I picked up a few rolls of 2700K LED strip light from Amazon for $12 a roll. I really like this stuff, it sticks on pretty well, the covered channel they make for it looks pretty good, and it's only 12 volts. I used it for under counter lights, and for indirect lighting in my entry and dinning room. Very pleased with the results. I'm looking for other places to put it.
LED strip lights
- Thread starter Greenman
- Start date
boomerang
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2000
- 18,883
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Yeah, I'd like to know this also. I had been thinking about some indirect lighting here and this would be perfect. I assume there is a transformer that can be wall switched?
Edit: Duh, looks like the links at the bottom of the listing for this at Amazon contain the other components needed.
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this^^^^
I used unilume lighting for my under cabinet lighting. it wasn't cheap, but IMHO is the nicest product I have seen.
I think for above cabinets, the strips would work well
Zorba
Lifer
- Oct 22, 1999
- 15,613
- 11,256
- 136
Yeah, I saw all the transformers right after posting that. I am still wondering if he is using a remote setup or if he added a switched outlet. I have cabinets on three walls, with door ways in between them, I wonder if there is a good way to to connect them all together, like with a remote or if I would have to install multiple switched outlets.
I used the cheap power supplies that pop up with the lights on Amazon. I don't know if they're dim-able, but they work. The local electrical supply sells a very good quality and very small transformer for $40, I'll get those if the cheap ones fail.
To power the under cabinet lights I had to get power from the range hood. I added an outlet above the hood in the cabinet and plugged the transformer in there. I used a $20 remote control outlet to switch the lights. I could have used any small switch on the 12 volt side, but I didn't want the transformer to run 24/7.
I stuck the lights directly to the bottom of my cabinets, in some other areas I picked up aluminum channel with a plastic lens, and mounted the lights in that.
You can see the lights reflected off the granite counter tops, and you can tell it's individual lights.
I had some corners to go around, and needed to power from the center of one strip, so I just soldered jumper wires on the strips anywhere I needed them. You can use almost any 12 volt power source, like an old computer power supply, and you can also use them in your car and power them right from the battery.
To power the under cabinet lights I had to get power from the range hood. I added an outlet above the hood in the cabinet and plugged the transformer in there. I used a $20 remote control outlet to switch the lights. I could have used any small switch on the 12 volt side, but I didn't want the transformer to run 24/7.
I stuck the lights directly to the bottom of my cabinets, in some other areas I picked up aluminum channel with a plastic lens, and mounted the lights in that.
You can see the lights reflected off the granite counter tops, and you can tell it's individual lights.
I had some corners to go around, and needed to power from the center of one strip, so I just soldered jumper wires on the strips anywhere I needed them. You can use almost any 12 volt power source, like an old computer power supply, and you can also use them in your car and power them right from the battery.
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Edit: I just went and looked, and you can clearly see the lights reflected in the stone.
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It's 12 volt wiring, you can stash it almost anywhere. I had to run some of mine inside the cabinets.
Zorba
Lifer
- Oct 22, 1999
- 15,613
- 11,256
- 136
Yeah, I think I'd have to run it through the attic to use one power supply. I have plugs I could use on both sides, so I'll have to look into remote switches.
Not that running it through the attic is a big deal, just wondering if I can avoid it.
Zorba
Lifer
- Oct 22, 1999
- 15,613
- 11,256
- 136
boomerang
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2000
- 18,883
- 641
- 126
Resurrecting this to share some information. I bought the LED strip that Greenman started this thread about. I also bought the transformer and the connectors that were listed at Amazon.
For my application I did not need the connectors as there is one included with the strip. We have three overhead niches for lack of the correct term at our condo. These are flat shelf-like areas recessed into the wall that have a vertical surface at the back that rises to the studio ceiling. They are for displaying items overhead. Purely decorative type stuff, I see no practical use for them.
I installed the strip in the LR niche. It turned out really nice as we have some vases and stuff up there some of which are translucent and the light shows through them. It was great at providing general lighting that we didn't have with the light bouncing off the ceiling and lighting the whole room.
Once I had them up there and evening fell, we realized that the light output was too bright. Simple I thought I'll dim them. That's when the fun started.
I can make a long story short by saying that these are not dimmable. The same company does however have a strip of the same length that's also warm white that is dimmable. I bought an LED driver, three wall switches, one rheostat type dimmer and spent a considerable amount of time on this before I decided to work smarter instead of harder and did some damn research.
The LED driver was expensive but I will need that. I will use one of the switches and have uses for the remaining two and the rheostat dimmer was $12 with shipping so the cash out isn't a big deal.
If anyone is thinking about using these and wants to dim them, I can go into it further at that point.
For my application I did not need the connectors as there is one included with the strip. We have three overhead niches for lack of the correct term at our condo. These are flat shelf-like areas recessed into the wall that have a vertical surface at the back that rises to the studio ceiling. They are for displaying items overhead. Purely decorative type stuff, I see no practical use for them.
I installed the strip in the LR niche. It turned out really nice as we have some vases and stuff up there some of which are translucent and the light shows through them. It was great at providing general lighting that we didn't have with the light bouncing off the ceiling and lighting the whole room.
Once I had them up there and evening fell, we realized that the light output was too bright. Simple I thought I'll dim them. That's when the fun started.
I can make a long story short by saying that these are not dimmable. The same company does however have a strip of the same length that's also warm white that is dimmable. I bought an LED driver, three wall switches, one rheostat type dimmer and spent a considerable amount of time on this before I decided to work smarter instead of harder and did some damn research.
The LED driver was expensive but I will need that. I will use one of the switches and have uses for the remaining two and the rheostat dimmer was $12 with shipping so the cash out isn't a big deal.If anyone is thinking about using these and wants to dim them, I can go into it further at that point.
I had no idea they weren't dimmable. The light output I'm getting is just about right for where they are so I never tried to install a dimmer.
Stopsignhank
Platinum Member
- Mar 1, 2014
- 2,754
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- 136
boomerang
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2000
- 18,883
- 641
- 126
I just assumed that they were. It never occurred to me that they wouldn't be. It's been a learning experience.
I could have shortened the strip but thought it would be cool to be able to dim them and that's when the fun began!
boomerang
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2000
- 18,883
- 641
- 126
From what I gathered, the 3528 in the description is the key to whether they can be dimmed. 5050 cannot and 3528 can.
slag
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
I bought the ones Stopsignhank linked. I plan on using 8 or so on one side of the cabinets and then jumpering them with some speaker wire across the sink and then to the other cabinets on the other side of the sink. I'll hide the speaker wire somewhere above the window or paint it to blend in with the window area. Then I'll mount the dimmer along the wall under the cabinet and plug it all in above the microwave in the cabinet with the cook books. For the power supply, dimmer, and ll the lights, it sounds like a win win.
IronWing
No Lifer
- Jul 20, 2001
- 73,726
- 35,594
- 136
Just a note on power supplies: as stated above, any old 12V supply of sufficient amperage rating will do. The thrift stores around here have laundry baskets filled with them for about a buck a piece. It's just a matter of digging through the pile to pull out one that will work.
No LEDs are dimmable.
Like boomerang said, it depends on the driver. You have to either get a smarter dimmer, or have a driver that will translate the wall dimmer signal to a dimming response from the LEDs.
Like boomerang said, it depends on the driver. You have to either get a smarter dimmer, or have a driver that will translate the wall dimmer signal to a dimming response from the LEDs.
slag
Lifer
- Dec 14, 2000
- 10,473
- 81
- 101
They came in yesterday. Dimmer switch works great. Can't wait to hook them up under the counter and enjoy the light at night.
Are leds waterproof by nature? Was wondering if I could put them outside under the deck railing (2x6) and have lights around the hot tub as long as the plug in and dimmer was located in a dry location.
Are leds waterproof by nature? Was wondering if I could put them outside under the deck railing (2x6) and have lights around the hot tub as long as the plug in and dimmer was located in a dry location.
boomerang
Lifer
- Jun 19, 2000
- 18,883
- 641
- 126
I've seen some strip lights marketed as not being waterproof so I would guess that some are and some aren't.
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