Lighting in the kitchen with LED strip: how to do it yourself, instructions, photo, price and video tutorials

Kitchen lighting, until recently, was quite commonplace, since the choice of light sources was not very wide, but recently the situation has changed dramatically. A lot of simple and at the same time original solutions were to the liking of most designers, who got the opportunity to create different accents using the difference in lighting.

Today, the most interesting lighting fixture is LED strip, which recently can be purchased at almost any building materials store. Illumination of a kitchen with LED strip is one of the most extraordinary lighting options that will create a unique atmosphere of romanticism and originality in the room.

Led kitchen lighting led

Installation of LED lighting is a fairly simple process, but here, as in any other business, it is necessary to follow the prescribed order of work and take into account various subtleties. Our instruction + video on how to install an LED strip in the kitchen with your own hands will help you to carry out the installation without any misunderstandings and take into account all the most important points.

LED strips

LED strips

This type of lighting is based on semiconductor diodes, which can be of different power - accordingly, the higher the power of the diodes on the tape, the brighter the lighting will be. They come in different colors, which shade to give preference to is up to you, but it is worth considering that the price of white diodes is slightly higher than the rest.

It is also one of the most economical light sources today - their use in room lighting will significantly reduce power consumption.

Read also the article "DIY kitchen lighting: design and installation."

LED strips as main lighting

Purchase of components

Ribbon and accessories

LED strips are supplied in the form of a coil, the standard capacity of which is 5 m.When purchasing a strip in a store, you should pay attention to the density of the arrangement of diodes - the less the number will fall on one square meter, the more dark gaps will be when inclusion. High brightness tapes can contain up to 240 diodes per meter.

The second parameter that you should pay attention to when buying is the type of diode that makes up its base. A diode can consist of one crystal or three - the latter option surpasses its counterpart in light output.

Also, the kit with the tape should include:

• Dimmer - the device needed to adjust the brightness;
• Power Supply - LED strips operate from 12 or 24 volts and in accordance with this it is necessary to select a suitable power supply;
• Amplifiers - in some cases, the power of the dimmer may be insufficient for the correct operation of the diodes;
• Profile for tape - it is necessary to select a profile, the groove of which will match the width of the tape;
• Fastening elements - screws and drills;
• Drill with attachments or screwdriver;

Power Supply

Power supplies

When choosing a power supply, in addition to voltage, you should pay attention to its potential power - it should more than cover the power consumption of the connected tapes. That is, the power supply unit must be at least 20% more powerful than the nominal required load. The design features of the power supplies are in the cooling method - there are two options: active and passive cooling.

The advantages of active cooling are the effective temperature reduction of the working parts of the unit, even after long hours of operation. It is carried out by means of cooler (s) that provide continuous air cooling.

The disadvantages of units with active cooling are large dimensions and noise from coolers. Accordingly, blocks with passive cooling have smaller dimensions, noiselessness, but at the same time they heat up an order of magnitude more.

Note! The more powerful the power supply is, the more it will need cooling. If you purchase power supply tapes whose power exceeds the average value, it is better to give preference to a model with active cooling.

Dimmer and amplifier

Dimmer - photo

A dimmer is a device with a serial connection, through which the brightness of the LED strip is adjusted. It includes a potentiometer that remembers the last preset illumination value. If the total power of the tape exceeds the permissible value of the dimmer, or if several power supplies are used for power, an amplifier is installed in the kit.

Panel mounting

First of all, the installation of components is carried out, which are responsible for powering the tape: a dimmer, power supplies and an amplifier. Most often, all elements are located inside a sealed flap, which will hide this structure from prying eyes.

Note! If the dimmer contains a remote control in the kit, then its installation in a closed shield is undesirable, since it will be isolated from the infrared signal. In this case, external installation of the dimmer or the removal of the infrared port is required.

Read also the article on lighting for the kitchen.

Installation of tape

There are several points to consider during installation:

• It is advisable to install the profile at a certain distance from the ceiling - thus, the light output increases, and the lighting will be brighter.
• Corner joints are easiest to cut with a miter box.
• The location of the profile relative to the ground will show you the ceiling, which should be used as the main reference point. Its fixation is carried out using self-tapping screws.

Most tapes have a self-adhesive base and there should be no difficulty in fixing them to the profile. The only thing to consider is cleaning and degreasing the surface before applying the tape.

Note! If the profile does not contain factory holes, then they must be pre-drilled and only then proceed directly to their installation. Despite the small thickness of the metal, drilling during the fastening process can create a certain error

Connecting Ribbon

Parallel connection of two tapes

In most cases, the potential of power supplies is designed for 5 meters of LED strip, which are also produced in this volume. When two or more tapes are connected in series, the voltage will decrease and, accordingly, the second and third tapes will burn less brightly. Consequently, a serial tape connection is not allowed.

Since in this case we are talking about lighting the whole room, you will not be able to get by with five meters. The connection of several long sections must be carried out by means of a parallel connection.

That is, the first and all subsequent tapes are connected directly to the dimmer, and not one after another. So, you will avoid overheating of diodes and dim glow as you move away from the power source.

Several power supplies are connected in the same way - an amplifier will serve as an intermediary between the dimmer and the second unit.

Parallel connection with two power supplies

Outcome

With LED lighting, you can transform your interior and create an original atmosphere. Thanks to its economy and unusual design, LED strip for kitchen lighting is one of the most interesting lighting options today.

Illumination of the working area in the kitchen - see here.