LED lighting for the kitchen work area: connection

The kitchen is the most visited place in the house, where the whole family spends a lot of time. And the hostess is still working at the stove, preparing various dishes. The workplace should be comfortable, well-lit and safe. What will be the kitchen - the owners decide, come up with a design, equip with household appliances, choose the style and furniture. It is imperative to think over all the zones, arrange them in accordance with the purpose and make the necessary lighting. In this article, we will talk about LED lighting in the kitchen work area.

Common types of lighting

Each area of ​​the kitchen is lit according to requirements. A variety of lamps transforms the room, creates an atmosphere of comfort. There should be several types of them in the kitchen:

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• Ceiling or hanging chandelier - is located on the ceiling in the center of the kitchen. Chosen according to the style of all furniture and illuminates the dining area. In addition to lighting, it has an aesthetic function.
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• LED Strip Light has several colors, has a decorative and practical function.
• Skinali - these are glass panels with a variety of ornaments. Used for finishing a kitchen backsplash. A built-in LED light illuminates the image from the inside. Seascapes with fish and corals look original.
• Spot LED bulbs used in large quantities, located in lamps or in ceiling decoration.
• Pendant lights with swivel mechanismslocated on furniture and the ceiling, illuminate in the desired direction, create a stream of light on the work area.
• Spots installed in ceiling structures, in cabinets. Their light is clearly directed to one point.

In the kitchen, you cannot do with one lamp, at least 3 types of lighting are required: general, local lighting of different zones and decorative.

What are LED kitchen lamps?

There is no need to change wiring and equipment for LED lamps, they are available for any base and are easy to install. It is not difficult to match them to the style of the kitchen, they are very diverse.

• Basic lighting provided with pendant or ceiling lights with LED bulbs. If the size of the kitchen is small or the ceiling is low, it is better to use the ceiling.
• Linear surface-mounted luminaires are assembled into a module, from which you can assemble a backlight of the required length, connecting with adapters.
• Surface mounted luminaires various forms and methods of power connection: from the mains or on batteries. They can be fastened anywhere with Velcro or magnet, used in cabinets, on internal shelves.
• Embedded into walls and floors: flush-mounted and can withstand heavy loads.
• Flat design panelsinstalled on the ceiling. The variety of sizes allows you to create a unique look with uniform lighting.
• To illuminate the contents of the boxes is mounted cut-in diode illumination. It is better to entrust its installation to specialists.
• A common type of lighting is light-emitting diode (LED) strip. Its advantages are in a wide choice of colors, the ability to cut to the desired length, adjust the brightness, and mount in inaccessible places.

How LEDs work

LEDs (LED or LED) Are semiconductors. Color, brightness and saturation depend on the chemical composition. They consume little electricity, are used in light bulbs, linear lamps, tape and come in warm and cold white colors, and can also have up to 50 thousand. other shades. In addition to color, they differ in the type of glow, the number of crystals.

Dignity

• The most important advantage of LEDs is energy saving;
• Resistance to mechanical damage;
• Large selection of colors, the ability to use for decoration;
• Unlike some types of lamps, LEDs are environmentally friendly;
• Moisture-proof models are produced, which allows them to be used in the kitchen, in the bathroom;
• Long enough service life, about 15-20 years;
• They do not heat up, can be used in any shades and on stretch ceilings;
• They can be small in size and used in inaccessible places;
• The use of 12 V voltage allows the devices to be installed in damp places and to carry out safe cleaning.

Flaws

• To connect, you need a power supply, which often fails;
• High price. But a long service life and low power consumption compensate for this disadvantage.

How to decorate your kitchen with LED lighting

Backlighting helps you do your kitchen work safely and with good lighting. Above the stove, lamps are built into the hood, and an additional light is installed above the work table. Many types of lighting are used to decorate the kitchen for every taste and style. The main thing is that it must be safe.

Lighting options

For decoration, backlighting is used in different places:

• The light directed upwards above the cabinets visually makes the room higher and gives it “airiness”.
• In glass kitchen cabinets, dishes are illuminated, and the effect of reflection in mirrors is created.
• LED lighting under the lower tier of the cabinets "lightens" the kitchen set. The color is matched to the style of the kitchen design.
• Parallel light sources visually enlarge the room.
• Decorating glass shelves in cabinets with lamps that turn on when the door is opened. It is very convenient, beautiful and rational.
• Decorating doors, arches, paintings, mirrors.
• Ceiling structures on several levels are equipped with a chandelier, lamps, diode tape.
• The most original and beautiful decoration option is skinned. A flat diode panel with a selected pattern is illuminated from the inside, creating the effect of a plasma panel.

You can decorate the kitchen for every taste, come up with a design, apply imagination.

Important! A large number of multi-colored backlights are tiresome. Better if the light is soft, with a dimmer.

Illumination of the working area - tabletops

The working area requires special attention. The light source from behind the hostess casts a shadow on the table, illumines it poorly. It is convenient to use controlled luminaires that you can set the direction.

The table top is illuminated in several ways:

• On the lower part of the upper wall cabinets, overhead linear lamps of the required length are installed. The light falls evenly, does not create a shaded area, it is convenient to work.
• Waterproof diode tape under the wall cabinets and on the countertop.
• Glass top with bottom illumination. This option is original, unusual and beautiful.
• The luminous skin covers the entire work surface. In addition to decor, it serves as a backlight.

DIY LED strip installation

How to choose an LED strip

To select a tape, you need to decide where it will be located, for what purposes it will serve.

• Protection against water. If the LED strip is placed on the top of the wall cabinets, then splash protection will do. On the countertop and on the bottom of the tables, you will need protection against the jet of water. For use in pools, fountains, a special moisture-resistant tape is produced.
• Voltage, used in work for diodes - 12 V.
• Brightness depends on the number of diodes per 1 meter of tape, from 30 to 240. The more diodes, the brighter the light. For a design solution, the additional illumination is less bright.
• Color it is better to choose white for the work surface. All other shades will distort the appearance of food when cooking. And for decoration, it is possible to use any color scheme, even changing color and flashing.

Required tool

The best way to install a diode strip is to purchase the entire installation kit. It includes a power supply, cable, plug, heat shrink tubing for sealing. If the installation will be carried out in a guide profile or on double-sided tape, they must be purchased separately.

The diode tape is sold by the meter, it is convenient to measure the desired size. In addition to the kit, you will need a soldering iron, a switch, a dimmer, and a plastic box to place the excess cable in the cabinets.

Power supply selection

Important! It is strictly forbidden to connect the LED strip directly to the network. This is done only through the power supply.

You can choose the model and power of the device, focusing on the technical characteristics of the diode strip (read the instructions or ask the sales assistant when buying). The power reserve should be 25% higher than the calculated one, which depends on the type of tape and its length.

The power supply comes in different sizes, so the choice should be made in favor of a high-quality device that can be easily mounted in the right place.

Connection and installation diagram

It's easy to mount the backlight. With a little electrical skills and following the recommendations, it is easy to install lighting.

• Cut the tape only where there are special marks. Expose the extreme contacts by 1-1.5 cm.
• Connect the electric cable from the power supply unit only by soldering - this is more reliable. Solder 2 pieces of cable to the contacts, insulate with a heat-shrinkable tube.
• A switch is installed and a power supply is connected to it.
• A conventional switch is installed before the power supply, and a dimmer is installed after it.
• The tape is attached under cabinets or at a selected location using double-sided tape. First, the place is slightly outlined, the correct placement is checked, then it is firmly pressed against the surface along the entire length.
• The mount can be in an aluminum profile.
• Convenient installation of self-adhesive LED strip.
• Install a plastic box inside the cabinet for extra wires so that they do not interfere and spoil the view.

Important! Several tapes are connected only in parallel!

If there is no electrical knowledge, then it is better to entrust the installation and installation of lighting to specialists.

Video: master class 

LED lighting in the kitchen is not only functional, but also beautiful, modern and safe. It can completely change the look of a room. By using your imagination, you can get a comfortable, functional work area where it is pleasant to prepare meals.