Until recently, most ceilingscitizens were adorned with chandeliers, and of various shapes and colors. But gradually this source of light is fading into the background, giving way to modern decorative lighting. It is based on the latest developments in the field of finishing materials. For example, suspended ceilings are very common today. Ceiling lighting with LED strip is one of the proposed design concepts.
LED lighting will be a great elementdecor for the room. Using the tape, you will not only transform the room, but also decorate it. It is designed for a long service life. If used correctly, the LED strip will not need to be changed for 10 years. What does the LED strip look like? These are flat strips made of flexible material. Diodes are attached to the entire surface of the tracks.
Positive qualities and features of the LED strip
Comparison of LED bulbs with other lighting elements.
Return to Contents</a>
How to choose the right LED strip for a stretch ceiling?
Types of LED strips. Before buying an LED strip for suspended ceilings, you need to decide which one is suitable for your room. They are divided into types:
- waterproof;
- not having protection from moisture.
The first tape must have a class mark.protection. The best option is IP44. If there is a mark with a lower value, it means that it is not moisture-proof. The next point is that all strips differ in the type of LEDs. Very common strips have diodes of the type:
- SMD 5050;
- SMD 3528.
The type of diode is indicated by numbers, andhow they were installed on the tape is indicated by letters. If you compare the two above-mentioned types of diodes, you should know that number 5050 has more power and costs several times more than diodes 3528. The next parameter that should be given special attention is the color palette. Tapes come in almost all shades: from white to red. There are also multi-colored tapes. They are marked RGB. And finally, the frequency of the diodes on the tape. The most common tapes have a density of:
Table of power consumption of LED strips.
- 30 units. per meter;
- 60 units. per meter;
- 120 units. per meter.
The more diodes are located on the system, thethe brightness level will be stronger. After you have familiarized yourself with the parameters, you can decide and make a choice. First, decide how much you are willing to spend on purchasing the structure. For those who do not have a lot of money, a system marked SMD3528 is ideal. It does not have moisture protection, but the diodes are located according to the scheme: 60 units per meter. If you want to buy a multi-colored model of the RGB type, keep in mind that you cannot do without buying a controller. For those who are not constrained by finances, the choice is obvious - with the marking SMD5050. The density can be selected at 30 units per meter. You can buy SMD3528, but with a high density of 120 units per meter. For rooms in which you plan to make contour lighting, you should not buy products with a density exceeding 120 units per meter. Each model should be selected taking into account the ceiling type: regular or suspended ceiling. For domestic premises, such as multi-storey buildings, you should choose a moisture-proof design. Since there is always a chance that a flood may occur. Do not choose a type that is too cheap. Perhaps, at the very beginning, it will work properly, but over time, the diodes will begin to burn out, which will affect the lighting. Return to the table of contents</a>
How is the suspended ceiling lighting LED strip
Scheme of LED strip placement on the ceiling.If you decide to make decorative lighting, then such a design will not go unnoticed. The process of installing the tape on a stretch ceiling will not cause much trouble. It is quite simple. The most important thing is to make the correct measurements before cutting the tape. The LED strip used for ceiling lighting is sold in reels with a total volume of 5 meters, but there are also larger sizes. Finding them will be more difficult. It is rarely possible to use all 5 meters at a time, so the tape should be divided into parts. The places of the proposed cut should be marked in advance. In order for the tape to be perfectly fixed, it is necessary to make a cornice. Drywall is used for this. Before you start attaching the tape, the surface is cleaned of dust and other contaminants. If necessary, the whitewash in the place where the diode tape is located is also washed off. After that, the protective film is removed from the cut part, and the adhesive side of the tape is pressed to the surface. Return to the table of contents</a>
How to connect the LED strip to a power source?
You will need to prepare a power supply if one was not included with the strip.
LED strip connection diagram.Sometimes the strips are sold without a light cord. It can be purchased separately and connected to the power supply by attaching it to the N and L contacts. Then the controller is connected to the unit. It is used for multi-colored RGB strips. When connecting, ensure that the polarity is observed. You can highlight a stretch ceiling in some separate part. Some prefer to make the backlight around the entire perimeter. There are several types of LED strip installation. Each of them can be done independently, without the involvement of professionals. The most important thing that needs to be done when using this type of backlighting is to skillfully hide it. This is necessary so that unaesthetic stripes do not spoil the design. The first and most common type of installation is with the manufacture of a box from plasterboard. To highlight the ceiling in this way requires the following conditions. A niche is equipped in the box, into which the backlight is placed. With the help of a niche, you can hide such elements as:
- Power Supply;
- Control block;
- the tape itself.
A box is installed around the entire perimeter of the room.made of plasterboard no more than 20 cm high. The width is about half a meter. After the backlight is placed in the prepared niche, it is connected to the power grid. If the first box is made in such a way that the niche is outside, then the second option is a hidden niche. It is suitable for a mirror stretch ceiling. Otherwise, you can get an ugly reflection of the entire niche on the surface. You also make a box from plasterboard and arrange it according to the design. But in this case, the niche will be inside the box. It is a little more difficult to manufacture, but allows you to evenly distribute the backlight. And finally, backlighting without using a plasterboard box. This method allows you to create lighting for the entire canvas. The LED strip is between the ceiling and the film. But this type of backlighting has one significant drawback. If most of the diodes burn out, replacing the tape is possible only with a complete disassembly of the ceiling structure. In order to create such backlighting, the LEDs must be located in the corners of the walls. To illuminate the ceiling in this way, you do not need to have professional construction skills. Using LED strip to illuminate a stretch ceiling is a modern solution for a stylish design. At first, it may seem too expensive, but there are different types of lighting. If used correctly, it will not only pay for itself, but will also last a long time.
