LED strip today is used to create various types of lighting indoors and outdoors. There are many varieties of such electrical appliances. Everyone will be able to choose the best option in accordance with the characteristics of operation. How to perform LED illumination of various objects, the features of these lighting devices - all this will be discussed in detail below.
General characteristics of the tape
LED backlighting (photo below) is very popular today. These electrical appliances allow you to create both primary and secondary lighting indoors or outdoors. Using diodes, you can create zoning in the room, giving it a unique look. When using tapes, you can create decorative effects on different objects. To do this, you need to know some features of the installation of such illuminators.
LED strip LED consists of several essential elements. The device is a flexible board on which diodes and other elements necessary for operation (capacitors, resistors, etc.) are applied with a certain frequency. Most often, the tape is sold without a power supply. It needs to be purchased and connected separately. The power supply supplies the tape with the voltage required for the normal operation of the diodes (12 V or 24 V).
Also, a controller can be added to the circuit. This is a special device that allows you to control the brightness and glow mode. So, for example, the backlight of a TV with an LED strip cannot be too bright. In this case, the controller will reduce the light output. For some types of tapes, the controller is needed not only to adjust the intensity, but also the shade of the glow.
The popularity of diode tapes is due to their long life (about 100 thousand hours), as well as a wide scope. Depending on the characteristics of the tape, they can be installed in a residential or non-residential building, outdoors, including in the open. Using an LED illuminator, you can create full-fledged lighting by abandoning other lamps. If desired, additional decorative lighting can be made of tape. Such products look especially impressive when decorating the ceiling. On the street from the ribbons create advertising signs, lighting stores and offices.
In addition, the presented lighting consumes a small amount of electricity. At the same time, the backlight, like the interior or exterior, will look original, unusual and stylish.
Varieties of tapes
Lighting with LED strips (a photo of their successful application is presented below) can be very different. The fact is that the market offers many options for such electrical appliances. Therefore, you need to choose them correctly in accordance with your goals.
First of all, it is worth noting that the type of diodes placed on a flexible board may differ. They can be of two types - SMD and RGB. The first of these diodes are single-color. Most often choose white one-color diodes. However, their shade may be different. On sale are blue, green, yellow, pink, red ribbons. The choice depends on the decorative effect that you want to create with these diodes.
White monochrome ribbons acquire more often. They may have a cold, warm or neutral glow. When choosing, be sure to consider which effect will be best suited for a particular interior. Cold glow tapes are more often used in offices. To create a cozy home environment, neutral shades of light are more suitable. For some rooms (for example, finished with natural wood), the warm white light flux of the tape is more suitable.
RGB type diodes include 3 crystals at once. They can be included in a certain combination, forming a particular shade. As a result, the ribbon can glow with any color of the rainbow. It is worth noting that LED lighting of a wall or ceiling is most often performed using multicolor varieties. In the room, depending on the shade of lighting, a certain mood is created. The controller can create various effects, for example, running lights or flicker. The cost of multi-color ribbons is several times higher than single-color varieties.
Some more important features
When deciding to replace the backlight with an LED strip, you need to take into account a few more nuances. It is extremely important to choose the right intensity of the light flux that the tape will create. Additional decorative lighting, zoning in the room is carried out using ribbons with a dimmer glow. However, you can make full lighting in the room when using the presented electrical appliances. In this case, you need to choose a tape of high brightness.
On sale are products on the board of which the diodes are located in one or two rows. The brightness of the glow depends on this indicator. This indicator is called the concentration of diodes on one linear meter of the product. It can be different. This indicator is also important to know for the correct connection of the tape to the network.
So, if the number of diodes on one running meter is 30-120 pcs., Such a device requires a 12 V power supply. This is a less bright type of tape. They are used for zoning the room, creating decorative effects. For example, it can be the illumination of the TV with an LED strip, the allocation of a working area in the kitchen, the decorative finish of the curtain rod, etc. Diodes in this case can be installed in one or in two parallel lines on the printed circuit board.
If you want to make full lighting in the room with the help of LED strip, you should give preference to products with a concentration of LEDs on one linear meter from 120 to 240 pcs. In this case, you may need a control unit rated at 24 V.
It should be noted that single-color tapes most often operate on a voltage of 12 V. At the same time, multi-color products, due to the increased concentration of diodes, require an electric current of 24 V.
In addition, the size of the diodes themselves also affects the brightness of the glow. It can be different. This indicator is indicated in the product labeling. For example, this may be the number 3528. In this case, the width of each diode is 2.8 mm and the height is 3.5 mm. This is the average size of the diodes. They can be more or less. The larger the diode, the correspondingly brighter will be its luminous flux.
Protection class and manufacturers
When considering which LED strip to choose for backlighting, you should also pay attention to such an important indicator as the protection class. The scope of the device depends on this.
The protection class is indicated in the marking with the letters IP. Its minimum value may be IP20. This class of protection has an open tape. The surface of the circuit board is not protected by anything. It can be used in a residential, warm room with a little dust and a normal level of humidity. For example, such lighting can be used to decorate multi-level ceilings.
If you want to make lighting in the kitchen, bathroom, where the humidity level, temperature differences can be significant, you can purchase products with protection class IP43, IP44. Such tapes are not afraid of splashing water. However, they are not intended for prolonged contact with water. Also, such products can not resist mechanical stress.
If you want to illuminate the stairs with an LED strip, you should purchase a product with protection class IP54 (for stairs inside the house) or IP65, IP68 for exterior decoration. Such products have a protective silicone tube. She is not afraid of various pollution, water getting on it, temperature drops, etc. Therefore, such products can be used in the most extreme conditions. Of the tapes of the highest class of protection, they even make cars backlight.
To purchase a high-quality device, you need to pay attention to the products of trusted companies. It is worth considering that many types of resistors can tell a lot about the features of the tape. You need to look at their markings. Poor lighting fixtures are characterized by the presence on the board of cheap resistors with a resistance of 100 ohms. The marking in this case (applied to the surface of the resistor) will be 101. Only circuit components with a high resistance index can ensure a long life of the tape. Such devices are labeled 301 or 151. Their resistance is 150 ohms. High-quality tapes are produced by Electrostandard, Maxus, Gauss, Feron, etc.
Ribbon Purpose
To choose the right type of tape, you need to know the scope of its application. There are three types of finishes with the presented lighting fixture. She may be:
- target;
- design;
- general purpose.
Target called backlight, capable of creating zoning in the room. Different lighting options allow you to select several separate sections in the room. For example, the target includes the illumination of the working area with an LED strip in the kitchen. In this case, you can make the main lighting in the room around the perimeter of the ceiling. The working area is highlighted with a tape of a different color (should be in harmony with the shade of the kitchen set and the entire interior). Additional lighting is required in the work area.
If you want to make full lighting with the presented device, this is called a general-purpose finish. It is very bright, most often white. This, for example, may be the illumination of the plinth with an LED strip on the ceiling, which is laid around the entire perimeter of the room and on the elements of a multi-level ceiling.
To create a general-purpose finish, a translucent film is often used. An LED strip is laid out under it (you can create different patterns, curls). Such a ceiling will glow throughout. In this case, other lighting devices for this room will not be required.
Designer lighting is created by a personal project. This is a creative work of the author. Such an interior will look original and very fashionable. Theoretically, home owners can create a similar finish. But in this case, you will need to take into account many nuances that are important for installation.
Selection of tape for each type of room
It is worth noting that for each type of room, as well as a specific object, there is a better option for choosing finishes. So, for example, bright white light is more suitable for highlighting with the help of the kitchen lighting with an LED strip, as well as the working area in a garage or office. This is a classic option. Although it is acceptable to use colored ribbons. It is important to consider the features of the influence of the shade on the human psyche. Colored ribbons are designed to create a certain decor. The best light will be the space illuminated by white light.
To create a backlight curtains with LED strip, choose plain colors. The shade should be combined with the overall color scheme in the interior. For such a finish it is better to purchase products on an adhesive basis. To illuminate the ceiling in the living room around the perimeter, they also acquire monophonic varieties of devices. They are mounted in a special profile. This allows you to make the glow muffled.
In the bedroom, children's room, you can install multicolor ribbon. In such rooms it will be interesting to experiment with the color of the glow. Depending on the mood, time of day, you can create different effects. Especially teenagers like this type of lighting. You can often find RGB tapes in their rooms.
In the bathroom, mirrors are often used. It is better that it be a white neutral shade. The interior lighting of the acrylic bathtub looks spectacular. Color therapy allows you to relax. For these purposes, multi-color RGB tapes are suitable. It is necessary to purchase devices protected by a silicone tube.
Hue effect
Whether it is planned to make the wall illuminated with an LED strip or any other object, it is worth remembering the strong influence of shades on the human psyche. On sale are many varieties of such devices. Some of them can be used exclusively for advertising or in specialized premises. This, for example, may be red. A similar tape cannot be used in residential premises. This color irritates the psyche, does not allow you to relax. Therefore, it is better not to use it when decorating any living room. The same is true for orange.
White shades are multifunctional. They are suitable for most interior objects. At the same time, they create enough light for reading, knitting, writing, etc.
A yellow glow is considered neutral. Such tapes can increase concentration. However, they are used in combination with other lighting devices.
Blue tint affects people in different ways. It can alarm or reassure. If this color in the interior is very much, it can lead to depression. Therefore, such premises must necessarily include warm colors. This, for example, may be natural wood furniture, parquet floors, etc. Wood tones should be light and warm.
A turquoise or purple hue is not so annoying as a blue one-color ribbon. Therefore, it is used more often. This shade looks good in the bedroom. It helps a person to relax and rest.
Green color soothes. If you need to decide how to make the backlight in the kitchen with an LED strip, you can choose a warm shade of this color. Cold varieties apply to the bedroom. Also take into account the type of decoration, interior features.
What will be required for installation?
How to make a backlight from an LED strip? Having correctly selected the type of product, you will need to draw up a project. It indicates in which parts of the room the LED strip will be held, where the devices for connecting the system to the network will be located.
It is worth noting that in addition to the tape itself of the desired length, a power supply, and also, if necessary, a controller, is necessarily purchased. If the tape will be cut or consist of several sections, special switches will be required. It is necessary to make a certain calculation.
First, in accordance with the drawn plan, the total length of the system is measured. It will emit a luminous flux of a certain power (defined in lumens). This indicator depends on the type of finish. By determining the size of the tape, you can calculate the total power of the system. This is necessary for the correct choice of power supply. For example, in order to perform illumination with an LED strip, you need to purchase a product 16 m long. There are 60 diodes on each running meter (it works on 12V voltage). Their size is 5050. Next, the calculation is carried out:
60 * 16 = 960 pieces of diodes on the tape.
The look-up table indicates that each 5050 diode consumes 0.02 A. The total power of the tape is:
960 * 0.02 = 19.2 A
Next, the type of control unit is determined:
19.2 A * 12 V = 230.4 W.
You need to purchase a power supply with a margin. Therefore, the resulting value increases by another 20%. As a result, the power supply must withstand the total system power of 277 watts. There are no such products on sale. Therefore, you need to buy a 360 W power supply.
System connection
DIY LED backlighting is pretty easy to hook up. Often, the control unit already has wires for connecting. On the other hand, the product has a plug with a wire for connecting to the network. The wires are red and black. Sometimes there is another marking (indicated in the instructions). The black (blue) wire is “zero” and the red is “phase”. Polarity cannot be changed (the tape will not turn on). If there are no wires on the unit, the wire is connected to the corresponding terminals on the product body.
If a controller is included in the circuit, it must be included in the circuit. This appliance is often sold with a remote control. This allows you to adjust it from a distance, controlling the intensity and hue of the glow (for RGB tapes).
After the LED strip, the controller is installed, and after it - the control unit. If you want to connect an RGB tape, use the connectors to connect the wires from it to the corresponding terminals. 4 wires come out of a multicolor ribbon.Each of them corresponds to a specific terminal on the controller housing. To avoid making a mistake, you must carefully study the manufacturer's instructions.
Connect two tapes
It is worth noting that LED backlighting can be performed using two systems. They cannot be connected in series. The maximum length of one line is 5 m. Therefore, if you want to make the system around the perimeter of the room (for example, 16 m), you will need to purchase a separate control unit and controller for each segment. It is quite expensive.
Therefore, to connect the two tapes, special amplifiers are used. The power supply must be of high power to ensure the normal operation of several segments of the tape. The amplifier is able to provide synchronous operation and sufficient brightness of several tapes.
Having considered how to choose and mount the backlight with an LED strip, you can install it yourself. This will create the main, decorative or zonal lighting in the room or outdoors.