The white 12V LED strip is a specific printed circuit board, which consists of LEDs mounted in series, as well as resistors that play the role of resistance elements. Let's look at the features of connecting and installing the specified lighting fixture.
Selecting a profile for installing LED strip
The white LED strip is installed on profiles of a separate type. The latter facilitate the installation of lighting means. When assembled, such kits allow you to give the interior a complete attractive look.
Installing LED strips on profiles contributes to efficient heat dissipation. This approach to installation makes it possible to avoid overheating and eliminate additional costs for repair work.
Aluminum profile
Using a profile made of aluminum, the white LED strip can be securely fixed in the mounting system. Such fixtures have been developed to ensure the easiest and fastest installation of a lighting fixture in any interior.
Corner profile
In some situations, using a standard straight profile, it turns out to be quite difficult to install an LED strip in hard-to-reach places. To illuminate furniture, structural elements of the interior, it is rational to use an angular profile as an alternative to the ceiling plinth. When using such a convenient tool, the widest scope opens up for the implementation of original interior ideas. Due to the small dimensions of the corner profile, the white LED strip can be installed in the most non-standard places.
Embedded profile
The built-in profile made of metal is resistant to external influences. This solution allows you to give the lighting a more voluminous look. Installation of structures of this category is possible due to landing on glue or fixing with special fasteners.
How to split the LED strip?
Any white LED strip will contain markings that indicate where to cut. Even in the case of a mistake, the user in the worst case loses a section the size of several LEDs. At the same time, the remaining parts of the divided product will continue to function properly. It is convenient to use scissors as a cutting tool.
What is required for installation?
In order for the bright white LED strip to have the ability to adjust the saturation of lighting, it must be equipped with a special dimmer. Later the setting will bebe done using the remote control.
To implement the circuit, you will need a power supply. The latter will play the role of a step-down transformer. When choosing it, it is important to correctly calculate the power ratio, since each white LED strip has individual parameters.
Installation
In circuits where a single-color LED strip (neutral white) is used, a power supply is involved. As noted above, to adjust the saturation of the lighting, they resort to using a dimmer.
The standard power supply comes with a power cord and several single-color electrical conductors, marked with the letters "L" and "N". These wires are used to connect the tape to the dimmer. Additional conductors are also contained here: red - plus and blue - minus.
The connection procedure involves connecting the tape to a 12V low voltage output and a power supply. This completes the process of connecting the standard tape. However, this method is relevant only for a continuous reel several meters long. But what to do if you need to mount LED lighting around the entire perimeter of the ceiling? In such situations, one has to resort to connecting individual segments. To implement the task, special connectors are required. These connectors can be either round or flat. In each specific situation, everything depends on the characteristics of the tape used.
Separate pieces of tape can be connectedsequentially. However, this method has some drawbacks. First of all, a certain voltage drop will be observed on each segment, which will be reflected in the uneven brightness of the tape. Secondly, in this case, too much current will flow through the tracks, which is fraught with excessive heating of the LEDs and, accordingly, a decrease in the life of the tape.
You can get out of the above situation by connecting the tape segments in parallel. This will require the purchase of additional conductors with a cross section of the order of 1 mm. With the help of the last pieces of the LED strip are spliced by soldering. The option under consideration looks relevant in situations where it is possible to hide a massive power supply behind ceilings or interior elements.
Security requirements
When installing the LED strip, follow these rules:
- when making connections by soldering, avoid damaging the conductive tracks on the circuit board;
- power connection should be made in accordance with the requirements of electrical engineering;
- during the installation of lighting, polarity must be observed;
- when installing the LED strip, series connection is not recommended (uneven voltage distribution can lead to overloads of electronic components and damage to the product).
Benefits of creating lighting with LED strip
The bright white LED strip has the following advantages:
- Installation of such lighting is particularly easy. Most products are equipped with double-sided adhesive tape, with which it is convenient to stick the product to the ceiling or a special profile.
- Use of the LED strip is accompanied by low energy costs.
- LEDs have the longest lifespan of any household lighting source. If used correctly, the tapes do not burn out at all.
- The flexibility of the board on which the lighting elements are located contributes to the implementation of the most original design ideas.
Disadvantages of LED strips
Like any lighting device, LED strips have some drawbacks. So, to achieve the power equivalent to conventional lighting fixtures, much more energy will have to be applied to the tape. Due to significant financial costs, such funds are used only as auxiliary decorative lighting.
In closing
As you can see, the assembly of components, connection and installation of the LED strip on the ceiling are not particularly difficult. However, the work must be done carefully, since making mistakes in the configuration of the circuit can render the lighting equipment unusable.
It is also worth noting that the place where it is planned to mount the LEDs with double-sided adhesive tape should not be dirty or dusty. Otherwise, the lighting means will not hold securely enough onsurface.
