The LED profile in the backlight performs two main functions:
- heat removal from the LED strip, the diode temperature in which should not exceed 60 degrees
- decorative function - as an element of decoration
The LED strip heats up during its operation and the more it heats up, the faster the crystals in the LEDs degrade. That is, the tape will lose brightness much earlier than its warranty period.
Therefore, it needs to maintain a certain operating temperature. This is achieved by heat removal from the surface of aluminum profiles.
Kinds
Profiles are divided into 3 types:
- overhead – those that are placed on top of the surface or suspended from it
- corner - placed in the corner of a cabinet or ceiling and usually shines at an angle of 45 degrees to the surface
- mortise - have protrusions on the sides that cover irregularities and chips along the edges of the groove, where they are inserted
The groove is specially created on the surface, and the profile, after immersion in it, is obtained at the same level with this very surface.
Since the main function of the LED profile is heat removal, a very important parameter that you should pay attention to is its surface area.
Keep in mind that heat is dissipated not only from the bottom substrate, but also from the side edges.
The higher they are, the better. Therefore, when installing, be sure to maintain free air access to each side.
For example, when installing an overlay profile, at least one surface (bottom) is already insulated. Therefore, it is necessary to make special spacers on it.
These can be plastic or metal elements. It is best to use factory mounting clips for this.
The main thing is to ensure air passage under the substrate.
It is advisable to maintain the distance from the wall to the bottom surface at least 3 mm.
If you can’t do this, buy products with high sides - 15-20mm. Then it will be possible to fasten closely.
There are also profiles that come complete with a removable base. In them, the base is first attached to the surface, and the profile itself is inserted into it. The necessary gap is provided between them.
The rules for creating gaps also apply to the sides. They cannot be mounted, as they say, end-to-end with another surface.
In addition to better cooling, high sides have another advantage. Thanks to them, special connectors for connecting pieces of tape can be easily placed inside.
If the sides are low, you will have to remove the top closing cover from the connector. And insert the connector itself from the side, after grinding it down a little with a file.
Based on the above, it is best to use overhead profiles. In any case, other types will be closed from air on either side.
As soon as the mortise profile is inserted into the groove, three sides are immediately insulated. Only the area of the upper protruding side remains, and this will clearly not be enough.
It is recommended to choose models in which this area will be as wide as possible. Firstly, better cooling, and secondly, you don’t need to cut a groove in the furniture with millimeter precision. Make a mistake and the profile will simply fall through there.
In fact, mortise views perform only one function - decorative. For powerful LED strips, if there are no voids or gaps, it is better not to use them, maximum for strips up to 9.6 W/meter.
The same applies to corner models. When you put them in a corner, you immediately isolate it on both sides.
Therefore, it is not advisable to use such profiles specifically as a heat sink when working with bright and powerful LED strips SMD 5050, 5630, 5730.
Several types of aluminum profiles from Klus, their components and sizes:
PDSAlu-PowerAlu-WideEXHRPLS-LockPLS-GipPHSMic
Prices and manufacturers
There are many varieties of special profiles on the market that are made for LED strips. However, such a component often costs the same as the strip itself, which makes the purchase quite significant in terms of financial costs. This is precisely what became an obstacle to the widespread distribution of specialized products. However, there is a demand for it too.
The Polish company Klus boasts a huge assortment , which is expanding in color variety:
- The PDS4-K mortise box can be purchased in silver, black or gold. Its cost is approximately 400 rubles per linear meter.
- The finely planted OPAC-30 series is available in brown upon request. It costs more than the basic one (580 rubles/m).
- Several tapes are freely placed in a special box with a corrugated surface. You can buy it for 600 rubles.
- Aluminum corner profile with a finned radiator for effective heat dissipation KOPRO 30 is sold at a price of 650 rubles/linear. m.
- Three paired tape guides distinguish the TRIADA overhead or hanging pattern. It allows you to combine colors at the owner’s request. Such a product costs 1300 rubles/m.
It should be noted that the diffusers are sold separately at a price of 110-140 rubles. There are also accessories in stores - simple and conductor plugs, which simplify the installation process and wiring of the power cable. If you add up the costs, the total will be impressive. But you need to take into account that everything can be purchased at once in one place, and if necessary, you can purchase the necessary components.
Products from China will be a little cheaper. The international company Arlight produces its parts and equipment there. Its products are 10-20 percent cheaper than their Polish counterparts. Most models are compatible with two types of diffusers, rectangular or round in shape with a transparent or matte surface.
In numerous retail outlets you can find an inexpensive profile without the manufacturer’s logo. It is marked only with a set of numbers and letters. In this case, a careful visual inspection of the sample should be performed.
The aluminum profile must be anodized. Otherwise, it will remain unprotected from atmospheric influences, scratches, and its external attractiveness will be replaced by tarnishing. The scattering screen must be checked for clearance. It should have a homogeneous structure, without cracks or tides of plastic.
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Diffuser
Special polycarbonate diffusers can be selected for all profiles. Polycarbonate has high mechanical strength and is not subject to destruction from ultraviolet radiation.
The glow angle of the LED strip is 120 degrees and it simply illuminates the space in front of it without any screens. At the same time, with low-power diodes you can visually observe pronounced points of glow, and sometimes dark spaces between them.
Here is a clear difference in the luminous flux with and without a diffuser:
To increase the area of the illuminated space and smooth out dark stripes, a diffuser is used. In addition, it also performs a protective function against accidental damage from foreign objects and splashes.
Diffusers are:
- transparent
- matte or milky - they transmit 60% of light
- semi-matte – throughput 70-75%
- internal - inserted into the groove
- external - put on over the sides
Recommended distance from baseboard to ceiling
The size of the indents depends on what effect is being achieved. The closer the LED strip is to the surface, the narrower and brighter the outline.
The minimum distance from the ceiling is 50 mm. The maximum depends on the height: the illuminated ceiling plinth should be located above eye level in order to hide the tape itself. Baguettes are not mounted below 20 cm from the surface of the floors.
Attention! If the LEDs are sparsely located or the strip is glued close to the ceiling, it is better to cover it with a plastic diffuser screen. Then individual points will not be noticeable on the surface. And in wet rooms, transparent covers are installed to protect against splashes and dust.
Stubs
End caps can be installed on each side of the profile. They also serve as a decorative element to give the lighting a finished look.
The plugs have holes for the wires to come out. If you want no wires to be visible on the mounted backlight, you can file the profile from the end and secretly bring out the power from the back side.
It turns out that using 4 components - a tape, a profile, a diffuser and plugs, you can independently assemble your own lamp of any size. It can be used on the ceiling, hung in the middle of the room on special hangers like factory models.
Only straight profiles are commercially available. If you need to make semicircular lighting on any arch or round ceiling, then there are two options:
- independently bend to the desired radius
- use low-power LED strip P=9.6 W/m max without profile
How to choose a box for LED strip
Today, companies offer many different options that differ in properties and characteristics. Next, you will learn about the main selection criteria.
Material selection
As noted earlier, production can be made from aluminum or plastic. In the first case you get:
- high reliability;
- ease of installation;
- long service life;
- tightness (LEDs will be protected from dust and moisture);
- corrosion resistance.
As for plastic boxes, they differ:
- more affordable price;
- flexibility (you can create models of complex shapes);
- protection from dust and dirt;
- ease of maintenance.
Technical features
First of all, you should pay attention to the rigidity of the structure. High-quality boxes for LED strip weigh 300-400 grams. As a rule, they cannot withstand heavy loads.
The next parameter is heat removal efficiency. For example, matrices 5630 and 5730 can withstand up to 3 W per sq.cm. Such solutions are suitable for large rooms. For a small store, a value of 0.6 W/cm2 is quite sufficient.
Dimensions of channel cable for LED strip
Industrial options have the following sizes:
- thickness - from 2.2 to 5.6 mm;
- length - no more than 5 m;
- width - 7-10 m.
On sale you can find a large selection of different options. Choose the most suitable one.
Installation of the overlay profile
Fastening is carried out in three ways:
- on double-sided tape
- on screws or dowels
- on glue
For installation with self-tapping screws you will need the following tools:
Use a tape measure to measure the distance at the fastening site.
Then use a hacksaw to cut off the required length of the profile.
At the base, drill several holes with a diameter of 3 mm for 3.5 mm screws.
Some types of plugs already have holes for fasteners. Therefore, before drilling the edges, check what kind of plugs you have.
The pitch between the holes is 100-200mm . Do not forget to countersink each hole under the screw head, otherwise the tape in these places will peel off.
Using screws, mount the base backing in place of the backlight.
Measure the required length of the LED strip according to the length of the substrate and cut according to the cutting marks.
Remove the protective layer of double-sided tape and glue the tape. Install the diffuser and plug.
After that, all that remains is to insert the profile into the base already fixed to the surface and connect the power wires to the block.
DDE Inverter Generator
DDE constantly surprises its customers with its pleasant pricing policy. For example, the following unit is inexpensive and requires a minimum amount of fuel to operate:
- Model name: inverter station DDE DPG1101i.
- Price: on Yandex Market with delivery in Moscow and the region from 5,500 rubles.
- Characteristics: engine volume – 63 cm³, active power – 900 kW, tank capacity – 2.6 l, operating time – 5 hours.
- Pros: small size and weight, easy launch.
- Cons: will soon require replacement parts.
For construction work, welding and other heavy loads, DDE recommends purchasing:
- Model name: DDE DPW160i device.
- Price: you can buy an inverter generator for your home for 33,000 rubles.
- Characteristics: tank volume – 12 l, active power – 3 kW, number of cycles – 4, air cooling type.
- Pros: lightweight, suitable for welding.
- Cons: at the slightest overheat it reboots.
Installation of mortise profile
First, form a groove in the furniture or other material, according to the profile dimensions.
From the very edge, drill a hole-notch for the power wires.
Then glue the tape and insert the diffusion lens.
All that remains is to install the plug and drive the whole thing into the groove. If the groove is made end-to-end, you can use a rubber hammer.
Nuances of installing eaves lighting with a suspended ceiling
This combination is often used in decoration. To make the interior look beautiful, it is important to follow several rules.
You should not choose such lighting with a glossy film. The diodes and power supply will be reflected in the canvas, and the glare will hurt your eyes.
LED strip is used with a two-level ceiling if there is a matte canvas near the walls. There may be a smooth film in the center. The location of the diodes is calculated in such a way that the rays do not fall on the gloss.
Advice! If the suspended ceiling has not yet been installed, it is better to choose a special profile with a channel for the LED strip. The canvas is tucked into it and the LED strip is laid. To create contour lighting in tension structures, a contour profile or baguette for floating ceilings is used. This reduces overall installation time because fillets are not required.
Examples in the interior
Curtain lighting is a practical and stylish solution. It will suit a room of any purpose and size.
Benefits of the solution
Installing contour lighting using ceiling plinths provides us with a number of advantages:
- As I noted, this is a fairly simple way to install lighting. We don't need to build additional frames, attach grooves, etc., so the whole job can take literally a few hours.
The installation technology itself is not complicated
- Financial costs will also be relatively small. Yes, a high-quality LED strip costs a lot, and you won’t have to buy the cheapest baseboard. But otherwise, it’s a completely economical solution, at least compared to other lighting methods.
- The efficiency of lighting mounted according to a contour scheme is also sufficient. By choosing bright LEDs (more on this below), you can radically solve the problem of background light. And if you consider that the energy consumption of LED strips is minimal, the savings on room lighting will be significant.
On a cloudy day, such a luminous circuit perfectly replaces an energy-intensive chandelier
- Finally, ceiling lighting using LED strips allows you to realize a variety of ideas for lighting decor. So it's at least very beautiful!
The design potential of the solution is difficult to overestimate
