LED lamp for kitchen cabinets: illumination of the work area to help the housewife. Rules for choosing lighting for the kitchen and its installation

Additional lighting for kitchen units has entered our lives relatively recently. Previously, it was too expensive, so only wealthy people purchased it.

Today, everyone can afford a lamp in a kitchen cabinet. It can be purchased together with a kitchen set, or you can save money and install the lighting yourself.

Light is an important part of living space

Kitchen cabinet lighting plays a very important role important role in the interior of the room, this is connected not only with the highlighting of any decorative items. More significant are the positive properties it has on human vision.

After all, it is obvious that when there is twilight around, the eyes have to strain and concentrate on objects. This even causes many people to experience fatigue, pain and irritability.

We will solve this problem with you by building cabinet lighting with our own hands. Let's start with what we buy necessary materials and prepare the work surface.

Lighting in the kitchen

Stage one - preparing tools

The most important tool is a soldering iron, without it it is impossible to do anything. Therefore, if you don’t have one, you can rent or buy a used device. Don't forget to take solder and rosin in addition to it. The price of the device will not greatly affect your family budget.

Note! Although there is one way that the store may offer you - use connectors. They allow you to fasten the tape without a soldering iron, but this method can hardly be called reliable.

Scissors .
Electrical tape. It is best to use black; it still fits easier into the interior of the kitchen, although it will practically not be visible.
Screwdriver. It will be needed to disassemble the cabinet and install the strip behind which the lamp will be located.
Jigsaw. Used for cutting holes in furniture cabinets.

Now, what is needed from the materials:

LED strip with a voltage of 12 volts. The length is measured according to those cabinets that will be illuminated. Cut off in the store. Look how she looks in the photo.

Note! Varies in thickness and color. Decide in advance what you want to see in your kitchen.

PVA cable, cross-section 0.5 mm2. Sold by the meter, it all depends on where your lamp will be powered.
Power supply, also 12 volts.

Once you have everything in hand, you can begin the installation process LED strip.

Important! Check the integrity of the tape; there should be no visible damage to it.

Stage two - LED strip and cable

The first step is to determine where the + and - are on the tape. They can be in different places.

Pay attention to the places where the tape is cut; there is usually a dotted line marked there. It is in these places that the contacts should be located. You can cut the tape yourself using scissors.

Connection instructions:

We strip the ends of the cable by 1-1.5 centimeters. Just don't overdo it, the cable cores are easy to damage.
We turn on the soldering iron and wait for it to warm up.

Note! To understand that the device is ready for use, try melting the solder; it should become semi-liquid with one touch.

The white wire is soldered to the minus first, and the brown wire to the plus, respectively. Don't forget about rosin, it is necessary for soldering strength.

Kitchen cabinet lighting requires perseverance and concentration. Try to make as little unnecessary movements as possible; if the contacts come into contact with each other, the tape will not work.

We use electrical tape to secure the end of the tape with the wire. Since it is the part with the contacts that is the most “fragile”.
Now we take the power supply in our hands and connect it to the cable in a similar way, observing the polarity.
Insulate the cable with the power supply.

For your information! If you are in doubt about the correct connection, plug the unit into a power outlet. The tape lit up, then everything is correct.

Stage three - surface preparation

Now you need to decide how the LED strip will be positioned.

The first way is when the tape is glued to the bottom wall cabinets and is covered with a decorative strip so that the light does not hit the eyes.

The second method is to glue the tape into a groove (recess) made in the lower part of the wall cabinet. No strips are required.

Note! Unfortunately, the groove is quite difficult to make at home. For this you need milling machine with a cutter of the required diameter. Can be rented at hardware store, just be sure to ask to be familiarized with the operation of the device.

The LED strip itself has a self-adhesive base that can be fixed to any surface.

You can even glue it to the wall: tiles or plastic are perfect for this. The only thing is that it is unlikely that you will be able to attach the tape to the wallpaper.

As for the power supply, you can hide it in a wall cabinet by cutting a hole for it in the wall with a jigsaw. back wall. Just try to make it so that you can get it if something happens.

Well-thought-out and executed lighting is one of the ways to decorate a kitchen space, making it more attractive and comfortable. One of the most common options is LED lighting for the kitchen under cabinets, which allows you to give the interior a special mood. Let's look at how to independently select everything you need and carry out installation without resorting to the help of specialists.

LED lighting for the kitchen under cabinets: advantages of such a solution

LED lamps appeared on domestic market long enough for everyone who was at least somehow interested in this issue to learn about the advantages of such a solution in comparison with conventional incandescent and even energy-saving lamps. First of all, LED lighting in the kitchen is famous for its efficiency, as well as long term operation. In addition, the LEDs glow at maximum power from the first second, since they do not require time to warm up, and the frequency of switching on and off does not affect their service life.

Of course, not everything is so smooth, and LEDs have one significant drawback - cost. The price of such illumination will indeed not be low, however, as all those who have already used it say, such an investment is fully justified very quickly.

The lifespan of an LED strip can be several decades, and the level of electricity consumption will be so low that the money spent will soon be compensated.

Helpful advice! If your kitchen already has some kind of lighting, you will most likely be able to replace just the lamp while keeping the fixture. This is possible due to the fact that manufacturers of LED lamps offer a huge range of products and choose suitable option It's almost always possible.

Where can it be locatedkitchen lighting under cabinets

In an effort to decorate the interior of their kitchen properly, every owner should understand that ideally the lighting should be multi-zone. That is, one lamp on the ceiling most likely will not be enough. Therefore, in most cases, in addition to the main lighting, they also provide lamps above the dining area and, of course, light LED backlight for the kitchen above the work surface.

But this is not all, because the backlight is mounted not only as a functional element. It is often used as decoration. Let's look at where the backlight can be located:

LED lighting for working area kitchens are exactly the case when light sources are mounted under wall cabinets;
lighting under the hood;

interior lighting of glass cabinets. This solution looks especially beautiful if their doors have frosted glass;
lighting above the upper cabinets is a great way to visually expand the existing space. Like all other options, lighting the ceiling with an LED strip with your own hands is a completely feasible task;
under the lower kitchen cabinets. This is perhaps one of the most original options, which allows you to create an unusual effect of furniture floating;
separate lamps to illuminate the work area in the kitchen.

Helpful advice! Depending on the purpose for which you are installing LED lighting, you can choose one or another lighting color. So, if you plan to use it as an additional light source for work, it is better to give preference to white backlighting. But for decorative purposes you can also mount colored ones.

Kitchen lighting under cabinets: LEDlampsfor this purpose

In order to understand what the choice of LED strip is based on and how to properly organize the illumination of a particular zone, first of all it is worth considering what types of light sources there are. Let's look at all the types, and then determine which option is best suited for a specific purpose.

So, the main types of LED devices:

surface-mounted linear luminaires. You can purchase them individually or as a whole set, which contains several modules and adapters. By connecting several of these individual elements, you can make a fairly long light source;
surface-mounted spotlights - work on the same principle as the first type, but in general design are not going to;

spotlights or linear recessed lamps. They differ from others in their thinness, which allows them to be installed directly into the bottom of kitchen cabinets. This is an easy-to-use option; however, you have to do it yourself installation work it will be difficult and most likely you will have to resort to the help of a specialist;
LED strip for the kitchen. This is one of the most popular options today, which is not much inferior to all of the above. This type of device owes its popularity to the huge variety of colors, ease of installation and low cost.

Helpful advice! Today on sale you can find both linear and angled lamps with touch control. Such devices turn on and off with one touch and look very aesthetically pleasing.

How to choose LED stripfor lighting in the kitchen

Although most of LED strips look very similar, in fact there are several types and a special classification, which is made depending on such factors:

number of crystals (can be from 1 to 4);
full-color or monochrome glow;
size, which can range from 1.06x0.8 to 5.0x5.0 mm.

Simply put, before you buy an LED strip, you need to decide what type of backlight you want to get. To make this easier, let’s look at a few recommendations from experts that can be used as guidelines for buying kitchen lighting for cabinets:

if one of the tasks of the mounted lighting is to provide additional lighting work surface, then uniform and satisfied bright light can be achieved using a 50x50 LED strip;

If practical application there will be no backlight, and its only role is decorative design interior, a single-chip LED strip 35x28 will be quite sufficient.

Considering the fact that the diode strip for the kitchen consists of several LEDs placed in one plane, there are several more types of this product, depending on how closely the elements are located to each other. So, the most popular options are 30, 60, 120 and 240 pieces per 1 meter of tape.

It is this parameter that determines how powerful the tape will be, how much energy it will consume, as well as its brightness.

There is another extremely important point– degree of protection from moisture. In this case, you need to pay attention to the markings, which may be as follows:

IP20 – low level protection. Such tapes are not recommended for use in the kitchen or bathroom, where air humidity is quite high;

IP65 – medium level of protection. This option will do the job perfectly and the humidity in the kitchen will not affect the operation of the LEDs in any way;
IP68 – absolute level of protection. Such products are not susceptible to moisture and can even be used to illuminate a pool.

Kitchen lighting with LED strip: how to choose a power supply

In addition to the fact that installing an LED strip in the kitchen requires close attention when choosing, you should also pay attention to which power supply will be used for this purpose. It is very important to choose an option in which the power of the transformer will be sufficient, but at the same time it will not be excessive.

Let's look at how the calculation is made required power transformer using the example of a 50x50 LED strip with a power of 12 W:

provided that the length of the tape is 5 m, 12 W must be multiplied by 5. We get 60;
the margin is provided using a coefficient of 1.25, thus obtaining 75;
We purchase a transformer with a power of 75 W.

Related article:

Self-adhesive models 220V. Connection diagram for 220V LED strip to the network. Price for tapes and do-it-yourself installation.

However, power is not the only transformer parameter that you need to pay attention to if you want to make a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands. The design of the block is also of great importance, which in turn can be different:

Compact size sealed plastic housing.
Aluminum sealed housing. It usually costs noticeably more, but is highly resistant to external factors, which allows you to use it even for installing street lighting.
Perforated body. These are blocks open type, which are characterized large sizes and at the same time they are inexpensive. The main disadvantage is that such a block will require additional protection from moisture, but it is among devices of this type that you can find quite powerful models to use one device for several at once LED lamps for kitchen.
Network power supply. These devices are characterized by low power, which does not exceed 60 W, so you will have to use a separate unit for each tape. The main advantage is that they do not require installation.

The main component of the LED system is a transformer small size, providing power to the LEDs

Important! If you purchase a housing that is not protected from moisture, then the installation must be done in a place where the risk of contact with water will be minimal. In addition, it is useful for the device to have protection against voltage surges, as this will have a positive effect on the service life of the LEDs.

How to make the best lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets can be determined by assessing the area of the lighting, as well as your own preferences and financial capabilities, since different models will have different prices. In addition, before you buy LED lighting for the kitchen under cabinets, you need to understand that the cost of the product in most cases directly determines its service life.

RulesDIY LED strip installation

Installing an LED strip is a task that is feasible for everyone. Sticking to a few simple rules, you can make high-quality and beautiful lighting yourself. Here's what to consider:

polarity must be observed;

Depending on what type of tape you are using, connect the power through a 12 or 24 W unit. In this case, the block should be located as close as possible to the tape (removal limit - 10 m);
In order for the backlight to last long enough, it is advisable to avoid bending and twisting. It is preferable to cut the tape and make the required angle by soldering. But this must be done carefully, with mandatory insulation of the conductive paths using heat-shrinkable tubing. It is believed that by means of soldering it is possible to ensure high-quality contact without loss of electricity;
to reduce electrical losses, you need to try to use a wire of the maximum cross-section and make as few connections as possible;
if it is necessary to install a high-power tape, then it is advisable to use a special profile box for this;
if necessary, connect two pieces of tape, the length of which exceeds 5 m, to each other, this must be done in parallel;

For proper operation of the unit, you need to provide it with protection from overheating by placing it in a well-ventilated place.

Helpful advice! In order to cut the LED strip without damaging it, you must do this in the places specially indicated on it. Usually the manufacturer himself makes the appropriate notes.

What tools are needed to connectLED strip in the kitchen

Before installing the LED strip in the kitchen, you need to make sure you have all necessary tools and materials. Depending on how the elements will be connected, you may need a soldering iron and solder, rosin, heat-shrink tubing, or special connectors. Another option is wire lugs and crimps.

In addition, you need scissors and insulating tape, as well as double-sided tape or other fasteners. If you need to make a niche in the furniture for laying the tape, you can use a jigsaw.

Naturally, you cannot do without the tape itself, a suitable power supply, as well as a diagram according to which the installation will be carried out. As already mentioned, in some cases a profile box is also used to lay the tape.

It is extremely important to take into account the fact that during operation, LEDs emit heat, which is directed into the base of the element. To avoid overheating and extend their service life, it is recommended to glue the tape to an appropriate base - a thermally conductive substrate or an aluminum profile.

Helpful advice! Usually, in order to make lighting in the kitchen, a cable with a cross-section of 0.5 to 2.5 mm² is used. Calculations are made based on a special formula.

How to make lighting in the kitchen:instructions for use

Before attaching the LED strip under the cabinets in the kitchen, you need to distribute it in such a way that the dividing strip of light and shadow is located on the border of two objects. In this case it will be the bottom wall of the cabinet and the wall. The easiest way is to place the tape on the wall, however, in this case it will be visible, which can ruin the visual effect. Because to provide backlighting required depth, fastening is carried out mainly to the surface of the cabinets.

It is best to mount a diode strip under the cabinet, the luminous sector of which is quite narrow. In this case, the wall will not be illuminated at all. An excellent aid for light distribution can be an aluminum profile that has a protective light-diffusing film. And with the help of different heights of the profile sides, you can even create light spots.

Otherwise, for successful installation of the backlight kitchen set Just follow these simple instructions:

the power cable must be routed to the connection point as discreetly as possible by carefully drilling a small hole in the back of the kitchen cabinet;

Before attaching the LED strip, the surface must be thoroughly degreased and prepared. Some tapes already have a special adhesive composition, which is applied to the back side. In this case, installation is as simple as possible and comes down to applying the tape to the surface. If back side the tapes are smooth, you can use double-sided tape;
if you want to disguise the tape, you should use a profile whose color will match the color of the cabinet;
We mount the power supply and install the electrical wiring. In this case, the wires also need to be secured very carefully, using special clips or double-sided tape;
All elements must be connected according to the selected circuit and tested using a tester. This is necessary to ensure that there is no short circuit between the elements. If everything is in order, the backlight can be connected to the network.

Separately, it is worth considering the case if we are talking about installing a high-power LED strip. In this case, for greater aesthetics, the tape is laid in the profile. First of all, installation is carried out, and only then the power terminals are connected. After this, the tape must be secured using the same double-sided tape, and the profile itself must be secured to the cabinet.

Important! If the profile is fastened using self-tapping screws that are screwed into it inside, the sequence of actions will have to be changed accordingly.

How to install a touch switch with your own hands

Another important element of LED backlighting is the switch. And if you wish, you can even make a touch version yourself. But to do this you need to understand how it works this device. And given the fact that no matter what type of switch we are talking about, the operating principle is always the same, it’s quite easy to figure it out.

So, the first thing to understand is that any switch consists of 4 elements:

outer (front) part. This is the panel we see. Sometimes, for convenience, manufacturers provide it with backlighting;
touch sensor - an element that reacts to touch and, accordingly, sends a signal that turns the backlight on or off;
switching system that converts the signal, turning it into electricity, which activates the system, including lighting;
device body. In this case, there are two types - built-in and overhead. Depending on the type, the installation method will differ and you will need to either simply fix it on top of some surface, or mount it inside the wall.

Its service life depends on how high quality all the elements of the switch are. Therefore, when buying a ready-made switch for an LED strip or assembling it yourself, pay attention to ensure that the price of the elements corresponds to their quality.

Touch switches are usually located directly next to the tape itself, since they have the form of a module and do not damage appearance kitchens. But at the same time, it is very important to remember that the sensor reacts to any contact, so the placement location should exclude accidental touches to which the sensor can react.

Thus, we can conclude that anyone can buy LED lighting for the kitchen and install it themselves. To do this, just familiarize yourself with some of the most important characteristics of the elements and follow simple instructions, trying to avoid common mistakes. Otherwise, lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets with LEDs does not present any difficulties, but it adds a special mood to the interior.

LED lights for kitchen - modern solution, which has only recently begun to occupy the minds of homeowners who want to create a coziness in their home to their taste without using lamps.

If you choose the right lighting and install it yourself, your cabinets and kitchen appliances will look less cumbersome, and the cooking process will turn into a pleasure.

In addition, diodes consume less operating power than lamps. You can install the lighting yourself, without the help of professionals.

The article discusses all aspects of kitchen lighting, starting with what advantages it has, what nuances should be taken into account when installing it yourself, and provides practical instructions.

Design, principle of operation and characteristics of diodes

When electricity passes through the diode, it begins to glow. Depending on the chemical composition The diode produces light of a certain brightness, as well as color. Ordinary lamps do not have this ability.

The light emitting diode (known as LED) can be selected from green, yellow, red, blue, violet, magenta, white, infrared and ultraviolet colors, depending on the work area where the backlight is planned to be installed.

LED diodes are used to illuminate rooms (to highlight a work area and a rest area), to enhance the light of headlights and spotlights.

Using diodes for lighting has the following advantages:

high luminous efficiency comparable to halogen and gas-discharge lamps;
high mechanical strength;
long service life of diodes: up to 15 years with a workload of 8 hours a day;
low inertia: turn on the diode strip and it immediately lights up, and the usual lamps heat up for up to 30 seconds;
the service life of diodes does not depend on on-off cycles;
the price of the tape is several times lower than that of lamps;
there is no mercury, phosphorus and other harmful components inside the diode;
diode lamps take up just a microscopic space: the thickness of the finished strip rarely exceeds 1 cm.

Separately, it is worth mentioning SMD diodes (surface-mount device), which are attached with tape to the substrate.

This is the newest type of light source that contains one, two, three or four crystals inside.

Such diodes are available in full color and monochrome. Their size does not exceed 5 mm.

Choosing this type of lighting means not only making beautiful cabinets with amazing lighting, but also significantly saving room space and taking care of your family’s health.

Types of diode strips

An LED strip is a sequence of diodes mounted on a working substrate connected to power wires.

Such “luminaires” differ in the number of diodes:

SMD 3038 accommodates 60, 120 and 240 diodes per 1 meter;
SMD 5050 accommodates 30, 60 and 120 diodes per 1 meter.

The diode strip can have one of 3 degrees of protection against moisture:

IP 20: for areas where there is no moisture - for the bedroom, hallway, living room;
IP 65: best option for bathroom and kitchen;
IP 68: suitable only for illuminating aquariums, fountains, swimming pools.

Each tape kit should include:

dimmer: regulates the brightness of the diodes, can be supplemented with an amplifier if the power of the tape exceeds the dimmer’s load limit;
12 or 24 volt power supply;
profile: the groove must coincide with the width of the tape, otherwise you will have to make dozens of holes for the diodes manually;
self-tapping screws and screws for fastening.

In the kitchen, LED strip lighting is used for the following purposes:

apron lighting: looks especially good if the apron panel is made of glass;
backlight decorative elements kitchens;
lighting for zoning cabinets and work areas;
cabinets are illuminated inside so that you can easily find the right thing;
lighting of the ceiling levels and bar area.

Installation: nuances and tools

To install lighting yourself, you will need the following tools and materials:

tape with an operating voltage of 12 volts;
cable (section 0.75 mm sq);
fork for each tape;
installation brackets (type of fastening for wires);
transformer;
profile;
scotch;
12 volt power supply;
corners for lighting;
scissors;
soldering iron

Before you begin installation with your own hands, you need to take into account the following nuances so that the result of the work is of high quality:

If the power of the power supply and the tape itself do not match, the latter will quickly burn out. When purchasing, pay attention to the voltage - it should be the same;
For connectors, it is better to prefer a soldering iron, which connects much better;
If you need to cut the tape, you can do this only in the designated place or by first finding the plus and minus contacts;
Solder using rosin;
If the contacts touch each other, the tape will not work;
The dimmer and amplifier are installed together with the power supply. This way you can adjust the brightness;
Choose lighting from the middle price category: in terms of price/quality ratio, this is the best option. The expensive one gets very hot, but the cheap one shines very dimly, like any Chinese lamps;
Combine regular tape with colored tape, as one zone color will quickly get boring.

And now the instructions themselves, step by step:

Before purchasing the tape, measure the entire length of the perimeter of the part of the kitchen that you want to illuminate (for example, an apron). It is advisable to add 10% of the length for possible defects. Having cut off the length with your own hands, expose the contacts by 1.5-2 cm;
You need to solder two pieces of cable to the contacts. Use electrical tape and tubing afterwards to insulate the wires;
Remove protective film and attach the LED strip to the profile. Glue tape on the outside of the working fastening area - it will create a tight fixation, which you will later achieve with staples;
Next to the backlight, you need to install a transformer with your own hands, which is needed to convert 220 volts from the outlet to 12 volts to power the tape. On the output voltage side (sometimes designated as output) fasten the stripped wires of the tape using a soldering iron with rosin; on the other side of the transformer (marked as input – 220 volt input from the outlet) fasten the electrical cable and plug;
The surface to which you want to attach the tape must be pre-treated: degreased, wiped dry;
Fasten the tape using adhesive tape and staples so that the fastening falls on the small gap between adjacent diodes;
Place a plastic box inside the cabinet to hide all protruding wires. Drill a small hole in the cabinet through which you pass them, securing them with staples;
Connect all wires to the location where the power supply is installed;
All connections run in parallel - minus with minus, and plus with plus. Afterwards they need to be connected to the power supply;
Connect the switch to the power supply.

Some people prefer to choose special new generation switches - this is how they get touch-sensitive lighting.

Installing LED lighting yourself is a simple operation that anyone can do.

But to make the final result more pleasing, listen to these tips:

For table lighting, cutting and hobs better to use warm White color, which does not change the color of food;
If possible, fasten the tape only with strong construction tape, and if you decide to use staples, then use the smallest ones possible;
Bright lighting is suitable for ceiling lighting Blue colour, which soothes and does not irritate the eyes;
It is best to decorate cabinets with ribbons with calm colors that will not be too noticeable.

Organizing lighting in the kitchen with your own hands is a simple task that will only take a couple of days of the weekend.

Few people realize how simple and beautiful it is, you just need to correctly delimit the space of the work area in the kitchen.

Bring some bright and pleasant light into your home - install LED lighting and the space will be transformed!

When decorating a kitchen, designers often use several types of lighting to delimit zones and highlight interior elements, thereby introducing ergonomics and modernity. Of particular interest are LEDs that are fixed under wall cabinets.

In addition to beauty, they do an excellent job with their main purpose - highlighting the work area. This allows you to use energy resources as economically as possible. After all, compared to products using incandescent technology, LEDs are an energy-efficient type of lamps.

Watch a video with a selection of photos of LED lighting under cabinets in the kitchen

Advantages of installing LED lighting under cabinets

Installing lighting under wall cabinets provides good lighting desktop. Sunbathing on full power carried out instantly, unlike other lamps. The operating period of LEDs is long, independent of the frequency of switching on/off modes. Taking into account the low energy consumption, over several decades it will be possible to save a good amount, which will find more than useful application.

To connect LED lamp no need to change the lamp and wiring. It is enough to select the desired power and the base, which will have the corresponding lighting device options.

Read also: Why does the bathroom smell like sewer: causes and solutions

During operation, energy-efficient lamps practically do not heat up and do not create noise. The only drawback can be considered the high cost. However, if we take into account durability and economical energy consumption, then this fact does not find confirmation.

Installation location for LED lighting

The fixing point itself under the kitchen wall drawers is the best option lighting of the work area. The stream of light does not blind the hostess's eyes and provides a sufficient overview of the entire table, which facilitates comfortable cooking. Additionally, you can install an LED strip along the top of the wall cabinets under the ceiling and at the bottom to give the furniture structure weightlessness.

Often designers offer non-standard lighting solutions:

In the exhaust area;

In cabinets with glass doors;

Under the tabletop;

Bar counter.

An interesting option installation is considered luminous table top. It is made from several layers of laminated glass or transparent polymer. The backlight is mounted from below in such a way that in operating mode the entire area is illuminated.

And the installation of a luminous skin in the work apron area is simply the squeak of fashion. A LED panel with interesting artistic content will be a highlight kitchen interior and will turn the cooking process into a real art.

Read also: Do-it-yourself laminate repair: types of damage, laminate care

Types of LEDs for the kitchen

The lighting can be purchased ready-made or mounted according to an exclusive scheme from individual elements. The following types of devices are used for this:

Linear overhead and mortise;

Point and mortise invoices;

LED strips.

Overhead lamps are easier to install, but recessed ones look much more impressive. Glowing strips are cheaper. They can be selected by brightness, color, size. Today this type is considered the most popular.

Diode strip selection criteria

For safe operation, the diode product must be protected from water. Recommended moisture resistance ratings are: IP44, IP65, IP67 at a voltage of 12 W. For normal perception of the light flux by the eyes, you should choose an option that is close to natural light. Color temperature parameters should be in the range of 3300 – 500 K. In terms of glow intensity, an SMD 35x28 strip model (including 30 diodes of 5 lumens per 1 m) will be acceptable.

Features of installing LED strip with your own hands

For installing lighting under the curtain Kitchen Cabinet materials needed:

Ribbon required length;

Aluminum profile(if fixation is carried out with his participation);

An electrical cable with a double braid (cross-sectional index - at least 2x0.75 mm2), plug (or terminal block);

To provide comfortable conditions LED lighting for kitchens under cabinets is often used these days. Detailed introduction to technical means and installation techniques will be useful in practice. In some cases, it is quite acceptable to perform the entire complex of work with your own hands, without involving third-party specialists, extra costs and hassle.

Read in the article

Basic definitions and project preparation

First, we need to note the reasons why this particular type of lighting fixture was chosen.

Take note:

Their short service life is accompanied by increased energy costs. Such devices have impressive dimensions and are difficult to hide in furniture elements.

But these fragile flasks contain chemical compounds harmful to humans. Care must be taken when replacing. Large dimensions mean limited possibilities for use in confined spaces.

Halogen lamps also consume quite a lot of electricity. These are point light sources.

With these disadvantages in mind, here are the advantages of LED under cabinet lighting:

These devices, with the same luminous flux, consume less electricity than energy-saving models of fluorescent lamps.
They are characterized by an increased service life. Standard modern devices perform their functions for 25 thousand hours when switched on and more.
LEDs turn on quickly, without delay. During operation, they shine evenly and do not make any extraneous sounds.
They do not contain mercury vapor or other dangerous chemical compounds.
Such devices do not emit waves in the infrared range of the spectrum.
They are equipped with effective electronic circuits that compensate for large voltage drops in the power supply network.
created in the form of ribbons, point and volumetric sources. With a wide range of models, it is not difficult to find an option that ideally matches the needs of users.
It should be emphasized that LED light sources are well compatible with the latest systems remote and program control. They do not create network congestion.

The only drawback is the high cost. But for an accurate comparison, you need to calculate how long the LED kitchen lighting will work under. When summing up the final result, taking into account the costs of paying electricity bills, it is not difficult to draw the correct conclusion.

This advantage Designers especially appreciate it. They are often used to create exclusive, effective illumination of elements, and eliminate some architectural defects.

Why do you need LED lighting for the kitchen under cabinets?

The list of benefits partially answers this question. But for accuracy, it is necessary to study in more detail the functionality of such kitchen lighting. First of all, it is necessary to create conditions that are comfortable for the human eye. Here we are talking not so much about the strength of light, but about its quality.

All residents use the kitchen every day, quite a lot of the time. Here it is necessary to ensure even light, without flickering or delays when turned on. Selecting a pleasant spectrum range will come in handy.

This room has several zones: for working with products, washing, hob, table for eating. They do not necessarily need to be used at the same time, so local installation of devices is suitable.

Various equipment works here, and ventilation is often used. Vibrations are possible high humidity, temperature changes. These unfavorable factors will not damage the LEDs. Other devices will fail faster in such conditions.

Review of overhead LED kitchen lights under cabinets

The following illustrations demonstrate the potential capabilities and different variants use of devices of this group.

Similar products released in standard sizes. They are suitable for completing cabinet furniture. This example shows the installation of the product in a cabinet niche.

This schematic drawing shows the housing. It is created from aluminum and metal alloys. It is intended not only to create the necessary rigidity of the frame. With its help, excess heat that is emitted by semiconductor devices when turned on is removed. The lid is made of translucent matte polymer. It scatters radiation. By maintaining a small distance between the diodes, it appears as if a solid strip is lighting up inside.

Such devices look like special supports for cabinets, made in high-tech style. In reality, these are economical light sources. They are placed above individual functional areas.

This lamp model is attached with screws to the bottom wall of the cabinet. It is connected to a standard 220 V power supply, so the necessary hole is created in the furniture for hidden wiring. Touch control is used here. To turn it on, just touch the marked spot on the device body.

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Recessed furniture LED lamps

This kitchen set lighting is installed in the furniture design.

For your information! Figure No. 15 shows the color temperature value. The range from 4000 °K to 6000 °K, as in the image, is a “cool” light, suitable for the design of ultra-modern interiors. Soft shades are created by a source with a temperature of 2000 °K to 3000 °K.

This model is equipped with a push-type connector. When the cabinet door is pulled out, voltage is applied to the electronic circuit. No additional user action is required to turn off the device.

Other placements of LED devices

The following figure demonstrates the possibilities for eliminating individual deficiencies in the interior.

The installation of such overhead LED kitchen lights under cabinets is designed to facilitate the visual perception of large, heavy objects. This creates the illusion of “floating” objects that do not rest on the floor. Please note the unlit areas for comparison. They look less harmonious.

Control devices

LED semiconductor devices operate when connected to constant voltage 12-24 V. Therefore, it is necessary to equip the system with a specialized device. It converts the standard 220 V alternating voltage. In some models, the corresponding unit is installed inside the lamp body.