LED strip is a narrow strip on which small bulbs are placed. Today, this type of lighting is used to create decor. Flexible tape cassettes are available in sizes up to five meters. LED trimming is permissible only in specially designated places. This type of lighting elements is mainly used in design projects. You can find out how to install and connect the LED strip in this article.
Positive aspects of LED lighting
The high duration of the device makes it possible to use it, for example, as a street lighting element for more than 15 years.
The LED can consume 12V or 24V of electricity and work from a 220V network. Power supplies for such devices are developed on the basis of pulse conversion and are designed for power from 30 to 400W. The most common is a 12V LED strip, the connection of which does not require special skills and knowledge.
Calculation example
First, we determine the supply voltage and power. Then the power supply is selected. To calculate the required adapter power, you need to multiply the length of the tape by the power consumption.
How to feed the tape?
To power the device, it is necessary to connect the corresponding contacts with the correct polarity. Connecting 220V LED strip of different colors can be done using a special controller, to which the minus of the power source and the corresponding contacts of each tape are connected.
Easy installation
To fix the diodes in the right place, you can use even the most ordinary double-sided tape. Self-adhesive tapes are being developed.
Key Features
The tape is most often produced in five-meter coils with a cutting ratio of three diodes. This indicator may vary depending on the density of the light bulbs and on how the LED strip is planned to be connected. 15 meters is the maximum permissible length of a serial connection. Three coils are enough to illuminate the ceiling in an ordinary living room.
The series connection of bulbs in a design for lighting a large area can lead to the burning out of diodes close to the power source. It is necessary to divide the backlight segment by segment into sections of less than 15 m with separate power.
Ceiling lighting
Entire diode control systems are designed to achieve maximum effect. Ceiling lighting using such devices has significant differences in comparison with other devices. This makes it possible to turn a cozy room into a decorated festive hall.
DIY 220V LED strip connection
The correct installation method requires hiding from the eyes of the lighting device and wires. You can design the ceiling so that its lower part forms a cornice and protrudes slightly. You can place a tape at the top of a hidden plane. Light will fall on the ceiling from the bottom up. The brightness of the tape must be selected taking into account the distances between the levels. Too small a gap can cause uneven lighting. Each location of the diodes and the dark spots between them will be clearly visible. The effect will worsen at a large distance, because the light will scatter, not reaching the upper level.
The minimum bending radius during bends is 2 cm. When connecting the 220V LED strip, it is impossible to expose its components to mechanical stress. Always remember to observe the polarity during installation. If you mix the contacts, the diodes will burn. First of all, the adapter is connected to the power source, and only then - the tape itself. Installation technology is not a big deal.
Observe safety rules when installing in the pool
Installation of underwater equipment is regulated by state requirements, which are constantly updated. You should always be guided by the latest SNiP settings.
There is a difference in the instructions for installing LEDs in decorative and swimming pools. Each circuit is equipped with special devices that exclude leakage of electric current. All lighting equipment and iron elements of the pool must be grounded. The length of the electrical wire from the pool to the outlet, junction block, switch or transformer must not exceed the permissible dimensions.
Comparison with other lighting devices
Each incandescent lamp requires a separate wiring, lampholder and fixture. A limited number of point light sources are mounted around the perimeter of the room. The tape is arranged on a different principle. It is a continuous source of lighting.
Security
When installed on a drywall surface, 220V wiring may touch hidden conductive galvanized profiles. Rising temperatures can damage the insulation. Contact with the profile system is very hazardous to health. Such structures are often closed to reinforcement in a reinforced concrete slab, to which other objects in the room can connect.
Absolutely harmless to the human body is the low-voltage current, which feeds the LEDs. The heat generation is minimal, and the niche for the backlight can be aired. Deformation of suspended ceilings or the wiring itself may result from overheating of the incandescent lamp. LEDs almost do not produce heat.
Profitability
All electricity is converted to light. Connecting a 220V LED strip, unlike other devices, helps minimize energy costs during operation.
Disadvantages of LEDs for ceilings
The high cost of diodes for ceilings is the only serious drawback of these devices. For example, each lamp with a base is equipped with a separate power converter. The price of an LED strip can be compared with the cost of several good halogens because many small bulbs work from one adapter.
Connecting two LED strips in one line
The brightness of the tape will always decrease as it lengthens. The most dim lighting is characteristic of the latest LEDs. A significant decrease in brightness will occur already in the second segment of the line. When you connect a powerful adapter, the tape will heat up more due to increased current flow. Heat transfer to the LEDs will occur. The duration of the tapes with this connection method will be reduced several times. To solve this problem, other technologies for installing LED strips have been developed.
Connection method from one adapter
An extension wire is connected at the output of the power supply and connected to a lighting fixture. Thus, parallel connection of the LED strip is made. Such a circuit will require a more powerful power supply unit that is larger than ordinary devices. This may cause some inconvenience.
Connection method with multiple adapters
In such a scheme, before connecting the power supply to the 220V network, an extension wire is connected and stretched to the second adapter, designed for a new piece of tape. This method allows the use of wires with a small cross section.
You have to connect and look for a place to place additional power supplies. This circumstance complicates the installation process a little. This method differs from the previous one in that each individual adapter is much smaller in size and can easily be placed where a large one would not fit.
Conclusion
These devices are present today as lighting elements in rooms and even pools. The beautiful LED strip in a car looks especially good. Connection does not require much effort, but at the cost of such devices are more expensive than traditional light sources.
Today, diode tapes are used, consuming an average of 4 watts. The existing simple connection methods make it possible to solve emerging problems in the design and installation of lighting structures. Today, advanced developers are planning to create 8 W diodes, and after some time they will start manufacturing 10 W devices. The forecasts are such that in the near future tapes consuming 20 W power with a light output equal to a 300 W halogen lamp will appear on the market.