LED room lighting. LED lighting for the ceiling - tape installation and lighting options

This article is about LED lighting. In it, I will talk about how LED strip ceiling lighting can be implemented, whether it is possible to use the strip as the main lighting, and how beneficial LED lamps are compared to other light sources. The material will be built in the form of answers to the most popular questions among potential buyers. So, let's go.

Market Review

1. What LED lamps can offer the modern market?

Here are their main types:

• Tapes, which are LEDs on a flexible conductive substrate. Tapes can have a supply voltage of 12 and 220 volts;

Tapes powered by 220 volts use D.C. and are connected via a compact rectifier (diode bridge).

• Panels are LEDs on a rigid substrate, equipped with a diffuser. Often the panel is a combination of a diffuser and an LED strip cut into short pieces;
• Spots - lamps that give directional light thanks to the built-in reflector;

• Spotlights - compact lamps built into the ceiling, giving diffused light;
• Searchlights.

1. How economical is LED lighting?

The latest generations of LEDs deliver over 100 lumens per watt of power input. For incandescent lamps, this figure is 10 times worse, for compact fluorescent ("energy-saving") lamps - 1.5 - 2 times.

ribbon

1. How to choose an LED strip for lighting the ceiling and for the main lighting?

For hidden illumination, the main criterion is low heat generation. As a rule, it is installed in a ceiling niche, on a plinth or molding, which implies a rather poor heat dissipation. Therefore, for the role of backlight, a tape with a power of no more than 5 watts per running meter.

Which LED strip to choose to illuminate the ceiling by the color of the glow?

The color should be selected based on the functionality of the room and its general design. So, red lighting will be appropriate in, but obviously out of place in the kitchen, and “acidic” green light will in no way fit into the style of the retro living room.

An interesting solution is an RGB tape that can change the color of the backlight.

There are two other criteria that are important to you when choosing a ribbon for your primary lighting:

• Colour temperature. The most accurate color reproduction is provided by lighting with a temperature of 4000 K;

However: light with a temperature of 2700 - 3000 K is more pleasant for the eyes. In terms of spectrum, it is closer to an incandescent lamp than to daylight.

• Specific luminosity per linear meter. It should be at least 1000 lumens. The optimal combination of luminosity and power consumption (from 1000 lumens and no more than 18 watts per linear meter) is currently (July 2016) provided by smd 5630 and 5730 LED strips; older smd 5050s at the same consumption are twice as luminous as they are.

Nuance: the same LED can have different luminosity depending on the voltage applied to it. However, as the voltage increases, the power consumption inevitably increases, followed by the heat dissipation of the LED. Tapes with a power of more than 18 watts per meter have to be mounted on a heat-removing aluminum profile.

1. Which tape is better - powered by 220 volts or 12?

Definitely the second one. Its only drawback is the need for outdoor unit power while the 220 volt tape uses a compact rectifier mounted at its connection to the power cord.

The benefits outweigh it in full:

• A diode assembly powered by 12 volts is just three diodes with several resistors. It is in segments of three LEDs that a low-voltage tape can be cut. When powered by 220 volts, cutting is possible only by a meter;

• The failure of one LED will lead to the fact that two more light sources will go out in the same assembly with the defective part. In a 220-volt tape, all the parts in each meter length are connected in series, and the burnout of any of them will mean that the meter of the tape will go out completely;

Curiously, the 220-volt tape I purchased to illuminate the exit to the courtyard lasted only a year. It went out in meter sections as single smd parts burned out.

• Finally, do not forget about security. 12 volts in any short circuit cannot lead to fatal consequences.

Fixtures

1. How LED strip lights work?

They consist of an aluminum profile with a fastening system, a tape with a sufficiently high luminosity glued to it, and a plastic diffuser - matte or prismatic. As a rule, the cost of such lamps significantly exceeds the total price of components purchased at retail.

1. Which is better - spotlights or LED panel?

It all depends on the key requirements.

With the same power, one bright light source always gives better illumination than several weaker ones. Therefore, in terms of economy, the panel wins. But it loses in the uniformity of lighting: spotlights distributed throughout the room will not create shadows.

36 watt LED panel. Size - 600x600 mm. Luminosity - 3200 lumens.

Lamps

1. What kind LED lamp better?

If we evaluate the economy, the proximity of the spectrum to the solar and, accordingly, the accuracy of color reproduction (that is, the correspondence of the color of the illuminated object to the visible at bright daylight), then the undisputed leader will be lamps on LED filaments (they are labeled as filament).

These lamps are interesting, among other things, because they appearance very similar to incandescent lamps: the same glass flask, and the LED filament looks very similar to a spiral.

The obvious disadvantage of filament lamps is that they give diffused light, while lamps with a hemisphere diffuser create a bright beam of light directed in one direction. If you plan to install the lamp in a spotlight, your choice is a lamp with a semicircular diffuser.

Power

1. How to perform LED lighting calculation?

When choosing the total luminosity of light sources, one should be guided by sanitary standards prescribed in SanPin 2.2.1 / 1278-03.

The unit of measurement in the table I have given - lux - corresponds to one lumen (unit of luminosity) per square meter of area. Luminosity in lumens is always indicated on the packaging of any LED lamp or lamps. Let's say for a children's room with an area of ​​20 square meters it is recommended to use light sources with a total luminosity of 20*200=4000 lumens.

Nuance: the actual luminosity of light sources is often lower than stated. The reason is both the manufacturer’s dishonesty and light absorption by diffusers and shades (especially dusty ones). Therefore, when calculating, it is better to increase the obtained value by 20 - 30%.

Mounting

Basic lighting

1. How to put the LED strip on the ceiling as the main lighting ?

The self-adhesive tape is glued onto the heat dissipating profile. It can be built-in and overhead.

With a tape power of less than 18 watts per linear meter, it is enough to stick the tape on any surface with non-zero thermal conductivity for heat dissipation. For me, for example, this role was played by a cover made of PVC cable channel. Tape temperature at long work does not rise above 45 - 50 degrees, which are quite safe for LEDs.

1. How to fix the led-profile in the plasterboard ceiling?

The profile, depending on the design, is glued with any universal glue, liquid nails or sealant in a pre-cut groove or attached to the ceiling through holes drilled in it with self-tapping screws with countersunk heads. Remember to countersink the holes so that the self-tapping screws do not interfere with the tape sticker.

Another option for attaching a mortise profile is to use an additional profile - a holder.

1. How to fix a led profile on a panel ceiling?

Screws with plastic dowels. Step - no more than 50 cm, otherwise the profile will move away from the ceiling. The remaining gaps can be carefully filled with acrylic putty.

1. How to install a diffuser on a profile with an LED strip glued inside ?

The plastic diffuser purchased with the profile is snapped into it along the entire length. The design of the latch is similar to that used in cable channels.

By the way: the diffuser absorbs 25 - 30% of the light. In the future, its light absorption increases due to dust and clouding of the plastic. In my opinion it is better to use flat aluminum profiles no transparent lid.

1. How to glue a tape without a profile to a plasterboard ceiling?

It is enough to paint a strip of drywall directly under the tape with any glossy paint or enamel. Gloss gives perfect smooth surface, on which the self-adhesive tape is held securely enough.

Another solution is to stick a strip of plastic on the GKL (for example, a half of a universal PVC corner cut along the length). Liquid nails or silicone sealant can be used as glue.

That is why the tapes are not allowed to be connected in series. Large current can cause the busbar to overheat and melt plastic base ribbons.

Backlight

1. Which ceiling plinth best choice for led strip?

The main criterion is the widest possible vertical. The plinth will only be glued to the wall along the perimeter of the ceiling, so big square gluing will ensure its secure fastening.

The plinth material with a tape power of 5 watts per meter can be anything: during operation, the LEDs practically do not heat up. Them working temperature at 35 - 40 degrees it will be quite safe for both polyurethane and polystyrene foam.

1. How to attach a ceiling plinth to a wall?

I used spot-on acrylic putty for this purpose. With the same success, the plinth can be glued to liquid nails or any universal glue.

Important: the wall under the plinth should not crumble. Fragile plaster must be pre-treated with a penetrating primer for concrete substrates.

1. How to install ceiling lighting with LED strip?

Hidden backlight pasted on top shelf plinth on minimum distance from the wall or onto the wall itself above the baseboard. Optimal distance between it and the ceiling is about 5 centimeters. The distance from the tape to the edge of the plinth should not allow the viewer from the opposite end of the room to see the backlight.

1. How to minimize the heating of the backlight power supply?

• Provide free air circulation in the area where it is located. On the practical side, this means that the PSU should not be installed in closed niches;

• Choose such a power supply unit that it overlaps the total power of the tapes or low-voltage lamps connected to it by at least 30%.

Conclusion

I hope that I was able to satisfy the reader's curiosity in the field of LED lighting. As always, you can learn more by watching the video in this article. I look forward to your additions and comments. Good luck, comrades!

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Ceiling lighting with LED strip is a very popular way to get unusual interiors in modern dwellings. Additional popularity of this technique is given by the fact that all installation work you can do it yourself, without asking for help from specialists in the field of electrical engineering.

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Active development innovative technologies allowed designers to develop a number of new techniques that make it possible to radically change the visual perception of various living spaces. Through the installation modern system lighting using diode strips, you can literally transform any apartment or house, make your home truly original and cozy.

By and large, they tried to perform ceiling lighting with LED strip already in the 1970s. It was then that the first diodes began to appear on the market. But in those years, new lighting did not become widespread due to the fact that it did not have the most pleasant spectrum for the human eye (too sharp) and a small color range. These problems have now been resolved. On sale there are diodes with a soft spectrum and with any color shades. And most importantly, today almost any home craftsman can engage in amateur lighting design.

LED lighting in the apartment

It is enough to purchase a suitable kit for creativity, which includes special controllers, power supplies and diode strips directly, and equip your home with your own hands in the desired light version. LEDs allow you to decorate any ceiling surfaces. The most difficult thing to do with your own hands is the lighting design of the suspended and. But at right approach to the point and this problem becomes solvable. And without extra costs strength and time.

Ceiling lighting with LED strip is performed in different ways:

1. Dotted. In this case lighting positioned so that they cast light straight down. The most famous version of spot LED lighting is the so-called starry sky.
2. directional. Devices are placed in a special way on the slopes. Due to this, they shine along the ceiling surface.
3. Scattered (contour). With this scheme, the diodes form a continuous strip of light on the ceiling (they go up, not down).
4. Figured. In this case lighting fixtures are installed in small ceiling lamps, which makes it possible to create a special lighting configuration.

With your own hands, you can make all the above schemes for any ceiling (stretch or the most ordinary). But first you need to decide on the characteristics of the diodes that you plan to use.

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The first characteristic that you should pay attention to is the color of the diodes for the ceiling. It may be different. Moreover, you can decorate the ceiling with both a single-color LED strip and a multi-color one. The control of the glow of products with several colors is carried out remotely. In residential premises, as a rule, illumination from emitters is used. different shades. And monochrome products are usually installed in public institutions, in exhibition and trading floors where the total illumination extent is high. For the price, by the way, ribbons with one and several colors are no different. They cost about the same.

Ceiling LEDs

Next important parameter is the density of diodes on one tape. They can be 120, 60 or 30 for each meter of the product. If a directional ceiling light is being installed, the pros are advised to purchase tapes with a density of 120 or 60. But contour lighting it is better to do it yourself with the help of products with 30 (in large rooms– with 60) emitters. Ideally, for a stretch ceiling, it is desirable to use two tapes with different densities at once.. In this case, it is necessary to install products for 60 (30) emitters on slopes, and 120 (60) on shelves. But such an option is possible only when the niches for mounting diodes are relatively large.

Next, we determine the power of the LED strip. Such products are marked with the letters SMD. After them come the numbers, they indicate the power. For example, if you have two products in front of you with SMD markings 6035 and SMD 3028, know that the first tape will be more powerful. Also, the power of a particular emitter is easy to find out in its passport. In practice, directional lighting is most often performed with tapes with a glow intensity of 5 W / m, contour - 8 W / m. If you put several products at once on slopes and on a shelf, choose radiators for 5–7 and 7–17 W / m, respectively.

The controller and power supply for the LED strip must be selected taking into account the power of the lighting product. It can operate from 24, 12 or 5 V. Both the controller and the power supply must be designed for the same indicators. . In cases where the ceiling lighting can get wet (careless neighbors from above, constant high humidity indoors), it is advisable to install tapes marked with the letters IP. This type of lighting has a special waterproofing coating based on silicone. It perfectly protects lighting fixtures from moisture.

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LED strip for a conventional or stretch ceiling is installed on the frame. It is made from (GKL), making a kind of cornice (shelf, niche). The frame can be located along the perimeter of the ceiling or hidden between the second and first levels of the surface from drywall sheets. It is not difficult to make the indicated shelf with your own hands.

Preparing the ceiling frame for installing lamps

Its installation is done like this:

1. Retreat from ceiling tiles overlap by about 10 cm and place on a skeleton made of galvanized metal profile the first level of drywall sheets.
2. Connect the next part of it (second level) to the mounted structure. Here it is imperative to leave enough space between the ceiling and wall surfaces so that the light from the diodes passes into the room without any problems.
3. Sheathe the second level of the frame with drywall sheets, forming a shelf for mounting the LED strip.
4. Bring the wires for connecting the lighting into the mounting groove and connect them (temporarily) to the drywall. For these purposes, use the usual masking tape or tape.

Now you need to putty the ceiling, perform its final finishing, and then proceed with the installation of modern diode lighting. On stretch ceilings, special skirting boards, moldings and polyurethane cornices are usually mounted. And they are already being installed LED emitters. Due to the fact that these polyurethane elements have various types images, stucco and original finish easy to create by hand unique decor. And supplement it with the original diode lighting.

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LED strip, as a rule, is sold in reels of five meters in length. If contour illumination of the ceiling is made, several such coils are connected into one. It is not recommended to connect more than three reels in series. In cases where the perimeter of the room where the installation is carried out diode tapes, more than 15 meters, should be carried out parallel connection several areas.

LED strip installation

When connected LED strips with your own hands, you must carefully monitor their polarity. Incorrect connection will cause failure of all products when they are turned on.

Tapes are attached to the frame without the slightest problem. On the reverse side there is adhesive tape. It is covered with foil. You just need to carefully remove this coating and mount the product on the ceiling. It is undesirable to glue the LEDs directly on the GKL. Over time, they can move away from drywall. It will be optimal to choose corners made of polyvinyl chloride for slopes and cornices (if the diodes are installed on stretch ceiling- made of polyurethane) and fix them with universal self-tapping screws. And then glue the tape to these additional parts.

After placing and connecting to the wires removed from the frame, the LED strips must be connected to the power supply unit (PSU) and (if multi-color products are used) to the controller. If the lighting system you are creating has a power of more than 50 W, install several power supplies with a small power. Such devices are small. They are easy to disguise in plasterboard shelves on the ceiling. If you use blocks of 70 W, they can protrude from the frame and thereby spoil the appearance of the ceiling surface.

The very process of connecting tapes to the PSU with your own hands is elementary. You just need to connect the appropriate wires and terminals correctly. When this is done, turn on the backlight and check it. If everything is working well, praise yourself for being able to create an unusual lighting decor in your home with minimal financial outlay.

LED lights Do-it-yourself ceiling is, generally speaking, not a new thing. Radio amateurs began experimenting with lighting design based on LEDs (LED, Light Emission Diod) back in the 70s, as soon as LEDs appeared on the market. The obstacle to its wide distribution was, first of all, the imperfection of the diodes themselves - a limited color range and a "sharp" spectrum. Too bright light from the first LEDs hurt the eyes.

Today, LEDs produce light in all colors of the rainbow with a smooth, "soft" spectrum. On sale there are special assemblies of LEDs for lighting design - LED strips, power supplies for them and controllers that allow you to smoothly adjust the color and brightness of the radiation. Now a person who is not versed in technology can do it. There are countless options, so let's consider the most popular and technically the most complex: suspended and stretch ceiling lighting. Everything else will be easier to do.

Types of LED backlight

Suspended ceiling can be illuminated in four ways:

1. Contour diffused backlight- the LEDs are located on the shelf (bottom row in the figure) and shine upwards. The backlight forms a continuous light strip.
2. Directional backlight- LEDs are mounted on a slope and shine along the ceiling. Diverging rays are visible on the main (base) ceiling.
3. Spot lighting("starry sky"). LEDs shine from the ceiling straight down. It is more difficult to make such a backlight; you can’t get by with tape, and some (however, elementary) technical knowledge is needed.
4. Figured illumination. LEDs are placed in small ceiling lamps. For the device of such illumination, in addition to technical knowledge, skills are also needed. home master.

Tape ceiling lighting

Contour and directional ceiling lighting with LED strip is the easiest way of lighting design and at the same time a wide field for creative imagination. Its technical details come down to the choice of tape, power source and some subtleties of installation. We’ll talk about installation below, but for now we’ll consider how to choose the right technique.

Choosing an LED strip

• Tape color. Here the choice is unequivocal - a full-color RGB tape with a controller. The price of the ribbon itself is the same as the single color ribbon, and the controller is cheaper than the ribbons of complementary colors. The question is, why then generally monochrome ribbons? For special illumination over a large area, when the price of equipment matters: shop windows, trees, large halls.
• Emitter density. The density of emitters on the tape can be 30, 60 and 120 per meter. For contour lighting, it, of course, should be larger - 60 or 120. But for directional lighting, it is better to take a tape with a density of 30 or 60. slope - 30 and 60. then you need 4 power supplies with controllers, but this installation will give a wide range of lighting effects: after all, the tapes can be turned on and adjusted together. You can get a double color border, intermittent rays, etc.

• Tape power. LED strips are designated by the letters SMD and four digits, for example SMD 3028. The first two digits indicate the power consumed by the tape. The SMD 6035 tape will be more powerful than the above. Also, the power of one meter of the tape is indicated in its passport. For contour illumination, 8 W / m is sufficient; for directional - 5 W / m. It is better to put 7 and 12-14 watt tapes on the shelf, and 5 and 7 watts on the slope. This will make it possible to get by with cheaper, without dimming, controllers and simplify color adjustments.
• Total backlight power. This parameter is calculated from the length of the light strip. We measure with a tape measure, consider how many meters of tape are required, and multiply by the power of a meter of tape.
• We select the power source and controller according to the power required to illuminate the corresponding light strip. Of course, the supply voltage must also be suitable. LED strips are produced with an operating voltage of 5, 12 and 24 V. The IP should give the same amount, and the controller should also be designed for such a voltage.

Installation of contour and directional lighting

How to mount tapes in plasterboard ceiling, is clear from the figure. We give just a few tips:

1. LED strips are mounted with Velcro; adhesive layer applied with reverse side tape and covered protective film. Before mounting the tape, select a corner that is suitable in size for the PVC shelf and slope, and fix it in the niche with small self-tapping screws. Velcro sticks tightly to PVC, but it can peel off from drywall over time. If a stretch ceiling is illuminated, a PVC corner is required: after all, for the most minor repairs the backlight will have to be removed.
2. Carefully solder the wires to the tapes. Their plastic base and the LEDs themselves are afraid of overheating. It is better to use flux paste for soldering, POS-61 solder or similar, with a melting point not higher than 160 degrees, and solder with “one poke”. If you don't have a lot of soldering experience small parts, for soldering it is better to invite a master.
3. Do not connect more than 3 m of tape together. The conductive paths in the bulk of the plastic base may not be able to handle the high current. Connect 3 m sections to the controller with separate wires
4. For self-wiring, exactly observe the polarity and purpose of the wires: + from the IP - to + the controller; respectively and -. From the +V, R, G, and B controller to the appropriate tape terminals.
5. Cut and trim LED strips ONLY along the cut lines marked by the manufacturer. The exception is the last section, but you need to cut with sharp scissors or side cutters in one motion exactly in the middle between the diodes.

wiring diagram for LED strips to power supply and controller

As you can see, do-it-yourself hidden ceiling lighting is quite simple and already allows you to get a great aesthetic effect. You can strengthen it, especially since you have already gained experience, by using other types of illumination.

Video: installation of LED strip on the ceiling in the "housing issue"

Illumination "starry sky"

Components and element base

The tape is no longer suitable for the "starry sky", separate LEDs are needed. First of all: do not try to turn on a lot of LEDs directly into the 220 V network. Uninformed people sometimes argue: yeah, in a flashlight 3 diodes glow from 6 V; this means that 100 diodes can be turned on at 220 V after rectification.

It is impossible, it will end in an accident and literally burnt money. In batteries, the internal resistance increases with increasing current, and the current through the diodes is limited. The internal resistance of the power supply network is almost zero. The quenching resistor does not save: the LEDs do not hold a reverse voltage of 220 V (310 after rectification), they will immediately break through, and a short circuit will turn out - a short circuit with all its consequences.

Therefore, for the "starry sky" you need the same power supply as for the tape, but at 5 V. The power of the power supply is calculated based on the number of LEDs: 10 W per 100 LEDs. Extra wattage won't hurt. Simply, since 20 diodes are enough for the "starry sky", the simplest and cheapest IP is suitable. It is also advisable to purchase a breaker controller for 4-8 diode sections. Then the stars will blink like real ones.

When soldering individual LEDs, observe the polarity: the plus terminal of the diode is longer and marked with a key, and be careful - the terminals break quite easily. Also, do not forget to put on each output an insulating tube - “cambric”, otherwise, after installation, you will not have trouble with short circuits.

Installation of the "starry sky"

The easiest way is to provide a stretch ceiling with a “starry sky” backlight: the LEDs are simply glued to the base ceiling drops construction silicone. It remains only to correct them so that they do not shine very sideways, and enjoy the spectacle of the starry sky.

If the ceiling is plasterboard, you will have to cut an additional plate exactly under the ceiling niche, drill holes in it according to the number of diodes, close with front side translucent plate, mount the electrical part and install the entire structure in the ceiling niche. It is not a matter of minutes, and requires a certain skill. But, if the plate is finely corrugated, then the “stars” will give prickly rays, like real ones. If, in addition, an image of a real starry sky with nebulae, galaxies, etc. is pasted onto the cover plate, and holes for the diodes are drilled in accordance with the position of real stars, and the brightness of the glow is selected using quenching resistors, the effect will be amazing.

Video: starry sky ceiling - review and installation

Figured illumination

For curly lighting in the false ceiling, they are drilled with a feather or circular drill - a “ballerina”, a centrifuge, holes for small shades, into which LEDs are placed. Typical Solution- one pointing down in the center, and 4-6, giving rays along the ceiling. But, of course, the choice of a specific solution is entirely a matter of taste of the master and his household.

About colors and blinking

Important: Ceiling lighting has a serious psychedelic effect. First of all, about blinking - you can not use the frequencies of 0.5 Hz (once every two seconds), 2 Hz (twice per second) and 7 Hz (seven times per second). They coincide with the theta and alpha rhythms of the brain and can, especially under red light, even cause an epileptic seizure.

It is absolutely unacceptable to quickly and sharply flash with the help of simple interrupters, for example, from an emergency flashlight. It is necessary to use a special controller, when connected to which the diodes will flare up and go out smoothly. And with any, even the slightest deterioration in well-being during or after observing the flashing backlight, the flashing must be turned off. Especially - if noise is heard in the head, spots appear before the eyes, dizziness.

The color of the backlight also has an effect on the psyche:

• Green and yellow-green - soothes, relaxes.
• Yellow and yellow-orange , like incandescent light, is mentally neutral.
• Blue, turquoise and colors sea ​​wave - pacify, set up for a serious conversation or in-depth reflection.
• Blue- strains, makes you gather, guards, sharpens your intelligence.
• Combination yellow from blue- can cause a tantrum for no reason.
• Red- disturbs, excites. At a party with tipsy guests, it is better not to turn on the red backlight: impressionable subjects may behave inappropriately. But in matrimonial bedroom red light can have a beneficial effect.

Outcome

Installation of LED ceiling lighting is quite feasible with your own hands for a person with the initial skills of a home master. The appearance of LED strips on sale has made lighting design accessible to any person who knows how to do something with his hands and is endowed with artistic taste.