DIY LED strip. DIY LED lighting

If you are planning to renovate your apartment, one of the first questions that will arise is choosing lighting equipment. An excellent alternative to traditional lamps and fixtures is LED strip. When installing a strip with LED lamps on the ceiling, not only the appearance of the room will significantly change, it opens up great opportunities in choosing a design solution. In this article we will introduce you to how to install an LED strip with your own hands, as well as the advantages of using this lighting equipment and the features of choosing a particular strip.

Duralight (LED strip) is a plastic printed circuit board into which small light bulbs of various shades are mounted, as well as resistors. The latter play the role of resistance. The printed circuit board (circuit board) has a sticky self-adhesive base, so LED strips can be used in many places: at home, in apartments, in restaurants, hotels, clubs, bars and other commercial buildings. Thanks to its features, LED strips can be freely used to illuminate hard-to-reach places.

Important! LED lamps are usually located on the surface of the conductive thread at the same distance.

LED strip color options

LEDs have different glow colors:

Warm white.
Cold white.
Green.
Blue.
Yellow.
Red.
Multicolor.

Standard sizes of LED strip

Width 8-10 mm.
Thickness - 2-3 mm.
The length of the tape in the reel is 1 or 5 m.

Selecting an LED strip - criteria, properties

When choosing an LED strip, it is advisable to immediately determine your requirements, and for this you need to know what specific criteria differ between the types of lighting filament on sale. This will speed up the process of buying the right lighting fixture in the planned price range.

We list the main distinctive characteristics:

Brightness.
Type (one-color or three-color).
Important! Single-color duralights can be green, white, blue, red, yellow. Multicolor - RGB strips are able to change the color of the backlight, thanks to a special controller.

The shade of LED lamps depends on the type of crystal built inside.
Number of lamps per meter. The more there are, the brighter the tape, which means its cost will be higher.
Base (self-adhesive or not).
The quality of moisture protection is determined by the IP class.
Using DIP or SMD. SMD (surface mount) is more often used as a cheaper option.

Important! Before purchasing an LED strip, decide on the lighting brightness you need, the humidity level of the installation site, and the required length of the strip. When choosing, consider the optimal number of LEDs for the required level of illumination, so as not to overpay for unnecessary brightness.

Advantages of LED strip

Before installing and assembling the LED strip, familiarize yourself with the advantages of lighting equipment. This will ensure that you make the right choice.

The main advantages of duralight:

Low energy consumption due to low power.
Favorable service life, regardless of the type of premises - from 5 to 13 years.
The possibility of laying along any trajectory is due to the plasticity of the thread.
Possibility to select the required length of duralight, since the cutting ratio is 6-10 cm (through 3-5 LEDs).
Lighting with such a strip has the highest efficiency. LEDs do not emit heat; electricity is spent only on emitting light.
No flicker.
Tolerance to voltage fluctuations in the electrical network, in particular, the tape continues to function at a reduced voltage of up to 130 V.
No ultraviolet radiation.
Possibility to choose your own color scheme.
Fire safety.
Environmental friendliness.
The quality of the glow remains unchanged throughout the entire service life.
Easy installation - thanks to the use of mounting tape or self-adhesive base.
Manufacturer's warranty. All LED products have a long warranty, which distinguishes them from conventional incandescent lamps or fluorescent devices.

General rules for installing LED strip

When installing LED strip, follow some rules and requirements to ensure flawless and long-lasting lighting operation. Most often, the most advantageous places for laying lighting strings from the point of view of practicality and design are the following places in the premises:

niches of walls or ceilings - special boxes are used for this;
on the surface of walls and ceilings inside plastic corners;
behind the ceiling plinth.

The connection and installation technology is almost the same in all cases. The general rules are as follows:

Tips for Designing a Room with LED Lighting

To get a truly winning interior result, when installing duralight, consider the following recommendations:

Methods for attaching LED strip

The LED strip is mounted on the ceiling in the following ways:

Installation of LED strip in the ceiling plinth. This method has a huge advantage - you do not need to redo the ceiling, since the ceiling plinth itself is mounted at a certain distance (8-10 cm) from the ceiling. After installing the plinth, proceed to gluing the duralight: remove the bottom layer of tape and glue it to the ceiling plinth like regular adhesive tape.
Installing tape in a cornice made of plasterboard. This method is much more complicated, but the ceiling will look much more impressive.

Installation of LED strip on the ceiling

Install the LED strip with your own hands sequentially:

Determine the length and type of tape, select the profile.
Buy a controller to control the color and brightness of the light. It smoothly switches colors, and the dimmer controls the brightness using the remote control.
To connect duralight, buy connectors. The connectors can be flat or round - it depends on the type of LED strip and the manufacturer.
Select a power supply that will act as a step-down transformer - it is not included in the kit.
Assemble the entire system by sequentially laying and gluing the thread with LEDs.
Connect the LED strip to the power supply.

Let's look at some points in more detail.

Choosing a power supply

Power supplies come in different capacities - from 6 to 400 watts. Energy consumption depends on the quality of the tape and the density of the LEDs. As mentioned earlier, the power of the unit should be at least equal to the power consumption of the tape plus a margin of about 25%.

Important! Let's look at calculating power using an example:

We have a 5 m long tape with a power of 9.4 W.

To calculate the power of the power supply: 5 m * 9.4 W = 47. Do not forget about the reserve: 47 * 1.25 = 58.75 W.

As you can see, we need a power supply of at least 58.75 W. Can be rounded up to 60 watts. This is not difficult to find in a radio parts store.

How to choose a profile?

Profiles for mounting lighting equipment differ in material and design. Let's look at the main ones. Based on the material of manufacture, they are distinguished:

Aluminum profile. This system is universal and reliable and will be appropriate in any interior style. Profiles of this type are used to create a lighting system design as quickly and easily as possible.
Plastic profile. The profile box for lighting equipment is often made of durable plastic. It can be transparent or matte. The advantage of this profile: elastic, resistant to mechanical stress, temperature changes and moisture.

Important! The plastic housing is suitable for installation of lighting structures in public buildings, illumination of shop windows, commercial equipment, and furniture. Plastic profiles are even used to illuminate ice slides, skating rinks and sculptures.

According to the device, profiles are:

Angular. In some cases, a standard profile is inappropriate, and then a corner profile is used, which is suitable for illuminating shop windows, cabinets and is used instead of a ceiling plinth. Having chosen this option, show your imagination in the location of the lighting filament. In this case, it is possible to carry out installation even in non-standard places, due to the small dimensions of the fasteners, high speed and ease of installation. For example, for illuminating window frames, floors, front door panels, etc.
Built-in. The built-in metal profile looks three-dimensional and has a lot of advantages, in particular, it is resistant to aggressive environmental influences. When installing this type of profile, use special glue or fastening to ensure the quality of the structure.
Mortise. The profile of this design is most often used in the furniture industry to illuminate tables, kitchen units, and cabinets. The aluminum structure is available in silver or gold color. The length of the profile is 1-2 m. The mortise profile is often equipped with matte light filters so that the light from the tape is scattered. Such filters give new furniture an attractive look, and old furniture a new life.

Installation diagram of LED strip under a suspended ceiling:

Important! After installing the lighting strip, connect it to the network again and check the quality of work. Only after a positive test result can the canvas of the stretch ceiling itself be assembled.

Before gluing the LED strip, prepare the surface for installation. It should be smooth and fat-free. To do this, treat it with alcohol and a clean cloth.
Mount powerful duralight (more than 10 W/m) on a metal profile or on an aluminum substrate.
For convenience, glue the structure onto a layer of 3M or glue/sealant.
When installing duralight on conductive surfaces, such as metal structures, be sure to insulate the tape by placing it in the frame.
During assembly, avoid damaging the conductive tracks.
When connecting large lengths of tape, use a parallel connection. If sequential, the conductive paths will be overloaded, which will lead to burnout.

Important! Before installing the LED strip, not only remember all these rules, but also watch the video tutorials. Especially if you are doing this kind of work for the first time and are not confident in your abilities.

Installation of LED strip - video

Conclusion

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

LED strip lighting

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

General installation rules

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

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

LED strip in the kitchen

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

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

Connecting pieces of LED strip

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

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

The most advantageous installation locations

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

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

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

Methods for installing lighting on the ceiling

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

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

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

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

Hidden LED lighting in a plasterboard box

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

Profiles for LED strip

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

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

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

Ceiling plinth for LED strip

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

Installing lighting on the ceiling

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

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

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

Controller with remote control

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

LED strip connection diagram options

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

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

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

Ready-made ceiling lighting

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

Installing lighting on kitchen units

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

LED illumination of the working area

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

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

Kitchen cabinet interior lighting

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

Headset illumination from below and above

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

Drawer lighting

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

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

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

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

Mortise and overlay profile in the kitchen

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

Installing lighting in niches

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

Wall niche lighting

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

Properly selected lighting makes a beautiful interior even more interesting. Light also affects human convenience: it should not be too bright and not too dim, and should be directed to the right areas (if we are talking about an apartment).

The light source is not only a light bulb in a chandelier or floor lamp. An addition or complete replacement for “standard” lighting are LED strips (LED strips, duralight). With their help, you can create an interesting interior or conveniently illuminate an area where a lamp cannot be installed. It is possible to install an LED strip with your own hands: the task is relatively simple.

Advantages and disadvantages of LED strips

Main advantages:

low energy consumption (LEDs consume 5-6 times less electricity than incandescent lamps at the same power);
quick installation (the tapes have an adhesive backing on the reverse side);
the ability to cut the tape to the desired length;
the ability to run the tape along any route;
wide range of colors (the backlight can be not only yellow or white, but also another color, and on 1 tape there can be several different colors that can be turned on separately).

The main disadvantage is the relatively high cost. In addition to the tape itself, which costs about 35-45 rubles per 1 m (with a power of about 5 W), you will also need to buy a controller, power supply and connector.

To illuminate 1 room with an area of 12-15 m² with an LED strip, you will need about 1700-2000 rubles minimum (for the connector, power supply, controller and about 12-15 m of the strip itself). The cheapest lamp will cost about 600 rubles.

In addition to the price, the downside is the difficulty of replacing 1 LED separately. If 1 LED burns out, the entire strip will have to be replaced.

The most advantageous installation locations

The choice of installation location depends on the task:

The tape is used for decorative lighting (in addition to the main light source). In this case, duralight is mounted around the desired element (for example, above a picture, or along the perimeter of a niche, or under a wall kitchen cabinet). The light is not necessarily the brightest, but is directed to the desired element or surface.
The tape is used as the main lighting. In this case, duralight is mounted on top - along the perimeter of the upper part of the wall or on the ceiling, according to a different scheme. LEDs must be powerful to illuminate the entire room. Light is directed away from the wall, “into” the room, to be diffused.

Places to install the tape if it is used as the main light source:

Behind the ceiling plinth.
In niches on the suspended ceiling (can be done at the stage of installing the ceiling, or if there are already niches in the ceiling).
Along the perimeter - on the top of the walls or on the ceiling.

When installed on kitchen furniture

In the kitchen, LED strips are used not only as ceiling lighting - they are also installed on kitchen units.

Possible installation locations:

front or rear strip of the lower part of the hood body (along the filter) - if the hood lamps are weak;
under wall cabinets - in the corner (between the cabinet and the wall) or along the bottom of the cabinet on the edge (further from the wall);
along the bottom of the tables (in this case, the lighting will be only for beauty);
in drawers, opening shelves, cabinets - to illuminate the space.

For such places, the tape is most often not mounted in profile, but simply glued to the surface without covering it.

When installed in a niche or cabinet

The tape can be used to highlight the inside of a cabinet or the interior of plasterboard niches. Most often they are simply glued to the surface, without installing profiles.

Installation locations:

in the depths of a niche or closet, if it is deep (there is a lot of space inside) and is located in a poorly lit place (a corridor, or simply away from the window);
inside drawers (cabinets, chests of drawers, bedside tables);
inside plasterboard niches for pictures, partitions;
in cabinets in bathrooms.

Backlight installation methods

Duralight can be mounted in 3 ways:

In the box A box with a hidden cornice is made from drywall, into which the tape is installed (it will not be visible from the room). The downside is that the box is installed only at the stage of renovation of the premises, and it will have to be done along the entire route of laying the tape.
On a special profile (plastic or aluminum). The option is simpler and cheaper, and can be used at any time (even if no repairs are planned). Attaches to any surface (tiles, wallpaper, drywall, brick, wood, etc.).
On the ceiling plinth. In this case, the plinth is not mounted flush against the ceiling, but 5-10 cm lower from it. The tape is installed in this gap. The plinth has a rise towards the ceiling. Between the raised part and the wall there is a recess into which duralight is placed so that it is not visible from below.

Types of LED strips

LED strips differ in:

Number of colors. There are single-color or multi-color (RGB) tapes.
Type of lighting. There are dynamic (lighting characteristics - brightness, color - can be changed by the controller), flat (with a glow angle of 120º) and end (used to illuminate the ceiling).

What will be needed for installation?

In addition to the tape itself with the desired color and the required length, you will need:

Controller. Essentially a control panel. It will turn the backlight on and off, as well as switch colors and adjust brightness. It can be wired or remote. Connects to the power supply.
Power unit. Plays the role of a transformer that converts the voltage to the required one. The power supply unit is selected depending on the length and power of the tape.
Connector. Necessary for connecting individual pieces of tape into one. You can assemble the backlight without it, but then you will need to solder the segments.

LED Strip Installation Guide

Step-by-step installation instructions:

The total length of the tape is determined. To do this, the laying route is planned and the full length is measured, including the sections approaching the connectors and the controller.
Pieces of tape are connected into 1 line using connectors (or a soldering iron).
The assembled tape is connected to the controller, and the controller to the power supply. The main nuance: the poles must be connected correctly, otherwise the duralight can be damaged when turned on.
Plug the assembled line into the socket and turn on the lighting from the remote control for testing. If the backlight comes on, check the brightness and color settings (if provided).
Disconnect the tape from the controller and mount it in the desired location.

When the duralight is attached, it is connected to the controller again and checked again. If the backlight works normally, the work is completed.

Possible errors consist only of incorrect assembly of the chain.

An LED strip is a narrow and flexible strip on which LEDs and current-controlling resistors are located. The tape, theoretically, can be of any length; cutting or extension is allowed. Usually 5-meter sections go on sale. The LED strip is widely used in various design solutions.

Lighting projects may involve the use of a specific length of tape or a multi-color version (RGB). Connecting an LED strip is not particularly difficult; you need to follow certain recommendations when performing this work, taking into account the type of backlight, total power, calculation of the reserve of power supplies and RGB amplifiers.

Factory-produced LED strips are designed to be connected to a 12V DC network using a special power supply. However, there is a scheme for connecting to a 220 volt network that requires some modification. Since the supply voltage of the LEDs located on the strip is less than 220V, when directly connected to such a source, breakdown of the LEDs will occur and damage to the strip as a whole. The power supply circuit diagram assumes:

tape 5 m long and operating voltage 12V, cut into 20 segments;
The 220V network voltage is rectified using a diode bridge (VD1-VD4);
the tape segments are assembled together in such a way that the positive output of the segment is connected to the negative output of the subsequent piece;
possible flickering is smoothed out with a capacitor (300V, 5-10 mF).

It is necessary to check the amount of current flowing along the tape tracks and if it is more than permissible, another piece of tape is connected to the circuit or added.

This connection method is described for informational purposes, and it is not advisable to carry out such work, since the exposed soldering areas of all components will be under high voltage and during operation of the tape, electric shock may occur.

Connecting a 12 volt LED strip via a power supply

All manufactured LED strips are designed for 12 or 24 V voltage. In this regard, correct connection is only possible through, which lowers the voltage and produces a constant current at the output. The power supply is marked + and – for correct connection. LED strips sold may have different numbers of LEDs, and accordingly have different power consumption.

An important condition is the selection of a power supply of the required power. If this requirement is not met, the LED strip will not be able to produce bright light, and the power supply will become unusable due to overload. When calculating power, add 20-30% to the obtained value to compensate for losses in extension wires.

The power of one meter of tape depends on the number and type of LEDs. For example, SMD 3528 LEDs, 60 pieces per meter, provide a total power of 4.8 W. This means that a 5-meter tape consumes 24 W. Taking into account the power reserve, a 32 W power supply is required.

How to install a single color ribbon

Connecting one single-color tape, after selecting the desired power supply, does not cause any difficulties. A standard strip, 5 meters long, is connected to two taps coming from the power supply. The current polarity is marked on its body. The wires from the power supply are soldered to special contacts located on the tape. Polarity must be observed (contacts are marked + and −).

Soldering is carried out with a low-power soldering iron (for example), so as not to damage the tape material. If necessary, the branch between the block and the tape is extended, using cores with a cross section of 1.5 mm 2. Typically, the red wire coming out of the power supply is positive, and the blue or black wire is negative.

Connecting two single-color ribbons

The connection of two ribbons of the same color has its own characteristics. A typical mistake is connecting two LED strips in series. That is, the beginning of the second is soldered to the end of the first. With this installation option, the second strip will not glow properly or the current-carrying paths of the first strip will overheat, as a result of which the LEDs will become unusable.

For correct connection, use parallel connection of two LED strips. The first strip is connected in the same way as in a single installation. For the second stripe, individual wires are supplied from the power supply. It is clear that an extension wire is used in this case. As a result, each tape will be connected separately.

You need to pay attention to the power of the power supply. It must correspond to the total power of the two bands and have a 30 percent margin.

Sometimes installation of ceiling lighting is impossible due to the overall dimensions of the power supply, designed to connect two strips, due to the fact that it cannot be placed in the interceiling space. Then two power supplies of suitable power are used, each of which is connected to a separate 220V network line. In the future, the LED strips are connected in the same way as in the case of one strip.

RGB LED strip connection diagram

An RGB type tape is a strip that can produce different emission colors or variations thereof. Unlike connecting single-color tapes, it has a controller in its installation diagram that controls each individual color. The surface of the strip itself contains four sections of contacts, to which the corresponding wires coming from the controller are soldered.

There are four wires coming out of the controller:

R (red);
G (green);
B (blue);
V+ (or other designation), which theoretically performs the same function.

The color-coded pins on the controller are connected to a terminal block that contains wires of the corresponding color. That is, the red wire goes to output R, green to output G, blue to output B.

in our time, they deservedly have the most stable demand. This is due to their durability and high level of energy savings.

All detailed characteristics and operating principles of different types of halogen lamps can be studied using.

The installation principle when connecting an RGB LED strip is as follows: a power supply (required power) is connected to a 220V network, the terminals of the power supply are connected to the controller, taking into account the polarity. The wires coming from the controller (4 pieces) are soldered to the LED strip, so that the red wire is connected to the corresponding contact marked on the strip.

If the connection is incorrect, the strip will glow incorrectly (discrepancy between the included color and the true radiation).

Connecting two LED color strips

Just as in the case of mounting two single-color tapes, you need to calculate the power of the power supply and RGB controller. Standard strips 5 meters long are designed for separate connection to both the power supply and the controller. That is, a parallel connection is assumed, in which each LED strip receives a separate connection of pins coming from the controller.

In practice, we have to face the fact that a lighting project requires the use of a block and controller with large overall dimensions and it is not always possible to place it in ceiling niches. In this case, use the following connection diagram:

the first tape is connected to a separate power supply and controller,
the second tape is connected to its block and RGB amplifier.

The amplifier is marked “input” and “output” RGB and plus and minus terminals for its power supply, according to this, the end of the first tape is connected to the “input” terminal, and the wires from the “output” terminal are connected to the beginning of the second tape.

The amplifier itself is connected to the second power supply, according to the pole markings. With this option, each LED strip receives a separate RGB controller.

Use in conjunction with a dimmer

Connection using provides the ability to change the brightness of the tape. For proper connection, it is necessary that the regulated power of the dimmer matches the power of the strip or an installation kit of several LED strips.

In the case of connecting a single-color tape, the power supply is connected to the dimmer, observing the polarity. The dimmer leads are connected directly to the tape, according to the polarity of the current. If two strips are mounted, then, as in the case of two strips, a parallel connection is made after the dimmer or an amplifier is used.

An LED strip with RGB channels may also contain a dimmer in its connection circuit that controls the brightness of all channels. For such installation, the dimmer is connected to the power supply, and its outputs are connected to the RGB signal controller. In this case, the total power must be calculated and compared with the power of the dimmer.

If two RGB strips are used, then the dimmer in the connection diagram takes place immediately after the power supply, and its outputs also go to the controller.

Power plays a decisive role in this scheme. Just as when calculating the parameters of the power supply, this figure should exceed the calculated power consumption of the tapes by 20-30%.

Some features when working with LED strips

If it is necessary to adjust the length, the strips can be cut or, conversely, lengthened. To cut the tape, use ordinary scissors; the cut is made along specially marked contours. If you need to connect two strips, use connectors designed for this. The ends of the two strips are inserted into this device, after which it is snapped into place. The result is a rigid and reliable connection.

It is possible to join strip sections using a soldering iron. In this case, the ends of the strips are cleaned and a tinned layer is applied to the contacts. After this, the ends of the tape are placed on top of each other and the soldering iron tip is passed on top. Its power should not exceed 60 W.

It is better to cover the places where the wires are connected to the tape with a special heat-shrink tube. To do this, before soldering the ends of the wires to the contacts of the strip, first put on a tube. Then they carry out the procedure, and at the end of the work, slide the tube over and slightly warm it up with a hairdryer. This results in dense and fixed contact insulation.

In conclusion, it must be added that the quality of the work performed directly depends on the calculation of the required power parameters and compliance with the recommendations presented. It is highly recommended not to carry out unregulated connections of tapes to a 220V network without power supplies in order to avoid breakdowns and electric shock.

LED strip: video connection

Using LEDs for lighting has many advantages, the main ones being energy savings, ease of installation, and the absence of high voltage. LED strip (SL) is a thin flexible strip up to 5 m long with soldered LEDs. It is possible to extend the tape to an unlimited length or cut it into small pieces; it can be given almost any geometric shape. Such characteristics determine wide range of its applications in creating lighting design. Backlighting is used when creating advertising, for lighting buildings, swimming pools, interior lighting, etc.

Despite the simplicity of the device and installation, SL has a number of nuances that you need to familiarize yourself with before installing it.

Selecting LED strip and power supply (PSU)

SL there are single-color (red, green, yellow, blue or white) and multi-color (universal) RGB. Color and smoothness of glow LED RGB strip is changed by remote control. When choosing a color, start from the final goal: if you need to create spectacular lighting in your home or car, then it is better to choose an RGB strip. This makes it possible to easily manage the external design. White light will help create practical lighting.

The type of trunk line affects the choice of power supply and its characteristics. The power supply must provide the required power and power polarity, with a power reserve of 20%.

Before connecting the RGB strip, determine controller mounting location. To be able to control the remote control, access to this place must be within sight.

The density of diodes per 1 m of LED strip can be in the range of 30, 60 and 120 or 240 diodes (dual).

With a SL length >1m, the entire load is summed up and the appropriate power supply is selected. For example, if the line contains SMD 3528 diodes, density 60 pcs/m, length 5 m, then the power of the power supply must be at least 24 Watts.

After determining the power consumption, you should select the type of power supply. If the SL will work in outdoor conditions, then you should choose sealed plastic or metal power supplies. They are compact and completely protected from harmful factors. But these benefits come at a price.

If the power supply will be installed indoors and there are no restrictions on its dimensions, then it is advisable to choose an open power supply. This will help you save on your purchase. There is also portable power supply, the power consumption of which does not exceed 60 W.

For outdoor installation, it is recommended to use SL coated with a layer of silicone or plastic. LED strip coated with a protective layer of silicone is recommended for use in corridors, bathrooms, large rooms, etc. Please pay special attention that for outdoor use, full protection is required.

How to install LED strip

Two tapes can be connected to each other connect in the following ways:

Using special connectors. The advantage of this method is its ease of execution, but there is a high probability of contact oxidation and loss of power.
Connecting the ends of the line using a low-power soldering iron, after which it is recommended to cover the contacts with heat-shrink tape or glue specifically designed for this purpose.

When soldering tape necessary:

Carefully clean the contacts with a knife.
Dip a well-heated low-power soldering iron into the flux, and then quickly into the solder; attach to the stripped conductor.
Next, solder the conductor to the contacts on the tape: attach it to the desired place, putting a little flux on top.

In both options, polarity must be observed for correct connection. It is worth noting that only a tape of the appropriate type can be extended - multi-color RGB cannot be combined with a single-color one.

Connecting LED strip using connectors

When connecting 2 sections of SL you will need a couple of connectors, pre-soldered together (see above). The stripped edge of the tape must be inserted into a special connector slot with the locking buttons open and the lock must be tightened. At one end of the trunk line there is usually already a connector installed for connecting to the power supply.

If there is a need to reduce the length of the SL, then this should be done at a special cut site with a sharp knife or scissors. If there is a special coating (silicone, plastic), then before cutting it will first need to be carefully cleaned in the area of the cut.

After cutting a single-color SL, there will be 2 contacts (“+” and “-”), and when cutting a multi-color RGB, there will be 4 contacts: +V, G, R, B.

Before fastening check the system for functionality. When choosing an installation location, make sure that the SL will not be subject to mechanical damage, and the bending radius will not exceed 20 mm.

SL is glued to the surface using an adhesive layer on the back side. The layer is covered with a protective coating, which must be removed immediately before gluing. If the LED strip is installed in a place subject to mechanical stress or does not have an adhesive layer, then you can additionally use superglue or double-sided tape. Before gluing, it is recommended to degrease the surface with gasoline or acetone.

Features of connecting LED RGB strip

A multi-color RGB LED has 1 common “+” (black wire) and the other 3 are “-” of each color: R (red), G (green) and B (blue). RGB LED has 3 LEDs, by mixing the colors of which you can create any color.

When connecting RGB you need to match all 4 contacts. All terminals on the controller and power supply are marked.

To install and operate a multi-color RGB strip, you need a controller that is connected to the power supply (“+” with “+”, “-” with “-”). The connection is made using a connector, the contacts of which are connected to the controller - “+” with “+”, and the contacts R, G, B are connected to the controller terminals.

If, after checking for functionality, all color modes of the tape work, you can glue it to the intended mounting location.

Installation of LED strips for ceiling lighting design

When installing plasterboard ceilings It is necessary to take into account some nuances in advance:

Provide a place to mount the power supply, since it is quite large and, unlike the LED strip itself, heats up. It is advisable to place the block in a vast but accessible place so that, if necessary, it can be removed without much effort. The power supply should not be clamped on all sides; at least a minimum space for heat dissipation must be provided.
Bring out the wires to connect the power supply.
The ceiling must be properly plastered, as lighting will highlight defects.
Instead of a niche, SL can be glued to a massive plinth or molding. This method of installing lighting is less expensive in terms of labor and finances.
In this case, the plinth or molding is glued at a distance of 5–10 cm from the ceiling, and the SL is glued on top of the plinth with an indentation towards the wall from the edge.
When connecting a trunk line >5m long, use a parallel connection to the power supply, since a serial connection can burn out the tracks.
Used to adjust the light special dimmers with a large range of brightness adjustment.
When installing the LED strip on a galvanized profile, use tape to insulate the surface.

Connecting the LED strip to the vehicle's on-board network

Conclusion

LED strip is a durable light source, economical to operate and easy to install. We wish you success in your planned project.