LED lighting for display cases: features of lighting for specific product groups

How to create showcase lighting?

LEDs in shop window lighting, as in other areas of human life, are becoming increasingly popular. After all, this is a high-quality and fairly economical light source that will not allow the buyer to pass by your product. At the moment, many options for LED lighting for stores have been created, but not all of them are correct.

After all, the light of the window must attract the buyer, and for this everything must be thought out to the smallest detail. This is what we will talk about in our article.

An important parameter is the color rendering index

LED store lighting

One of the important nuances of organizing lighting in sales areas or stores is the correct selection of the light source. Today, for these purposes, as briefly mentioned above, different models of light bulbs are used:

LED Such products are the most popular today. This is due to the fact that it allows you to consume a minimum of electricity with excellent luminous flux characteristics. Therefore, LED lamps today are most often used to illuminate all types of retail premises;

halogen Such light bulbs also provide a fairly good luminous flux, but at the same time they heat up, which slightly increases the risk of a fire hazard. Therefore, when using such light sources, fire safety rules must be observed;

Halogen display lighting

luminescent. They take second place in popularity after LED products. Fluorescent light bulbs are only slightly inferior to LED products.

Fluorescent store lighting

Each lamp model has such a characteristic as a color temperature index

It reflects the extent to which a light source is able to convey the natural colors of the object it illuminates. Note! The minimum color rendering index value is 45%. In this situation, it is assumed that 55% of the color will be subject to distortion. Therefore, when choosing light bulbs for retail premises, the color rendering index should be 90% or higher

Choice

If the design decision for ceiling lighting has been made, then you can begin choosing LED sources.

Thus, an instance marked SMD 3528 with a diode density of 60 pieces per 1 linear meter (pcs/lm) has a light power of 4.8 W, 120 pcs/lm - 7.2 W, 240 pcs/l .m – 16 W. SMD 5050 tape: 30 pcs/rm – 7.2 W, 60 pcs/rm – 14 W, 120 pcs/rm – 25 W. The more power a tape has, the more expensive it costs. After all, a 5050 type LED consists of 3 3528 LEDs.

For a stretch ceiling, several strips with different densities of diodes are often used. For slopes – 30 or 60 pcs/rm, for shelves – 60 or 120 pcs/rm.

The type of lighting line also depends on the density of the diodes: solid (at high density) or intermittent, wavy (at low density).

Cooling. High power LED sources may require cooling. Therefore, they are additionally equipped with a radiator - a special aluminum profile.
Power supply and controller. The power source is selected based on the power of the light source, taking into account a thirty percent power reserve. It is also necessary to consider what input voltage the LED strip has. Some of them are designed for an input voltage of 220 Volts, but they are used for outdoor installation. If the required power supply load is more than 50 W, then the best option is to select several power supplies of lower power and size.
Moisture protection. If there is high humidity in the room or there is a risk of LEDs getting wet, you should choose waterproof tapes. They have silicone waterproofing. The class of such protection is indicated by the IP index (for example, IP44).
Connection and connection. Typically, commercially available LED strips are five meters long. To lengthen, they can be connected in series, but no more than 3 pieces. To achieve longer lengths, parallel connection is recommended. When connecting tapes, carefully monitor the polarity of the connection. Failure to do so may result in LED burnout.

Important! How to change a light bulb in a false ceiling spot

Applications and benefits

LED sources can be used to illuminate various types of showcases:

counters and refrigerators in supermarkets;
watch, perfume and jewelry stores;
boutiques with clothing or mobile accessories.

Try to make sure that the product is presented to the potential buyer in the best light. Take this recommendation both literally and figuratively. Today, diode lamps have no analogues in terms of light quality. Also, do not forget about another fundamental factor - saving energy. And in this regard, LEDs are also second to none.

The advantages of these lighting devices do not end there. Add to all of the above a minimal amount of heat and the absence of harmful substances released during operation, thanks to which the products can be successfully used on food counters. They are easy to install, require much less maintenance during operation, and are not picky in terms of maintenance, which cannot be said about fluorescent lamps and filament lamps. At the same level of illumination, the power of an LED lamp will be several times lower than usual.

And yet, despite the significant cost-effectiveness, the main advantage of LED products when lighting shop windows is the excellent quality of light, characterized by natural, vibrant shades. Thanks to RGB technology, store owners or managers have endless possibilities when lighting their display cases. If yellow shades, which are inherent in fluorescent and conventional lamps, are the most beneficial for living rooms and office premises, then this approach will be incompatible with attempts to display the product in the right light.

The service life of LEDs is increased due to the use of a special driver that stabilizes the voltage and converts alternating current into direct current. Thanks to this, the brightness of LED sources remains at the same level for many years.

What is Ice backlight

LED lighting is created using LED light sources. These include lamps, strips, panels and other lighting devices. LED bulbs are used to create general lighting. Multi-level ceilings and design elements are illuminated using LED strips.

Advantages and disadvantages

Lighting using LED products is actively used in the modern world. This is explained by the advantages that LEDs provide:

stylish appearance of the product;
high efficiency;
efficiency;
long service life;
low labor intensity during installation;
environmental friendliness;
safety;
functionality;
compactness, flexibility;
color variety.

There is only one drawback - LED sources are more expensive than their classic counterparts. But this price pays off due to long operation and low power consumption.

Application area

LED lighting is used everywhere - in apartments, in architecture, on the streets, in advertising banners. LEDs are also used in the backlighting of televisions, smartphones and tablets.

Showcase lighting standards

If the shape and appearance of LED lamps can be different, then the level of illumination when illuminating shop windows is noted in a special section of SNiP

It is important to strictly follow these rules and recommendations

Lighting brightness is considered the main limiting factor when choosing lighting fixtures. Moreover, these restrictions may vary depending on the category of the street, so that the storefront of one particular establishment does not become a bright spot in the entire lighting ensemble of the block. For example, on the central streets of megacities, lighting can and should be much brighter than in some nooks or passages in urban settlements. In the first case, the illumination level of shop windows can reach 300 lx.

Please note that limits have been created not only for the average value, but also for the total illumination along the vertical plane. On the other hand, you also need to take into account what product is being advertised.

The illumination for light products can be reduced by several points, while for dark ones it should be increased.

SNiP also displays color rendering coefficients for products of different categories. If for groceries or a display case with household appliances the color rendering index can be 70%, then for other products the parameter is at least 80%. The higher the characteristic, the higher the requirements for the LEDs used. High color rendering is especially important in clothing boutiques, including fitting rooms.

The third indicator you should pay attention to is color temperature. In this regard, semiconductors are considered universal products, so it is enough to be guided by SNiP standards

The last parameter is related to reflected highlights. Devices should not shine directly into the eyes of visitors and drivers of cars driving close to the display cases. The same applies to mirror surfaces that can reflect radiation.

Tape selection

Which tape to choose for the street? There is nothing complicated about this, the main thing is to pay attention to several parameters:

Degree of protection against moisture penetration (IP).
Supply voltage.
Glow color.

Let's look at each point in more detail. The first thing you should worry about is that the selected device corresponds to the climatic conditions in which it will be located.

Therefore, when choosing external lighting, pay attention to the degree of ingress protection, that is, the IP rating. To use the LED strip outdoors, the IP65-IP66 protection level is suitable.

The first digit of the indicator means protection from external penetration - “6” indicates dust resistance. The second digit IP means protection against the harmful effects of water:

“5” implies protection from water jets from any direction;
“6”, respectively, protection from sea waves and strong jets of water.

Thus, depending on your decision regarding the location of the LED strip, you prefer one or another degree of protection. There are fully sealed LED strips with IP67 and IP68 protection, but their price will also be higher, so decide on your needs and make the best choice.

The next thing to think about is connectivity. The LED strip can be powered by DC voltages of 12 V, 24 V, 36 V and 48 V

But, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that there are tapes that operate on 220 V. This is implemented using a diode bridge (for connection you need one piece per 100 m of length)

This modification is very convenient, because for the first option, you will need to place power supplies somewhere every 5 meters, or additionally make cable wiring for parallel connection of lighting devices.

When installing an external LED strip, it is important to choose the right type of glow. They come in single color or RGB

This abbreviation means the possibility of a multi-color glow of the tape due to mixing three colors (red, green, blue) found in the LED. Therefore, based on your needs, choose the option that suits you, but rest assured, with the help of sealed RGB tapes, you can create at least the entire rainbow spectrum in absolutely any weather.

Why do you need high-quality lighting?

Properly organized lighting of shops and trading floors is very important in the field of trade. With the help of high-quality lighting, several problems are solved at once:

high-quality lighting is created for visitors in all areas of the store, not only display windows, but also fitting rooms or other premises;

Lighting in the store

the opportunity to present the product to customers in a more favorable light (both literally and figuratively);

proper lighting is one of the means to attract potential buyers (with a bright sign and a colorful display);
the risks of theft are minimized;
the workflow of store or sales floor employees is optimized;
an optimal luminous flux is created, which will be comfortable for both the hall staff and its visitors to work and stay in.

A bright and spacious room, a well-lit showcase and high-quality designer finishes will help bring the store to the TOP, making it the most visited. Moreover, regardless of the type of products sold there. Although the product, of course, will play a decisive role in successful trading

Lighting in this situation acts only as a beautiful wrapper, attracting customers. At the same time, you need to remember that you need to pay attention to the quality of the equipment used and the types of light sources (fluorescent, halogen or LED)

TV backlight

Lighting your TV with an LED strip yourself is a creative way to improve the visual effect when watching videos. You can make a simple and complicated version of the backlight. Simple - involves mounting the device around the perimeter on the back panel of the TV, and control only using a controller if an RGB strip is used or a switch if it is single-color. This lighting option creates an interesting accent on the TV as a piece of furniture when it is turned off. It also allows you to watch it with comfort for the eyes, in the absence of other lighting. It is not recommended to watch TV in complete darkness, as it has a bad effect on vision, and when the external lighting is on, the atmosphere is lost. Therefore, creating backlighting from LED strip is an excellent solution.

It will be more difficult to implement intelligent TV backlighting. It is a glow that changes dynamics depending on the image on the screen. This can be achieved by using the TV as a computer monitor. Then, using a special Arduino controller, an LED driver and four pieces of RGB tape, you can create an amazing effect when watching a video. The controller program analyzes each frame on the screen and, depending on it, sends signals about the intensity of individual colors in sections of the LED strip.

Jewelry store decoration

An ideally designed jewelry store is a low-key, simple, elegant design, such as high-tech and flooded with bright light.

All customer attention should be focused on jewelry and precious metals placed on display cases and counters

The best lighting for such stores is cool light. Directional cold light is perfect for illuminating products. It favorably emphasizes expensive goods, especially products with precious stones, which, of course, helps to increase sales of a jewelry store. Gold, platinum and silver also require an individual approach to lighting. Products made of gold look best when illuminated in warm shades; for silver products, cool lighting is more suitable. When planning lighting, you should also take into account the fact that the lamps in the display cases are very close to the products. This requires careful selection of fixtures and lamps, as well as their style.

Turn on the tape

We supply power - turn on the switch on the “roof” of the display case.

We turn on the display case. Backlighting in all its glory.

What we were aiming for:

Showcase lighting with LED strip

Looks much more beautiful in real life than in the photo. And with the product – it’s absolutely beautiful! If you're in Arbuz, you'll see this display case on the first floor.

Showcase with LED strip

It seems that everything I wanted was stated. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments.

Showcases and racks: lighting in retail outlets

Professional window display designers with glass know well that each type of product corresponds to a specific color of light flux. In order to create high-quality lighting for shop windows, it is necessary to take into account even small details. Under certain conditions, they turn from secondary to major and begin to play a leading role.

As examples, the following features of LED lighting can be noted:

When decorating display cases for the sale of alcoholic beverages, racks with installed wines are equipped with low-power lamps. The bottles are placed at the top of the rack, and light exposure to them becomes as limited as possible.
It is recommended to illuminate confectionery products placed in a glass cabinet with yellow light.
Street display cases with dairy products, ice cream and drinks are illuminated by white LEDs with a blue tint of cool tones.
Fresh meat and sausage products are illuminated with pink light, making the product visually fresher and more attractive.
In stores selling perfumes, it is recommended to use LED strip lighting for display cases. This is especially true when heat from other types of lighting can have a negative effect on sensitive cosmetic products. Therefore, LEDs are selected very carefully, and their color temperature is in the range of 6000-6500 K.

Installing LED strips is very simple and does not cause any difficulties even for novice professionals. After high-quality installation, showcases can be illuminated from any angle, diffused or spot light. A variety of colors and shades emphasizes all the advantages and benefits of the displayed goods.

Mounting an LED strip with your own hands is not difficult at all. In addition to the tape itself and the mounting profile, you need to stock up on a power supply and a controller that allows you to program any lighting options. Batteries may be required for autonomous operation. The installation process can be significantly speeded up if you use self-adhesive LED strip. It can be easily cut with scissors into pieces of the required length and, if all the rules are followed, remains almost invisible.

Using LEDs in lighting and decoration

In modern lighting and illumination systems, LEDs occupy an absolute leading position, especially in matters of their safe and economical use. Their use helps to significantly reduce the load on electrical networks due to minimal energy consumption.

LED lighting devices do not have thermal and ultraviolet radiation; they can produce light fluxes of various shades and tones. Therefore, when decorating retail outlets, you can always choose the most suitable option for illuminating display cases with a particular product. LEDs do not contain incandescent filaments, which are typical for conventional and fluorescent lamps; they do not contain mercury or other harmful components.

In order for a backlit glass display case to be as effective as possible, it must be designed correctly. In the absence of your own knowledge and experience, it is recommended to entrust such work to professional performers. However, many people undertake to solve this problem on their own. It is significantly simplified due to the compact overall dimensions that distinguish LED lamps for display cases used for illumination.

Modern LEDs are ideal for backlit display cabinets or shelving. Providing spot or diffuse illumination, they provide the most profitable and attractive presentation of goods to customers. A special effect is achieved when lighting jewelry, which sparkles and shines under the influence of light directed at them after installing jewelry display lighting.

Showcase lighting standards

Unlike the external or design features of lamps, the level of illumination of goods is quite strictly regulated by SNiP. All factors are taken into account - from the individual indicators of a given showcase, ensuring clear visibility of details and high-quality color rendition, as well as general lighting conditions, eliminating excessive highlighting of one area among many others.

The location of the external storefront is taken into account - on crowded city highways the degree of illumination should be much higher than that of storefronts on quiet, poorly lit streets

In addition, such indicators as color rendering and color temperature of lamps are regulated. The first indicator allows 70% for grocery or appliance displays, but 80% must be provided for all other types of products. The color temperature of lamps directly affects color rendering; in addition, it is a factor that determines the negative impact of lighting on passers-by or drivers of cars passing nearby.

Showcase lighting standards

If the shape and appearance of LED lamps can be different, then the level of illumination when illuminating shop windows is noted in a special section of SNiP

It is important to strictly follow these rules and recommendations

The illumination for light products can be reduced by several points, while for dark ones it should be increased.

The third indicator you should pay attention to is color temperature. In this regard, semiconductors are considered universal products, so it is enough to be guided by SNiP standards

Tips and tricks

There are certain recommendations for lighting specific products:

It is best to illuminate cosmetics with devices whose light is as close as possible to natural daylight;
light yellow shades are suitable for confectionery products;
sausages and meat products should be illuminated with pink colors;
in the case of wines, dim light from low power diodes is suitable;
jewelry can be illuminated with bright semiconductors with any color rendering;
For industrial products, illumination should be provided from below.

And yet, despite the high popularity of LED products and their versatility when organizing display lighting, a balanced approach and painstaking selection of lamps, the diodes placed in them and the location of devices are required. The process is expensive, so many people want their lighting system to last as long as possible. And to do this, you need to turn to specialists who will develop an effective lighting design that will increase the popularity of the establishment and attract even more visitors.

Organization of lighting

How to make lighting with your own hands? Manufacturing technology depends on the chosen type of lamps.

Selection and installation of LED strip

When choosing an LED strip, you must consider:

type of lighting. Ribbons with single-color and multi-color glow are available for sale;

Types of LED strips

lighting intensity (brightness), which depends on the number of light bulbs and the power of the equipment.

To assemble a lamp from an LED strip, you will additionally need:

power unit;
connecting wires;
controller and control panel for multi-color ribbon. The equipment is designed to select and switch operating modes;
aluminum profile. The equipment can be replaced with a plastic profile or cable channel;
additional equipment: sensors (a lamp with a motion sensor or sound sensor will turn on automatically), a dimmer (a device for smoothly increasing/decreasing the brightness of lighting), a device for providing autonomous power, and so on.

The process of organizing the backlight is as follows:

making an improvised lamp. At this stage, the tape is cut into individual elements and connected into a finished structure. To join the sections together, you can use special adapters or the soldering method;

Possible tape joining technologies

installation of the power supply and selected additional equipment;

Connection diagram of the tape to electrical equipment

fastening the tape. To obtain directional light, aluminum profiles are used, which are fixed to the bed using self-tapping screws. The tape is fixed in the profile on an adhesive base. Installation of the tape can also be carried out in profiles made of other materials or without them (fixation with glue or clamps);

Installation of tape in aluminum profile

connecting and checking the functionality of the equipment.

The LED strip installation process is presented in more detail in the video.

Installation of duralight

Flexible cord lighting also begins with the choice of equipment. Before installation you will need to prepare:

the cord is of sufficient size. The cord can be round or flat, with a constant glow or several operating modes. In the latter case, a controller will be required to connect;

Flat and Multicolor Flex Cord

power supply and other equipment to simplify the process of turning on/off the device;
connection cable;
clamps for fastening.

The organization of illumination of the bed with duralight is carried out according to the following scheme:

making a lamp. Connecting the cord to the power supply and additional equipment. When assembling, as in the case of a diode strip, you can use the soldering method or special adapters;

Connecting the power cord

cord fastening. To achieve maximum strength, it is recommended to place the clamps at a distance of 25 cm - 30 cm from each other;

Fixing the flexible cord

connecting to the power supply and checking functionality.

At the user's request, a combined bed lighting can be made from LED strips, duralight, sconces or other spotlights.

Spectacular illumination of the bedside space is another decorative use of LED strip. For a double bed, it will become a kind of highlight that will create an intimate atmosphere in the room. And such an unusual design of a children's bed will save the child from complete darkness while sleeping. Anyone can cope with such an interesting task, and anyone can make a bed with lighting with their own hands. You only need a few hours of free time, a small reel with LED strip and a handy tool.

Technologies and lamps used for lighting shop windows

Almost all lighting fixtures used for storefronts use LEDs. These can be spotlights and diffusers, flexible boards, including LED strips

Thus, you need to pay special attention to the choice of both the device itself and the LEDs

LED lights

LED lamps and strips are the main light sources used in organizing shop window lighting.

First, let's look at several varieties of the former. There are three most common technologies:

A specified number of semiconductors mounted on a flat circuit board. The power and light output level increase in direct proportion to the number of diodes. The product is characterized by a directional flow of light.
A corn lamp in which LEDs are mounted in a cylindrical circuit board. The light is diffused, and the name of the lighting device is given due to its similarity with the cob of the agricultural crop of the same name.
The main feature of the filament lamp is due to the fact that semiconductors are connected to the current-carrying part. Externally, the product resembles an ordinary lamp with a filament. The light, as in the second case, turns out to be diffused.

When arranging display windows, special commercial LED lamps should be used, the shape and appearance of which may resemble fluorescent flat fixtures and other products. LEDs are considered universal light sources, so they can be installed on almost any surface. This allows you to create the desired devices with your own hands.

As for LED strips, flexible boards are used here, into which a certain number of diodes are mounted. You can buy small three- or five-meter pieces. Each strip has special places that allow you to cut the tape into smaller pieces, so the default length is not critical.

LED strips support two technologies: standard, when the strip emits light of one color, and RGB, where by mixing shades the product becomes multi-colored. In the latter case, special controllers are used during operation.

Window lighting with LED strip

In conclusion, a small bonus. LED strip lighting can be found in the most unexpected places. I recently saw a tape installed in a window frame between the bathroom and kitchen in a communal apartment. It turned out very well:

Window lighting with LED strip. View from the kitchen

Window lighting with LED strip. View from the bathroom

2.5 meters of strip with a power of 10 W/m is quite enough for emergency lighting of the bath and kitchen. The tape is turned on through a pass-through switch, the 12V 40W power supply is constantly connected to the network.

Selection of lighting fixtures for retail spaces

When choosing lamps for a store or trading floor to create a high-quality lighting system, you need to be guided by the following basic criteria:

type of lighting (general, accent, decorative);
type of light source (fluorescent, LED or halogen light bulbs);

Color rendering index

light bulb color rendering index; availability of a certificate for the purchased equipment; lifetime

Lighting devices should have as long a service life as possible, which will allow less attention to be paid to replacing lamps and light sources; degree of moisture protection of lamps. As a rule, lamps with a low moisture protection class (20IP) are used for stores; economical in terms of energy consumption

Therefore, today LED light sources are increasingly being used.

Taking into account the above selection parameters, you can quickly select good lighting fixtures and light sources for any retail space, creating a full-fledged lighting system from them.

Advantages of LED lighting

Based on the considered parameters and technical characteristics, we can draw certain conclusions that LED lighting sources have undoubted advantages:

A large number of colors with different tones and shades, giving a natural look to the advertised products.
Lighting systems can use LEDs with different powers. This makes it possible to create point or diffuse light in those places where it is really required.
If desired, you can create controlled lighting, including with special effects.
LED light sources can be installed in combined versions, where lamps, spotlights and LED strips are used simultaneously.
Quick and easy DIY installation, accessible even to novice craftsmen. No regular maintenance required.
Long service life of more than 10 years.

Main conclusions

Showcase lighting is an important design element that helps attract attention and create a more expressive presentation of goods. The best option is LED devices, in particular strip. It is capable of providing different lighting modes, is suitable for installation on any type of commercial equipment, is unpretentious and economical. Installation of lamps is not difficult, the main thing is the skillful distribution of lighting, the correct distribution of accents and light spots.

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Installation of tape in a showcase

At this stage, I was humming Vyacheslav Butusov’s song “On the Bank of a Nameless River”:
Your movements will very soon become smooth, Your gait and gestures will be careful and easy...

It is important to constantly remember that there is glass around, which is very easy to break. In addition, when installing the tape, a sudden movement can cause the tape to catch on the edge of the glass, and a pair of diodes can be torn off the tape. I made a display case before, removed the shelves, but in this case I decided to try it without removing it.

Installed tape near the shelf

The showcase is assembled from standard profiles, but it is not quite suitable for the tape. The tape is not glued entirely, but only on 1/2 or 2/3 of its area. The reason for this is the fastening of the shelves; there is no escape from these holders; you have to go around them, making sure that the tape does not bend too much.

And here is the output of the tape “on the roof” of the display case:

Installed output tape

The wires do not go straight into the slot; they have to be bent a little.