Installing LED strip on the ceiling

LED strip can be used in different ways. Depending on the features and installation is carried out. Often used LEDs as a backlight for sinks. The peculiarity is to prohibit the use of 220 V in such zones. At least closer than at a height of a couple of meters. Due to this, under the second level of the headset, hung on the walls of the kitchen, the normal light is not set. And the LEDs are powered by 12 V, which translates them automatically into the highest class of electrical safety. These devices already have the right to be used even to illuminate the Jacuzzi. But today we will show how to install the LED strip on the ceiling.

Where to install an

LED strip on a false ceiling More often, PVC ceilings are provided with lighting. The abovementioned polymer subtype is thin and durable. It is enough to see how roughly the edge of the web is pushed into the clip during installation in order to be imbued with the indicated truth. In addition, PVC on the ceiling is usually heat shrinkable:

1. A construction hairdryer is used to smooth out minor defects. With great care, the master leads along the rim to rid the eye of irregularities.
2. Due to the complicated procedure of dismantling the PVC ceiling is not subject.

This means that access to the LED strip above the canvas cannot be obtained. Therefore, the ceiling lighting is used in selected cases.

Armstrong Ceiling

Allowed to provide transparent plastic plates. Over similar often place lamps. All this is beautifully hewn, transparent tiles form blotches, or a drawing is created, depending on the designer’s imagination. In our case, the rafters for the installation of plates may be used as a frame that carries the LED strip. You may have to cut it into pieces, the technology will tell later.

PVC ceilings

Not always put on clips. Sometimes it is possible to cut the canvas, and attach a harpoon along the perimeter. The ceiling is mounted on a special profile( for the previous case, a similar one is used - “clothespin”), where it is hammered along the perimeter. As a result, the design is removable, and the tension is obtained due to the strong docking harpoon. Closed bottom narrow decorative profile.

The installation system for PVC ceiling on the bead is different in that a special form of a plastic plate is hammered into the starting profile around the perimeter. We will have to work together, but we manage to flexibly adjust the tension of the ceiling.

Installation recommendations

Three of these systems - in addition to extravagant - are suitable for symbiosis with LED strips. In this case, the lighting is stretched higher and usually goes around the perimeter. For Armstrong ceilings, the guide profile( let's call it stringers) is made of aluminum, while plastic is used for PVC fabric. But some masters make an exception to the rule: a flexible piping is attached around the perimeter of the canvas, pushing it between the wall and the guide. The installation of the LED strip is carried out along the inner edge of the profile, the illumination is located above the ceiling( see figure).

The profile is usually attached to the wall on a dowel-nails, not reaching the ceiling. In the resulting space is the lighting. On the end of the profile is glued LED tape. Usually supplied on the back side of the adhesive tape. It is necessary to carefully remove the protective layer, and below there will be glue. The mounting method is different, aluminum will serve as an excellent radiator for our lighting, removing heat. Notes nuance:

Under the adhesive layer on the back of the tape layout is printed wiring. There are conductive paths that are not allowed to come into contact with the aluminum profile. It is necessary to carefully remove the anti-adhesive tape, so as not to tear off the lining with glue. If a nuisance happens, seal the hole with masking tape and use a glue gun to strengthen the profile( a heated vent with a trigger and cartridges of abietin resin and vinyl acetate).Similar is made at the junction of two LED strips. In the specified place there are contact pads for the adapter or power supply wires. The conductive layer will need to stick masking tape( only if necessary), and then use an adhesive gun.

Pay attention to the joints do not need to solder the LED tape, if you just collect the continuation of the branch. In this place of the LED tape are contact pads. They are needed to connect the power supply. Usually a small cable is soldered to the connector where the cable is connected, but it is permissible directly, no large voltages are foreseen. To connect the LED strip to each other, simply insert one into the other. Contact density is checked elementary - you have to ring the whole segment. Resistance should not exceed a pair of ohms. Otherwise, the power transmitted to the far segment will drop dramatically.

A person who is seriously interested in installing LED strip on the ceiling should know the things described. Along the bus diodes are combined in parallel. So, conductivity develops. Imagine that a hundred is taken from the diodes( five meters of a tape), in this case the total conductivity will be 100 x 1/500 = 0.2 Cm, and the impedance - R = 1 / 0.2 = 5 Ohm. If the contact detects a similar resistance, a third of the voltage will fall on it. The resistance of each in the open state does not exceed 500 Ohms, often less. For this reason, and rely on the LED strip power supply relies with special care. The resistance of all contacts is measured; if necessary, measures are taken to reduce it( special pads instead of twists).

LED strip is good for highlighting the shells, it is allowed to place above the mirror so that the rays fall on the person standing in front of the glass. This is done in the dressing room. True, the installation here is better not to lead to the ceiling: in the first case - along the bottom of the suspended sections of the kitchen unit, in the second - according to the glass salary. Both examples are ideally suited to illustrate the rules for the use of LED strip in the bathroom. In this case, the device with power supply below 50 V is entitled to be in this area, but the source is taken out to zone III( it starts no closer than 60 cm from the edge of the bathroom or shower).If the pallet is without walls( or low), the distance is greater( see GOST 50571).

Everything said fully applies to the sinks. Therefore - attention - the power supply of the LED strip does not have the right to be closer to the zone bounded by a vertical plane, passing at a distance of 60 cm from the bath, washbasin, and shower. And you can’t violate the rule, even if the hanging section is above the sink( YouTube shows how this is done).But directly LED strip due to low voltage is located anywhere. Consider two things:

1. It is not known what composition was used to create the adhesive layer. It is impossible to reliably say whether the LED strip will hold if water gets on the substrate.
2. The substrate is likely to get wet. There is a danger inside to close the contacts, for example, ordinary steam. As a result, the power supply( or adapter) will be overloaded and burned.

How to mount the LED strip

Plastic glued badly. Anyone who has tried to fasten two parts knows this. Developed and applied by knowledgeable people - plastic welding technology. It sounds loud, in reality, difficulties are not foreseen:

1. A furrow is cut along the seam of two parts. For example, a soldering iron. The groove is flat and not too deep.
2. Inside polyethylene is laid. Tear off the desired length of the piece from any( preferably transparent) package.
3. Melt the polyethylene with a soldering iron to fill the entire groove.

Simple process. Let's think on what basis to glue the LED tape. In our opinion, if you already had enough money to buy expensive illumination, then it is possible to use aluminum as profiles for mounting the suspended ceiling. It will also be possible to arrange the ground loop in case of a breakdown, leaving the possibility to connect the LED strip through a differential circuit breaker. That will save the power supply guaranteed in case of leakage. This is not required by the standard, but remember that laws are created to prevent an accident.

It is permissible to solder the LED strip on a thin foil( a penny for the money).The design is already put on the profile of plastic. By the way, the foil is self-adhesive, made of aluminum. This is sold for sealing joints in the course of insulation work with Penofol and other similar materials. Perhaps called aluminum construction tape. When purchasing a similar product, do not worry about glue. It turns out, the LED tape has a layer, and the tape. Sandwich going( see picture) without difficulty.

Scotch tape is considered a building material, and its adhesive is characterized by good adhesion. But! For street mounting, experts advise replacing glue with another. And the tape is supposed to glue. .. the reverse side. Thus, a full guarantee of a reliable connection is not given. Therefore, the tape must be glued to the profile in advance and kept in room conditions for several weeks. We remind you that such an integrated approach is required only in places of moisture penetration. Suppose they turned on expensive equipment, and the neighbors poured the room on top with feces, spinning products of a washing machine or worse.

If there is no short-circuit protection in the power supply unit of the LED strip, the equipment will fail. The main thing is that the case is a force majeure: the heating pipe struck, the radiator, the hose broke. It is not clear from whom to demand the payment of material damage. Installation of the LED strip on the ceiling is carried out independently taking into account such possible situations.

Try not to overload your equipment. Usually, the power supply unit has an output current limit. Any segment of the garland is characterized by a certain consumption. Try to comply with the requirements or choose a power supply for LED strip that meets the specified conditions. For reference, we give a well-known formula from physics: P = UI, where P is the power consumption( multiplied by the specific consumption in watts), and I is the output current of the power supply( see the case or in the technical specifications).

Create a blue sky with a stylized sun on the ceiling or make a mosaic of Armstrong panels. Order photo printing with your favorite movie star or leave the surface perfectly white all over. Use a combination of a music system and LED strip and surprise guests with an unusual style of your own cozy nest.