LED ceiling lights: how to choose? Installation of ceiling LED lamps. Mounting a chandelier through suspended ceilings. Installation of overhead spotlights LED lamps in your home

m. Novokhokhlovskaya

A good craftsman, a real pro, I’m happy with the work) I installed lamps in the kitchen and hallway, we bought LED ones and some other complicated connections) It turned out just great and, by the way, not expensive, which was very, very important to me, because the budget was limited. I recommend Igor, thank you))

Order services:

m. Orekhovo

My respect to the electrician Alexander, I am very pleased with the result - it looked so cool in the room with these lamps. I chose LED ones to have more light and not get too hot. We have a suspended ceiling made of plasterboard, we had to distribute the points, the contractor advised differently, not as I wanted at first. And sure enough, when it was ready, it became clear - it turned out great... beauty!!!

Order services: Electrician services. Installation of LED lamps.

Golitsyno

Finally found a decent electrician! I should have immediately contacted your site. Sergei Viktorovich installed lamps in the office, I bought LED ones so that they would light up quickly and the light would not flicker. I proposed my placement scheme, but your master rejected it, said that the lighting would be uneven, and recommended a different order. The installation was done on a turnkey basis, that is, the wiring was done and switches were installed. The price turned out to be as originally agreed. My recommendations.

Order services: Electrician services. Cabling. Installation of LED lamps. Installation of switches.

Stupino

I was urgently looking for a private electrician, the previous one simply ran away. I bought LED lamps, I like them better. Yuri performed the installation perfectly and, most importantly, quickly. The price is normal, I definitely didn’t overpay)) Thank you very much!!!

Order services: Electrician services. Installation of LED lamps.

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Installing LED lamps allows you to reduce electricity consumption by 10 times compared to a simple electric light bulb, and by a third - with any other fluorescent lamps. At the same time, such lighting devices do not heat up.

LED lighting devices can be used in various conditions. The quality of such lighting is significantly superior to incandescent lamps. LEDs are an ideal solution for decorating a house or apartment. Many of them support the option of dimming the light. It is especially needed in order to save energy with a large number of lamps.

The site selects private craftsmen who install lamps. These can be either built-in or surface-mounted lighting devices.

Replacing LED lamps - inexpensive, fast, high quality

Replacement of LED lamps of various types and functionality is carried out by our craftsmen throughout the Moscow region. Electricians install and dismantle lighting equipment in both residential and office premises.

For large areas there are many solutions to optimize lighting. Our resource specialists will help you choose the best option. After replacing conventional light sources with LED ones, problems such as:

• flickering light bulbs;
• noise made by limiters;
• frequent expenses on purchasing and replacing lamps.

The work is carried out as conscientiously as possible. The service has an insurance fund that will cover costs if the client is provided with poor-quality services.

Price for installation of LED lamps

The contractors selected at the LIDER USLUG site perform the entire range of work in an extremely short time frame. Dismantling and installation of equipment, at the request of the customer, is carried out on weekends.

The cost of installing LED lamps is estimated by the repairmen themselves. It will cost you 20% - 40% cheaper than in the company. The price level for installation remains affordable due to the fact that the site takes only a small commission for intermediary services. An electrician can be called to any area of ​​Moscow and the region.

The advantages of the project include careful selection of performers. All specialists undergo training. The system uses automatic algorithms for calculating employee reputation. Installation of LED lamps

The level of demand for LED lighting is constantly growing, both in the industrial and residential sectors. This fact is explained by the fact that the installation of LED lamps allows you to reduce the amount of electricity consumed and at the same time avoid the harmful radiation effects characteristic of other types of lighting devices.

The functionality and safety of operation of such lamps depends on how competently their installation was carried out. You should not perform the process yourself or trust incompetent professionals.

To ensure adequate lighting, a comprehensive professional approach to its arrangement is required. We recommend the specialists of our company. You can view the portfolio of electrical installers of the Leader of Services company in the “Masters” section.

Stages of LED lighting installation

In order for the installation of LED luminaires to ensure maximum use of their light resource, the work process must be carefully thought out and prepared.

When choosing lamps, you need to consider:

• their purpose - wall, ceiling, street, landscape;
• operating conditions - internal, external;
• device power.

And if we are talking about the installation of lighting in a room, then its area, height and type of ceiling construction are also taken into account.

Unlike traditional light sources, LED devices can be placed on any surface of the room - along the perimeter of the ceiling, floor, or built into furniture. But first you need to connect the electrical wiring. Therefore, it is most convenient to combine the process with general repair work. Especially if you plan to replace the lamps with LED ones.

When installing LED lighting in a suspended ceiling, it is very important to ensure the safety of its operation - use a corrugated or metal hose for installing power supply wires, and also connect circuit breakers.

Our specialists will be happy to install LED lamps, as well as quickly and efficiently perform other types of electrical installation work for you.

"Service Leader" - we work for you

"Service Leader" is a company operating in Moscow. Our activity consists of professional performance of work that is encountered in everyday life - repair, household, plumbing, electrical installation, etc. The full list is in the “Services and Prices” section.

The company's staff consists of highly qualified specialists. All of them are citizens of the Russian Federation with a high degree of professional skill. Your applications are processed within an hour after they are submitted on the website.

Electricity these days has become the basis of all human civilization in general and the individual little person in particular. Industry, culture, transport, everyday life - everything is based on electricity and confidently crowds out all other types of energy.

However, there is also a fair fly in the ointment in this huge barrel of honey - the constantly growing cost of electricity, which puts an unbearable burden on the consumer. The steady increase in the cost of energy resources, the need to save them, and the acute problem of nature conservation have forced humanity to use several methods to reduce energy costs while maintaining efficiency.

LEDs

One of the ways to reduce costs in the twenty-first century is the widespread use of LEDs as household lamps. Easy to install, easy to use, with no harmful effects on humans and the environment, they are replacing compact electric energy-saving lamps, which aroused interest just yesterday. For example, a 36W LED light can work effectively for interior lighting of industrial and domestic rooms and offices. Aesthetic external shape, stylish design, effective light output - 80 Lm/W. Operating time - thirty thousand hours.

Device

The structure of the lamp consists of a complex of LEDs that correspond to the total power of a conventional lamp, a control circuit, a metal or plastic case with a reflector. LED energy lamps used in everyday life are equipped with a regular E14 or E27 base. Which is convenient for replacing previous conventional incandescent lamps. The number of LEDs can be different - from one to a whole complex, combined into one chain and connected to the control circuit through an electrical power supply. For example, ceiling LEDs have this structure.

Cooling

Since the LED generates a large amount of heat during operating load mode, it must be cooled. Radiators to which LEDs are attached do a good job of neutralizing the influence of heat. However, it is necessary to pay attention that in the area of ​​​​contact between the LED and the cooling radiator, a special thermal paste that has good heat transfer should be used. Otherwise, with regular overheating of the element in question, its service life is greatly reduced. However, the installation of LED lamps takes into account such disadvantages. Everything is covered in this process.

Specialization

Due to the many tasks and different configurations, the installation of LED lamps is divided into several types:

• ordinary linear;
• household ceiling;
• wall sconces;
• industrial high power;
• regular and specialized spotlights;
• underwater version (for various types of reservoirs);
• LED controllers (for creating color dynamics, in particular at discos or concert performances).

The set of lamps can include motion sensors to significantly increase the lifespan of LEDs, which are used only when needed. Such equipment functions perfectly in the entrances of houses and extensive corridors of office premises. And also in other places where constant lighting is not necessary.

Ready-made lamps are sold, which are equipped with radiators designed for existing LEDs. If you don’t have enough skills to install it yourself, you can use existing solutions and buy, in particular, an LED device for your home - complete LEDs on radiators. They are combined into a body that can be a decoration for every apartment. Most often it is created. Its installation, depending on the type of installation work, is quite simple and cheap.

Linear luminaire

Linear LED luminaires, increasingly being integrated into the electrical systems of residential and industrial buildings, are playing an increasingly important role in everyday life. They have become an inseparable detail of interior design. These devices are widely used when installing various types of ceilings, creating wall designs and some interior elements.

Therefore, the installation of linear LED lamps is becoming a common mass phenomenon. This affection stems from the fact that good lighting plays a major role in creating a comfortable microclimate in every room. Proper lighting is necessary not only from the point of view of comfort for the eyes, but also to emphasize the specificity and beauty of the style.

LED lighting makes a big difference:

• will hide the shortcomings of the room, showing its best advantages with the help of a small spot of light;
• will support the lighting of the room design;
• will build good lighting for individual books and book rows;
• will provide illumination of the work area in the kitchen;
• highlight the uniqueness of each exhibition display;
• can shine both inside and outside any industrial premises.

With the help of mounted linear lamps, it is possible to bring to life the most original ideas of the designer.

Ceiling lamps

Built-in LED ceiling lamps and panels replace all types of lamps with fluorescent lamps, as well as other types of built-in household lamps.

The leading advantages of lighting buildings with LED ceiling lights and panels will be:

• significant energy savings and, consequently, a reduction in monthly electricity costs;
• long service life (up to fifty thousand hours - this is a very, very long time in fact);
• no need for constant replacement of non-working lamps, as well as legislative prohibitions under a special program for the elimination of LED technology;
• reduction of cooling costs during the warm season.

It should be pointed out that installing LED lamps on the ceiling, as a rule, provides better brightness than the same devices with fluorescent lamps used for office premises. Thanks to more efficient operation, LED lamps will consume approximately one third less energy.

Another important element of the device is the power supply. It is this that ensures the bright and continuous burning of the LED lamp. If you use low-quality power supplies, the lamp may flicker when lit, which is very harmful to the eyes. This is the so-called strobe effect, which is used in nightclubs and discos. The power supply contains an electronic type transformer, which is most susceptible to breakdowns, but is small in size, which is very convenient for hidden installation.

Also, induction type transformers can be built into power supplies. These transformers are the most reliable and have a lower price compared to electronic transformers. Induction transformers are characterized by high weight and size. Drawing a conclusion from the above, the radiator and power supply must be selected depending on the location where the lamp will be installed.

The visit of the master in Moscow is FREE.

LED lamps are promising devices for lighting in almost all conditions: outdoor or indoor at permissible high temperatures and very low ones.

Advantages of using LED lamps:

1. The service life of this technology is about 8 years (possibly more), if compared with fluorescent lamps, this is 4-16 times longer;
2. There is no inertia in the LED installation, which is also important (that is, the light lights up immediately after switching on and at full power);
3. Safety of use;
4. High strength;
5. Small dimensions, which makes the lighting system more compact;
6. The ceiling chandelier with LED lighting does not flicker;
7. Minimal infrared and ultraviolet radiation;
8. There is no release of mercury vapor;
9. Low heat generation;

10. Light is directed into one sphere.

They turn off and on instantly without the inertia that is typical of other lamps; the quality of their lighting does not depend on the number and frequency of switching on. Therefore, motion sensors can be installed on street LED lamps, which can successfully save energy.

LED lamps are divided into types:

Linear
- ceiling
- wall
- industrial
- spotlights
- underwater version (for pools and fountains)
- LED controllers (for implementing color dynamics, for example, at discos or concert performances)

Installation of LED lamps, at first glance, does not represent anything complicated. And perhaps this is exactly the case if you have sufficient experience and the necessary tools. However, for a large number of people, installing LED lamps turns out to be a very difficult task, and very often the operation of this equipment depends on this.

What do you need to know about installing LED lamps?

It would be better to order the installation of LED lamps from real professional craftsmen who work in our company. Our highly qualified specialists will always: Carry out all work efficiently and quickly, as well as at the most affordable price. We always approach the solution of tasks set by the client responsibly. They have extensive work experience. They have all the tools necessary for the job.

To replace a spotlight lamp, you must:

Turn off the voltage in the room or apartment;
- carefully remove the retaining ring that holds the protective glass;
- carefully remove the failed lamp and replace it with a new one;
- Reinstall the glass and secure it with the retaining ring.

Required tool:

LED lights;
- plastic rings;
- fishing line (used to install fasteners);
- metal hangers;
- terminals;
- transformer;
- knife.

By entrusting the installation of LED lamps to our highly qualified specialists, you can always count on high-quality results, as well as fast completion of any work. We issue a mandatory warranty for all types of services provided for a period of one year. Our technician arrives within 1 or 2 hours, which allows us to resolve even emergency situations.

The choice of lighting in an apartment is one of the most important from the point of view of room design. And as an optimal option, you can consider LED ceiling lamps - easy to install, practical, efficient and presentable-looking. Despite not the lowest cost, these lamps are now beginning to displace traditional incandescent lamps from the market. That is why we decided to consider this type of lighting fixtures in as much detail as possible.

LED lamps: design and features

Installation of LED lamps

It is possible to understand the advantages that a surface-mounted ceiling lamp has only after a thorough analysis of the features of its operation. So let's figure out how a classic LED ceiling lamp works?

• The basis of any LED lamp (whether built-in or surface-mounted) is a lamp, which is a set of several LEDs. The number and type of LEDs used are the main factors determining the power of the lamp, and as a result, the power of the lamp itself;

• The number of LEDs in one lamp can be different: some lamps use lamps with one LED, others use lamps with several dozen LED light elements;

• As a rule, all the LEDs of one lamp are included in a single circuit, which is connected to the control circuit via a power supply;

• Another mandatory element included in the design of a lamp based on LED lamps is the radiator. The thing is that during operation, an LED lamp generates heat, which requires mandatory removal.

Therefore, ceiling lamps, both overhead and built-in, are necessarily equipped with radiators of various types (see).

Note! High-quality heat transfer from the LED lamp to the radiator is ensured by special thermal paste. This thermal paste requires periodic replacement, since if the LED lamp overheats, it quickly fails.

Features of connecting LEDs in the lamp

As for the connection diagram for LEDs in an LED lamp, several options are possible. Therefore, if you do not plan to install a ready-made ceiling lamp purchased in a store, but are going to mount it yourself from the LEDs at your disposal - please read the information below carefully:

• Serial connection of LEDs - Quite common, but has a number of disadvantages. LEDs are connected using this principle in many industrial lamps;

• Parallel connection of LEDs is also possible. When connecting LED lamps in parallel, we connect current-limiting resistors in series to each lamp. The main task of these resistors is to protect LEDs from breakdown;

• Mixed connection of LEDs. When connecting LEDs using a mixed circuit, groups of several series-connected light elements (LED lamps) are connected in parallel to each other. This circuit is also widely used in LED lamps for home and office.

• The choice of the circuit according to which the lamp is assembled is determined by the advantages and disadvantages of a particular connection method.

Serial connection is the least financially expensive (there is no need to use a large number of resistors), but it is also the most vulnerable. If one of the elements fails, the entire lamp stops working due to an open circuit.

In addition, for LED lamps with serial connection, another problem is relevant - if the LED does not just burn out, but breaks down, the circuit is not interrupted. In this case, the remaining LEDs included in the ceiling lamp quickly burn out due to operation under overload conditions.

This problem is not relevant for parallel connection - even if some of the LED elements fail, the LED lamps continue to operate, albeit not at full power. The proliferation of lamps with parallel connection is limited only by their high cost.

LED lights in your home

Advantages of LED ceiling lights

Modern lamps - surface-mounted, recessed and spotlights - are significantly different from all other lighting devices. Accordingly, compared to them, LED lamps have both advantages and disadvantages.
First, let’s analyze what benefits the installation of LED lamps will provide you.:

• Firstly, surface-mounted, wall-mounted and recessed luminaires are characterized by low energy consumption. An LED lamp consumes 10 times less electricity than an incandescent lamp and three times less than a fluorescent lamp providing the same level of illumination. Those. installing LED lamps gives you the opportunity to significantly reduce energy costs for lighting a house or apartment;

• Secondly, the LED lamps used in the luminaires have a rated life of about one hundred thousand hours (which roughly corresponds to 11 years of continuous operation). Consequently, it is necessary to change the lamps that come with ceiling lamps much less frequently;

• In addition, LED lamps do not contain mercury, which makes them absolutely safe from an environmental point of view.

In addition to all of the above, the advantages of overhead LED lamps include ease of installation. Unlike recessed lamps, which can only be installed during large-scale renovations (for example, when installing a slatted ceiling in a bathroom with your own hands), a surface-mounted lamp can be mounted on any ceiling in just a few minutes.

Disadvantages of LED lamps

However, in addition to the above list of advantages, overhead LED ceiling lamps have a number of disadvantages compared to other lighting devices:

• The first and main disadvantage of LED lamps is their high cost. The price of both home and office lamps (for example, Armstrong lamps) exceeds similar efficiency models with fluorescent lamps by 6-8 times;

Lamps with Cree LEDs are one of the best, but at the same time, one of the most expensive.

• The next drawback is the gradual “degradation” of lamps. Inexpensive models of LED lamps may lose brightness over time (after 3-5 years of intensive use). And if you consider that investments in LED lamps pay for themselves in an average of five years due to energy savings, then this drawback can be considered very significant;

Note! To partially insure against such situations, you should purchase overhead ceiling lights only if they have the appropriate certificate and warranty. As a rule, the warranty period declared by the manufacturer is 5 years.

Also, the disadvantages of LED lamps include the unpleasant spectrum of light they emit. In addition, the light from such lamps is quite narrowly directed, and if you use LED ceiling lamps - overhead or built into a suspended ceiling, then you may need to install more lighting points per unit area.

Analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of such lamps, we can observe almost parity: in some places LEDs are decisively superior to incandescent lamps, and in others they are significantly inferior to them. That is why you need to make a choice “for” or “against” very carefully.

Where to install the LED lamp

One of the most important factors when choosing an LED lamp is its placement in the apartment.

Let's try to figure out where we will install LED lamps?

• Bedroom. Here, an LED lamp is probably the least suitable. The rather harsh light from LED lamps will contrast with the entire atmosphere of this room, so it is better to avoid LEDs for the bedroom;

• Living room. Installing a surface-mounted LED lamp is quite possible - but only if the lamp fits into the overall design of the room. Therefore, LEDs are quite suitable for a high-tech living room, but for a classic living room we say a resounding “no!”

• Kitchen. Here the LED lamp can be used not as the main light, but as a directional backlight. For example, an overhead LED lamp can be installed above a sink or stove to provide bright light when cooking or washing dishes.

Note! Installing the lamp in close proximity to the stove burners (at a distance of 1 meter or less) is undesirable, since the heated air interferes with the heat transfer from the LED, and the lamp burns out quite quickly.

• Bathroom. Here, an LED lamp would also be quite appropriate (naturally, adjusted for the design of the room). For example, before you start making a slatted ceiling in the bathroom with your own hands, you can consider installing an overhead lamp and lead the wires into the space behind the ceiling in advance.

Also, overhead LED lamps - ceiling and wall - can be installed in outbuildings: garages, workshop sheds. External lighting of a private home can also be organized using LED lights and spotlights.

Installation of LED lamps

Required components

In order for the overhead LED lamp to work as efficiently as possible, when connecting, it is necessary to check the presence and functionality of a number of components.

In some models they are built into the lamp body, while in others they require separate installation:

• Radiator – we talked about its necessity above. Even if we mount an overhead lamp on a suspended or slatted ceiling, the radiator must provide effective heat dissipation;

• The power supply is a very important element that ensures the effective lighting of the lamp. Using low-quality power supplies can cause the lamp to flicker and create a “strobe effect.”

Power supplies use electronic and induction type transformers. The first ones are smaller and lighter (which is important for hidden installation), but are prone to breakage. Unlike electronic ones, induction transformers for LED lamps are more reliable and cheaper, but they are larger in size and weight.

As a result, both the radiator and the power supply must be selected based on where the lamp is connected.

Features of installing lamps on the ceiling

Overhead ceiling lights based on LEDs are most often produced in housings equipped with everything necessary for mounting. As a rule, a lamp of this type is quite easily mounted on a ceiling made of a variety of materials using simple fasteners - turbo screws or dowels with metal or plastic sleeves (see).

Depending on the specific model, the installation of surface-mounted lamps from different manufacturers may differ.

In general, the installation process looks like this::

• At a selected location in the immediate vicinity of the lighting wire output, drill holes for the mounting plate (this process can be seen in detail in the video instructions);

• Holes for fastening must be made in a solid base. If the hole for the mounting plate falls into a void (the hammer drill typically “falls through” without encountering resistance), it is advisable to re-drill the hole slightly to the side;

Pay attention! When making holes for attaching the mounting plate, you must be very careful not to damage the wiring with the hammer drill.

• We fix the mounting plate with dowels;

• If the lamp is not mounted on a solid base, then it is necessary to first provide a fastening for the lamp. For example, before installing a slatted ceiling in a bathroom, the video instructions recommend securing bars to the ceiling, into which the mounting strip of the lamp is then attached.

• Having turned off the electricity at the meter or RCD (residual current device), we connect the contacts of the lamp to the electrical wiring. Most industrial LED lamps are equipped with terminal blocks for this purpose, making connection easier (see);

• We put the body of the connected lamp onto the eyes of the mounting plate and fix it with screws;

Advice! Very often in such situations, a long screwdriver with a blade made of a magnetic alloy helps: with its help you can fix fairly small screws in hard-to-reach fasteners.

• We put the transparent parts (cap or protective glass) on the fixed body of the lamp and check its functionality.

Summarizing all of the above, we can state: due to their characteristics, LED ceiling lights will be an excellent solution for lighting a number of rooms in a house or apartment. And if you choose the optimal model and install it correctly, then you are guaranteed bright and economical lighting for many years!

Allows you to significantly reduce operating costs and the cost of utilities for electricity supply. This is due to the low consumption and long service life of LED lamps. Other advantages of LED sources are noiselessness, high color rendering coefficient (both in the “cold” and “warm” ranges) (Fig. 1), light stability, no flicker, and resistance to temperature changes. Most LED lamps are vandal-resistant.

Another advantage of LED products is that they do not need to be disposed of. It is absolutely environmentally friendly and harmless to the environment, which is successfully used in many countries of Western Europe, the USA and Japan.

Safety rules for installation work

When installing this equipment, certain safety requirements must be observed.

1. Installation of LED lamps (as well as maintenance and dismantling) must be carried out only when the electrical network is turned off;
2. It is necessary to clarify the rated voltage of the LED lamp. If it is designed to work with low voltage, it cannot be connected to a 220V network without a power supply (in this case, the power supply must be included). It is prohibited to use transformers and power supplies designed to power fluorescent and halogen lighting devices.
3. The installation of LED lamps must be carried out in accordance with the project or preliminary calculation of illumination and total energy consumption of the electric lighting subsystem, taking into account the requirements of the issued Technical Specifications;
4. When performing installation work, your hands must be dry (even if you have appropriate gloves - see below);
5. Before installation, you need to familiarize yourself with the temperature and humidity ranges for using these lamps. If the equipment is not designed to operate in a specific environment, it should not be installed. Particular care must be taken in approaching this process when installing lamps in baths and saunas. Lamps intended for indoor installation are prohibited from being installed outdoors without special protection;
6. The installation location must be chosen in such a way as to exclude possible flooding of the luminaire and its cables, as well as strong vibration.
7. Do not use lamps and power supplies that show external signs of malfunction.
8. If the equipment fails, it is not recommended to disassemble the lamps, power supplies, or controllers yourself. This can lead to irreparable damage and refusal of warranty service from the manufacturer's service center.

Which tool should I use?

The set of necessary tools for installation depends on the type of LED lamps and their purpose (domestic or industrial). To install ordinary home or office lamps (for example, ceiling spotlights), hand and electric tools are used - a drill, a screwdriver, wire cutters, fishing line and hangers for attaching lamps, a knife, terminal connections, and possibly a soldering iron (Fig. 2). When installing powerful outdoor and industrial lamps, it is advisable to use specialized hydraulic-electric equipment that ensures high-quality installation (Fig. 3)

Workwear

The clothing of installers of LED lamps should consist of thick cotton overalls or a suit (trousers, jackets), gloves made of dielectric material. When working outdoors and/or in conditions of high humidity, the electrician must be additionally equipped with a polycarbonate helmet with a protective plastic visor, goggles, and rubber shoes with thick solid soles (Fig. 4, 5).

Procedure

Before installation, it is necessary to select and prepare the surface. It should not be flammable, you need to ensure its strength, evenness and integrity. The distance from the nearest point (plane) of the lamp to the flammable material must be at least 30 cm, and between the inside of the lamp and the ceiling (or wall) - at least 1.5 cm.

If the lamps are installed in suspended ceilings, it is necessary to first cut neat holes in them to the size of the lamps themselves. All cable routes must be laid in a protective pipe made of PVC or metal. In a wooden building, any cables are laid only in metal pipes. Street areas are laid in materials specially protected from temperature changes and excess moisture (Fig. 6). All external electrical installation products must comply with the level of protection against dust and moisture, degree IP54 and higher, in accordance with the requirements of GOST and PUE.

After laying the cable lines, 2 spring or support elements are installed on the inside of the LED lamp to secure it (as a rule, included in the kit). After fixing, the luminaires are connected to the general network through power supplies, then commissioning is carried out.

Quite often, the installation of lamps in offices comes down to replacing old fluorescent lamps with new T8 LED lamps (Fig. 7). In this case, it is necessary to dismantle the diffuser (if any), then remove the starter and choke, replace the old lamps with LED lamps corresponding to their format, and reinstall the diffuser (Fig. 8). After this, apply 220V voltage to the lamp. If everything is done correctly, this device will serve for a very long time.

Further maintenance of LED lamps comes down to carefully wiping them with a cloth and very rare replacement of lamps (once every 5-8 years).

Natural fuels suitable for mass energy production are gradually being depleted. Alternative energy is not developing fast enough and does not have time to compensate consumers for the lack of electricity, which inevitably leads to a constant increase in its cost. In such conditions, an alternative to expensive and ineffective incandescent lighting is needed.

The problem was partially solved by the so-called energy-saving lamps, which quickly gained popularity. However, their high price and insufficient durability did not allow them to become a “lifesaver” for everyone and enter every home.

Not so long ago they had a worthy and much more effective replacement - LEDs. Ease of use, ease of installation, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, low cost - all this allows the use of LED lamps for interior lighting in every home.

Initially, LEDs did not have the necessary parameters and were used only in the illumination of various devices or in low-power emergency systems. However, with the development of technology, they have increased their capabilities and are now widely used in both domestic and industrial premises. There are many options for use: from decorative multi-colored lighting to basic lighting of large rooms.

The installation features of LED lamps significantly distinguish them from classic incandescent lamps. Perhaps this is why the pace of their spread is not as rapid as one might expect.

However, there is nothing overly complicated about making LED lighting yourself. You just need to have knowledge of certain rules for working with such light sources. For this purpose, it is worth considering their pros and cons, rules of calculation, selection and installation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main positive qualities that an LED lamp has are:

1. The highest energy efficiency of all light sources available on the market;
2. Environmental friendliness, complete absence of release of harmful substances during operation and during disposal of used elements;
3. Extremely long service life, absolutely incomparable with incandescent or fluorescent lamps - 10 years or more.

Important! The long service life of LEDs directly depends on their quality. That is, the cheapest Chinese fakes can work for 1-2 months, while more expensive high-quality ones may not burn out after 15 years.

1. The LED lamp allows for very smooth adjustment of the brightness level, as well as the ability to change the color of the lighting (!);
2. The LED in its design does not contain breakable elements, is not afraid of shocks and constant vibration;
3. The familiar voltage surges in the home electrical network lead to the “blinking” of standard lighting fixtures - LEDs do not have this disadvantage, since their luminosity is not related to the voltage of the electric current, but to its strength;
4. There is no infrared and ultraviolet in the emission spectrum of LEDs - the paint of wallpaper, walls, and fabrics will not fade, as under the rays of incandescent lamps.

As always happens with technical devices, there was a fly in the ointment. However, to date, only one problem has been discovered: the fairly high cost of high-quality diodes. But if we take into account their service life, then it is probably worth talking about the high cost of incandescent and fluorescent lamps, and not LEDs.

Application area

There are two main ways in which you can connect LEDs for lighting:

• use of LED strip for distributed lighting of a room: with its help, decorative lighting of individual areas can be created - well suited for “hidden” lighting, when the light source itself is not visible;
• using a ready-made LED lamp as a light source is a more expensive option, suitable for “spot” lighting.

Important! Lighting using ready-made LED lamps has a more traditional and familiar look, especially if it is made in the body of wall sconces or as a chandelier for the ceiling. is no different visually from its ordinary counterparts, and you need to work with it the same way.

Since working with LED lamps is practically no different from a similar procedure with ordinary traditional lamps, they do not require separate consideration. Is it worth knowing how to correctly calculate the power to sufficiently illuminate the premises. But since the power calculation is similar to that for the LED strip, that is what should be used.

LED strip allows you to create the most “sophisticated” lighting schemes for a room, illuminating various individual zones (for example, illuminating a kitchen backsplash or the contours of cabinets), creating hidden lighting under the ceiling or illuminating walls around the entire perimeter of the room. The possibilities are limited only by the designer's imagination.

The available options are greatly expanded by the ability to use different colors in lighting and change them. Here, of course, you need to know when to stop and not overdo it - too much color can lead to the opposite result and make the interior design tacky.

Hidden lighting under the ceiling along the perimeter of the room visually increases its size, which is important for small city apartments.

A common way to use LED strip is for lighting in cabinets, mezzanines and other closed interior elements. Complete with an automatic switch, this adds greater functionality to them (especially true for kitchen cabinets and large wardrobes).

Calculation of the number of diodes

To simply calculate the required power of LEDs, you can use a comparison with conventional incandescent lamps; for this you need to know the indicators of the luminous flux emitted by these light sources:

• each incandescent bulb produces approximately 13 lm/W (lumens per watt) of luminous flux;
• different LEDs can produce different levels ranging from 75-90 lm/W (average 80 lm/W)

Knowing this data, it is quite simple to calculate the number of LEDs that can replace an incandescent lamp. For example, instead of a 100-watt light bulb that emits 13x100 = 1300 lumens, you will need 16.25 W (17 - rounded up) LEDs. Thus, you can use 18 LEDs of 1 watt each, or 9 pieces of 2 W each, or 2 powerful ones of 9 W each. Or you can use one powerful 20-watt LED spotlight.

Important! When purchasing LEDs, you should pay attention to their luminous flux. On average, it is 75-90 lm/W, but some specimens have significantly better characteristics. For example, the Luminus CSM-360 LED has a rating of 115 lm/W, and the Cree XLamp XHP70 model has a rating of 150 lumens per watt.

To organize standard spot lighting, it is more rational to use high-power LEDs or LED lamps. If you plan to evenly illuminate the ceiling or walls over the entire area, then it is optimal to take many low-power light sources (for example, a strip with LEDs).

Selecting a Power Source

It is also necessary to resolve the issue of how to connect LED lighting to the electrical network, because the LED voltage is not 220, but 12 or 24 volts (strips with a supply voltage of 36 and 48 volts are available, but this is rare).

The length of the LED strip is always standard and is 5 m, but it can contain a different number of diodes with different powers. For the calculation, one should proceed from the total power of the powered tape.

In general, the following steps should be taken to calculate the required power supply power for connecting an LED strip:

1. The manufacturer usually indicates the power indicator per meter (for example, 6 W/m), which means that to obtain the total power you need to multiply this figure by the length - in the example it will be 6x5 = 30 W;
2. For power supplies, such an indicator as power reserve is used. If the lighting is planned to be turned on from time to time (for example, lighting in cabinets), then it is taken equal to 1.3. If constant main lighting is installed, which will work for a long time without being turned off, then the power reserve is taken equal to 1.5. The power of the power supply is obtained by multiplying the power consumed by the LEDs by the reserve indicator - in the example it will be 30x1.5 = 45 W (if constant lighting is planned) or 30x1.3 = 39 W (for periodic switching);
3. The operating voltage of the diodes is indicated on the tape, and the power supply should be selected at the same voltage. The modern market offers a huge number of power supplies, from which it is easy to select with the necessary parameters - in the example, this is a 12 V and 45 W power supply (or 12 V and 39 W for periodic switching).

Important! It is not always possible to select a power supply with exactly the calculated power. In this case, you should purchase a unit with higher power: in the example, these could be units of 50 and 40 W, respectively.

As can be seen from what has been described, the calculations are simple and can be easily done on the go right in a hardware store if you know the required lighting parameters. When purchasing, you should also pay attention to the design of the housing - they can be sealed or not. For work it is worth purchasing waterproof ones, but for ordinary premises - not (due to the difference in price).

Mounting the tape and connecting to the network

Before starting work on placing the tape in its intended place, you should remember several general mandatory rules:

Installing an LED strip in its intended place, for example, on the ceiling, is quite simple, but still requires a certain sequence of actions: