LED strip for the kitchen - choose wisely, install quickly

In fact, it is quite easy to hang such a backlight with your own hands, for an amateur it is much more important not to make a mistake when purchasing components.

Choosing an LED strip

LED strips differ in several parameters and the first characteristic is the number of diodes per linear meter:

The minimum here is 30 points per 1 m/p. Next comes 60 and 120 diodes per meter. But in the SMD3528 model there is a double tape, where 240 LEDs are located per 1 m / n.

Naturally, the more lighting points, the more powerful the luminous flux, as for the kitchen, I recommend choosing models from 60 diodes and above. If you need intimacy and twilight, you can easily adjust this with a dimmer (more on that later).

The next characteristic is the dimensions of the diodes themselves, they can be determined by the first digits of the marking. So in the SMD3528 model, the size of the diodes is 3.5x2.8 mm, and 5x5 mm elements are installed on the SMD5050 tape. There are also SMD5060, SMD5630 and SMD5730 models on our market, but they are not very popular in everyday life.

Now let's talk about the degree of moisture protection. There are 3 main areas in this niche:

• IP33- not a protected tape at all, with completely open conductive paths and LEDs. Designed for dry rooms, it is not recommended to mount it in kitchens, but I install IP33 in a closed box and it works fine;
• IP65- this tape is filled with silicone on top. Such models were developed just for kitchens;
• IP67 and IP68- fully sealed illuminators. That is, silicone is poured both from above and from below.

Silicone protection is a good thing, but it is advisable to mount such tapes on a metal base, because closed LEDs overheat and burn out quickly.

Now let's look at the intricacies of marking. For example, I took the standard marking LED 12V RGB SMD 5050 120 IP65, this model is used more than others for kitchen lighting.

If you want to install lighting with a full color spectrum, then take models with the WRGB marking - these are the most powerful tapes, but they are also the most expensive.

Choosing a power supply and control system

Such lighting is considered low-voltage and requires a step-down transformer or power supply, as it is commonly called. The vast majority of such tapes are supplied with 12V, 24V blocks were previously used, but now they are rare.

Calculating which block you need is simple: any tape comes with an instruction that indicates the power consumption of the product per 1 m / n, you need to multiply the number of meters by the design capacity and add 20-30% to the reserve.

1. This circuit is considered the simplest, here the connection goes directly from the power supply to the LED strips. Such a system will cost inexpensively, but it turns out to be unregulated, the diodes will shine at full power;

1. In this case, you will have the opportunity to adjust the level of light flux, because a dimmer is included in it. Although there is a full-fledged regulator with a control panel, it makes no sense to buy a conventional rheostat attached in a convenient place. Ribbons are used monochrome, that is, one-color;

1. This is how full-color RGB systems are connected. The inclusion of amplifiers in the circuit is not necessary, but desirable, especially if the length of the tapes is taken to the maximum (5 m) and there are several such tapes.

We mount the tape under the cabinets with our own hands

Most often, an LED strip is installed in the kitchen under the cabinets, so it turns out the simultaneous illumination of the working area and the illumination of the apron. Although, according to the same principles, this lighting can be mounted anywhere in the kitchen.

Illustrations	Recommendations
	Tool and material: Screwdriver; soldering iron; Side cutters; Solder; Rosin; Heat shrink or electrical tape; Voltage indicator; If you plan to cut the tape into the bottom of the cabinet, you will need a router.
	Accessories: The photo shows the order of connection: The power supply unit converts the voltage from 220V to 12V; Further, this voltage is applied to the controller, which in this case simultaneously performs the function of an amplifier; The controller also receives a signal from the control panel, for this it has an IR sensor, in other words, an antenna; From the controller, power is supplied to the LED strip itself. Power supplies, controllers, amplifiers and tapes may be different, but the principle of connection does not change from this.
	Light box. Of course, the tape can be glued directly to the base, for example, on the bottom of the kitchen cabinet, but it will heat up, plus not everyone likes the exposed tape. Therefore, we will hide it in an aluminum box covered with a translucent overlay. The aluminum box will act as a radiator and cool the LEDs; Such a box is easier to clean and the tape is protected in it, therefore, you can take an inexpensive IP33 model.
	Choice of boxes. The box can be selected for any mounting location - in a corner, on an edge, internal or external, as well as choose a smaller or larger angle of illumination. On the market, I took an ordinary box for 350 rubles. per bar 2m, in the store the price for the same bar is 90 rubles higher.
	Measure and cut the tape. The tape is sold by the meter, but you only need to cut it in places intended for soldering, on many models scissors are drawn there.
	tape extension . If you need to go around a corner or build up a longer section of lighting, then in the places of the cut, the contacts are stripped and soldered with jumpers. It’s hard to make a mistake there: you connect plus with plus, and minus with minus.
	Multicolor Ribbons. In RGB tapes, 4 wires are soldered by color (there are symbols on the tape): R - red (red); G - green (green); B - blue (blue); V - common. The main thing for you then is not to confuse the connection of the plug from the LEDs with the plug from the controller, for this they have arrows.
	Using a connector. The connector is a kind of clamp, the contacts are inserted into the grooves and clamped with a bar. These adapters allow you to do without soldering, but I don’t use such things and I don’t advise you. In the kitchen, the contacts can oxidize, and then you get tired of looking for the point where exactly the break occurred, so far nothing has been invented better than soldering.
	Preliminary check. It is advisable to connect the wires from the very beginning, so that later you do not climb into uncomfortable places with a soldering iron. Do-it-yourself installation begins with assembling the circuit and connecting it to the network, you must make sure that everything works correctly. If you plan to install a stationary switch, then remember - it is placed before the power supply.
	Box fixing. For outdoor installation, the box can be glued to a kitchen set or wall using liquid nails or double-sided tape. But it is better to take special grips and mount on them. Everything is simple there: the grip is screwed to the base with a self-tapping screw, and then a box is inserted into the grooves.
	Insert option. Outdoor installation is much easier, but the LED box can be cut directly into furniture, although you will need a hand router for this. Of course, more work, but the effect is much better.
	Installing the innards. It is better to hide the power supply and controller. The photo shows the placement option in the closet above the hood, but you can choose any place. The only thing I do not advise you to do is to throw the control group on the roof of the cabinet. In the kitchen, after a couple of months, all appliances will be covered with a sticky coating and it will be difficult to wash it.
	Finished result. Job done, now you can use it. I talked about the option of installing a small backlight in the box, but this is far from the only way to arrange it. Below in the video in this article there are alternative and, by the way, quite easy-to-install options.

Conclusion

It doesn't matter if you are planning to illuminate the work area, an apron or a stream, according to the recommendations above, you can easily cope with any of these tasks. If you have any questions, write in the comments, I will try to help.

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