will have to spend a significant amount to purchase a large number of diodes.
2. Highlighting contours - conductive paths with diodes installed behind the cornices or in specially equipped niches along the perimeter of the ceiling create muted diffused lighting and visually increase the height of the room.
3. Shaped lighting - the glow of LEDs can highlight a certain area, highlight various protrusions or recesses in suspended structures.

Flexible tapes can take on even the most intricate and curved shapes

Note! LEDs can be used not only for ceilings, but also when decorating work aprons, floor podiums, window and door openings. Ribbons effectively emphasize the contours of furniture and appliances; they make it easy to emphasize paintings, beautiful dishes and other accessories.

LED decor options for the kitchen:

Starry sky backlight

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

To arrange such lighting, individual LEDs of various powers and sizes are selected, which need to be soldered into a network, and then glued to the base ceiling with construction silicone. This is the most difficult stage, since, in addition to maintaining polarity, it is important to enclose each terminal in a cambric - an insulating tube that will protect your “sky” from short circuits. For a more realistic effect, several miniature light bulbs can 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 (100 pieces will require 10 W). It is also worth purchasing a controller-interrupter for each section of 5-10 diodes. With it, the “stars” will be able not only to shine, but also to blink.

Choosing a stretch ceiling film with a space-themed image will increase the realism of the “star” effect

Note! If you wish, you can install a “starry sky” in a plasterboard ceiling. But to do this you will have to cut a niche in it or drill holes according to the size and number of light spots.

How to choose and install LED strip

Manufacturers present us with so many LED solutions that it’s easy for a person far from electricians to get confused. But since it depends on the purchase correct installation LED backlighting and its operation, let’s try to sort out the most important technical nuances in order.

Types of LED strips

All systems with LEDs can be classified according to several parameters: type of mounting, number of diodes, color, power. What exactly to pay attention to depends on the design idea that you want to realize 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, ribbons are divided into single-color and multi-color. The first ones, when turned on, emit light of only one tone. And it doesn’t have to be traditional white, it can also be red, green, yellow, purple or bright light green. Among the non-standard options, it is worth noting tapes with ultraviolet or infrared glow.

You can choose the backlight shade to suit any interior

Despite the wide assortment, the choice of lighting gamut should be approached with caution - psychologists assure that prolonged exposure to color has an impact on the psyche. Thus, “calm” tones that can be safely used both in 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 people - such lighting has a depressing effect and can cause a nervous breakdown.

Keep in mind that even classic white can have different shades and radiate a warm or cool glow. These “temperature” nuances are important when creating an organic interior; they can be determined 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 installation, 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 backing.

Multicolor RGB systems can change shades one by one or glow with all the colors of the rainbow at the same time. But they cost an order of magnitude more than their monochromatic counterparts and only work in conjunction 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 LEDs and the density of their placement. The most popular are 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.

Types of LED systems by LED density

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

Inspection and purchase of tape and components

To determine which material is suitable for implementing your ideas, study the symbols on the board. Standard strips for household lighting have the abbreviation SMD (short for SurfaceMountedDevice - “surface mounted device”). 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.

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 on 1 m of strip. 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 this.

Backlight power consumption at different LED placement frequencies

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 focus on when purchasing a power supply (transformer), and for multi-color products, a controller. These components can be rated for 5, 12 and 24V, but if you do not plan to replace the main lighting, 12V devices are sufficient.

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

LED strips have different protection classes. This indicator affects their ability to withstand moisture, dust and other negative influences. external factors. To determine it, you need to look for an abbreviation on the packaging with the letters IP (stands for IngressProtectionRating).

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

The presence of protection can be determined even if 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 regular 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 surfaces in contact with it. Therefore, you should not use protection where it is not needed.

DIY LED lighting installation

To install the lighting on the kitchen ceiling yourself, it is important to know that according to the type of fastening, all strips are divided into:

• Self-adhesive (most common) - mounted on a sticky backing that is equally suitable for wood, plastic or glass. The disadvantage is that the glue may come off over time due to humidity or several re-gluings.
• With fastenings - fixed using 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! Tapes are available in 5-meter rolls, but most sellers also offer retail pieces of the required length. The places for divisions 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, cut locations may only be indicated by a vertical line

When installing yourself, take into account another important feature for any LED products - thermal conductivity. The fact is that manufacturers have still not 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 in the kitchen high temperatures- a common thing, for powerful or frequently located 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 illuminate the selected area, the cut points must be secured using a connector or a regular soldering iron. Please note that the temperature of the device should not be 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 this principle:

• In single-color boards, the plus and minus contacts are soldered together.
• In multi-color RGB, 4 wires are combined with contacts of the same name on the block, focusing on the markings (R - red, G - green, B - blue, fourth - 12 or 24 V).
• The transformer power cord is connected to contacts N and L.
• In RGB strips, 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 color lighting

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

Depending on the type of finish of the kitchen ceiling, there are various installation options strip 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 create lighting effects using a regular cornice.

Installing tape in the baseboard on the ceiling

This installation method is applicable even if the kitchen renovation is long overdue. It does not require any special alterations, the main thing is to buy a beautiful ceiling cornice that matches the overall interior design, and glue it to “liquid nails” at a distance of 80-120 mm from the ceiling. In order for the structure to come out smooth and look impressive, you should first make markings for 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 cornice from dust and degrease.
2. Remove the adhesive backing from reverse side tapes.
3. We mount the LEDs on the wall or on the side of the cornice. True, many experts do not trust factory-made “self-adhesives” and recommend additionally securing the structure with silicone glue or double-sided tape.
4. We connect the power supply (and for multi-color RGB - also 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 a 220 W network.

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

Installation in plasterboard cornice

It is best to install lighting in suspended ceilings during their construction. For this, a standard design made of metal profiles and plasterboard sheets is used, which provides an open or closed niche for a line of LEDs.

You will need the following tools and materials:

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

The operating algorithm is as follows:

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

Note! The structure may consist of one or several levels. In any case, it is important to maintain 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 end to end. A niche is left at the ends of the structure to accommodate the LED strip. The outer perimeter must be covered with a side to disguise the constituent elements of the backlight.

Installation of plasterboard cornice for hidden lighting

It will help to create a bright or dim strip of light right choice protective edge height

Important! Don't forget to include space in the design for power supplies and a controller.

1. The seams are masked with putty, and after complete drying, with primer and painting.
2. Now it's time to install the backlight. The tape must be attached to an adhesive base directly to the drywall (additionally, you can use clamps or an aluminum profile). The light from the diodes should be directed from bottom to top. Then you can connect the system to the current conductors, remembering to observe the polarity.

Connection diagrams with one and several transformers

Video: installing LED strip

To clearly demonstrate the work of installing the backlight, we suggest studying a small video selection of training materials:

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

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

As you can see, you can handle the installation of LED backlighting yourself. Therefore, the main task is to choose the right length of material, 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 installation of the lighting to a qualified electrician.

Increasingly, modern apartments use LED lighting of all kinds. It’s understandable why - ceilings decorated with diode systems seem higher than they actually are. At the same time, a minimal amount of space is hidden.

LED strip is especially popular for background lighting. Such lighting can be used for zoning or decorating premises. Using ribbons of different colors, with high or low glow intensity, you can effortlessly change the appearance of a room beyond recognition - especially for those who like frequent changes in decor.
For installation on the ceiling, models with an adhesive backing are very convenient; just remove protective film and apply to a dust-free surface - installation is completed.
It is imperative to take into account the aggressiveness of the indoor environment. So, to illuminate the ceiling in the bathroom or kitchen, it is recommended to use tapes in sealed casings made of silicone or plastic. Otherwise, the boards and diode crystals will become damp, oxidize, or become covered with a layer of greasy soot. Therefore, when choosing a suitable model for wet rooms, be sure to pay attention to the IP marking (dust and moisture protection index) the higher the value on the right, the higher the degree of protection. For the mentioned rooms, it will be enough to install products with IP 44 - anything higher will simply be an unjustified waste of money.

Informed selection

Manufacturers offer us a lot of LED products, and their build quality often varies greatly, making it difficult to navigate. How to choose the best option in terms of price-quality?

LED strips

Today there are several main types of diode strips on the market. Plain: SMD 5050, SMD 5630, SMD 3028, SMD 3528, color RGB SMD 5050 and others. These numbers indicate the dimensions of the luminous elements - for example, the marking 3038 indicates dimensions of 3.0 by 2.8 mm. Model 5050 has diodes large sizes, accordingly, it shines much brighter, see for yourself:

Dimensions of diodes on the tape

Colored tapes contain three diodes: red, green and blue. Don't think that this is not enough, when mixing these basic colors you can create millions of combinations of different shades. Buy better system with three crystals, they are almost three times brighter than single-crystal ones. They can be identified by the six “legs” leading to the board. Here's what they look like when zoomed in:

Pay attention to the landing frequency of the diodes on the flexible board. The performance of the tape directly depends on this - the more there are, the brighter it shines. Modifications with 15, 30, 60, 72, 120 and 240 diodes per 1 meter of tape are usually offered.

For ceiling lighting, it is best to choose products labeled SMD 5050 (with three crystals), having at least 30 LEDs per meter (or better, more).

However, you need to remember that if you decide to install a powerful LED strip, it will also need a more powerful power supply, and it is bulky, and hiding it on low ceilings will be problematic.

It’s better to spend a lot of money initially and choose a universal RGB strip. It is bright and durable, plus it significantly expands its operational capabilities. As more budget decision Single-color diodes with a warm white glow will be optimal.

Inspection and purchase

First, eyeball the quality of the ribbon in the reel. All board elements must be attached evenly and symmetrically to each other. Soldering must be neat. In the most advanced cases, it is possible to identify a low-grade counterfeit just by appearance.

Tape quality

Marking must be present on the plastic reel indicating all technical parameters, information about the manufacturer and its warranty obligations.

However, even an outwardly perfectly designed product may turn out to be a low-power “fake”. Therefore, if you take a large batch at once for the first time, do not be lazy to ring it with the device. Often the output parameters are very underestimated. This is because in handicrafts, obsolete weak crystals are installed - they are cheap, and getting them is not a problem. In terms of power, they are several times inferior to the original products, and their service life is an order of magnitude shorter. Therefore, the game is not worth the candle.
Sometimes, under the guise of more expensive colored ribbons, they slip in cheap “one-color” ribbons. The main distinguishing feature is the color of the upper luminous part of the diode. The yellow coating is a phosphor that enhances the original light temperature. Only single-color white diodes are coated with it; multi-colored ones do not have such a coating, so as not to distort the emitted spectrum when mixing colors.
An important criterion for the quality of tapes is their cost. Often, a high-quality original product cannot be distinguished from a fake by appearance. However, the quality of work of the latter does not stand up to criticism - when buying such LED systems, you are simply throwing money away. They won't give you any praise long work, no even bright illumination, no minimal energy consumption. The only justification for such a purchase is the desire to try out the LED workpiece in action, learn how to assemble circuits correctly, without fear of damaging expensive equipment.
High-quality models are offered by: JAZZway, Gauss, Philips, etc. – it’s clear that they are expensive. If you want to purchase a reliable LED strip in the middle price segment, feel free to buy products from Camelion or Navigator, certified in Russia.

Camelion and Navigator

They are suitable for the ceiling and for illuminating any other surfaces in the house: floor skirting boards, furniture, niches in the walls, etc.

Without components - no way!

The choice of necessary components plays no less important role than the selection of LED strips themselves. The intensity of light and the duration of operation of the assembled circuit will directly depend on their quality. Having decided on the length and power of the LED strip, calculate what power supply you will need for uninterrupted operation.

To do this, multiply the total length of all sections of the tape by the power declared by the manufacturer (indicated in W/m on the packaging of the tape), not forgetting to provide a margin of 25-30% so that the unit does not work at the limit of its capabilities.

Connection diagram

An important point - check the power supply for noiselessness, if anything happens at night or during rest, it will be uncomfortable to sleep with such a quiet hum.
If you intend to install a long LED chain around the entire perimeter of the ceiling, be sure to use special amplifiers that evenly distribute the currents between all sections connected together. Make sure you have a set of wires of sufficient length so that you can easily link several sections into a single circuit. You also need high-quality clamp terminals.

Nuances

Installing multi-colored LED ceiling lighting will cost an order of magnitude more than installing a single-color one. This is because such a circuit requires adding a more expensive LED strip and a special RGB controller. It allows you to set any color. Moreover, you can set both a constant glow and automatic change all the colors of the rainbow.
For greater ease of use, the controller is equipped with a compact control panel. With its help, you can change the atmosphere in your home with a simple touch: make it calming, romantic or cheerful - for parties. By the way, there are even models that respond to sound. They pulsate to the beat musical compositions– it turns out to be a kind of ceiling light music.
It would be nice to install a system with a built-in dimmer. It allows you to smoothly adjust the brightness of the diodes. Again, there are models with a remote control, and some can be built into the wall like a regular switch.

Connection diagram

An important nuance - it is not recommended to use a tape longer than five meters, as this will lead to an uneven distribution of currents along the entire length. Diodes far from the power supply will glow dimly, and nearby ones may even burn out. Therefore, if the perimeter of the ceilings in the room exceeds 5 meters (and this is what most often happens), it is recommended to use another roll of tape with a separate power supply.

To connect it to an existing circuit, you will need to add a special RGB amplifier, and you can use one controller for everyone, etc. In this case, a coherent glow is achieved with different modes work and uniformity of illumination along the entire length of the tapes.
For beginners, ready-made LED kits make installation much easier. They contain all the necessary elements, assembled and tested for functionality by professionals. And you don’t need to invite strangers to your house, overpaying 20-50 percent of the cost of materials.

Ready-made LED kit

Whatever LED strip you decide to choose to illuminate the ceilings in your house, remember the tips presented above - and then everything will work out for you!

Secrets of choosing halogen chandeliers with remote control

The rapid development of technology is increasingly expanding the possibilities of decorating rooms. One of these possibilities is LED ceiling lighting with LED strip. Its installation is not very difficult, but it requires knowledge of certain points.

In terms of design, LED strips come in regular and waterproof versions. Waterproof ones are installed if the ceiling lighting with LED strip is done in rooms with high humidity (bathroom, swimming pool, sauna) or outdoors. In normal rooms (including the kitchen), ordinary tape is quite sufficient. If you want to do it, you should take a waterproof one in a transparent plastic hose - it’s easier to care for.

Ceiling lighting with LED strip is one of the most popular types of decor.

Monochrome or universal

Based on the light emitted, LED strips are divided into:

Which LED strip is best to use for ceiling lighting? Many people are tempted by multi-color RGB tape because of the ability to change colors. This is true, but this “toy” is interesting for a maximum of a month. Then one of the colors is selected and then it practically does not change. At the same time, the brightness of the glow is RGB strips in basic colors (red, blue, green) three times less - since only one crystal out of three glows. Therefore, if you are inclined to one color, it is better to buy a monochrome one - illuminating the ceiling with an LED strip will be more impressive and bright.

Technical Parameters

LED strips are made using crystals of different sizes. The most popular are 3528 (its mirror image 2835) and 5050. These are not just numbers - these are the sizes of the LEDs: 3 mm * 2.8 mm and 5 mm * 5 mm, respectively. There are even less popular ones - 2020 and 5630, 5730. You can use these standard sizes, but you need to look for data on them yourself.

What influences the size of LEDs? For brightness and power consumption. How more LEDs, the brighter they glow and the more electricity they consume. This is a general pattern, but crystals can be different quality- more and less bright, and the scatter is significant. And another feature that should be remembered is that monochrome LEDs shine brighter than universal ones:

• 3228 - monochrome 0.6-2.2 lm, RGB - 0.3-1.6 lm;
• 5050 - monochrome 2-8 lm, RGB - 0.6-2.5 lm.

This brightness is given without taking into account losses on protective coatings (for conventional LED strips). Any type of coating (varnish or clear hose) will reduce brightness.

We were talking about a single LED given size. There are several dozen of them on the tape and they can be arranged with different densities. The minimum is 30 pieces per 1 meter, there are also 60 pieces and 120. This is for a single-row design. The double row has a density of 240 pieces per meter. It is clear that the more crystals there are on one meter, the more light it gives.

All single row LED strips are powered by DC voltage 12 V, double-row requires 24 V power. That is, they can be directly connected to a battery or batteries with the appropriate parameters. To connect to a 220 V network, a converter is required (also called a power supply or adapter).

Power supply power for LED ceiling lighting

It’s easy to select the voltage of the power supply - according to the type of tape - 12 V or 24 V, but the power or current characteristic must be calculated. First, let's calculate how much current the power supply should produce. The calculation is simple:

• find the current consumed by the tape meter (available on the packaging);
• multiply by the number of meters that will be connected to this block;
• We take a reserve of 30% - so that the power supply does not work at the limit (we multiply the amount obtained in step 2 by 1.3).

With this current value (or more), you need to look for a 220/12 V adapter. Just don’t take a power supply without a 30% reserve - it will quickly fail and you’ll have to buy a new one.

Example: a strip with 3528 LEDs and a density of 50 pcs/m consumes 0.4 a/m (from the photo above). Ceiling lighting with LED strip requires a 14 meter strip. We calculate the required current: 0.4 A/m * 14 m = 5.6 A. Add 30% of the reserve - 5.6 A * 1.3 = 7.28 A. After rounding, we get 7.3 A. You will need to find an adapter , which produces no less than 7.3 A.

The connection method depends on the type of unit you choose. There are ordinary low-power adapters with several types of plugs. If you decide to connect through such a power supply, you need to find the appropriate plug and solder it to the terminals of the tape. Connecting the power supply to the LED strip then simply inserts the plug.

Other types of power supplies require a little more effort, but you can connect several LED strips to them. In addition, they have a built-in voltage stabilizer, which extends the “life” of the LEDs. These power supplies have pads and clamping screws that make contact. To connect to them, take the wires, strip off the insulation by 7-10 mm, insert them into the appropriate connectors, and tighten the bolts.

Connection rules

LED strip comes from factories in reels of 5 meters. In order to be able to “dial” the required length, it can be cut along certain marks. For this purpose, on any tape there is special markings. It is along it that a piece of the required length (or close to it) is cut off. Near each of the cut lines there are contact pads, with the help of which the cut piece is connected to the adapter or to another piece of tape.

Schemes for connecting two tapes to one power supply

Ceiling lighting with LED strip is designed taking into account the fact that the maximum length of the area connected to the power supply should be no more than 5 meters. This is the current strength that the crystals and the tracks connecting them are designed for. The adapter can be powerful, but then each piece of tape must be connected to it with separate wires.

If you need to connect an LED strip more than 5 meters long, separate wires are pulled from the power supply to each piece. At RGB connection tape, after the power supply, the controller is connected, and wires are pulled from it to two pieces of tape

If you connect a circuit with a length of, say, 6 or 7 meters, after some time, the first LEDs from the adapter may burn out (most likely this will happen). This is the best case scenario. At worst, the tracks will recover. Even if this does not happen (the tape will be of high quality), due to constant overheating (when a higher current passes, more heat is released), the LEDs will begin to degrade, the brightness of their glow will decrease very, very quickly. Therefore, it is better not to exceed the recommended length.

Using the same scheme, the ceiling can be illuminated with an LED strip of three, four or more pieces. You just need a more powerful power supply and controller. But this will require large number wires, so this is not the best solution.

If you need to connect four tapes

If you need to make a hidden light on the ceiling around the entire perimeter, it is better to use four pieces of tape - two for each adapter.

Here is the most common diagram for connecting LED strips to a power source when lighting a ceiling or niche. Let the perimeter of the hidden ceiling lighting be 12 meters. The required length can be calculated as follows: 3.5+3.5+2.5+2.5. Any other combination is possible. It doesn't matter.

For power supply, it is better to take two adapters, and connect two ribbons to each. This option is more economical - powerful adapters can cost much more than two with the same total power. In addition, connecting according to this scheme is simple - you don’t need a lot of wires.

Connecting RGB strips

Universal tapes differ in that they are 4-wire. Two wires come out of the power supply - phase and neutral. So you can’t do without an adapter. Therefore, a controller is added to the circuit after the power supply. It coordinates the power supply and also receives signals from the control panel, which changes the color of the tape.

Two wires come from the power supply to the controller input, and four come out of it. When connecting, it is important to observe polarity - phase and zero cannot be confused. Zero is usually a black wire, connected to a socket labeled Latin letter N. Second marking option desired input— V- (letter V with a minus). The phase is connected to the second input (most often a red wire). May be designated by the letter L or V+.

There are already four wires leaving the controller output. It is best to connect colored conductors to them so as not to get confused in the future. At the controller output we have:

• The common wire is marked with the letter W. You can connect a wire of any color here, but not red/green/blue.
• Three colored ones - for powering LED tracks of the corresponding color. Here it is advisable to use wires according to color: connect red to the output with the letter R (red), green to the output marked G (green), and blue to pin B (blue). And then, when connecting subsequent tapes, maintain the same color logic.

The controller parameters are selected based on the power of the tapes connected to it. But with the above scheme, in order for the controllers not to “burn”, they must be taken with a large power reserve - approximately twice the calculated load. This is problematic - it is difficult to find equipment with such parameters, and it is expensive. To prevent the controllers from burning when connecting several tapes, you can use an amplifier. The connection diagram for a multi-colored LED strip becomes more complicated, since in addition to the amplifier, an additional adapter is required.

The advantage in this case is that with this connection, the LED strip ceiling lighting works for a long time and without problems. In addition, you can use less powerful blocks food, but they are smaller and cheaper.

Which wires to use

When illuminating the ceiling with LED strip, stranded copper wires with a cross-section of at least 1.5 square meters are used. mm. Type of wire - any, but when purchasing, since many indicate incorrect information.

Installation features

Most LED strips are produced on a self-adhesive basis. The adhesive base has good adhesion to drywall, that is, they can be glued directly to the walls of the drywall box. Moreover, they adhere well to furniture and other materials with a smoother surface.

With or without radiator

LEDs generate heat when operating. Powerful crystals get so hot that they require cooling. Metal strips are usually used for this. An LED strip with crystals 3528 or 2835 or smaller in a single-row design (density 30 or 60 pieces per meter) can be mounted without a radiator. The crystals, of course, heat up, but not to critical values.

When overheated, degradation can be very rapid...

If you install larger ones without a cooler - 5050 or more - they will very quickly begin to lose brightness - to degrade. This will indeed happen very soon. With not very high-quality crystals - after several tens of hours of operation. An example is in the photo. This is a tape with 5050 crystals, bought on Ali, worked for 36 hours without heat dissipation. For comparison, the remaining unclaimed piece of the same tape is connected. The difference is significant. So it is better to take care of the normal operation of the LEDs.

What to use as a radiator

There are many special metal corners made of aluminum alloys for mounting LED strips. They come with transparent plastic covers and shelves for easier installation. In addition to dissipating heat, they also protect against dust. Everything is good, but they have a considerable price. So we have to look for cheaper options.

A good solution is an aluminum strip or corner, but you can also use steel (preferably galvanized, although this is not critical in “dry” rooms). For these purposes, you can take drywall profiles. They can be used whole (small section) or cut into strips/corners.

Aluminum corner... although copper conducts heat even better

When installing on metal, it must be cleaned and preferably degreased. This will guarantee good adhesion. You can also improve adhesion to metal by heating it. If you have a hair dryer, heat the profile, metal strip, corner, and then glue the LED strip. Ceiling lighting with LED strip made in this way will last for years without problems.

How to connect LED strip

When installing ceiling or niche lighting, you have to connect the pieces of tape. This can be done in two ways: using special contact clamps or using a soldering iron. If you connect a regular tape without a protective silicone layer, it is immediately ready for installation. If the LEDs are filled with silicone, it must be carefully cleaned off using a sharp knife or blade. The silicone must be cleaned from the front side above the contact pads (not from the side where the adhesive composition is applied, but where the crystals are located).

The sites prepared in this way are ready for connection. When installing connectors, all you need to do is select an element of the appropriate type (according to the number of contacts and connecting or end), and then open the clamp cover, bring the connector to the end of the tape, tuck the tape under the contacts, close the cover and press it well with your fingers. That's all. The connection is ready.

Connecting LED strips without soldering -
use of connectors

Not everyone likes connectors - there is a possibility that the quality of contact will deteriorate over time. - more reliable. If you have a soldering iron and know how to handle it, this type of connection will be more reliable; ceiling lighting with LED strip will work without problems for many years.

It is better to use a low-power soldering iron for soldering - 40-60 W. Since the soldering area is small, it is better to sharpen the soldering iron tip well - into a sharp cone. You can also try one of universal methods sharpening - cutting off at an angle, obtaining an oval in cross-section. After the soldering process is standard:

If you know how to solder, this is not difficult, but you must try not to overexpose the soldering iron - the tape is too thin, it can be damaged. Therefore, high-quality tinned wires and contact pads are important. If you are still afraid of overheating the soldering area, place a metal plate underneath. It will remove excess heat. But with such a device you also need to be able to solder.

Technology does not stand still. LED strips have replaced conventional lamps. They are used for many objects both indoors and outdoors. For this purpose, there are a huge number of varieties of such products. They allow you to create decorative lighting and can replace regular, full-fledged room lighting. In order not to get lost in the variety of offers that exist today, you need to familiarize yourself with the recommendations of experts. They will tell you how to choose the right type of LED strips for your home. It will be quite easy to create uniquely beautiful effects. The tapes are very easy to attach and connect. Each room has its own type of lighting fixture.

General characteristics

LED strip has a second name. This means “light-emitting diode”. This design is quite simple. Certain types of diodes are located on a special tape.

High-quality products have a service life of about 100 thousand hours. Therefore, the first thing you should pay attention to when purchasing is the quality of LED strips for your home. How to choose (a photo of the lighting device is presented below) optimal type The device, as well as how to operate it correctly, should be considered in more detail.

Diodes need heat dissipation during operation. If this does not happen, they will overheat and fail. Thus, special attention is paid to the process of connecting such products.

LED strips look very impressive when decorating street advertising, shop windows, and house facades. Indoors they are often used in the kitchen, as well as in living areas. The range of LED applications is very diverse.

Types of tape

When deciding how to choose LED strips for your home (photos of the devices are presented below), you need to study their existing varieties. Based on the type of glow, there are two types of products. These are SMD and RGB tapes.

The first option of illuminators includes single-color varieties. Moreover, there are white, blue, green, yellow and red types. White There are three types: warm, cold and medium. Other single-color ribbons do not have shades or halftones.

RGB can create a wide variety of shades of light. Each ribbon element includes three colors. When they are combined in different proportions, all existing colors are obtained. These are blue, red and green diodes. Hence the name of the product - Red, Green, Blue (RGB).

To be able to control the glow of such a tape, you will need a special controller. It will allow you to set the hue, glow intensity, and color change mode. At the same time, the tape can produce flickering, running track, etc. However, it should be remembered that colored varieties cost three times more than ordinary monotonous products.

power unit

Without the right one, it won’t be able to work fully. There are two main factors influencing the choice. This is the power and voltage of the product. You need to pay attention to these characteristics when you want to purchase LED strips for your home. How to choose by power desired type power supply, a simple calculation will tell you.

This indicator is measured in W/m. To select an adapter, you need to multiply the energy consumption of each meter by the length of the tape. In this case, a small margin should be provided, for which the value obtained as a result of calculations is rounded up.

The product voltage is 12 and 24 V. The power supply is purchased in the appropriate category. Otherwise the device will not work properly.

Glow brightness

Light intensity is very important when choosing LED strip. If you want to create a decorative effect, duller varieties are suitable. But to replace conventional lighting, bright varieties are needed. Today this is a completely affordable option.

There are two factors that will answer the question of how to choose LED strips for your home. Bright lighting can be achieved by increasing the concentration of diodes per meter of LED, as well as increasing the size of each pixel.

These parameters are indicated on the label. For example, the number 3528 indicates that the height of the element is 3.5 mm and the width is 2.8 mm. The concentration of diodes depends on their size. For some varieties it may be rare, while for others it may be common.

White glow

When deciding how to choose LED strips for your home, you need to consider possible color options. White varieties are characterized by such an indicator as spectrum temperature.

Depending on the preferences of users, warm or cold tones of white are selected. There are many spectrum options for this type of tape. Some already have their own names.

Warm shades start at 2800 K, and cold shades end at 9000 K. Popular colors today are Cool White (bluish-white office), Warm White (yellowish-light home), White (industrial brilliant blue), Day White (yellow -white street light). The choice depends on the type of premises and the tastes of the buyer.

Colored ribbons

Colored varieties of LEDs are also designated by their spectral range. Each pixel may have certain individual characteristics. This must be taken into account when purchasing LED strips for your home. The interior design will tell you how to choose the right color.

The red tint is created by pixels with characteristics of 625 nm. Yellow color has an indicator of 590 nm. Green diodes have an inherent glow in the 525 nm range. Blue belongs to the 470 nm part of the spectrum.

Today there are such varieties of colored monotone ribbons as ultraviolet and pink. In the first case, the light belongs to the visible part of the spectrum at 400 nm. It is dangerous for your eyesight. Pink light is ultraviolet based, but is safe for the eyes.

Protection class

There are several types of protection levels that LED strips for the home have. Generally accepted standards will help you choose the right variety. This takes into account the humidity and contamination of the room.

For dry, clean rooms, a product with 20 is suitable. This is an open tape. If the room is not heated or the installation is intended to be used for floor lighting, it is necessary to select an IP class of 23, 43, 44.

If the product is selected for a specific microclimate in a bathroom or kitchen, where there is a possibility of contamination of the tape, preference should be given to LEDs with IP 54, 65, 68. Such diodes are hermetically protected by a silicone tube.

Manufacturers and reviews

When learning how to choose LED strips for your home, you need to listen to expert reviews. They recommend that you evaluate first before making a purchase. appearance products. If the diodes are soldered carelessly, you should not purchase the product - it is a low-quality device. Also, when the tape on which the diodes are attached is too thin and flexible, this indicates the fragility of the contacts. This device must be handled very carefully.

In addition, you should pay attention to the resistor. In high-quality, durable products, it has a resistance in the range of 150 Ohms (marking 151, 301). A bad assembly is indicated by an indicator of 100 Ohms (101).

High-quality but expensive tape manufacturers include Electrostandard and Gauss. Chinese Maxus and Feron are cheaper. In their category they are characterized by good quality.

Selecting tapes for each room

When considering how to choose LED strips for your home, it is worth considering the type of room. There are general principles installations.

For a work area in the garage, kitchen or office, you need to choose products with a bright white glow. To illuminate the ceilings, you should select monochromatic varieties. The tape can be mounted in a special profile. This will make the backlight dimmer.

For a bedroom or living room, you can use RGB varieties. This will create original design. In a children's room it is better to use muted types of tape.

It is better to illuminate the table area using a lamp. Products protected from moisture are used in the bathroom.

Knowing how to choose LED strips for your home, you can create a uniquely beautiful design. Following the recommendations of experts, it will not be difficult to choose the best option. Having correctly installed the appropriate LED type, there is no doubt about the durability of such a product.