Stretch ceilings look modern andare characterized by ease of maintenance, and they can be additionally decorated by installing lighting. You can make lighting by attaching an LED strip to the ceiling structure, this will save electricity and make the ceiling even more elegant.
Scheme of the frame and cladding of the box with a niche forbacklight. represents contour-type lighting. Today, the most common type of such lighting is the duralight cord, which is a plastic tube containing LEDs. LED backlighting is durable, comes in a variety of colors, has low voltage, and does not heat up. The latter circumstance makes such lighting the most optimal for suspended ceilings that are afraid of exposure to high temperatures.
Thanks to its flexibility, LED lightingIt is mounted on the ceiling of any shape. It is very easy to make LED backlighting, since the back side of the tape has an adhesive base. The tape is not only lightweight, but also bendable. When installing, you should supplement the system with a step-down transformer, since it operates from 12 volts. The main disadvantage of such lighting is the high cost. It is important not only to install an LED lighting system for a stretch ceiling, but also to choose a tape. Such products have some differences. The tape is available in several types, the most commonly used are SMD 5050 and SMD 3525. These 2 types of diodes have different sizes, in addition, SMD 5050 has 3 single-color crystals, and SMD 3528 has 1 crystal. The backlight also differs in the density of the diodes per 1 m. This characteristic determines the brightness of the glow. The backlight for the stretch ceiling can be made with the function of protection from moisture. You can buy tapes that have a different number of colors, among them there are also single-color ones. The equipment of the RGB type will illuminate the stretch ceiling in any colors, but this will require a controller responsible for controlling the device.
Tools and materials
- a step-down transformer;
- LED Strip Light;
- drywall;
- self-tapping screws.
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Mounting options for LED strip
Simple RGB strip connection diagram.It is impossible to simply attach a strip to a stretch ceiling, since it does not act as an independent lighting device that has an aesthetic appearance. Such a strip will have to be hidden, and externally you will be able to see only reflected light, which acts as a background. In this case, you can make a backlight for a stretch ceiling using a box with a niche that protrudes from it. The box is made of plasterboard. Thus, the equipment that is responsible for the functioning of the backlight must be placed in the niche. The equipment includes a power supply, a strip and a control unit. In this case, you can make a backlight for a stretch ceiling by installing a box along the perimeter of the room. In relation to the position of the floor slabs and depending on the level at which the tension web is supposed to be mounted, the height of the box should be 15 cm, while its width is no more than 0.5 m. The lower part of the system should be fed forward, towards the central part of the room, by about 8 cm. At the end of the structure, an upward branch should be formed, which should be located at 90° in relation to the main part, and the height of this branch should be 6 cm, which will act as a niche. There should be 11 cm left from the edge of the niche to the ceiling, which will allow for comfortable installation of LED equipment. The backlight for the stretch ceiling should be placed at the bottom of the niche, only then can you start connecting the system to electricity.
Scheme of the LED strip device.It is not possible to install the backlight of a stretch ceiling in the form described above if the canvas has a glossy base. This is due to the fact that the backlight and the inner part of the niche will be displayed on the surface of the canvas. For such stretch systems, the box must have a hidden niche. The backlight can be placed in the space formed by the film of the system and the ceilings. This will allow you to get a film illuminated from the inside. In order to assemble such a system, the LEDs should be mounted in the corners between the walls and the ceiling. Then the baguette is attached and the suspended canvas is installed. If you are wondering how to make backlighting in the curtain area, the tape with its equipment should be placed behind the ceiling plinths or in a niche.
Scheme of one of the connection optionsLED strip. The strip is mounted on the ceiling before installing suspended ceilings. The main task after determining the location of the strip installation is to run the power supply cables, in addition, this line must be equipped with switches. You will not have to install a switch if you are installing a multi-colored strip, such diodes require a control unit. After that, you can mount the "heavy" equipment, which includes a power supply and control units. As a rule, these devices are mounted in plastic housings, which must have holes for fastening. The housings should not be fixed with glue, for this it is recommended to use dowels or self-tapping screws. Glue should not be used as a fastener for suspended ceiling lighting elements, since repairs may be required during operation, and dismantling the box will cause damage to the finish. Return to contents</a>
Recommendations for installing the tape
When doing the backlighting, removing all the protection,which is located on top of the adhesive layer of the tape, are not produced. First, you need to clean the place where you plan to attach the tape. The surface can be wiped with a rag. After the base has dried, you can start gluing. To do this, you should free 0.5 m of self-adhesive tape from the protective layer in order to attach it in the right place. After that, you can unwind the reel with the equipment, gradually removing the protection and attaching the tape. At the end, there may be an excess of equipment left. The tape should be cut in specially designated places, which are marked with a perpendicular strip. As soon as the equipment has been attached to the ceiling, you should run your fingers over it again to attach everything a little tighter. Then you can start connecting. After completing the installation work, it is not recommended to hide the power supply and module far behind the surface of the ceiling hanging system, as repair work may be required. After all, the ceiling structure should remain intact. Despite the fact that you bought the LED equipment immediately before starting the work, you should not expect high quality.</ ul>
