Incandescent lamps are no longer relevant - they can rather be attributed to the overabundance of the past than to a durable and economical light source. Modern LED lamps and strips allow you to create real pictures of the play of real and artificial light. Installation does not require anything special, only knowledge of the four basic steps.
Stage number 1: Take measurements
The correct calculation is at least 80% of the work done. You just need to make a little effort and be patient.
Calculation sequence:
1. Measure the area on which the LED strip will subsequently be laid.
Important! The tape does not bend, so all branches are mounted only in the form of a right angle.
2. Add 20-30 cm to the result obtained - this is a margin. You should not add too much - too much material is unnecessary.
3. Decide on the power of the tape. It is best to stay at an average value, for example, 9.6 watts.
4. Multiply the length of the tape by its power and add no more than 20% of the stock to the resulting sum. Result: the power of the step-down power supply.
With the received and recorded data, you can go to the hardware store.
Stage 2: Make purchases
When everything is carefully transferred to paper, you can visit one of the hardware stores or hypermarkets. For installation, you will need: an LED strip of a predetermined length and power, a 12 V power supply and calculated in the previous chapter power, plastic terminals or WAGO products for connecting conductors and several heat shrinkable tubes or a roll of electrical tape (just happening).
Stage 3: Installation
Installation sequence of LED strip:
1. Prepare the surface for gluing by wiping it several times with a solvent.
2. Cut the product according to the dimensions that were determined at the stage of calculations.
3. Glue the tape by removing the protective film from its back. An adhesive has already been applied to the back surface.
4. Connect the segments of the LED strip to each other, and the assembled structure with the power supply, using the same terminal blocks.
5. Hide the power supply in a free and closed space so as not to violate the aesthetic design. In some cases, special decorative small niches are mounted for blocks.
6. Through the switch, lead the phase and wire from the junction box to the unit, where the lighting line is installed. Working "zero" is mounted without a switch, directly to the power supply.
It remains only to check the functionality of the circuit.
Stage 4: Verification
Now all you have to do is turn on the switch and enjoy the pleasant LED lighting. After the first start-up, it is necessary to visually inspect the power supply and make sure that there are no smells of insulation burning. A poorly made connection can cause a fire, so it's best to make sure everything is done correctly again.