The use of LED strip to illuminate the working area in the kitchen: the device of the ice headset and its installation

Housewives spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Good lighting should be provided for by any design and layout of the room. With the right distribution of light sources, cooking will only bring joy. LED lighting for the kitchen work area looks stylish and does not require high energy costs.

Benefits of tapes

LED strip has many advantages when compared to conventional light sources. You can make a lamp from it yourself or buy a ready-made diode lamp. Main advantages:

1. Very low energy consumption.
2. Has high performance parameters.
3. The duration of the work is practically unlimited.
4. Completely safe.
5. It tolerates sharp temperature changes well.
6. Resistant to various mechanical damage.
7. Very high efficiency.
8. Does not overheat.
9. Has a relatively low cost.
10. It is easy to mount it yourself.

Kitchen lighting can have various complex shapes, as this material is highly flexible. An adhesive layer on the back allows you to use the devices in any convenient place. It also makes installation much easier.

The LED kitchen lighting work area is very comfortable for the eyes. It doesn't have an annoying flicker. This solution makes it possible not to use the main light, if the required number of diodes has been correctly calculated.

The service life of such lamps does not depend in any way on the number of switching-ons, unlike conventional incandescent lamps. If installed correctly, the equipment can last up to 16 years. This is about 50 thousand. hours. The device does not need time to heat up.

With a design approach to the design of the kitchen, you can use a variety of lighting colors. There are also tapes that work in the infrared or ultraviolet spectrum.

Backlight location

To make the right lighting in the kitchen, you need to divide it into several zones. There should be a working and dining area, as well as general lighting. Often people are not limited to only functional lighting, but use LED strip in a wide variety of places. Arrange backlight possible in such areas:

1. Working. The tape is often used to illuminate cabinets.
2. It can be installed on the hood if the built-in lighting is not enough. Conventional lamps are sometimes changed to diode lamps, which saves on energy consumption.
3. Mount the backlight on glass surfaces in cabinets.
4. If the height of the room allows, then you can attach the tape over the upper cabinets. The ceilings will appear taller.
5. Under the lower cabinets. It is better that the light source is not visible. To do this, you can hide the tape in a special box. It is advisable to make the lower light dim.
6. Also, such a device is often installed under the countertop. You need to step back from the edge a couple of centimeters.
7. You can highlight the bar counter.
8. Lately, a glowing skin is often made. It is a flat LED panel that is covered with frosted glass on top.

It is not difficult to attach the LED strip to the kitchen set. This kind of lighting can be placed almost anywhere.

Product device

All LED-based products (strips, lamps, various types of lamps) are capable of providing an optimal degree of illumination and maximum comfort. Such systems perfectly complement general lighting and are able to fit into any interior. To create a spectacular design of a room, it is necessary to correctly distribute the light flux and select the necessary lighting. Ice strips fulfill not only a functional role, but also an aesthetic one. LED lighting is able to add new elements to the interior design of the space.

LED-based strips are used for decorative illumination of furniture, various niches, and they can also be installed on cornices. In the kitchen, they are most often used to perform high-quality illumination of the working area.

These tapes are highly elastic and have an adhesive backing. An LED is a semiconductor that emits light when an electric current is applied. Brightness depends on the chemical composition and the specific type of element. The lighting scheme includes:

1. Power supply unit or generator.
2. Dimmers. These are specific connectors with which you can easily connect several separate elements.
3. Controller. It is used for multi-colored ribbons.

When installing LED lighting yourself, you must remember that you cannot connect the equipment directly to the network. This can quickly overheat and burn out the device. It is imperative to use a stabilizer.

Diode types

Equipment is of various types and types. When planning the organization of the backlight, this must be taken into account. Before purchasing a device, you should find out its technical characteristics. It must be remembered that the kitchen is a room in which the temperature and humidity level are constantly changing.

To create additional illumination in a room, an SMD-3528 diode is often used. This type consists of only one crystal. The diode gives off quite a bit of light. It is used only for the embodiment of design ideas.

SMD-5050 has 3 crystals in the design. Each of them has 2 conclusions. It can emit light of various colors. Often blue, orange, red and other crystals are installed on the tape. From the point of view of functionality, they are used only as additional lighting.

The brightest diodes are SMD-5630, 5730, 2835. The angle of propagation of light radiation reaches 160 degrees. Such devices provide good lighting that can be used as the main one.

When choosing an ice tape, you need to know how many diodes go per meter. The maximum amount provides the brightest and most uniform glow.

Also tapes can have different degrees of protection. They are used for installation in different conditions. Types of LED devices by degree of protection:

1. Leaky or open. Conductive tracks are not protected at all. Can only be installed in dry rooms.
2. One-sided. The electronics are protected on one side only. Silicone is used for sealing. Suitable for installing kitchen lighting.
3. Sealed. Protected from all sides. They are produced in protective covers made of transparent plastic. Can be installed in bathrooms or swimming pools

To organize the lighting in the kitchen, it is best to choose LEDs of the second type (one-sided). It is also very important to choose the right power supply.

Illumination of the working environment in the kitchen with LEDs: photo gallery

Power supply selection

For stable operation of the backlight, you must purchase a power supply that has a power reserve of 25%. The technical characteristics of the tape itself should be asked from consultants. On the product, the power is indicated taking into account one running meter.

It must be multiplied by the footage. For example, if one meter consumes 7 W, then the power of four will be equal to 28 W. This means that you need to buy a power supply for 36 watts. The more compact the model is, the easier it is to weld and hide the device so that it is not striking. Switches for LED strips there are several types:

1. The simplest are push-button ones.
2. Sensory. They work by touch.
3. Infrared. You can control the backlight with a wave of your hand.
4. Dimmer. With it, you can adjust the brightness of the glow. Manufactured in mechanical and sensor form.
5. Control block. This element is necessary if you want to create blinking or play of different colors. Used for multi-color RGB tapes. Such effects are rarely used.

If the backlight consists of several strips, then their connection should be carried out only in a parallel way. This allows you to maintain the allocated power of the luminous flux.

DIY lamp making

To assemble the device, you need a diode tape of the required length and, preferably, a guide profile (usually aluminum is used). If you place the light in an aluminum frame, it will look much cleaner. You will also need the following items:

1. Power supply unit of the required power.
2. Switch.
3. Heat shrinkage. It is needed for the tight connection of the elements.
4. Electrical cable.
5. Plug for wire or terminal. The choice is made depending on the type of connection.

The LED strip must be completely protected from moisture. This is necessary for compliance with fire safety. It is best to choose a type of protection that can withstand a jet of water. The safest voltage is considered to be 12 W.

The backlight must provide the required level of illumination. According to the spectrum, it is better to choose such diodes, the glow of which is close to daylight. It is advisable to choose a device that has 3 crystals in its construction. To provide the room with bright light, you can use a tape with 60 diodes per one meter. But more often than not, 30 is enough, since the kitchen lighting should not be too bright.

Installation of equipment

The backlight device must be assembled taking into account several rules. This way the entire system will last much longer. Key recommendations:

1. The tape can only be cut in specific places, not arbitrary. There are special marks on it that show the possible division point.
2. Several tapes are connected to the power supply unit in parallel.
3. The electrical wire of the power supply must be connected to the tape using soldering. This is the most reliable way. The connection must be insulated with heat shrink or ordinary electrical tape.
4. A push-button or rocker switch should be placed before the power supply. This is especially true if the circuit does not provide for a stabilizer.

Fastening of the LED strip is carried out using an adhesive base. At first, the device can only be attached in some places to make sure it is in the correct position, and then it is necessary to firmly press the tape along the entire length.