LED strip for lighting ceilings

Every year interior design of residential and special premises includes new elements. LED strip for lighting ceilings has become one of them.

This functional decorative detail is able to transform even the most boring interior. Often it is capable of shining with different colors, from which one can choose according to the current mood or the emerging situation.

What is LED strip?

LED strip is a flexible strip, which can have a width of 5 to 50 mm. On one side of the tape are LEDs and resistors, combined with electrical conductors in a single circuit. On the other hand, it usually has a double-sided adhesive tape, on which the strip is fixed in the place chosen for it.

Different LEDs have different number of LEDs, and they can differ in size. If it is necessary to achieve greater brightness of the illumination, additional LEDs are sometimes soldered by the second or even third series.

Advantages of LED strip with ceiling lighting

There are many advantages to this lighting decorative device, and these include the following:

• The affordable price of the kit and significant energy savings with a sufficiently high brightness of lighting.
• Easy installation of similar lighting equipment, which is quite possible to produce by yourself, following the instructions provided.
• Wide range of colors. LED tapes can have in their composition LEDs of the same color, for example, white - to enhance the lighting or accentuation of lines, or different elements for glowing to create special moods in the room.

• Long service life, since high-quality LEDs can serve 10 years or more.

Criteria for choosing LED strip for

ceilings Used in LED strips

Buying an LED strip for lighting ceilings, you need to know which types of LEDs are used for this purpose.

The main types that are currently used for the production of luminous tapes for ceilings are the SMD 5050 and SMD 3028 LEDs.

SMD - data letters in the markingare abbreviated, abbreviated as "Surface Mounted Device", in translation it means "surface mounted device", since the LED is securely soldered into the surface of the tape.

The numbers in the marking after the letters mean the size of the LED in millimeters. For example, SMD 3028 is an element of dimensions 3 × 2.8 mm, and accordingly, SMD 5050 is 5 × 5 mm.

The LED with this labeling has six "legs" coming out of the case, with which it is soldered into the tape. The element itself is equipped with three light-emitting crystals. Such an LED will give light radiation about three times more intense than a single chip SMD 3028, connected to the tape by only one pair of contacts.

To determine the characteristics of the radiation intensity of a light-emitting diode, a term is used, such as the luminous flux, which is measured in lumens. So, officially defined values ​​of this parameter for SMD 5050 LEDs are 12 lumens, and for SMD 3028 - only 4 lumens. One LED from the SMD 5050 brand shines as intensively as the three adjacent SMD 3028 series.

The color of the LED strip will depend on the LEDs that are installed in it. In the case where the tape contains LEDs SMD 5050, in each of their cases can be installed three crystals of different colors - Red, Green, and Blue. It is these English names of colors that gave so often used abbreviation RGB.

With the electronic control circuit, you can optionally include any of the colors. Moreover, it is possible to get an infinite number of different beautiful shades, changing the brightness of the glow of red, green and blue crystals. By this mixing, a new rich light background is obtained - it's hard to believe, but the "game" of only three colors when mixed will eventually give up to sixteen million different shades.

The intensity and brightness of the LEDs are usually controlled through a panel using a special instrument-controller.

Very interesting shades can be obtained by adding white light to the available background. It dilutes the brightness of red, blue and green, and as a result, delicate, eye-pleasing shades are formed, for example, pale blue or soft pink.

These shades can also be obtained by turning on the white color to full brightness with the addition of other colors included with a lower intensity. It should also be taken into account that with different lighting conditions, the view on interior design changes almost completely, as it can appear in different colors every time.

Specialists recommend using LED stripes with white light or a combined version consisting of white and tri-color elements for ceiling lighting. These tapes will allow you to change the color decisions in the room according to your mood. And the intensity of the white color can be so high that it can be compared to daytime natural light on a fine day.

Getting white

Since there are no LEDs with "pure" white light, it can be obtained in two ways.

• One of them is that they use crystals with a blue glow, which are covered with a phosphor on top.

The phosphor is a kind of light yellow substance applied to the surface of the LED crystal. This compound is able to convert the absorbed energy into white light. By the presence of a light yellow substance on the LEDs, you can clearly identify that these are the elements that will emit white light.

. It should be noted that the phosphor gradually loses its qualities of the converter, and the blue color starts to break through white, and the radiation acquires a bluish tinge.

If the LED strip is used continuously for a year, then its brightness can decrease by 25-30%.Therefore, when purchasing this "lighting device" it is necessary to familiarize yourself with its technical characteristics and operating instructions, where the manufacturer must specify the warranty period.

If you reduce the intensity of white light or the appearance of a blue hue in it, you can use the second method of obtaining it.

• The second method is based on the laws of optics, from which it is known that a white color can be obtained by mixing all available colors( in this case green, red and blue) by simultaneously turning them on to full power. Thus, it is possible to "create" white light, and the problem with the influence of the "satiated" phosphor on it will not matter.

The best option for setting the backlight on the ceiling can be the RGB-LED strip, as it is equipped with three-color LEDs that will help to get white light if necessary, as well as othershades.

ribbon This type of LED ribbon is lasting long enough. They are quite convenient to use - so they can turn on white light if only intensive lighting is needed, or a color scale that matches the mood. The process of color adjustment is done from the remote control and does not take much time.

Kinds of LED strips

1 - ribbon with SMD 3028 LEDs with a density of 60 pcs / meter.

2 - the same, but with a density of 120 pcs / m.

3 - two-row tape with LEDs SMD 3028, with a density of installation of 240 pcs / p.m.

4 - ribbon with a rare arrangement of LEDs such as SMD 5050 - a density of only 30pcs per meter.

5 - the same, but with a density of 60 pcs / m.

6 - two-row light-emitting diode tape with elements SMD 5050 and density of accommodation of 120 pieces / per meter.

Lighting specialists recommend installing SMD 5050 tape, which has 30 or more white warm light LEDs per meter, or a ribbon with RGB LEDs for ceiling lighting.

If you plan to install decorative lighting for the niches of ceilings, furniture or a desktop in the kitchen, then it is better to apply the SMD 3028 tape, which has 60 LEDs per meter. It will be enough for it to cope with its task. LED strip with too high light intensity will be superfluous, since it can blind the eyes, especially since for a greater brightness a power unit of increased power and larger in size is needed, so it is more difficult to find a secluded place for it.

Importance of quality of LED strip

Having decided to make additional lighting in the apartment or decorate the interior with LED tape, it is not recommended to buy its cheapest options. Such products do not last a long time in the original state - they tend to quickly break the color balance, or even the diodes can completely burn out. In cheap lighting tapes, usually elements of not too high quality are installed, which predetermines a low price.

Design and self-assembly of LED strip

The LED ribbon lighting system is often sold as an accessory. You can, of course, purchase all of its elements individually, but it will be more difficult to pick them correctly by parameters.

The LED lighting kit includes several electronic devices:

• power supply unit, which is necessary for converting the AC mains current to the DC voltage required for diodes;
• controller with a sensor, allowing you to change the color of lighting using the remote control;
• remote control panel that regulates changes in the intensity and shades of the light flux;

• LED strip of the required length.

The layout of the system looks like this.

This diagram shows a system with an RGB amplifier, which is necessary to maintain a stable control signal in cases where it is required to extend the tape or it initially has a long length. In this figure, the connection points are clearly visible, therefore, based on it, it will be easy to understand the sequence of work.

• The first step to the power supply unit is to connect the network cable with a plug to connect it to the network, that is, connect N and L.
• Next, connect the two contacts of the controller to the same power supply, provided that the backlight is equipped with an RGB LED strip.
• After this, the contactor is connected to the controller by attaching the tape to it.

• If the controller is designed for a certain length of the tape, and more LEDs are needed, then an amplifier must be used to extend or divide the elements, which is connected to the power supply and the other end of the tape. Then another section of the LED strip is attached to the amplifier on the other side.

The fact is that it is dangerous to connect more than 1,500 mm of tape to one power line in sequence, since conductive tracks can not withstand the load. But the control signals - go exactly in sequence, from the segment to the segment, gradually dying out. Here in these cases, for parallel connection to a power supply of several segments, and the amplifier of control signals is used.

• After everything has been collected, you can conduct a test by plugging the plug into the socket.
• When making connections, make sure that the polarity is observed and the voltage of the controller, power supply unit and tape are matched.
• If it is necessary to extend the tape, if other devices allow it, this process is carried out with the help of specially designed connectors.
• If the tape needs to be shortened, the cut is made exclusively in the manufacturer's intended location in a certain place -0 it is usually indicated on it by a dashed line. The incision is made using conventional scissors.

A few words need to be said about the correct installation of the tape in the place intended for it.

• The tape is attached to a double-sided adhesive tape, which is released from the protective film just before gluing.
• If the ceiling is illuminated, then usually the tape is fixed under its surface in a small niche made of drywall. This method of installation is effective in that the light receives a directionality to the light plane of the ceiling, which, illuminated by LEDs, contributes to a more even illumination of the room.

Is it difficult to mount a false ceiling by yourself?

The installation of such a structure solves many problems of repair and ennobling the room. With materials and accessories in our time there are no problems, and to make a suspended ceiling from drywall with own hands is quite feasible task. Detailed instructions - in the special publication of our portal.

• Another option to increase the effectiveness of the backlight is to fix the tape to the ledge( for curtains or specially installed around the perimeter of the entire room for lighting purposes).

The tape in this case is fixed in such a way that it directs the light flux to the wall and to a certain section of the ceiling on which the light will dissipate, increasing the illuminated area. Properly lit ceiling will not only make the premises lighter, but also help save on electricity.

• suspended ceiling. In order for the tape to stick to the surface without problems, the place of its adhesion should be cleaned of dust and preferably degreased, and then dried well.

Financial Issue

A few words can be said about the financial side of the issue. It should be remembered that inviting the master to install LED lighting, he will have to pay the amount that will be from 50 to 150% of the cost of the devices themselves. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase ready-made sets of the system, to which the scheme of installation of all components is always applied. Each of the assembled sets is designed for a certain number of LEDs and the length of the tape, so you can not be afraid that they will be connected to extra amounts. By assembling a self-illuminated system, you can save a decent amount of money on this process.

Some systems are sold already assembled and connected, so they can be checked immediately when they are purchased. Remains only to bring the kit home and make the installation in a certain spot for the backlight, and then plug the plug into the outlet.

Those who will get this option of lighting, the skills of an electrician will not be necessary. The most difficult moment to install is the choice of the location for the power supply and the controller, and then securely their correct and reliable fastening.

If the tools are limited and the lighting is already planned for installation, then you can choose a kit with a ribbon of the same color - SMD 3528 LEDs, the density of installation of the elements on which is 60 pieces per running meter. However, this option can not be placed in the bathroom, since such tapes are not equipped with a moisture protection.

When installing the backlight in wet rooms or in other places where there is a possibility that the neighbors may be undercut from above, it is worth choosing a tape equipped with silicone outer insulation.

In conclusion of the publication - video, which shows the process of proper installation of ribbon LED lighting.

Video: installation and connection of LED strip