DIY LED strip lamp 12V. How to make a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands? How to make an LED lamp with your own hands

LED strips today are increasingly used in organizing lighting in various rooms. Their rich range of colors allows you to create romantic and extraordinary lighting. Installation LED strip It is simple, but it is necessary to take into account some nuances and know the procedure for carrying out the work.

Application of LED strips

LED strips are used almost everywhere where there is a need for artificial lighting. The advantages of LEDs over a regular Ilyich light bulb are no secret, so it’s worth noting the qualities that are interesting, first of all, to consumers:

huge service life;
efficiency;
a wide selection of block and tape form factors;
excellent variability in choosing the color of the glow;
availability of sources.

The scope of application of LED strips has practically no boundaries. It could be:

ceiling lighting;
LED ;
furniture lighting;
lamp in plasterboard;
interior lighting;
illumination of work areas.

In short, it is impossible to list all the areas of application of LEDs, and there is no need to. The main thing is to understand which LED strip you need to choose to solve a specific problem.

Popular brands of LED strips

The most used LED strips for household use are: SMD 3528 And SMD 5050. The LEDs on them are installed frontally on the base, but they have some differences in the luminous flux, or rather, in its saturation. Model 5050 has a more intense light; they are most often used for general diffuse lighting of rooms.

Both LEDs can have different glow colors, which has a strong impact on their suitability for use in specific conditions. So, in order to illuminate work areas and ensure high concentration of attention to prevent eye fatigue, it is necessary to select a more moderate color, since the luminous flux can be intense white or warmer yellowish, more suitable for recreation areas than for work surfaces.

Instructions for creating a lamp for a suspended ceiling

A homemade LED strip lamp can be placed under the ceiling. Therefore, you must remember to be careful: the finished lamp must be lifted very carefully to a height, since the tape itself is very easy to damage, it has poor resistance to tensile loads. In addition, it should be taken into account that fixing the tape can be simplified if you first clean the entire length of the place where it is attached.

Knowing how to properly make a lamp from an LED strip will help you avoid mistakes and unnecessary financial costs. To do this, you can use the following instructions, which describe the basic installation rules and sequence of work.

At the first stage of creating a homemade lamp, you should decide on:

tape length;
density of placement of lamps on the LED strip;

To make lamps, you can use the above brands of LED strips:

1) SMD 3528 with a density of LEDs per linear meter in the following quantities:

60 pcs. (4.8 W);
120 pcs. (7.2 W);
240 pcs. (16 W).

2) SMD 5050 with a density of LEDs per linear meter in the following quantities:

30 pcs. (7.2 W);
60 pcs. (14 W);
120 pcs. (25 W).

Important! If you plan to use the lamp you are creating in a room with high humidity, for example, in a bathroom, you should choose an LED strip labeled IP44 and higher.

LEDs on SMD 5050 have higher power and visual differences from analogues installed on SMD 3528.

In one cassette, the LED strip has a constant footage of 5 meters. If you ceiling lamp If the length is longer, you will need to additionally buy 1 or 2 cassettes. It is possible to connect a tape up to 15 m long to one power supply. The tape is cut along special marks with ordinary scissors.

If a single-color tape is used, then the contacts are soldered minus to minus, and plus to plus. In the case of using multi-color tape when creating a lamp, sections of the same name are soldered in accordance with the letter markings: “B”, “G”, “V+”, “R”.

Attention! When creating a lamp with a multi-color ribbon, to control it, you need to use a controller, with which you can switch colors and smoothly adjust the brightness. As a rule, a special remote control is used for adjustment.

After the footage and density of the LEDs have been selected, the power of the lamp should be calculated. To do this, you need to multiply the power of a linear meter of tape by its footage and add a power reserve of 30%. This value is standard for selecting the unit through which the connection to the 220 V network will be made.

To connect to the controller or to the power source of the LED strip, it is better to use stranded wires: on one side, tips with a cross-section of 0.75 millimeters are installed using a special tool. During installation, they will be installed in a standard block, after which they are fixed with screws.

When the wires are ready, they need to be soldered to the end of the LED strip. To ensure insulation of the contacts and increase the strength of the connection, you should put a special heat-shrinkable tube over the soldering area.

Making a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands is not very difficult. However, the cost finished product, created with one’s own hand, is significantly lower than the purchased analogue.

Modern LED strips are equipped with double-sided tape on one side, so installing them along the perimeter of the ceiling is not particularly difficult. But it is necessary to take into account that it is recommended to carry out all installation operations together in order to prevent damage to the fragile lamp.

The technology described above is optimal when it is possible to glue the tape under the film, which has a translucent structure.

DIY lamp for the workplace

It’s also not difficult to make a small lamp yourself using an LED strip. At the same time great value has a properly selected body. A non-working fluorescent lamp is best suited for this. For example, for high-quality refreshment, a lamp 30 centimeters long will be enough.

In this case, for the lamp it is better to take an LED strip of the Waterproof SMD 5050 LED Strip type with the following basic parameters:

current consumption – 1.2 A/m;
supply voltage – 12 V;
angle of light radiation – 120º.

The LED strip is attached to the inside of the lamp. You must use a purchased power supply or make one yourself.

By connecting the LED strip to the power supply, you need to check the functionality of the lamp.

During installation, it is important to properly insulate the conductive parts. If everything is done correctly, the lamp’s power supply is masked in its housing or, if it was purchased, it is carefully fixed near the place of its installation. The result is a very economical and neat design that provides high-quality lighting to the workplace.

Content:

LED lighting is increasingly used in apartments and private houses, gradually replacing traditional light sources. LEDs have gained wide popularity due to their technical characteristics and high economic indicators. LED strips are in particular demand, used as the main lighting devices and installed in the most different places. However, the main obstacle to wide application LEDs, their price remains quite high.

Many home craftsmen are trying to solve this problem on their own, creating original devices, including a lamp from an LED strip with their own hands. Such designs are much cheaper compared to industrial analogues, and in terms of efficiency and quality they are in no way inferior to them. If you have knowledge of the basics of electrical engineering, any novice electrician can make homemade lighting devices.

Application of LED strips

The design of the tape is made in the form of a rubberized printed circuit board, which makes it very flexible and elastic. Thanks to this, it became possible to freely place LEDs and current-limiting resistors without the risk of any damage. That is, when the tape is bent, all the elements located on it also move. Using tape it has become much easier to make homemade lamps. You can cut it freely and get pieces of the desired size.

When working with LED strip, you must follow the mandatory rules. For example, in order not to disrupt the contact between the LEDs, all cuts should be made only in those places that are specifically designed for this. A line is used to indicate them white. At the cut site, the contacts are soldered to the supply wire.

The LED strip contains a self-adhesive layer in its structure, with which it can be installed in any place. The LEDs used in the strip have different luminous flux characteristics. The most popular products are those operating on 12 volts. Design features tapes allow you to use it not only for its intended purpose, but also as the main part of homemade lamps. Such lighting devices usually serve as additional light sources to illuminate a limited space.

Preparation of materials and parts

Due to the high flexibility of the LED strip, luminaire designs can be manufactured in the most different options. However, they all follow the same principles used in the manufacturing and assembly process, regardless of the luminaire configuration.

It is recommended that you stock up on the necessary materials, parts and tools before starting assembly. Otherwise, during the work process there will be unnecessary haste, an urgent search for what is missing will begin, which can lead to a loss of quality of the finished lamp, and the assembly itself will drag on indefinitely.

First of all, you need to purchase an LED strip with pre-known parameters and technical characteristics. An 8mm wide strip works best. You will also need an aluminum corner, instead of which you can use a plastic box for electrical installation. The dimensions of the corner are 10x10 mm, and the length is 1.5 m. All fastenings and assembly are performed using screws. The lamp is turned on and off using a small switch.

More advanced designs use a power supply, controller, and control panel. This product is more expensive, but it is much more reliable in operation. The list of tools includes an electric drill, a jigsaw, a ruler and a pencil. Once everything you need is prepared, you can begin the assembly process.

Lamp assembly

There are various options manufacturing a lamp using LED strip. Assembly will depend on the design that was originally planned for production.

The main steps for any type of product are exactly the same, so assembly will occur in the following order:

First of all, the exact length of the corner or plastic box planned for assembling the lamp is noted.
Next, holes are drilled in the corner for subsequent fastening of the device using screws. If necessary, a small area is cut out in the corner to fit the dimensions of a miniature switch, if it is to be used.
The finished corner is fixed in advance certain place, after which the switch is installed, and the wires are soldered to the tape at the cut line.
After this, the LED strip is degreased using acetone or another solvent.
The prepared tape is attached to a corner or box. At first it is only slightly attached to the surface, and after leveling it is finally fixed in place.
On last stage A controller, power supply or adapter capable of delivering 12 volts is connected to the tape. With the help of these devices, it becomes possible to connect the lamp to a regular electrical network with a voltage of 220V.

Thus, the result was a lighting device installed horizontally. Most often, such lamps are used in kitchens for countertops and hobs. In addition, they are placed above desks, located at the bottom of shelves or wall cabinets. The most optimal distance to the working surface is 70-80 cm, which makes the light completely harmless to vision.

What to do if there is no ready-made LED strip

Sometimes situations arise when it is not possible to purchase an LED strip or there are no funds to purchase it. In this case, you can try to make the strip yourself using separate LEDs.

Before starting work, you need to prepare everything necessary for assembling the structure:

LEDs, 1 W each, in the required quantity.
A roll of special double-sided tape with good thermal conductivity.
Drivers corresponding to the number of LEDs. It is necessary to pay attention to the marking, which indicates the number of outputs for LEDs.
Aluminum tape or other surface with minimum thickness 1 mm. The area should be 1 cm for each LED.

First, the aluminum surface is degreased, after which double-sided tape is glued to it. The lower part of the LEDs is also degreased, after which they are installed on tape, alternating positive and negative poles. The LEDs are pressed and then soldered. Then the drivers are soldered and the lamp can be connected to power. After checking its functionality, it can be inserted into any housing and installed in various places.

LED is a semiconductor device that allows you to convert electric current into light radiation. One 220 volt LED lamp allows you to save a huge amount of electricity. The savings are 2 times more than a fluorescent lamp and 10 times than an incandescent lamp. If you use parts from a burnt-out lamp to make such a lamp, you can significantly reduce costs. You can assemble an LED lamp with your own hands quite simply. But do not forget that for this you need to have the appropriate qualifications, since you will have to work with high voltage.

Advantages of LEDs

Nowadays you can find a huge number of types of chandeliers with LED lamps in stores. They have different advantages and disadvantages. Modernization of energy saving lamps allows you to take full advantage of fluorescent light. This applies to the most common lamps with an E 27 base. And the old representatives of this family were endowed with an unpleasant flicker. Fluorescent light sources are truly a miracle. Compared to them, incandescent lamps are losing ground very much. Their high energy consumption and low light output do not offset their high color rendering index.

Durability is their main advantage. Mechanically it is strong and reliable. It is known that its operating life can reach up to 100,000 hours. They are also considered environmentally friendly light sources, unlike fluorescent lamps, which, in turn, contain mercury. But as you know, fluorescent lamps have some disadvantages:

The vapors contained in the pipes are quite poisonous.
Due to frequent switching on and off, they can quickly fail.
The design itself requires some disposal.

In order to remove this small minus and turn it into a good plus, you can build a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands. In this way, the cost of the light source can be reduced. It will be much lower than that of luminescent analogues . And also this lamp will have a number of advantages:

The lamp life will be a record 100,000 hours, but only with proper assembly.
Price homemade device no higher than that of a fluorescent lamp.
The watt/lumen efficiency is far superior to all comparable products.

But there is also one drawback - there is no warranty for this product. It must be compensated by the skill of the electrician and strict adherence to the instructions.

Homemade lamps

There are a huge number of ways to create a lamp with your own hands. Using an old base from a burnt-out fluorescent lamp is the most common method. Such resources are available in every home, so there will be no problems finding them. You will also need:

In some schemes, one or two elements from this list may not be useful. However, in others, on the contrary, new chain links may be needed, for example: drivers or electrolytes. In each specific case it is necessary make a list individually necessary materials .

How to make an LED lamp with your own hands

To begin installing the lamp, you need to prepare two damaged fluorescent lamps with a power of 13 W and a length of half a meter. There is no point in buying new ones, it is best to find old ones that don't work. But they must be checked for cracks and chips.

Next, you need to purchase an LED strip in the store. This must be approached responsibly, since the choice is very large. Tapes with natural or pure white light are best. Since they do not change the shades of surrounding objects and are super bright. Typically, these strips contain LEDs in groups of three. The power of one group is 14 W, and the voltage is 12 volts per meter tape.

After which you need to disassemble the fluorescent lamps into their component parts. You must act very carefully - do not damage the wires or break the tube, as this will release toxic fumes. All removed entrails should not be thrown away. They may be useful in the future. Next, you need to cut the tape into sections of 3 diodes. After this, it’s worth getting expensive and unnecessary converters. Large, sturdy scissors or wire cutters are best for cutting the tape.

In the end there should be 22 groups 3 LEDs or 66 LEDs, which must be connected in parallel along the entire length. To convert AC to DC, the standard voltage of 220 volts must be increased to 250 V electrical network. This is due to the straightening process. The next step is to figure out the number of LED sections. To do this, you need to divide 250 volts into 12 volts (voltage for 1 group of 3 pieces). Having finally received 20.8 (3), you need to round up - you get 21 groups. It is best to add another group, since the total number of LEDs will be divided into two lamps. And dividing an even quantity is much easier.

Next, you will need a DC rectifier, which can be found in the removed insides of the fluorescent lamp. Using wire cutters, remove the capacitor from the common circuit of the converter. This action is quite easy to perform, since it is located separately from the diodes; you just need to break off the board.

Using superglue and soldering, it is necessary to assemble the entire structure. Don't try to fit all 22 sections into one lamp. As mentioned above, you need to find 2 half-meter lamps, since it is simply impossible to place all the LEDs in one. There is no need to rely on the self-adhesive layer, which is located with reverse side tapes. It won't last long. Therefore, it is better to use superglue or liquid nails to secure the LEDs.

To summarize, we can analyze all the advantages of the assembled product. The amount of light in the resulting lamps is 1.5 times greater than in analogues. But the power consumption is much less than that of fluorescent lamps. The service life of this light source will be approximately 10 times longer. And also one of the advantages - this is the direction of light. It is directed straight down and has no ability to dissipate. Therefore, it will be best used at the desktop or in the kitchen. However, the light emitted is not very bright but has low power consumption.

Constant use of the lamp in the on state will consume only 4 kW of energy in a year. The cost of electricity consumed per year can be compared with the cost of a ticket in public transport. Therefore, such light sources are often used where constant illumination is required, for example:

Street.
Corridor.
Utility room
Emergency lighting.

A simple LED light bulb

There is another way to create a lamp. A table lamp, chandelier or lantern needs an E14 or E27 base. Accordingly, the diodes and circuit used will differ. Compact fluorescent lamps are now common . For installation you will need one burnt cartridge, as well as an altered list of materials. Necessary:

Let's move on to creating an LED module with our own hands. First you need to disassemble the old lamp. IN fluorescent lamps the base is attached to the plate with tubes and secured with latches. The base can be disconnected quite simply. It is necessary, having found places with latches, to pry them off with a screwdriver. Everything needs to be done quite carefully so as not to damage the tubes. When opening it, you must ensure that the electrical wiring that leads to the base remains intact.

From the upper part with gas-discharge tubes you need to make a plate to which the LEDs will be attached. To do this, you need to disconnect the light bulb tubes. The remaining plate has 6 holes. In order for the LEDs to be firmly attached to it, you need to make a cardboard or plastic “bottom”, which will also insulate the LEDs. You need to use NK6 LEDs, they are multi-chip (6 crystals per diode) with parallel connection.

Because of this, the light source is super bright when minimum power. You need to make 2 holes in the cover for each LED. The holes should be pierced carefully and evenly so that their location matches each other and the intended pattern. If you use a piece of plastic as the “bottom”, the LEDs will be firmly fixed. But if you use a piece of cardboard, you will need to glue the base with the LEDs using superglue or liquid nails.

Since the light bulb will be used in a 220-volt network, an RLD2−1 driver will be required. You can connect 3 diodes of 1 watt each to it. This lamp required 6 LEDs with a power of 0.5 watts each. It follows from this that the connection diagram will be formed from two series-connected parts of three parallel-connected LEDs.

Before you begin assembly, you need to isolate the driver and board from each other. To do this, you can use a piece of cardboard or plastic. This will avoid short circuit in the future. There is no need to worry about overheating as the lamp does not get hot at all. All that remains is to assemble the structure and test it in action. White light makes the light bulb appear much lighter. The luminous flux of the assembled lamp is 100−120 lumens. This may be enough to illuminate a small room (corridor or utility room).

Types of lamps

LED lamps can be divided into two groups: indicator (LED) - used as indicators because they are low-power and dim. The green lights on the router are indicator LEDs. There are such diodes on TV as well. Their uses are quite varied. For example:

Car panel illumination.
Various electronic devices.
Computer display backlighting.

Their colors come in a huge variety: yellow, green, red, purple, blue, white and even ultraviolet. It is worth remembering that the color of the LED does not depend on the color of the plastic. It is determined by the type of semiconductor material from which it is made. In most cases, you need to turn it on to find out the color, since they are made of colorless plastic.

A lighting structure is used to illuminate something. It differs in its power and brightness. It also has a very reduced price, so it is often used in household and industrial lighting. This type of lighting is considered productive, environmentally friendly and cheap. Today, the level of technology development can make it possible to produce lamps with a high level of light output per 1 Watt.

Today in many homes you can find LED lighting. This is due to the fact that LEDs are the most preferred among the variety of lighting devices available. LEDs have excellent lighting characteristics and also save significant amounts of energy. That's why they are so in demand today. Today, LED strip is the most popular as the main element of a lighting fixture.

It should be noted that the cost of such a product will be somewhat more expensive. Therefore, not every person can purchase it, but it’s easy to do it yourself. Our article will help you in this endeavor.

LED strip

The LED strip is a flexible rubberized " printed circuit board" It contains current-limiting resistors and unpackaged LEDs. This convenient design allows you to make your own lamp and install it anywhere. At the same time, the device of the tape allows you to make cuts on it and divide it into pieces of the required size.

Pay attention! To avoid breaking the contact between the LEDs, it is necessary to cut the tape only in specially designated places. They are marked with a white line.

After the cut, the contacts in its place must be soldered to the supply wire.

LED strip

Also, the structure of the LED strip has a self-adhesive layer, allowing it to be installed anywhere.
Today, these products have various options for installing LEDs, differing in the characteristics of the luminous flux. The most popular tape models today are products with 12V power.

You can make a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands from any of its formats (single or multi-color type). The main thing is to follow the assembly instructions, and also take into account the structural features of the tape itself.
Such a homemade lighting device is most often used not as the main light source, but as an additional one. For example, it can be installed on the desktop, under wall cabinet etc.

What you will need

Since the LED strip is quite flexible, the format of the lighting device made from it can be very diverse. But the basic principles of assembly remain the same in any situation.
To make a lamp from such a strip, you must have everything at hand necessary tools and materials. Otherwise, the process may be delayed or not completed efficiently.
In this situation, you should have the following materials on hand:

Plastic electrical box

directly LED strip with the necessary LED parameters. It is best to use a strip 8 mm wide;
screws;
aluminum corner. It should be 10x10 mm in size and 1.5 m long). The corner can be replaced with a plastic electrical box. This will not in any way affect the quality of the manufactured lighting device;
small switch.

The tools you will need are:

drill;
pencil with ruler;
electric jigsaw;
pliers.

Once you have verified that you have all the necessary materials and tools, you can proceed to the main stage of work - assembly.

Build process

Today there is large number options on how to make a lamp using LED strip. The assembly method will depend on what type of lighting fixture you ultimately want:

horizontal;
vertical;
on legs.

Making holes

Let's look at some of them in more detail.
Half of the steps that need to be completed during the assembly process do not depend on the luminaire version. Therefore they will match.
The LED strip product is assembled as follows:

first measure the length of the corner required for assembly;
We drill holes in it, with the help of which the device will be attached to the surface. Screws should be used as fastening elements here;

Pay attention! It is also necessary to cut out a place in the corner to place the microswitch in it.

we fix the corner in the place we need;
we install the switch in the sawn place and solder the wires to the tape at the place where it is cut into separate pieces;
degrease the LED strip with acetone;

Connection diagram

then attach it to established corner LED strip. In order for it to stick evenly, it needs to be attached lightly to the surface and then leveled. After this, you can run your hand along the tape, finally securing it in the chosen place;
Next, we connect the wires to an adapter or power supply that has the power we need. Typically the power is 12V.

Pay attention! Only with the help of an adapter/power supply will it be possible to connect the lamp to a standard power line, which has a power of 220V.

As can be seen from the assembly instructions, the final result should be a lighting fixture horizontal method installations. It can be effectively used in the kitchen for lighting working area on food preparation, countertops or hob. Also, such a lamp will be relevant in a children’s room. Here it would be appropriate to place it above the desk under a hanging shelf or cabinet.
But remember that the maximum lighting efficiency of such a device is achieved at a height of 70-80 cm above work surface. At the same time, the light will not dazzle or irritate your eyes.

Second option

Cut parts

In addition to this type of lamp, you can make a more complex and original lighting device from an LED strip. Here, unlike the first option, you will need an LED strip 3 m long and an RGB controller with a remote control. In addition, the lamp structure will contain a nickel-plated pipe or furniture legs, as well as slats, chipboard, and plywood.
In this situation, it is necessary to perform the following manipulations:

cut 6 rings with different diameters from a piece of plywood with a jigsaw: 2 large, 2 small and the same number of medium ones;
We cut out one circle from chipboard. It will be the basis of the future lamp;
cut 6 holes in the plywood. This will be the top part of the model;
we make holes for screws in the slats;
paint all the cut out parts in the desired color;

Pay attention! Painting should be done in an open space (outside) or in a well-ventilated area.

We fix nickel-plated pipes on circles made of chipboard and plywood. They will connect the entire structure together;
We attach an LED strip in the middle of the lamp device. We pre-cut it according to the dimensions of the inner diameter of the rings. Don’t forget to attach wires to each piece of tape;
next we attach the rings (small diameter) to the slats;
after that we attach medium and large rings to them in turn;
then we put the top of the lamp on this entire structure.

All wires must be hidden in a special cable, which must also be painted in the appropriate color. Don't forget to connect the wires to the RGB controller, with which you will be able to switch lighting modes. This is very easy to do using the remote control.

Connection diagram with RGB controller

Of course, this is much more difficult option design, but it has a more presentable appearance.

General assembly points

When assembling any lighting device from an LED strip, there are some points that are identical for all designs:

the presence of a power supply, base or profile, as well as the LED strip itself. The profile can be a corner, chrome crossbar, etc.;
the principle of cutting the tape itself into pieces of the required size;
gluing tape either on inner surface lighting fixture, or on the surface of the corner.

You can choose any materials as decorative elements. The main thing is that they fit the existing interior and you like them.
Following the advice in our article, you can build a lamp of any complexity, be it vertical, horizontal or on legs.
A lamp made from LED strip with your own hands will definitely be useful thing in the house and will help you illuminate the desired work area.

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Making a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands, if you follow the instructions, is not too difficult.

Such a modern and quite original lighting device can be used to organize lighting for rooms for various purposes.

How to do homemade lamp from LED strip, read on.

Currently, domestic and foreign manufacturers produce several types of LED strips, which differ from each other in several parameters. In order to correctly determine the type of tape, you must carefully study all the markings on the product being sold.

The first digit in the marking	Source	LED
Second digit in the marking	Glow color	Red glow "R"
		Green glow "G"
		Blue glow "B"
		Any glow “RGB”
		White glow "СW"
The third digit in the marking	Installation method	SMD
The fourth digit in the marking	Chip size	3028 or 3.0x2.8mm
		3528 or 3.5x2.8mm
		2835 or 2.8x3.5mm
		5050 or 5.0x5.0mm
Fifth digit in marking	Number of LEDs	30 per meter length
		60 per meter length
		120 per meter length
Sixth digit of marking	Protection against penetration of solid objects	IP 0-6
Seventh digit of marking	Moisture protection	IP 0-6

LED strips IP-20 open type are used in rooms without high humidity. Tapes with IP-65 are most often used in the bathroom and kitchen work area, and devices with IP-68 are completely insulated from moisture, so they remain operational even in adverse outdoor conditions. According to the direction of illumination, all strip LEDs can be front or end.

A feature of the very popular and modern RGB strip with diodes is the ability to use a controller that allows you to get a monochrome glow or blinking in different colors.

Types of LEDs used

To produce a single-color LED strip, SMD-3028 and SMD-5050 diodes are used.

The second option is represented by three crystals, and therefore provides a brighter glow.

Also, the brightness indicators are influenced by the number of light diodes per meter of lighting strip.

The dimensions of the LEDs are reflected in the power level of the lighting fixture:

the presence of 30 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - consumption 7.2 Watts;
the presence of 60 SMD-3528 diodes per meter – consumption 4.8 watts;
the presence of 60 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - consumption 14.4-15.0 Watts;
the presence of 120 SMD-3528 diodes per meter - power at 9.6 Watt;
the presence of 120 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - power at 25.0 Watt;
the presence of 240 SMD-3528 diodes per meter - power at 19.2 W.

Tapes with chips that are placed in two, three or four rows are called multi-row and, as a rule, include diodes with different glow colors.

With the introduction of new connection standards, the performance of diodes different types can be provided either by a DC power supply with a voltage level of 24V and 36V, or by a network AC with a voltage level of 220V.

What will you need?

Thanks to high rates flexibility, a lighting device based on LED strip can have a wide variety of formats. However, the basic principles of manufacturing such a lamp remain unchanged, therefore, in addition to the diode strip itself, it is expected to prepare materials and basic tools, presented:

screws;
aluminum corner 10x10 mm;
small-sized switch;
electric drill;
marker;
ruler;
electric jigsaw;
pliers.

If necessary, the aluminum corner can be replaced with a standard plastic electrical box. Functionality and the quality characteristics of the manufactured lighting device, in this case, will not be affected.

LED strips are designed for a voltage of 12 Volts. Therefore, it is a mandatory element for connecting the device.

Operating principle LED lamps we will consider .

Are you thinking of replacing your old lamps with LED ones? You can familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the devices.

Controllers, power supplies for LED strips

Installation and connection of a homemade lighting device based on a diode strip requires the use of a rectifier and an adapter.

The purpose of the controller, or adapter, is to convert 220V AC into D.C. at 12V or 24V according to the power level of the tape.

To choose the right power supply for a homemade diode lamp, you need to multiply the power of the diodes of one meter of strip by the length, and then add a power reserve of at least 15% to the result obtained.

Creating a multi-color lighting device with light switching and brightness level adjustment involves the use of a controller and remote control.

Build process

The assembly option for a lighting fixture depends on its type. The device can be on legs, vertical or horizontal. Main stages self-assembly The simplest and most common designs are as follows:

measure the length of the box or corner;
drill mounting holes for screws in the corner or box, as well as a place to install the switch;
secure the corner to the location chosen for installation of the lighting fixture;
install a switch in the cut-out location;
solder wires to the diode strip;
degrease the surface with acetone;
install a diode strip on a corner or box;
connect the wires to the power supply or adapter;
check all connections.

This creates a horizontal design, which is most often used as effective illumination of the work area in kitchens, countertops, desk, as well as a hanging shelf. Almost any materials that suit the interior of the room can serve as decorative elements.

When choosing a place to install a diode lamp, you need to remember that the optimal height is 0.7-0.8 m from the illuminated surface. Only in this case can you obtain maximum lighting efficiency.

For stretch ceiling

Diode-type lamps installed in the presence of suspended ceilings are easy to do with your own hands. Modern diode strips are equipped with double-sided tape, so their installation around the perimeter stretch ceiling under a translucent film does not cause any difficulties.

LED lighting for stretch ceiling

In order to correctly and reliably connect the LED strip to a power source or controller, it is advisable to give preference stranded wires, on one side of which there are tips with a cross-section of 0.75 mm. During the installation process, the tips are installed inside the block and secured with screws.

It is important to remember that all wires soldered to the end of the diode strip need to be completely insulated with a special heat-shrinkable tube, which will significantly increase the strength of the connection and make the operation of the lighting device safe.

For workplace lighting

A small lighting device based on a diode strip can be made using a ready-made housing.

The best option would be to use a failed fluorescent lamp 30cm long and an SMD-5050 diode strip with a light emission angle of 120º, a supply voltage of 12V and a current consumption of 1.2A/m.

After degreasing the inside of the case, the diode strip is fixed with double-sided tape.

The power supply can be factory-made or home-made. After connecting the diode strip to the block, all connections and functionality of the finished, very economical and high-quality lighting device are checked.

During the installation process, all current-conducting areas of the lamp must be carefully insulated, and the power supply must be neatly disguised in the housing or securely fixed next to it.

Conclusion

When designing on your own, you need to remember that in addition to fairly simple diode strips, manufacturers of LED products produce products that have broader capabilities, including special kits through which quite complex dynamic effects are realized, as well as synchronization of simultaneous control of several lighting sections at once.