Using LED Strips for Home Lighting

[Belial88]

So I am interested in using some 5050 LEDs for some lighting in my room. I've been playing with a roll of 3528 white and blue for a current pc build, and I'd love to use this stuff instead of conventional light bulbs. They are way cheap, way brighter, and color control is pretty awesome.

So how would I hook this stuff up to a light outlet or something like that? What if there is no light outlet or wall outlet (like a certain closet of mine)? Any tips on this stuff would be really appreciated!

The 5050LED, can you turn it white? Does it do any/every color, or just Red, Green, Blue? Or rgb and shades of such (ie magenta, cyan, yellow)?

 

[corkyg]

This video covers most all of your questions. Basically, 5050 LEDs run on 12 vdc. The 5050 LED kit comes with everything you would need. Yes, you can change the colors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAQacXfejy4

 

[untrueparadox]

I think philips makes a LED light strip that you can control with the Hue app remotely. You might wanna check it out.

 

[Belial88]

This video covers most all of your questions. Basically, 5050 LEDs run on 12 vdc. The 5050 LED kit comes with everything you would need. Yes, you can change the colors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAQacXfejy4

That answers zero of my questions. I appreciate that you still respond to my posts after I always critisize your posts for being awful, never actually answering my questions, and stating exactly what I state in my OP... but I kinda don't.

You can keep replying, I'm sure one day you'll post something useful. But this does not tell me how to hook up the 5050 LED to a light fixture, it doesn't tell me how to best hook it up to a closet with no outlets at all - Do I make a wall outlet? Or a light hole? Maybe a battery? This might be more suggestion/opinion but I don't know how to do the first two, I could google I'm sure but I don't know what option would be best is what I'm getting at.

I'm trying to be nice here, I guess I just sound like a jerk (still) but seriously man, your posts to me are always just awful. I am well aware of 5050LEDs running on 12v, that doesn't answer my question at all on say, how to run it off a light socket.

I think philips makes a LED light strip that you can control with the Hue app remotely. You might wanna check it out.

Why would I need to control the light with an app when I'm not home haha. The remote that 5050's come with should be fine. I suppose that means one less remote, just use my phone I suppose, but I mean it's expensive so why would I do that?




You asked for help and you got it. if you can't use that information, then move on.

You're trying to be nice and then tell him his posts are just awful???


Learn some manners and grow up


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[corkyg]

There are still screw in fixtures for light sockets that have standard plug in receptables onthe side. There are also screw in plug adapters. Visit any Ace Hardware store and you'll find 'em all. This is basic: http://www.fruitridgetools.com/stor...=8171&dfid=1&gclid=CPXI9si4_bgCFYhAMgod0zwAJg

And if you also want a standard light, you first put in one of these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/e...mpaignId=T9F&gclid=CMTTj5i5_bgCFfBcMgodKxIAPQ

This, BTW was your question: "So how would I hook this stuff up to a light outlet or something like that?"

You state: "But this does not tell me how to hook up the 5050 LED to a light fixture, it doesn't tell me how to best hook it up to a closet with no outlets at all - Do I make a wall outlet? Or a light hole? Maybe a battery?"

Seems logical that you could run an extension cord into the closet. You are being very difficult and not showing much common sense. Keep up the personal insults to any responder in this forum and you'll earn an infraction.

 

[Belial88]

There are no personal insults here, I am merely stating that you keep posting basic replies to my questions that never answer the question and show a lack of reading the OP. It's fine, we all miss things sometimes, but you consistently post useless advice to my questions. Like I said, I don't mind, and I appreciate you are trying to help, but you consistently post very, very basic responses that do not answer the OP at all.

Like I mention I use 3528 LEDs, and then you post saying they run off 12v, which I'd obviously already know and isn't even relevant to the questions even if I didn't know that. Then you post a video basically showing that they can be run off a wall wart, but no where do I say that I wish to run these off a wall wart, I specifically state in the OP that the closet doesn't have a wall wart and 'light fixture'.

Maybe it was ambiguous when I said 'light outlet or something like that', but what I meant is something like the electrical wiring behind the wall. As clear or unclear as that may be, a basic video about wall warts and saying they run 12v is indicative of not reading the OP... like at all.

I would appreciate if you kept out flames like 'lacking common sense'. There are no personal insults, I'm merely remarking on the helpfulness of your posts. Which is lacking, because you don't ever answer my questions. Like I said, you can keep trying but you have not been helpful. My question remains unanswered, and I need help still.

There are still screw in fixtures for light sockets that have standard plug in receptables onthe side. There are also screw in plug adapters. Visit any Ace Hardware store and you'll find 'em all. This is basic: http://www.fruitridgetools.com/store...FYhAMgod0zwAJg

And if you also want a standard light, you first put in one of these:

http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/el...FfBcMgodKxIAPQ

Now that's helpful. I have never seen such an adaptor. I'm not sure I'll go for that though.

So I have a closet, with no light or wall sockets, do I use battery or punch some hole through the wall and grab a wire?

And for the room, how would I put LED lighting in it? I'd like to take out the ugly light fixture in it and use an LED light, but I'm not sure how led lighting is done. Do I just tape a strip up top there? Is there any sort of LED housing?




This is a second post where you continue to insult the member who is trying to help.

From you:

"There are no personal insults, I'm merely remarking on the helpfulness of your posts. Which is lacking,"

Do you even understand that it is an insult to tell and member, whom you ask for help, that his posts are lacking?


That, my misguided member, is an insult and you need to stop them.

If you cannot use the suggestion, then don't use them, but do not complain about the level of helpfulness in the thread. That's completely lacking in common courtesy.


esquared
Anandtech Forum Director

 

[akugami]

Here is a light socket adapter that has an electrical outlet as well as still retaining the socket for a light bulb. The link is to Lowes but you should find similar in Home Depot and Ace Hardware.

I looked at the video linked by corkyg and I have to say that it was very obvious on what I had to do to make it work from that video. I would still need the installation manual for safety reasons and also to make sure I'm doing everything according to the manufacturer's instructions.

I haven't done much research on this but from one web site the instructions said to not use more than a 20 meter length (may differ by manufacturer). So for every 20 meters of LED lights in the example, it is a separate setup meaning you need to run an electric line or have an outlet nearby (make sure it's waterproof if outdoors) with a power adapter and everything.

As for the source of the power, it's all up to you. Obviously LED's can be run off batteries but do you want the expense/hassle of recharging or buying new batteries? There's also the question of what type of batteries to use and how much lights can be run off the battery you choose. If choosing wired power and there's no power outlet nearby what is the cost of running an electrical line and setting up an outlet there? That's a question you need to answer. And please have all electrical work professionally done.

As for how to fasten the LED's, it all depends on where it is and how permanent you want it to be. Depending on where you want it installed, that will dictate how you are able to install/fasten it to the location. Some LED strips can be stapled on use staple fasteners while others may be damaged by such fasteners. You can try using double sided tape since the LED strips don't weigh much. Gluing the LED strips is another option. As long as the electrical wiring part of it is up to spec for safety reasons, you're almost free to install the actual LED's however you wish. How you install it may also be dictated by aesthetics which you seem to care about.

 

[Belial88]

Yea, I had never heard of a wall socket light adaptor, but knowing that that exists, I know I can pull the light sockets out of the wall, and just attach a wall wart using wiring/solder/tape/etc 'inside' the wall/ceiling to the wires that are attaching to the light socket. So that's very helpful.

I figured I could do that with a wall socket, but there are no wall sockets on the ceiling or in my closet.

However I'm still unsure of how to put the lighting in the room, how would I install it (ie taping it to the ceiling would look weird).

If choosing wired power and there's no power outlet nearby what is the cost of running an electrical line and setting up an outlet there? That's a question you need to answer. And please have all electrical work professionally done.

yea i'm not going to have the electrical work done professionally, screw that. I'm sure I can figure out how to create a light socket or wall socket, and from there I can figure out how to wire up the LEDs to wherever I want to put them. Now really my question is just how would you install LED lighting in a room.

I mean I know how to stick them to the wall, this is more of a suggestions question. Like in the closet, I'll just put it on the trim. But I'm not sure where/how to house it in the main room. Maybe install some sort of trim along the ceiling? But that's ugly... would certainly make painting a lot easier (or at least the first time around).

 

[akugami]

...yea i'm not going to have the electrical work done professionally, screw that. I'm sure I can figure out how to create a light socket or wall socket...

I urge you to reconsider. I mentioned having it professionally done because you do not seem to be knowledgeable in electrical installation and wiring. This is not about cost but about safety, yours and others.

Badly done wiring jobs are a shock and fire hazard. I'm speaking as someone who, while having no formal electrician training, have done a lot of electrical wiring jobs. Some of the places I've been in to install new wiring as part of installation jobs like security cameras have been a nightmare of shoddy work which makes me wonder why the places haven't burned down.

and from there I can figure out how to wire up the LEDs to wherever I want to put them. Now really my question is just how would you install LED lighting in a room.

I mean I know how to stick them to the wall, this is more of a suggestions question. Like in the closet, I'll just put it on the trim. But I'm not sure where/how to house it in the main room. Maybe install some sort of trim along the ceiling? But that's ugly... would certainly make painting a lot easier (or at least the first time around).

As per my previous post, how you install it depends on where you want it and how much you care about aesthetics. No one can say more than that because there are varying factors that go into installations of this type. The first questions you need to answer are a design based ones. Where do you want it? How do you want it to look? YOU need to answer those questions before you can even begin asking the question of how to install it.

 

[Belial88]

Shut off breaker, problem solved. I have a multimeter and socket tester as well. I'll even shut down the main breaker for everything in the house (I only need to do one socket so not a big pain to do that).

I'll make sure it's not a bad wiring job, I've played with enough cables to know that (tv, audio, computer, soldering, custom pcb). I'll make sure to use high guage, proper cables.

As per my previous post, how you install it depends on where you want it and how much you care about aesthetics. No one can say more than that because there are varying factors that go into installations of this type. The first questions you need to answer are a design based ones. Where do you want it? How do you want it to look? YOU need to answer those questions before you can even begin asking the question of how to install it.
__________________

Well the closet is pretty straightforward, just lay it on the trim of the door. But for a main room, I'm really not sure. Like I'm googling and googling, I'm sure it's out there but I'm not sure exactly what to google is probably the problem. I mean what, am I basically going to make fluorescent tubes but with LEDs? I don't think i'd particularly like that. Maybe recessed lighting like with recessed bulbs and just wrap it up in there, and put some parchment paper over to diffuse the light?

 

[dtgoodwin]

I've used many of these strip lights in my home. They don't work well for primary lighting, but work well as accent lighting. I've used them for under-cabinet lighting, and on the tops of my cabinets as up lighting (I have cathedral ceilings). It creates a nice effect and very soft overall light.

You can buy rolls of these with the 5050's or the 3528's from eBay. You can buy them very cheaply if you choose single color, or you can buy RGB with a controller.

To power them from AC, you buy an LED transformer which are very inexpensive and are are also all over eBay, from the same sellers - just search for LED transformer. They come in different capacities. Just determine how many LEDs you will be powering, add up their wattage and give yourself some breathing room and you'll be in good shape. I'd be very careful about where you locate these transformers. They are Chinese made and aren't UL listed.

Not sure if this is what you were looking for, but hopefully this will help provide you some additional info.

 

[_Rick_]

The problem with LEDs as lighting is that they are small, high intensity light sources, which leads to a lot of glare. A similarly sized/rated tube will do a better job at diffusing the light, which makes for a more pleasant atmosphere.

In the end it depends on what you want to light. My key interest for lighting is the wall behind my screens, to reduce monitor edge-contrast. There the tube performed slightly better than the LED-strip I currently use, because the light was diffuse from the get-go, and I didn't have to be as preoccupied with aiming the light.

If on the other hand, you want pointy light, then LEDs are the way to go. 12V-transformers are plentiful, and LEDs don't have high amperage requirements, so you can use quite thin wiring to connect them. Be sure to place the switch before the transformers, otherwise you'll have transformation losses even when the light is off. This is another drawback of my current LED light strip. I guess a 12V-switch was cheaper...

 

[Belial88]

Transformer? Is that the wall wart? How do you place it before the wall wart?

I think I'll just get a ceiling fan with lights, no need for led lighting i guess. But I will put some behind my monitor (i think I'll use 9v battery taped to the back, or maybe a wall wart).

 

[_Rick_]

Use a switched outlet, for example.
Or get a model with an AC-switch on the transformer housing.
Otherwise idle consumption will waste a lot of the savings you get from switching to LEDs.

 

[Mark Rejhon]

LED ribbon lighting is great for accent lighting (e.g. behind flushings, underneath a breakfast counter table, behind a picture/mirror frame, underneath a stair railing, etc) The diffusion eliminates the pointiness of the individual LED's.

Yes, the transformer is the wall-wart.

 

[alkemyst]

I urge you to reconsider. I mentioned having it professionally done because you do not seem to be knowledgeable in electrical installation and wiring. This is not about cost but about safety, yours and others.

Badly done wiring jobs are a shock and fire hazard. I'm speaking as someone who, while having no formal electrician training, have done a lot of electrical wiring jobs. Some of the places I've been in to install new wiring as part of installation jobs like security cameras have been a nightmare of shoddy work which makes me wonder why the places haven't burned down.



As per my previous post, how you install it depends on where you want it and how much you care about aesthetics. No one can say more than that because there are varying factors that go into installations of this type. The first questions you need to answer are a design based ones. Where do you want it? How do you want it to look? YOU need to answer those questions before you can even begin asking the question of how to install it.

QFT, I'd recommend the OP hire a Professional just based on his lack of understanding in this matter. Once he started insulting those that showed him the way, I am thinking he is going to end up burning down his parent's house.