Introduction
LED strip lights have become an increasingly popular way to add accent lighting to homes, businesses, and other spaces. Unlike traditional lighting fixtures, LED strip lights are thin, flexible strips that can be installed in tight spaces and virtually anywhere. They offer many benefits over other lighting options:
- Energy efficient - LED strip lights consume very little electricity compared to incandescent or fluorescent lighting. They last for years without needing replacement.
- Customizable - The LEDs come in various colors, and the strips can be cut to any length. You can create subtle accent lighting or vivid, colorful effects.
- Compact - The thin profile of LED strips allows them to fit where bulky fixtures won't. They can be hidden under cabinets, along cove ceilings, under counters and more.
- Durable - LED strips are made to withstand humidity and temperature fluctuations. The solid-state design has no fragile filaments or glass like traditional bulbs.
- Cool operation - LEDs produce almost no heat compared to other lighting, making them safe to install almost anywhere.
With minimal installation needed, LED strip lights offer a versatile and energy-efficient lighting solution for DIY projects or professional installations.
Decide on Placement
When installing LED strip lights, first decide where you want to add lighting in your home. Popular placement options include:
- Under kitchen cabinets - This highlights the countertops and provides task lighting for food prep and cooking. Measure the total length of your cabinetry to determine how many LED strip lights you'll need.
- Behind furniture - Placing LED strips behind headboards or entertainment centers creates a nice ambient glow. Measure the furniture to calculate the length required.
- Staircases - LED strip lights on stair risers illuminate each step for safety. Measure the total rise of your stairs.
- Cove lighting - Installing LED strips in coves provides indirect lighting. Determine the perimeter of your coves to find the necessary length.
Take measurements in the desired areas to figure out the total length of LED strips required for your project. This will help you purchase the correct quantity. Consider lighting goals and aesthetics as you decide where to place the LED strip lights. Under cabinets and furniture are popular choices to start with.
Select LED Strip Lights
When selecting LED strip lights, you first need to decide which type of strip is best for your application. Here are some of the main options:
Flexible LED Strips
Flexible LED strips are thin, bendable strips that can be installed in tight spaces and curved around corners. They come with an adhesive backing for easy mounting. Flexible strips are a good choice when you need to fit lights into a confined area or create custom shapes. Just be aware that flexible strips are not as durable as rigid strips.
Rigid LED Strips
Rigid LED strips have an inflexible plastic casing that houses the LEDs. They are sturdier than flexible strips and work well for long, straight runs. Rigid strips can be cut to size but you cannot bend them to fit corners. Choose rigid strips when you need lights for shelving, under cabinets, or other straight sections.
Waterproof LED Strips
For outdoor use or humid environments like bathrooms, waterproof LED strips are essential. They have a silicone coating and waterproof end connectors to prevent moisture damage. Fully encased outdoor strips provide maximum weather protection. Check the IP rating when choosing waterproof strips.
High Density LED Strips
High density LED strips pack more LEDs per foot, resulting in brighter light output. They work well as task lighting for counters or workbenches. Just keep in mind that more LEDs will also draw more power.
Single Color vs. RGB LED Strips
Single color LED strips emit one color of light, either warm white, cool white, or a single hue like red or blue. RGB LED strips contain red, green, and blue LEDs that can be controlled to produce any color. RGB strips allow dynamic, customizable lighting effects.
Determine Length Needed
When selecting LED strip lights, it's important to measure the area you want to install them in order to determine the total length needed. Keep a few things in mind when measuring:
- Measure the area in inches or feet. LED strip lights are sold by the foot or meter.
- Account for connectors. Most LED strip light rolls are sold in set lengths like 5m or 16.4ft. You'll need to connect multiple rolls to cover larger areas, so be sure to measure the total length needed and account for the connectors between each strip.
- Allow for slack. Leave a little extra length to make connecting and mounting easier. It's better to have too much than not enough.
- Consider lighting effects. For accent lighting like under cabinets, you may want a single continuous strip. For mood lighting like behind a TV, you may want two separate strips to allow for a gap in the middle.
- For complicated areas, make a sketch with measurements for each wall section. This will make it easier to calculate the total footage needed.
Carefully measuring and accounting for connectors allows you to purchase the correct amount of LED strip lights for your project. A bit of planning upfront prevents having to make extra trips to the store.
Choose Power Supply
When selecting a power supply for LED strip lights, it's important to match the voltage and length requirements. LED strip lights run on 12V or 24V DC power. The package or product listing for the lights will specify the voltage. Make sure to choose a power supply that provides the correct voltage.
The power supply also needs to be able to handle the total length of your LED strip lighting. Longer strips require more power. Add up the total length of your planned LED installation. Then check the power supply specs to make sure it can handle that footage. Power is measured in watts. A common guideline is 30-60 watts per 5 meters of LED strip lighting. So measure your planned length and get a power supply rated for the required wattage.
It's better to have a slightly higher wattage power supply than absolutely necessary. Undersized supplies can cause dimming or flickering. Oversized supplies will simply provide more than enough power. Just don't go drastically over as that is wasteful.
Getting the voltage and wattage right ensures your LED strip lights will shine bright. Take the time to calculate requirements and choose the appropriate power supply.
Mounting Options
There are a few different options for mounting LED strip lights:
Adhesives
Most LED strip lights come with an adhesive backing, making installation easy. Just peel off the adhesive backing and press the strip onto the surface. Adhesives that come with the lights are usually strong enough for most applications. If you need extra strength, you can use additional adhesive like liquid nails. Make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying the adhesive strips.
Tracks
For a more permanent solution, you can mount tracks or channels and then snap the LED strips into them. Aluminum tracks work well and provide a clean look. This also makes it easier to change out strips if needed down the road. Measure and cut the track to the desired length and use screws to mount to the surface.
Clips
There are various clip systems that allow you to mount LED strips without adhesives or tracks. These work well if you need to mount strips to surfaces not conducive to adhesives, like textured or uneven surfaces. Clips hook over the edge of the strip and have either screw holes or adhesive pads to affix them to the mounting surface.
Other Options
For some applications, you may want to get creative with the mounting method. You can use wire, hooks, zip ties, or make your own brackets as needed. Just make sure the strips are securely mounted, especially if they will be exposed to any vibration or movement.
The mounting method you choose will depend on the surface material, location, permanence needed, and aesthetic preferences. Take some time to consider the options and choose the best method for your unique installation.
Connecting the Strips
Connecting multiple LED strip lights together is easy with the right connectors. Most LED strip lights come with connectors at the end that allow you to join multiple strips.
There are a few types of connectors:
- Solderless connectors - These connectors allow you to simply push the end of one strip into one side of the connector and the next strip into the other side. No soldering or special tools required. Make sure the arrows on the strips line up with the arrows on the connector showing the direction of the current flow.
- Solder connectors - For a more permanent connection, solder connectors require you to solder the wires of each strip to the pads on the connector. This creates a solid connection but requires a soldering iron and some skill.
- Wire connectors - You can also join strips by cutting them and connecting the power wires directly using wire nuts or crimp connectors. Match positive to positive and negative to negative.
- Copper adhesive pads - Some strips have conductive copper pads on the ends instead of wires. You can join these by aligning the pads and using a special conductive adhesive strip to connect them.
When connecting strips, be mindful of the wiring order and current capacity. Join the strips in parallel or series depending on your power supply and layout. Test the connections to ensure proper polarity and that all the lights are working before installing the strips. With the right connectors, expanding your LED strip light system is straightforward.
Connecting to Power
Wiring the power supply correctly is a crucial step in installing LED strip lights. The power supply converts the standard 120V AC from your wall outlet into 12V DC that the LED strips require. Here are some tips for wiring:
- Read the manual for your specific power supply. There may be different wiring methods depending on the type. Some have screw terminal blocks, others may use bare wire connections.
- Identify the live, neutral, and ground wires coming from your AC power source. These usually follow standard color coding - green/yellow for ground, white for neutral, black for live. The power supply should have matching inputs marked.
- Connect the live wire to the LIVE or L input on the power supply. Connect the neutral wire to the N input. Connect the ground wire to the ground terminal. Make sure connections are tight and insulated.
- The power supply will now output 12V DC. There should be positive and negative screw terminals or wired outputs to connect to. Red is usually positive, black is negative.
- Connect the positive and negative output wires from the power supply to the corresponding inputs on your LED strip lights. Follow the polarity carefully. Reverse polarity can damage LEDs.
- Use wire nuts or crimp connectors to secure the wire connections. Add electrical tape for insulation. Take care not to pinch or damage wires.
- Ensure all wiring is tidy and enclosed in a protective junction box. Do not leave exposed conductors. Test lights before finishing installation.
Take the time to wire the power supply correctly. LED strips only work on DC power within a limited voltage range. Making proper connections from AC power to the DC LEDs is the key to a successful install.
Install the Strips
Once you've connected the LED strip lights to the power supply, it's time to install them in place. Carefully attach the strips using the mounting option you chose - adhesive tape, clips, channels, etc. Take your time and be precise to ensure they are securely mounted and positioned correctly.
If using adhesive tape, make sure the mounting surface is clean and dry first. Firmly press the strip lights down to adhere the tape. Run your finger along the strip to smooth the tape and ensure maximum stick.
For clip or channel mounts, insert the LED strip into the channel or clip at regular intervals as recommended. This prevents sagging and keeps the lighting even. Gently press the strip into the channel so it sits flush.
Use the markings on the strip to cut the lights to fit, allowing a little extra to connect to power. Avoid bending or crimping the strip at sharp corners. Instead, use a corner connector piece.
Once mounted, double check the strips are aligned properly and making solid contact with the mounting surface. Take a moment to test the lights and make any adjustments before finishing up.
Finishing Touches
The last step is to conceal any visible wires and test the LED strip lights. Here are some tips:
- For exposed areas, you can hide wires by running them behind baseboards or molding. Use cable clips or wire molding to neatly attach them.
- For concealed areas like under cabinets, simply tuck any excess wire into the cabinet. Use cable ties to bundle wires together and keep organized.
- Check for any wire slack and neatly coil excess behind fixtures. Any loose wires can get caught or be a tripping hazard.
- Once everything is installed and concealed, turn the LED strips on to test. Walk around and check for any dark or flickering spots and recheck connections as needed.
- Consider adding diffusers or lenses to soften the light or help blend the lighting strips into your space. They clip directly onto the strip.
- You can also trim LED strip lights to size if needed. Cut at the cut marks in between diodes.
- Finally, check for any visible hot spots or glare. You may need to reposition the strips or add diffusers. Enjoy your new lighting!
For more DIY tips and tricks, DIYwithHelp has got you covered…
If you need some professional guidance for your project, be sure to sign up for a free account with DIYwithHelp.com. Once you have an account, you can search our site (or fill out a project request form) and connect with expert tradespeople who are willing to lend their advice over scheduled video-calls.
