Installation of LED ceiling lighting. Ceiling lighting with LED strip - let's create a unique lighting design ourselves. Types of ceilings and their lighting

One of the most effective design techniques is the use of lighting effects. Often it is light that gives zest to the interior. A backlit plasterboard ceiling is one of the most common options. The good thing about it is that, if you wish, you can make it yourself, with your own hands.

Main design differences

Illumination of a plasterboard ceiling can be hidden or open. Open - spotlights that are fully or partially visible. Hidden is called so because only its radiation is visible. Therefore, when installing a plasterboard ceiling with hidden lighting, the lower level boxes are made with a shelf on which the lighting fixtures are placed.

This shelf can be open or closed and, depending on this, and the position of the light sources, the width and brightness of the strip of light on the ceiling changes.

How does the light flux change depending on the shape of the shelf and the location of the light source?

Design of the lighting box

To make such a box for ceiling lighting, you need two types of profiles:

In the version shown in the photo above, the shelf does not rest on anything. The rigidity of the gypsum board itself is enough to hold a light backlight. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the weight of the lighting elements. The heaviest are fluorescent lamps, but they are Lately practically not used, since there are other options that are more economical in energy consumption and easier to install (LED strips, duralight).

There is a second design. Here the shelf extension rests on elongated crossbars. If the previous design seems unreliable to you, you can make this one. Only in this case a little more supporting profile will be required. The photo shows an example of organizing a two-level flow of plasterboard with lighting.

Exactly the same scheme can be implemented in a single-level version. If your main ceiling is in good condition, you can only make a box around the perimeter. An example of an assembled frame for lighting is below. All that remains is to make the inner side and hem the frame from below.

A backlit plasterboard ceiling does not always have straight lines. They are simply the easiest to implement. But the same schemes are made with curved lines. The results are very beautiful suspended ceilings.

Only at large distances from load-bearing walls it is necessary to additionally fix the load-bearing profile either to the ceiling or to the profiles of the previous level. It is more convenient to do this with the help of suspensions.

Sources of light

When planning to illuminate plasterboard ceilings, you must remember that this is not lighting at all, but only a way to decorate the room. The flow of light is diffuse. Initially it is fused onto the ceiling, and then into the room. And it adds almost nothing to the overall illumination of the room. With its help, you can visually “raise” the ceiling, making it one of the components of the interior, but this element cannot be considered lighting. You will have to take care of lighting separately: install built-in lamps, wall lamps or traditional chandeliers.

Backlighting can be done using different light sources, but recently three types have been used:

LED
- ribbons;
- duralight.
Neon tubes.

LED strips and duralight

This is a series of LEDs mounted in series. Their peculiarity is that they are powered by 12 V or 24 V. This power can be provided using an adapter that converts the 220 V household voltage to a lower one. There are monochrome tapes (white, red, blue, green) which are labeled as SMD or universal RGB.

Monochrome ones always emit one color; the color of universal ones can change. RGB strips only work with a controller and remote control. Upon command from the control panel, they change shade (the number of colors can be different - from tens to hundreds); in some models, the intensity of the glow can also change.

By type of design, LED strips are:

Ordinary. They do not have a protective coating and can only be used in dry rooms.
Waterproof. Their surface is varnished. Can be used to illuminate wet rooms - kitchens, bathrooms.
Moisture resistant. They are sealed in a polymer tube (called duralight) or housing. They are rarely used to illuminate rooms, more often in aquariums, swimming pools, etc.

The choice here is clear. Select the type of tape depending on the room conditions. , and we’ll talk about why LEDs are good or bad in backlighting.

First, about the advantages:

Low power consumption. They are very economical. Considering that this is just decoration, I don’t want to shell out large amounts of money for its maintenance.
They don't warm up. Only the power supply can heat up; the LEDs themselves do not heat up. This is important if the ceiling is wooden.
Long service life. Counts in thousands of hours. With normal power supply, they burn out very rarely (do not exceed the current strength for which they are intended).
Low price. SMD tape 35*28, 5 meters long and with a density of 120 pcs/m, costs about $2-3. You have to pay about the same amount for the adapter. True, these are AliExpress prices. Everything in stores is much more expensive (2-3 times), although you won’t go broke either.
Easy installation. An adhesive composition is applied to the back surface of the tape. Remove the protective layer and glue it in the right place. If the surface is rough, you can “shoot” with staples from a construction stapler, but it is better not to pierce the tape itself.

Now about the disadvantages. First, and most important: LEDs harshly highlight all surface imperfections. Therefore, the requirements for the quality of ceiling finishing are very high. The second minus: the presence of adapters. They need to be placed somewhere. I guess that's all.

Neon tubes

These are glass tubes filled with a mixture of inert and luminous gases. The brightness of the glow changes with changes in current strength, which is regulated by the convector. These devices are installed every 5 meters, their power consumption is about 100 W, and they do not make noise during operation.

A step-up transformer is also required for operation: normal voltage is not enough for neon to operate. Transformers are installed every 6 meters. But they can hum during operation, and also get warm and, of course, draw electricity quite well. The entire system as a whole consumes enough a large number of electricity, which, coupled with the fragility of the tubes and the rather high complexity of installation, makes it not very attractive compared to LEDs.

But recently neon cords have appeared. They come with a controller and all you need to do is press a button. They operate on AA batteries. But the power of such lighting for the ceiling is definitely not enough. They can be used in conjunction with LEDs to illuminate interior details.

Installation of ceiling lighting around the perimeter with step-by-step photos

The main ceiling in this version was puttied, so the first tier was not made. We attached only the box around the perimeter: the height is already small and 7-8 cm, required for organizing the hanging one, is critical.

Near the window there is space left for a cornice, the width of the box is 60 cm, it is lowered by 12 cm relative to the main ceiling, the height of the side is about 5 cm, the protruding part is 6 cm, roundings are made in the corners.

The first method was chosen - a step under the lighting without support. Since the lighting is planned from a regular LED strip, its load-bearing capacity is more than enough.

First make markings on the ceiling. All given dimensions are set aside and lines are drawn using a paint cord. Please note that the line on the ceiling is laid at a distance of 54 cm, and not 60 cm, as in the first diagram. It is obtained taking into account the fact that the step is moved forward by 6 cm.

When drawing curves, their center is made not in the place where the profile is attached, but taking into account the protruding step: this way the element turns out to be more expressive.

The profile guides (CD or PNP as marked) are attached along the marked lines. They attached it to dowels at 50 cm intervals. They drilled straight through the metal. Having installed the plug, we tightened the dowel-nail.

Where it is necessary to form a rounding, the walls (sidewalls) of the profile are cut, the back remains intact. After this, the profile can be laid out in a circle.

From the front side, we attach a strip of plasterboard 12 cm wide to the guide profile on the ceiling. This will be the back side of our box. We fasten it around the entire perimeter with self-tapping screws at a distance of about 10 cm.

On the back side of the installed side we attach vertical posts from the CD (ceiling) profile. Their length is small - 9.8 cm (12 cm height of the box, minus 1 cm for installing profiles, and another minus 1.2 cm for the thickness of the gypsum board screwed from below).

In every segment Bottom part trimmed. The side walls are removed so that another guide profile can be screwed on. As a result, its bottom shelf should be flush with the profile screwed to the wall. The installation step of the vertical posts is about 40-50 cm.

We screw short vertical pieces around the perimeter

Next step: screw on the PNP profile that goes along the bottom of the boot. It is also installed on self-tapping screws in increments of 10-12 cm.

They connect two guide profiles: the one that is screwed to the wall, and the one that is attached to the main side. They are made from a supporting profile in increments of 40-50 cm.

Let's start creating the curves. To make the strip bend along the required path, we take a strip of drywall about 15 cm wide. We cut it in 5 cm increments and break the plaster. The result was pieces of plaster that were held on cardboard.

Now we attach such pieces to the profile. For each fragment - one self-tapping screw, approximately in the middle of the width, so that it does not burst.

Using a laser level, we transfer the height markings to the inside. If you don't have a laser level, use a water level and draw a line with a pencil.

Then we take a piece of the supporting profile 9.8 cm long, just cut it both at the top and bottom. Approximately in the middle of the arc, we place one edge behind the profile and fasten it with a self-tapping screw.

Then we take a piece of profile cut into fragments (as we did when forming a circle on the ceiling) and fasten it along the mark.

Finished rounding “from the inside”

Now the excess pieces of gypsum board can be removed. They are cut level with the bottom edge of the profile, carefully cutting the paper and breaking off small fragments.

The next step in making a backlit plasterboard ceiling is putty. The ceiling and main side are plastered. This is the most convenient moment for this. Later, the bottom hem and the protruding cornice will interfere.

The most convenient way is to cut out a square, then trim it on one side. First we screw it in straight lines. Then, gradually, in an arc, drawing the required edge shape.

First you can draw, then bite off small pieces along this line. Smooth out any uneven surfaces with a wallpaper knife.

No news: to make curves, we cut the sides, bend them to the required diameter and install them in place, fixing them with self-tapping screws.

If you are planning to use LED lighting for a plasterboard ceiling, now is the time to attach the tape. Then it will be very uncomfortable. It is glued in the right place, if necessary, installing some kind of inclined plane.

Next, a strip of plasterboard 5 cm wide is attached to the profile. One of the features is that it is fastened in the middle, and not at the top and bottom: the height is too small. The bends are also done in a familiar way. We cut a strip every 4-5 cm, break the plaster and fasten it.

In this option, to facilitate the work and give the ceiling a finished look, fillets (ceiling plinth) are glued to the side. Similar ones are glued at the junction of the box and the wall.

Now all that remains is to putty everything and achieve a smooth surface. Almost everything. The plasterboard ceiling with lighting is ready, all that remains is to install the lighting itself. And it can be different.

Another option can be seen in video format, but with working backlight.

The installation of a two-level flow is demonstrated in the following video. The steps are shown schematically, but the assembly of the first level is clear. So that might be useful.

How to decorate a plasterboard ceiling with lighting (photo)

LED lighting of a plasterboard ceiling is just an effective design technique. Lighting must be taken care of separately

Ceiling lighting in the bedroom

With the development of lighting equipment, more and more new design solutions are constantly appearing, as well as techniques for organizing indoor lighting. It is the use of lighting effects that gives an unusual feature and zest to the design of various rooms. At the same time, it is possible to create a special, exclusive ambiance of a particular direction. Making any type of ceiling lighting with your own hands is not a difficult task.

Types of ceilings and their lighting

There are several options for ceiling design, and each of them can be combined with each other. It all depends on the master’s imagination. So, here are their main types and materials:

Drywall;
Two-tier stretch film ceiling;
Finishing with baseboards or cornices;
Just regular whitewashing, plastering and painting.

For each type of ceiling, you can apply an individual type of lighting:

Neon;
LED;
Using chandeliers and spotlights.

Let us consider in detail the options for how to perform backlighting.

LED ceiling lighting

Lighting based on a semiconductor device - LED - appeared not so long ago, but at the same time it managed to confidently gain leadership among lighting equipment. With the help of LED lighting and backlighting, you can not only create a unique design for any room, but also save money on its subsequent use. Even a beginner can make LED ceiling lighting. The LED, in turn, is a light source that has the following advantages:

Low power consumption along with good light output;
Environmentally friendly since it does not contain any dangerous or even harmful gases for humans and the environment;
The “life” of all lighting and each device in particular does not depend on the number of switches on and off;
No vibration will affect the life of the LED;
Low heat generated during operation.

Most often, LED lighting installed on the ceiling is made in a suspended version. So, when installing a suspended ceiling in a room, you need to decide on its type:

Contour. Diffused light emitted by LEDs located on the shelf, their light directed upward. It forms a continuous light strip;
Directional lighting. Wherein semiconductor devices are mounted on a slope, and their luminous flux is directed along the flow. If these are not LED strips, but separate light sources, then the rays diverging to the sides are clearly visible;
Ceiling spot lighting. LED lights are installed parallel to the floor and shine directly down.
Starry sky. One of the most complex species lighting, since it is necessary to place many separately lit LEDs throughout the ceiling, and LED strip there is no way around this anymore.
Shaped lighting. LED bulbs installed in small-sized ceiling lamps.

At the moment, the leaders among LED lighting are strips on which not only the semiconductor devices themselves are located, but also their individual power supply elements. LED ceiling lighting is safer in terms of fire hazard and human injury electric shock, since it operates on low voltage.

How to choose LED strip

To select a suitable LED strip for lighting, you need to understand its types and functional features:

LED strips are mounted on a special adhesive tape. Therefore, it is better to install and glue them on plastic than on plasterboard or concrete. Connecting several tapes and bending them must also be done carefully using a reliable connection - through soldering. When installing, be sure to observe the specified polarity, since an LED turned on in the opposite direction may fail.

Suspended ceiling with LED backlight made from ribbons it looks extremely modern and elegant, and most importantly, practical. Ready-made kits for lighting ceilings of this type can be purchased in specialized stores or online sites, where a large assortment of these products is offered.

Neon ceiling lighting

To create this type of illumination, classic glass or plastic tubes are used, on the walls of which a phosphor is applied. It is this that allows the device to emit light radiation. Electrodes are installed at the ends of the lamp tube to supply power voltage, and an inert gas - neon - is filled inside the tubes. In order for the device to emit light, a voltage converter is needed from the usual 220 Volts to a special high voltage for the ionization of neon. Moreover, the color emitted by this device depends on the composition of the phosphor. A distinctive feature of this lamp is the absence of an incandescent filament, so their operating life is 10-15 years. Most often, the length of such tubes is 1.5 m and the diameter is from 8 to 15 mm. Multi-level ceilings with neon lighting create a unique soft shade.

Several practical options for lighting different types of ceilings

A suspended ceiling illuminated using an LED or a neon tube can differ in both shape and structure; it all depends on the designer’s imagination.

Ceiling plinth with lighting

One of the most common types of modern lighting. A niche is left between the ceiling and the baseboard for laying the LED strip. It is attached both to the vertical surface of the ceiling and to the top of the baseboard. Illuminating the ceiling with an LED strip under the baseboard is used very rarely, since without turning on the lighting in natural light, the strip itself does not look aesthetically pleasing. It is worth choosing and using a special ceiling plinth for lighting. A regular fillet will not work, as it is simply a corner trim that covers the joint between the wall and the ceiling. Here we need another configuration, shown in the figures below.

Illuminated ceiling plinth is considered uncomplicated and very effective both as main and additional light. The baseboard for lighting can be polyurethane or polystyrene. Illumination of the ceiling with an LED strip under the baseboard can only be done with a certain configuration of this decorative element.

Ceiling cornice with lighting

Cornered ceiling lighting with LED strip is one of the most simple solutions organization of ceiling lighting. It is most often located around the entire perimeter, and can be used in conjunction with other types of lighting. In this case, it is recommended to switch on from different switches, so that it is possible to turn on each type of lighting either in tandem or individually. Most often, such ceiling lighting does not require the installation of chandeliers or other lamps.

A distinctive feature of this type of lighting is the presence of a special protrusion under the ceiling into which the LED strip is recessed. You can choose different options for its location, which will determine the direction in which the light rays fall (reflection from the side of the cornice, wall or ceiling). Manufacturers of curtain rods have long thought out how to make them most convenient for electrical work. For this purpose, the standard fillet shape has been slightly modified; it has a small recess in the body for placing an LED strip or neon tube in it.

Installation of a ceiling box with lighting for LED strips is carried out as shown in the figure. In this case, two options can be distinguished. With installation of the light source on the wall or inside the box.

Stained glass ceilings with lighting

To perform this type of ceiling lighting, acrylic or ordinary silicate glass is most often used. Stained glass windows convey richness to the room appearance and spirituality. For fastening stained glass, frames for stained glass ceilings are used. different types material:

Brass;
Aluminum;
Become.

An interesting aspect of using metal profiles for fasteners is their decorative finish, and brass takes on the appearance of antique bronze.

Glass ceilings with lighting

The glass can be frosted, or painted for a specific design project. The light source is selected separately depending on the room and its structure. In this case, the lighting is produced as if from inside the ceiling.

This type of lighting is more suitable for offices, premises of large organizations, or studios. Some craftsmen create this type of lighting, as well as lighting for living spaces, bedrooms, living rooms and halls.

A two-level ceiling with lighting and a glass insert is often used in suites of hotel complexes and hotels.

It is not difficult to illuminate the ceiling; the main thing is to observe safety precautions when working at height, as well as when working with voltage.

DIY ceiling lighting video

Ceiling lighting with LED strip is a very popular way to create unusual interiors in modern homes. This technique is given additional popularity by the fact that all installation work can be done with your own hands, without seeking help from specialists in the field of electrical engineering.

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

By and large, they tried to illuminate the ceiling 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 was not widely used due to the fact that it had a spectrum that was not the most pleasant for the human eye (too sharp) and a small color range. Now these problems have been resolved. Diodes with a soft spectrum and with any color shades. And most importantly, these days 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 arrange your home with your own hands in the desired lighting version. LEDs allow you to decorate any ceiling surface. The most difficult thing to do with your own hands is the lighting design of suspended and. But with the right approach to business, this problem becomes solvable. And without extra costs energy and time.

Ceiling lighting using LED strip can be done in different ways:

Pointed. In this case, the lighting fixtures are positioned so that they cast light straight down. The most known variant spot LED lighting is the so-called starry sky.
Directed. The devices are placed in a special way on slopes. Due to this, they shine along the ceiling surface.
Diffused (contour). With this scheme, the diodes form a continuous strip of light on the ceiling (they are directed up, not down).
Figured. In this case, lighting devices 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 given diagrams for any ceiling (stretch or the most ordinary one). But first you need to decide on the characteristics of the diodes that you plan to use.

The first characteristic you should pay attention to is the color of the ceiling diodes. It may be different. Moreover, you can decorate the ceiling with either a single-color LED strip or a multi-color one. The glow of products with several colors is controlled remotely. In residential premises, as a rule, lighting from emitters of different shades is used. And single-color products are usually installed in public institutions, in exhibition and sales halls, where the total amount of lighting is high. By the way, in terms of price, ribbons with one and several colors are no different. They cost about the same.

LEDs for ceiling

The next important parameter is the density of diodes on one strip. There can be 120, 60 or 30 for each meter of product. If you are installing directional lighting for the ceiling, the pros advise purchasing strips with a density of 120 or 60. But it is better to make contour lighting yourself using products with 30 (in large rooms - 60) emitters. Ideally, for a stretch ceiling, it is advisable to use two tapes with different densities at once. In this case, it is necessary to install products with 60 (30) emitters on slopes, and 120 (60) on shelves. But this option is only possible when the niches for mounting diodes are relatively large.

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

The controller and power source 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 may get wet (careless neighbors above, constant high humidity in the room), it is advisable to install strips that are marked with the letters IP. This type of lighting technology has a special waterproofing coating based on silicone. It perfectly protects lighting fixtures from moisture.

An LED strip for a regular or suspended ceiling is installed on a frame. It is made from (gypsum plasterboard), making a kind of cornice (shelf, niche). The frame can be located around the perimeter of the ceiling or hidden between the second and first levels of the surface made of plasterboard sheets. Making this shelf with your own hands is not difficult.

Preparing the ceiling frame for installing lamps

Its installation is done like this:

Step back from the ceiling slabs by about 10 cm and place the first level of plasterboard sheets on the skeleton made of galvanized metal profile.
Connect the next part of it (second level) to the mounted structure. Here it is necessary to leave enough space between the ceiling and wall surfaces so that the light from the diodes can pass into the room without problems.
Cover the second level of the frame with sheets of plasterboard, forming a shelf for mounting the LED strip.
Lead the wires for connecting the lighting into the mounting groove and connect them (temporarily) to the plasterboard. For these purposes, use regular masking tape or tape.

Now you need to putty the ceiling, complete its final finishing, and then begin installing modern LED lighting. Special skirting boards, moldings and cornices made of polyurethane are usually installed on suspended ceilings. And LED emitters are already being installed on them. Due to the fact that these polyurethane elements have various types of images, stucco moldings and original finishes, it is easy to create a unique decor with your own hands. And supplement it with original diode lighting equipment.

LED strip is usually sold in five-meter-long reels. If contour lighting of the ceiling is performed, several such coils are connected into one whole. It is not recommended to connect more than three reels in series. In cases where the perimeter of the room where the diode strips are installed is more than 15 meters, several sections should be connected in parallel.

LED strip installation

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

The tapes are attached to the frame without the slightest problem. There is adhesive tape on the back side. It is covered with film. All you have to do is carefully remove this covering and mount the product on the ceiling. It is not advisable to glue LEDs directly onto gypsum boards. Over time they may come away from the drywall. It would be optimal to select corners made of polyvinyl chloride for slopes and cornices (if diodes are installed on a suspended ceiling - made of polyurethane) and secure them with universal self-tapping screws. And then glue the tape to these additional parts.

After placing and connecting the LED strips to the wires removed from the frame, they need to 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 low power. Such devices are small in size. They are easy to disguise in plasterboard shelves on the ceiling. If you use 70 W units, they can protrude from the frame and thereby spoil the appearance of the ceiling surface.

The process of connecting the tapes to the power supply 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 works fine, praise yourself for being able to create an unusual lighting decor in your home with minimal financial outlay.

Currently, there are many different ways to decorate the ceiling. Most often, owners turn to decorating ceilings with LED strip. With this addition, the interior transforms and becomes more harmonious.

Today we will talk about how to choose the right lighting for the ceiling and how to install it correctly.

photos

What it is?

First you need to understand what an LED strip is. This is a flexible strip, the width of which can be 5-50 mm. On one of its sides there are LED resistors, which are connected to each other by electrical conductors, forming a single circuit. On the other side, as a rule, there is double-sided tape. With its help, the tape is fixed on one or another basis.

Different LED strips have different numbers of LEDs. In addition, they can have different sizes. To obtain brighter and more saturated light, one or two more rows of LEDs are often soldered.

Features and Benefits

In stores you can also find the most durable moisture-resistant tapes. They are not afraid of dampness and moisture, so they are often installed in bathrooms. Devices classified as IP68 can be installed underwater. Thanks to these features, these light bulbs can be found in swimming pools, landscape compositions, as well as on the facades of various buildings.

The popularity of LED strips is due to many positive qualities which are characteristic of them.

Let's take a closer look at them:

Many consumers choose LED strips for ceiling decoration because they are affordable, but do not consume a lot of electricity.
LED strips are distinguished by bright and rich light, especially if they have many bulbs. Of course, if you want to achieve a more subdued light, then you can choose options that have fewer of these components.
Such lighting fixtures are installed quickly and easily.
LED strips can have a variety of colors. You can choose the best option for any interior.

Such devices are absolutely safe, as they are not subject to overheating. In addition, LED strips do not damage ceiling bases. This quality is especially important if the room has fashionable stretch ceilings.
These lighting devices are not afraid of power surges. In such cases, ordinary light bulbs can burst, leaving behind many small fragments. There will be no such problems with LED strips.
Typically, LED strip lights are customizable. For example, you can independently change the lighting intensity. Such devices most often contain built-in sensors and special regulators that allow you to adjust the tapes to your needs.
LED light bulbs are long lasting. They can last more than 10 years.

Such lighting fixtures can complement the ceilings not only in the bedroom or living room, but also in the bathroom.
LED strips are very light in weight, so they do not put any stress on the ceiling finish.
These lighting devices are flexible and bend easily enough, so they can frame any ceiling base.
LED strips are environmentally friendly. The light bulbs in such devices do not emit harmful substances.
In addition, the tape can have absolutely any length. You can adjust it yourself.
Strips with LED bulbs do not have any effect on TV signals and do not cause interference.

Kinds

Currently, there are strip lighting devices that have different kinds lamps

Tricolor

Typically these options are called RGB strips. Each diode in them is assembly of red, blue and green LEDs. These diode strips are equipped with 4 outputs. One of them is general, and the rest are intended separately for each color. From the combination of these colors you can get a rich shade range. In a similar way, a variety of colors can be achieved on a TV screen. It is worth considering that three-color diode strips need to be controlled. A special controller is suitable for this.

Using a controller, you can regulate the speed of changing colors or set one fixed color. In such a feed it is not at all necessary to launch multi-color options. You can get by with plain white.

Today in stores you can find more high-tech varieties of diode strips that are equipped with built-in Wi-fi. It is convenient to control such lighting devices using a smartphone with the appropriate application.

Strips with RGB lamps can withstand supply voltages of 12 and 24 V. You should pay attention to these values when choosing a power supply. In such models, the controller can control several devices at once, but the unit voltage must match the voltage of only one specific tape.

Sealed

Such strips with diodes are very popular today, as they are durable and resistant to wear. Otherwise they are called waterproof or waterproof. For an example of such a tape, consider the 3528 120LED-24V IP65 device. Judging by the markings, such a light strip is made on the basis of SMD3528 light bulbs with the number of LEDs 120 per meter. The sealing of these devices is achieved using a silicone shell, securely framing the part on all sides.

Sealed options can work without problems in open air and even in water. These devices are used to illuminate aquariums and swimming pools. When choosing such LED strips, you should pay attention to their markings.

Power

One of the most important parameters of LED strips is their power and placement density. The most popular are devices with 60-120 diodes per meter. However, there are also other strips that have 30, 72, 90, 240 light bulbs - they can be arranged either in several even rows or linearly.

In addition, the power of one meter of strip depends on the type of LEDs installed:

SMD 3528(60 LEDs per meter) – 4.8 W;
SMD 3528(120 LEDs per meter) – 9.6 W;

SMD 3528(240 LEDs per meter) – 19.2 W;
SMD 5050(30 LEDs per meter) – 7.2 W;
SMD 5050(60 LEDs per meter) – 15 W;
SMD 5050(120 LEDs per meter) – 25 W.

Today in stores you can find tapes with a power of 220 V. They do not need standard 12V power supplies. All that is required is a small rectifier through which they will be connected directly to the outlet.

Protection class

LED strips are also divided by protection class. This parameter affects the moisture resistance of the lamps, as well as their resistance to dust and other external factors. As a rule, the protection class of the device is indicated on the packaging and is designated by the letters IP.

IP20– These diode lamps are designed for indoor use. They do not have additional sealing.

IP65– these types of flexible diode strips can be used to illuminate areas that are regularly in contact with water. For example, this could be an apron in the kitchen, a sink or an aquarium. Such devices can be installed not only indoors, but also outdoors.

IP 68– such lighting fixtures are completely insulated. They can even be placed underwater.

Features of choice

Today, many buyers purchase LED strips for ceiling decoration.

They should be selected based on the following criteria:

LED colors. The appropriate shade of such a device depends on the task set by the owners. Using an LED strip, you can highlight some decorative element on the ceiling or simply decorate the ceiling around the perimeter.
Brightness level. This parameter directly depends on the size of the semiconductors, as well as their quantity in the tape. The more LEDs on the device, the brighter the glow it will have.

Degree of protection. In this case, you should pay attention to the degree of protection of the flexible tape from dust and moisture. As a rule, the device class is indicated directly on the packaging.
Controller. Buy high-quality and easy-to-use tapes with controllers. Using this device, you can independently change the brightness of the lighting, as well as its hue.

Backlight options

Beautiful ceiling lighting with LED strip can be done in different ways:

Spot. With this lighting option, the devices are positioned in such a way as to emit light directly downwards. The most popular and well-known option for spot lighting is the “starry sky”.
Directed. With this lighting option, the tape is placed in a special way on slopes. Thanks to this location, the devices shine along the ceiling.

Absent-minded. Otherwise, this lighting option is called contour lighting. When used, LEDs form a single light strip on the ceiling base.
Figured. In this case, the devices are installed in special small lampshades. Thanks to this solution, you can create almost any lighting configuration.

Before attaching the LED strip to the ceiling base, you need to determine its location. Consider in advance whether protrusions will be made in the plasterboard box.

Most types of LED strips are equipped with an adhesive layer. With its help, these lighting fixtures can be glued to almost any surface. However, before attaching the tape, it is necessary to carefully prepare the base and clean it of dust, dirt and other similar elements. Such actions will ensure more reliable and high-quality adhesion of the adhesive side of the device to the ceiling.

To glue the LED strip, remove the protective film from the adhesive side, and then place the device on the base and press. Don't press too hard. Such devices must be mounted carefully.

The LED strip can also be glued to the ceiling base using double-sided tape.

Most often, such lighting fixtures are installed in pre-prepared niches made of plasterboard sheets. Typically, the tapes are laid under the surface of these materials.

Ensembles in which the tape with diodes is attached to the curtains of the curtains or to protruding decorative elements look interesting. These devices should be installed in such a way as to direct the light stream towards the wall or specific area ceiling.

The diode strip can be hidden under the ceiling plinth. In such cases, it will not be conspicuous and seem intrusive. Its light will neatly “peek out” from under the lining, making the interior more interesting.

How to connect correctly?

After proper installation, the LED strip can be connected with your own hands.

As a rule, this type of lighting consists of the following important elements:

power supply;
controller and sensor:
control panel;
semiconductor lighting system of the required length.

If you have securely fastened the LED strip, then you can proceed directly to connecting it.

Let's look at this process step by step:

First, you need to connect a network cable with a plug to the power supply.
Then you need to connect 2 contacts belonging to the controller to the block. This action should be performed if the lighting will be an RGB system.
Now you will need to connect the contact cables to the controller.

There are times when a room already has one controller installed, designed for a strip of one length or another, but it needs to be adjusted to accommodate a larger number of LEDs. In such situations, it is recommended to install an additional amplifier.

Many users are interested in how to do the wiring then. You will need to connect the power supply to the amplifier and the other end of the LED structure. On the opposite side, to reduce the load, another piece of the light strip should be fixed.

Along all connections polarity must be observed. In addition, you should monitor the compliance of the voltage of the controller itself and the power supply with the lighting device.

As a rule, LED strips are sold in small 5 m reels. If you need shorter strips, you can simply take scissors and cut off the excess part of the strip. The incision must be made in the designated place. If you are going to solder an LED strip, then you should stock up on a low-power soldering iron.

Also, to increase the length of decorative lighting, you can use special connectors for this. They are small devices that are designed to complete an electrical circuit with an easy click.

If you decide to add an LED strip to the ceiling in one of the rooms, then you should take into account some of the tips and recommendations of experts:

For the eyes, a color with a temperature of 2700-3000K is more comfortable. In terms of their spectrum, such sources are closer to simple incandescent lamps than to daylight.
Keep in mind that one LED can have different luminosity, which depends on the voltage applied to it. However, we must not forget that as voltage increases, energy consumption also increases.
LED strip can also be used as the main lighting device in a room. To do this, you should purchase brighter options with a remote control.

Do-it-yourself LED ceiling lighting 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 went on sale. The obstacle to its widespread use was, first of all, the imperfection of the diodes themselves - a limited color range and a “sharp” spectrum. The too bright light from the first LEDs hurt my eyes.

Nowadays, LEDs produce light of all colors of the rainbow with a smooth, “soft” spectrum. There are special LED assemblies for sale 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 practice. There are countless options, so let’s look at the most popular and technically most complex: suspended and suspended ceiling lighting. Everything else will be easier to do.

Types of LED backlight

A suspended ceiling can be illuminated in four ways:

Contour diffused lighting– LEDs are located on the shelf (bottom row in the figure) and shine upward. The backlight forms a continuous light strip.
Directional lighting– LEDs are mounted on a slope and shine along the ceiling. On the main (base) ceiling, diverging rays are visible.
Spot lighting(“starry sky”) LEDs shine straight down from the ceiling. This kind of lighting is more difficult to make; You can't get by with tape, and you need some (however basic) technical knowledge.
Shaped lighting. LEDs are placed in small ceiling lamps. To install such lighting, in addition to technical knowledge, you also need the skills of a home craftsman.

Ceiling lighting with tape

Contour and directional lighting of the ceiling with LED strip is the simplest method 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 installation subtleties. We’ll talk about installation below, but for now let’s look at how to choose the right equipment.

Selecting LED strip

Ribbon color. Here the choice is clear - a full-color RGB strip with a controller. The price of the ribbon itself is the same as a single color, and the controller costs less than ribbons of complementary colors. The question arises: why then have single-color ribbons at all? For special lighting over a long 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 should, of course, be larger - 60 or 120. But for directional lighting, it is better to take a tape with a density of 30 or 60. If the dimensions of the installation niche allow it, it is better to install two strips: on the shelf - 60 and 120, and on slope - 30 and 60. Then you will need 4 power supplies with controllers, but such an 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, alternating rays, etc.

Belt power. LED strips are designated by the letters SMD and four numbers, for example SMD 3028. The first two digits indicate the power consumed by the strip. SMD 6035 tape will be more powerful than the above. Also, the power of one meter of tape is indicated in its passport. For contour lighting, 8 W/m is sufficient; for directional – 5 W/m. It is better to put 7 and 12-14 W tapes on the shelf, and 5 and 7 W on the slope. This will allow you to get by with cheaper controllers without brightness adjustment and will simplify color adjustments.
Total backlight power. This parameter is calculated based on the length of the light strip. We measure with a tape measure, count how many meters of tape are needed, and multiply by the power of the 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 available with operating voltages of 5, 12 and 24 V. The power supply should provide the same amount, and the controller should also be designed for this voltage.

Installation of contour and directional lighting

How to install tapes in a plasterboard ceiling is clear from the figure. Let's give just a few tips:

LED strips are mounted with Velcro; the sticky layer is applied to the back of the tape and covered with a protective film. Before installing the tape, select a PVC corner that is suitable in size for the shelf and slope, and secure it in the niche with small self-tapping screws. Velcro sticks tightly to PVC, but on drywall it can come off over time. If a suspended ceiling is illuminated, a PVC corner is required: after all, for the smallest repairs to the lighting it will have to be removed.
Carefully solder the wires to the strips. 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 of no higher than 160 degrees, and solder with one click. If you don't have much soldering experience small parts, it is better to invite a specialist for soldering.
Do not connect more than 3 m of tape together. Conductive paths in the mass of the plastic base may not withstand high current. Connect sections 3 m long to the controller with separate wires
When making your own electrical installation, strictly observe the polarity and purpose of the wires: + from the IP – to + the controller; respectively and –. From the controller +V, R, G, and B – to the corresponding terminals of the tapes.
Cut and trim LED strips ONLY along the cutting lines marked by the manufacturer. The exception is the last section, but you need to cut it with sharp scissors or side cutters in one movement exactly in the middle between the diodes.

Connection 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 magnificent aesthetic effect. You can strengthen it, especially since you have already gained experience, by using other types of lighting.

Video: installation of LED strip on the ceiling in “Housing Issue”

Starry sky backlight

Components and element base

For the “starry sky” the tape is no longer suitable; separate LEDs are needed. First of all: do not try to connect many LEDs directly to a 220 V network. Uninformed people sometimes argue: yeah, in a flashlight 3 diodes glow from 6 V; This means that 100 diodes can be connected to 220 V after rectification.

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

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

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

Installation of the “starry sky”

The easiest way is to equip a suspended ceiling with “starry sky” lighting: LEDs are simply glued to the base ceiling with drops of construction silicone. All that remains is to correct them so that they do not shine too sideways, and enjoy the spectacle of the starry sky.

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

Video: “starry sky” ceiling – review and installation

Shaped lighting

For figured lighting in the false ceiling, holes for small lampshades are drilled with a pen or compass drill - “ballerina”, centrifuge, into which LEDs are placed. A typical solution is one directed downwards, in the center, and 4-6, giving rays along the ceiling. But of course it's a choice specific solution- 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 cannot use 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 in red light, even cause an epileptic seizure.

Fast and sharp blinking using simple breakers, for example, from an emergency flashlight, is completely unacceptable. You need to use a special controller, when connected to which the diodes will light up and go out smoothly. And if there is any, even the slightest, deterioration in health during or after observing the flashing backlight, the flashing must be turned off. Especially if you hear noise in your head, spots appear before your eyes, and you feel dizzy.