When organizing lighting in the kitchen, it is most important to ensure sufficient lighting. working area where the main activities of cutting and cooking take place. Achieve it with minimal cost and energy savings is possible if you place the lamps directly in the work area - this is more economical than lighting for the kitchen above the cabinets. The easiest way to do this is to attach lighting elements to the bottom of kitchen cabinets.

The backlight can be implemented in several ways, in order to choose the best one, you should familiarize yourself with the types of lighting elements and the methods of mounting on the bottom surface of kitchen cabinets.

Lighting under kitchen cabinets - one of the many options kitchen lighting, economical and practical. Illumination of the working area in kitchen area can be done different ways: install fixtures on kitchen apron or hide behind it if transparent glass is used, or you can attach lighting elements to the bottom of wall cabinets.

Illumination for the kitchen under the cabinets is used more often and can be of the following types.

Spotlights

There are two types of spotlights: overhead and recessed, to illuminate the bottom kitchen set use embedded.

One of the easiest organization options spot lighting the bottom of the kitchen set - gluing compact lamps with battery-powered motion sensors. But, this pleasure is quite expensive and not very convenient from a practical point of view (requires periodic replacement of batteries).

In spotlights, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, LED lamps are used. Since their design involves embedding in furniture, and conventional analogues have a height of more than 50 mm, installation problems arise, especially since the height of luminaires with incandescent lamps can reach up to 100 mm.

Incandescent lamps are impractical to use to illuminate the bottom kitchen cabinets not only because of high altitude, but also strong heating during operation and low efficiency.

When installing a conventional halogen lamp on the bottom of kitchen cabinets, you will have to make an additional shelf inside the cabinet at a height of at least 50 mm. from the bottom of the cabinet (double bottom) to hide the lamp bases and mounting wires under it.

The second way is to install an additional panel under the cabinets, in which the lamps will be mounted. The option is more acceptable (the bottom of the kitchen cabinets will not be damaged in case of redevelopment, and the space itself inside will remain the same).

Currently, LED round LED panels are produced with a thickness of no more than 20 mm. It is convenient to build them into the bottom of the cabinets, but you will have to close the top of the fixtures with a shelf - this will take up much less free space inside than using incandescent or halogen lamps.

The disadvantage of all LED lamps is the need to use a separate 12 V power supply (less often 24 V.) for operation. In this case, it will have to be placed inside the cabinet or on top, the latter being the more practical way.

The best option for organizing spot lighting for the bottom of cabinets is its design and implementation at the stage of making a custom-made kitchen set, and not self-installation after purchase.

Plinth GX53

The designed modern GX53 lamp base has a low height and is most suitable for embedding into the bottom of the headset. The luminaires used in the base have a flat shape and are available in two types: energy-saving (luminescent) and LED.

They are easily installed and removed from the cartridge, and due to the surface of the lamps protruding a few millimeters beyond the plane of the base, they give a large angle of illumination.

Overhead lamps and spots

Although it does not look very aesthetically pleasing, they do not argue about tastes - some homeowners use overhead lights or spotlights to illuminate the work area - sources of directional lighting.

The spots provide not only directional lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets, but also the ability to adjust the intensity of lighting thanks to a special control controller and design features.

Usually, a long bracket (railing) is attached to the bottom of the cabinets, on which a number of lamps are placed - the design makes up a single ensemble and looks quite interesting in the interior.

Installing overhead lights is quite simple, but inferior in aesthetics and functionality to built-in ones. In addition, when they are placed at the bottom of the cabinets, there are problems with the power cable, which, as in the case of built-in lamps, will have to be hidden somewhere. Its external eyeliner will not look aesthetically pleasing; for hiding inside cabinets, it is more practical to use not a double bottom, but a regular one. plastic box for outdoor laying of electrical wires.

light beams

A budget option that uses tubular fluorescent lamps, the mounting hardware for installation of which is attached to the bottom of the cabinets. The devices are quite easy to install, the lamps are inexpensive and have quite long term services, but have a significant drawback of all luminescent devices - long time inclusions.

An ordinary installed fluorescent lamp does not look very nice, so the industry produces special furniture lamps in a rather aesthetic case with a protective panel.

Light beams are one of the simplest and most budget options.

LED backlight

LED lighting for kitchen cabinets is currently the best option for lighting the working area of ​​the kitchen due to the following properties:

• Price. The LED strip itself is relatively expensive, for its operation it is necessary to buy a control unit and a 12 V power supply, the organization of all lighting in this case will cost approximately 30 USD. (10 USD for each block and 1 m of tape). The price is quite acceptable, given the service life and efficiency of diode elements.
• Ease of installation. The LED strip has an adhesive work surface, thanks to which the lighting under the kitchen cabinets is realized by simple gluing.
• Profitability. power usage led strip 7 times less than incandescent lamps, they are 2-3 times more economical than fluorescent ones.
• Radiation spectrum. LED emit pure White light, in RGB types, the LED strip control unit allows you to change it to red, blue, or green, adjust the intensity of the glow and set the operating mode.
• Life time. The resource of the LED strip can be up to 10,000 hours, which is the highest among all lighting devices.
• Decorative. LED strip allows you to implement a continuous strip of illumination of different color spectrum, due to its small overall dimensions it is almost invisible on the surface, it fits perfectly into modern kitchens in the style of hi-tech, modern, loft, neoclassic, minimalism.

You can mount the LED strip under wall cabinets by simple gluing, or placed in a special aluminum box with a protective frosted glass. Aluminum boxes are produced in the usual straight or corner options, allow not only to avoid possible peeling off of the tape, but also to protect its surface from dirt and soot settling, and also to provide additional system cooling.

A significant disadvantage of LED lighting is the need to use a separate control unit and 12 V power supply. These devices are of medium overall dimensions and require thoughtful placement when installing the tape.

When mounting on the bottom of kitchen cabinets, you can place these elements inside the cabinet, but it is more practical to put them on top. This will allow you to connect them directly to the upper power line (usually a kitchen hood is connected in this place), and lower the wire behind back wall cabinets and connect directly to the LED strip.

Conclusion

There are several ways to implement the illumination of the working area in the kitchen by installing lamps on the bottom surface of kitchen cabinets.

Most budget option is the implementation of fluorescent lighting using tubular lamps. Installation of fittings for their installation is quite simple, the power wire can be passed inside the cabinets by placing it in a plastic box.

When installing spotlights, it is more practical to use modern models with socket Gx53. Such devices have the smallest height and a wide angle of illumination, the lamps are inserted and removed by a simple twist in the cartridge. The device can use LED and energy-saving types of lamps.

The organization of this type of lighting with your own hands requires carpentry, the presence of a special tool, the purchase of additional materials, which is somewhat difficult at home. Therefore, the best lighting for kitchen cabinets can be implemented at the stage of manufacturing a custom-made kitchen.

More modern way organization of lighting - the use of LED strip. In addition to the greatest durability and cost-effectiveness, lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets can be the easiest way to do it yourself. To do this, you need to glue the LED strip, connect the control and power unit to electrical network and solder the wire extending from them to the end of the LED strip.

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Illumination for the kitchen under the cabinets: light sources and installation technology

Greetings, comrades! Today I want to tell and show you how to place the lighting of the working area in the interior of the kitchen, what light sources can be used as lighting, how to properly mount them and ensure the safety of lighting operation. Let's get started.

Where do you need lighting?

Tastes, as you know, do not argue. If desired, you can illuminate any surface - the backlight can not only be functional, but also be an element of the design of the room. However, in one place it is absolutely necessary: ​​the kitchen worktop must be lit brightly enough to ensure comfortable cooking.

Where exactly can the light sources be located?

• On the lower surface of the cabinets above the work surface with a maximum offset to the wall. In this case, your hands kitchenware and the dishes will cast a minimum number of shadows on the work surface;

Please note: if used as an apron strained glass, the refraction of light in it will give an interesting effect: the apron will glow over its entire height.

• At the wall and at the facade. Bright and uniform lighting will be combined with the absence of shadows.

Sources of light

What light sources can the backlight use?

Recessed luminaires

This type of luminaire is fixed in the cutout (in our case, in the cutout of the bottom surface of the cabinet) with a spring clip. A luminaire with a standard socket (for example, E14) can be equipped with an incandescent bulb, a halogen bulb, a compact fluorescent luminaire (so-called energy-saving lamp) or a LED lamp with an appropriate base.

Curious: manufacturers often supply lamps for recessed fixtures with reflectors and lenses. Due to them, the scattering of light is reduced and, with a constant power consumption, the illumination of the working area of ​​​​the kitchen is increased.

Advantages and disadvantages

How good is a spotlight with a standard socket as a kitchen fixture and does this idea have any drawbacks?

• Replacing failed light bulbs is extremely simple;
• When replacing, you do not have any compatibility problems: lamps for standard cartridges (the same E14) are sold at any hardware store;
• Adjustable spotlights allow you to direct the flow of light to the desired point on the work surface, creating the maximum bright lighting at the expense of other zones;

• At the same time, through holes must be drilled for recessed fixtures in the bottom wall of the boxes, which is inconvenient in terms of their operation and negatively affects strength;
• In addition, connecting lamps to the power supply needs to be protected from moisture (in cabinets, you know, dishes are often dried) and from mechanical damage. The obvious solution is an additional shelf that separates the lamps from the cabinet; but it will reduce the useful volume of the latter and worsen the heat dissipation.

Advantages and disadvantages

What are the advantages of a diode lamp against the background of more familiar lamps - halogen, incandescent and fluorescent?

• Unlike the latter, any led-lamp gives maximum light immediately after switching on. It does not require warm-up time;
• Minimal power consumption is another argument in favor of LEDs. At the same luminosity, they consume 10-12 times less than incandescent lamps, 8-10 times less than halogens and half as much as compact ones. fluorescent lamps;
• The service life of LEDs under normal temperature regime varies from 25 to 150 thousand hours. At least somehow approaching them in this parameter is perhaps a full-size fluorescent lamp with an electronic driver (8-15 thousand hours);

• The LED-based lighting device does not suffer from a decrease in service life with a significant number of on-off cycles. Other types of lamps most often burn out at the moment of switching on, at peak values ​​of the currents flowing through them.

There is only one noticeable minus for LED panels: they still have a slightly lower color rendering index compared to halogens and, to a lesser extent, incandescent lamps. On the practical side, this means some distortion of colors compared to objects lit by bright daylight.

Led tape

The LED strip is a flexible conductive substrate, on one side of which the LEDs are soldered, and on the other side Velcro is applied, which allows you to securely fix the tape on solid foundation. Its main practical difference from LED panels is its small thickness, which makes it possible to make the source of illumination of the working area completely invisible to the viewer, even if the bottom wall of the cabinet is flat.

Led tapes are divided into two categories according to the supply voltage:

1. In a high-voltage (220 volt) tape, the length of a group of series-connected LEDs is, as a rule, one meter. It is with this step that you can cut the tape into segments and it is this section that will go out when any LED fails. To connect a high-voltage tape to the network, you only need a plug and a wire with a built-in rectifier (a diode bridge that converts 220 volts alternating current at 220 volts DC);

1. To connect to a low-voltage tape outlet, you need a switching power supply. The tape can be cut into segments of 3-6 LEDs. If any of them burns out, only this segment will go out.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages and disadvantages of the LED strip repeat the features of led panels, but with one caveat: they are supplied without a diffuser (which at the same time protects the LEDs and current-carrying tracks from splashes and accidental damage) and a rigid substrate that provides heat dissipation.

That is why a tape with a power of more than 14 W / m is usually mounted on an aluminum profile: it dissipates excess heat. The profile can be fixed with self-tapping screws or glued on Double-sided tape. The presence of a diffuser in the profile is desirable for an IP20 tape, but protected tapes in silicone or PVC insulation do not need it.

Calculation

According to the current regulatory documents, the illumination of the kitchen should not be less than 150 lux (lumens per square area).

However: cutting meat or vegetables in low light is fraught with an unplanned and unwanted change in the number of fingers on your hands, so I strongly advise you to increase the illumination of the working area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe kitchen at least twice the norm.

With a small distance from the light source to the work surface, the scattering coefficient can be roughly taken equal to 1.5: at least 2/3 of the light emitted by the lamps will reach the table surface.

By the way: a light or mirrored apron will increase the illumination of the working area with a constant backlight luminosity.

If so, the luminosity of the light sources is selected at the rate of approximately 450 lumens per square surface of the working surface. This value roughly corresponds to:

• For incandescent lamps - 40 watts;
• For halogen lamps - 35 W;
• For fluorescent lamps - 10 W;
• For LED light sources - 5-7 W, depending on the generation of LEDs used in its assembly.

Mounting

What does the installation of light sources look like in each case?

Installation of recessed halogen lamp

• Led panels are usually hung on self-tapping screws screwed into the bottom wall of the boxes, into holes pre-drilled with a smaller diameter;
• The grooves for the mortise heat-removing profile are selected by a milling cutter. An overhead aluminum profile that is easier to install can be attached, as mentioned above, with self-tapping screws or double-sided tape;

• Low-power tape (less than 12 W/m) can be pasted directly on furniture cabinets.

Nutrition

How to connect the backlight to power in each of the described cases?

• When installing built-in lamps, each lampshade is connected to zero and phase with an insulated wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm2 (for led lamps it is permissible to use copper wire section 1 mm2). Grounding is only necessary metal cases protected luminaires, which as kitchen lighting are practically not used;
• An LED panel or a fluorescent furniture lamp is connected with a standard power cable. A small distance between adjacent panels allows them to be powered from a common wire using insulated conductive inserts;

• The tape is powered by an external power supply unit installed in a ventilated niche protected from moisture.

When connecting a led strip, it is worth considering a couple of basic rules:

1. The total power of the tape should be 10-30% less than the rated power of the power supply. Working in extreme conditions will significantly reduce its resource;
2. Two or more tapes must be connected to the PSU in parallel. Serial connection is fraught with overheating of current-carrying conductors and a decrease in the brightness of the tape.

Security

• All connections of luminaires with power wires must be insulated or made inside the luminaire body;
• The power supply for the LED strip must be protected from the curiosity of children and pets. Its partially open housing with contact terminals (including high voltage ones) can cause serious electric shock;
• It is desirable that the button or switch completely de-energizes the backlight (including drivers and PSU). Such a power scheme will make the backlight safe even if the kitchen is flooded by neighbors.

Conclusion

As you can see, installing kitchen lighting with your own hands is not difficult even for a beginner. The video attached to the article will help you learn more about the options for its implementation. Good luck!

March 14, 2018

If you want to express gratitude, add a clarification or objection, ask the author something - add a comment or say thanks!

Kitchen cabinets are used to store various cereals, food, spices, utensils and other additional things, so there are often certain difficulties in the process of finding one or another item. You can increase the functionality and usability of all drawers with the help of high-quality lighting. Often, LED lighting for kitchen cabinets is used, performed using high-quality LED strip. It is available in numerous colors, illuminates a small space well, is easy to install and does not consume a lot of electrical energy.

LED strip is often used to create lighting in kitchen cabinets. This is due to the presence of numerous advantages. These include:

• high profitability, since the equipment with such backlights for the kitchen under the LED cabinets does not consume a lot of electrical energy;
• long life LED backlight for kitchen cabinets;
• LEDs do not need to warm up to obtain bright and uniform illumination;
• does not affect the number of inclusions of this backlight on its service life;
• attaching this tape or fixtures to cabinets is a simple and quick job, easily performed by the direct owners of the room;
• it is allowed to buy tapes with different colors, so even the shade of lighting changes.

In addition to the LED strip, it is allowed to use other lighting fixtures to create lighting, so overhead fixtures equipped with LED bulbs.

The disadvantages of the LED strip include a fairly significant cost. Even LED lights for the kitchen under the cabinets have a significant price, but it is due high quality these products. Their purchase is still considered profitable due to economy and durability.

Design use cases

Before fixing tape or fixtures to kitchen cabinets, it is recommended to determine exactly where the lighting is required, as it must be effective, attractive and reliable. Proper lighting in the kitchen will certainly be multi-zoned, so initially repairs are made in the room, on the basis of which it is possible to divide the entire space into several separate functional zones, each of which has its own purpose.

Certainly furniture lamps are used in kitchen areas:

• general lighting, usually represented by a large fixture attached to the ceiling of the room and providing bright and uniform lighting, and usually attractive chandeliers are used for this;
• light directly above dining table, and it allows you to eat in a comfortable and optimal environment;
• illumination in the kitchen of the area where the main work is performed, for which LEDs are used lighting represented by lamps or ribbon.

The lighting of the cabinet in the kitchen can be internal or external, and it is desirable to combine these two options at all for the convenience of using the room for cooking and eating.

Most attention is paid to the work area, since the cooking procedure takes place here, so a lot of light is required for good review. The most commonly used backlight in areas:

• illumination of glass kitchen cabinets. Most often, these interior items are used to arrange attractive and exquisite sets or other unusual dishes. To make it clearly visible even when the cabinet doors are closed, the backlight is used directly in the cabinet. What devices can be used for this? It is best to use LEDs for this, for which a tape or lamps are purchased. It is desirable to make soft light, which will not only increase the attractiveness of the room, but also visually lighten the entire set, which is usually large;
• directly under the upper cabinets headset. Typically, such lighting in the kitchen under the cabinets is done above the working area, where the cooking process is carried out. This backlight placement option makes it easy to perform various works in the kitchen, as the countertop will be clearly visible. Most often, special built-in furniture fixtures with LED bulbs are used for wall cabinets. Led backlighting is allowed for this, but it must be powerful and of high quality in order to provide really bright lighting;
• headset above the upper cabinets. This option is best for small rooms with low ceilings. The light is directed upwards, so visually the room becomes taller and more spacious;
• lighting inside cabinets. This method of illumination provides comfortable conditions for searching for various items and elements in the cabinets. It usually turns on automatically when the cabinet door is opened, which is considered relevant for any kitchen user. Usually, a tape is used for this, which is fixed at the bottom of the shelves and the top cover of the cabinet.

On top of lockers

inside the furniture

Glass cabinets

When creating competent lighting in the kitchen, it is taken into account that the upper light should be bright and of high quality, but the lower one can be muffled and soft. Quite interesting is the creation of illumination of the countertop used for cooking. This option allows you to competently and brightly illuminate the work area. For such work, you need to purchase a transparent tabletop made of glass.

A high-quality glass table top is made by competently and reliably gluing several layers of glass, and a special polymer can also be used for this. A ribbon is attached along its contour, and it can be not only white, but also possessing some unusual color. To control the backlight, it is recommended to install a special touch control unit in a convenient place in the room.

The main types of tapes

A photo of an interesting lighting for the kitchen under the cabinets, created from LED strip, can be seen below. This lighting option is considered optimal for any kitchen. So that the LED strip lasts a long time and always pleases with bright lighting and unique appearance, it must be well protected from water, therefore it is not allowed to work in the immediate vicinity of the sink, as well as from the stove.

When buying the optimal LED strip, the main factors for the right choice are taken into account:

• the level of moisture protection cannot be less than IP44, but it is best to choose an IP65 design that can withstand a direct stream of water;
• the safest voltage is considered to be within 12 W;
• color temperature can vary from 3300 to 550 K;
• if a tape is chosen to illuminate the working area, then it must certainly be bright and of high quality, and it is also desirable that the spectrum be similar to daylight;
• it is advisable to purchase a tape equipped with three-chip LEDs;
• if property owners prefer bright lighting, then products consisting of 60 diodes are purchased.

Kitchen cupboard lighting equipment acts as an auxiliary lighting, so it does not have to be extremely bright, but in addition its choice depends on the preferences of the property owners.

Choosing the optimal power supply

When creating lighting for kitchen cabinets, the need to purchase a power supply is certainly taken into account. The stability of the lighting operation depends on it, and when choosing this element, the recommendations of specialists are taken into account:

• the power of this equipment should be within 25 percent, which is optimal when using an LED lamp or tape;
• it is advisable to purchase a model that has compact dimensions, since it is easy enough to hide in furniture, and it is also easy to use;
• to turn furniture lights on or off, an appropriate switch is required, and it can be push-button, touch or infrared;
• additionally, it is required to purchase a dimmer, which provides easy regulation of the luminous flux, and its control can be mechanical or touch;
• the control unit is purchased if a multi-color tape is selected, therefore, due to it, the light is flashing or pouring in various shades.

Thus, when creating a backlight, it is necessary to purchase not only the lamps themselves or the tape, but also some additional elements, providing ease of control and regulation of lighting.

Installation rules

If you want to attach fixtures for the kitchen under the cabinets, then for this the installation site is selected, marking is applied, cut out required hole under the lamp, after which it is installed in this piece of furniture. Various additional elements are hidden directly in drawers or other compartments and other parts of the interior.

If you want to install an LED strip, then the following steps are performed:

• marking is applied to the furniture, showing exactly where the tape will be;
• material is allowed on various linear elements, and this process is allowed to be carried out exclusively according to special lines available on the tape, and if you go beyond these lines, you can violate the integrity of the product;
• it is allowed to use several tapes at the same time, and they are connected to one power supply using a parallel connection;
• the electrical cable is connected to the tape by soldering, as this method is considered reliable;
• all connections are sealed, for which compression is used heat shrink tube;
• the switch is placed before the direct installation of the power supply;
• fixing the LED strip is usually carried out using adhesive tape.

It is allowed to immediately purchase a tape that provides multi-colored lighting, which allows you to choose an original and unique lighting for each interior style.

Thus, lighting for cabinets in the kitchen is considered an excellent solution for decorating the room and simplifying the process of use. various furniture in him. For this, LED lamps or tape can be used. The installation process is considered simple and fast, so it is easy to implement on your own. The owners of the apartment can independently determine which areas in the kitchen need lighting equipment for the kitchen under the cabinets, photo examples can be seen in the selection.

Video

A photo

Consumption ecology. Home: Modern kitchen equipment makes the process of cooking less burdensome. Proper lighting rooms and LED lighting for the kitchen under the cabinets creates a comfortable environment for the home chef.

WHY CHOOSE LEDS

About the benefits led lighting compared to both traditional incandescent lamps and energy-saving lamps, everyone knows. This is extremely high efficiency and durability. It is also important that the LEDs light up at full power instantly, without requiring warm-up time, their service life does not depend on the number of on-off switches. The only drawback is the relatively high cost. But the costs justify themselves: LED lighting in the kitchen will last for several decades, saving a lot of money due to low electricity consumption.

If you already have a different type of kitchen lighting, do not rush to change it to a new one. Manufacturers produce LED bulbs for almost any type of base and, most likely, you can replace only the lamp itself, without changing anything in the lamp or limiting itself to minor alterations.

WHERE TO POSITION THE LIGHT

Proper lighting in the kitchen should be multi-zone. This is general lighting, a light above the dining table and, of course, LED lighting for the kitchen work area.

A sophisticated consumer, technically savvy and familiar with the latest in interior design, is often not limited to functional lighting alone.

Where should and can the lighting for the kitchen be located?

• Working area - lighting under the cabinets.

The level of illumination in the working area should be the highest

• The hood above the stove has built-in lighting.

If the light of the hood seems insufficient to you, standard lamps can be replaced with brighter and more economical diode ones.

Adds convenience or simply decorates the interior with additional lighting in the following places:

• Illuminated glass cabinets. If you do not have collectible dishes, put frosted glass in the door, it is no less beautiful.

The soft light emanating from the glazed cabinets visually lightens the kitchen set.

• Above the upper cabinets, if the room has sufficient height. Light directed at the ceiling will make the room visually higher.

• Under the lower tier of cabinets. The light source should not be visible, so a thin and inconspicuous LED strip for the kitchen is best.

LED lighting directed to the ceiling and floor in the kitchen above and below the cabinets is not intended for work, therefore it may not be white, but colored. The top light can be bright, and the bottom light should be muted, noticeably softer than in the work area

• The LED strip in the kitchen can be installed under the countertop and directed along the facades of the lower cabinets, highlighting their contents.

The tape is fixed directly under the tabletop. The tabletop itself should protrude relative to the furniture front at a distance not less than the width of the light element

• You can highlight the tabletop itself from the inside, for this it must be transparent. They are made of glass glued in several layers, a transparent polymer.

An LED strip is installed along the contour of the translucent tabletop

Another option is hidden LED lighting for the glass top. The light source is directed from the end. To maximize the effect, the tabletop is made of transparent quartz glass with matte details applied to the surface. They are the ones that will glow.

• Bar counter lighting, if any.

Diode lighting for the kitchen in the bar area is directed, as a rule, down

• Luminous skinal - the latest fashion. Light does not fall on it from the outside, but comes from within.

Luminous skinal came to kitchen interior from advertising lighting. This is a flat diode panel with an image printed on milky glass.

Actually, LED lighting in the kitchen can be placed almost anywhere. Only financial considerations can limit your imagination.

WHAT ARE LED KITCHEN LIGHTS?

Do-it-yourself LED lighting can be made using ready-made fixtures, or you can actually assemble the lighting system yourself from individual elements. We list the main types of devices used:

• Overhead linear lamps. They are sold both individually and in sets, where several modules are connected in series into one block using a special adapter.

Do-it-yourself LED lighting for the working area of ​​the kitchen from ready-made linear modules

• Overhead spotlights.

LED illumination of the working area, made of corner lamps

Lamps appeared on sale, both linear and point, equipped with touch switches. It is enough to touch their body in a certain place to turn the light on or off.

The touch switch is usually indicated by a permanently lit blue LED.

• Recessed luminaires, linear and spot. Being very thin, they are mounted in the bottom shelf of the cabinet flush with the bottom surface.

Mortise LED lighting for the kitchen is completely hidden in the lower shelf. This is convenient, but the installation of such a lamp requires a certain qualification.

• LED strips for kitchen lighting are used no less widely than ready-made lamps. The reason for this popularity is wide choice in brightness and color and, which is very convenient - the tape can be cut exactly to the required length. It costs less than ready-made lamps.

The choice of brightness and color is very diverse.

INSTALLATION OF THE LED STRIP WITH YOUR HANDS

With ready-made lamps, everything is more or less clear, but how to make a backlight on a kitchen set with your own hands from an LED strip?

WHAT WILL THE LED LIGHTING ON THE BASIS OF THE TAPE CONSIST OF

To assemble a workable lamp, you will need the following materials:

• Diode tape of the required length.
• If necessary, an aluminum guide profile.

Kitchen lighting will look neater if placed in a special aluminum profile. This solution facilitates the installation of lighting

• Power supply 12 W.
• Switch.
• Electrical cable and plug or terminal block, depending on the type of connection. We recommend using a copper stranded cable in a double braid with a cross section of at least 2x0.75 mm2.
• Heat shrink tubing for sealing connections.

LED strip is often sold complete with a power supply and control

HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR LED STRIP

The LED strip in the kitchen must be protected from water, this is one of the conditions safe operation. The minimum level of moisture protection is IP44 (withstands the ingress of individual drops of water), better than IP65 (water jet). Voltage - 12 W, as the safest.

LED lighting for the working area of ​​​​the kitchen should be bright, the spectrum is close to natural daylight. We recommend using a strip with three-chip SMD 50x50 LEDs of 30 diodes of 12 lumens each per meter of length. If you want to have a brighter light, especially when equipping the backlight with a dimmer, it is better to choose a product from 60 diodes. Color temperature ranging from 3300 to 500 K.

Additional lighting for the kitchen, as a rule, should not be bright. Often enough light flux SMD 35x28 of 30 diodes of 5 lumens per meter. The color does not play a significant practical role and depends more on the design idea.

Recommended Ribbon Specifications

HOW TO CHOOSE THE POWER SUPPLY AND SWITCH FOR THE LED STRIP IN THE KITCHEN

In order for the LED lighting in the kitchen to work stably, we recommend choosing a power supply with a power margin of about 25%. The power of the tape depends on the model, technical specifications can be obtained from the seller. So, SMD 50x50 of 30 diodes "takes" 7.2 W per meter of length. Thus, if the length is, for example, 4 m, the total power will be 28.8 watts. Accordingly, the power supply with a 25% margin is 36 watts. Choose a compact model, it will be easier to hide.

As for the switch, the following options are possible:

• Simple push button.
• Touch by touch.
• Infrared, reacts to the wave of the hand.
• A dimmer that regulates the light output. Control can be mechanical, in the form of a rotating handle or touch.
• A control box that makes the light blink or shimmer with multi-colored lights if a multi-color RGB ribbon is selected. Although, such effects are used infrequently.

Diode lighting for the kitchen based on several tapes should only be carried out according to parallel circuit connections

INSTALLATION OF THE LED STRIP IN THE KITCHEN WITH YOUR HANDS

LED backlight should be assembled according to the following rules:

• The tape cannot be cut to length arbitrarily, only in certain places. For this, special marks are applied to it.
• If it is necessary to use several tapes, they are connected to the power supply in parallel.
• Electrical cable, coming from the power supply, should be connected to the tape not with connectors, but with soldering, this is more reliable. The connection should be sealed with heat shrink tubing. You can also use duct tape, but it's more difficult to do and it won't look as neat.

LED strip in the kitchen: photo of the connection diagram with a dimmer-controlled luminous flux

• The LED lighting for the kitchen is attached under the cabinets using double-sided adhesive tape. First, you should only lightly fasten the tape in several places and, making sure that it is in the right place and lay flat, press firmly along the entire length.

If you do not have sufficient knowledge and skills to work with electrics and electronics, entrust the installation of the backlight to specialists. published

Hello dear readers! There are many ways to make the interior of the kitchen more interesting and bright. For example, LED lighting for the kitchen under the cabinets can simultaneously perform two fundamental functions, the first of which involves the transformation appearance kitchen space, well, the second will highlight the shadow areas of the headset and other furniture present in the kitchen. Agree, with such a bright backlight, the cooking process will be much more comfortable.

Choosing LED strips as a backlight, you can be sure that they will not adversely affect the vision of households, this issue is especially relevant for families with children.

Types of kitchen lighting

But first, let's answer the question, why do you need additional lighting in the kitchen ?! First of all, this is necessary in order to make it much more comfortable for housewives to cook in evening time. Additional lighting will illuminate all corners of the kitchen set, including its countertop. But when choosing lighting strips, it is important to give preference to moderately bright LEDs, otherwise the light will “hit” the eyes, thereby turning a comfortable pastime in the kitchen into real torture. It has long been proven that the most comfortable glow from the point of view of human perception is diffused light emanating from several light fixtures at once.

It is also impossible not to note the decorative part of the use. additional light, the fact is that cabinets in the kitchen can be illuminated solely to create a unique effect. Moreover, on sale you can find tapes absolutely different colors, ranging from red glow to blue light. With such a variety, literally everyone can find the right shade for their kitchen.

Cooking area lighting options:

General light. This definition includes chandeliers and wall sconces. But even if there are several chandeliers in the room, this light will not be enough for comfortable cooking. Moreover, they are most often placed in the central part of the room, which means that a person will simply close the light with his back.

Naturally entering the room light. This is the light that enters the room through windows and balconies. It must be understood that in the evening, this light simply will not be.

Spot lighting. This is the very option that will help highlight the places you need, and the most economical option considered the use of LED strip. Its advantages also include the fact that you can mount it yourself.

Not many people know that thanks to the choice of a warm glow of LEDs, it is possible to profitably present a kitchen set made of natural wood. The fact is that such a warm light amazingly beats the wood pattern, emphasizing its natural beauty.

What is LED lighting.

The LED backlight is a strip with small LEDs fixed along its length. It should be noted here that for the long-term successful use of such a backlight, it should be connected exclusively through a specialized transformer device.

Benefits of LED lighting.

• Huge selection of shades of the future glow. It could be blue color, as well as yellow, red, pink, green, purple and white. Bright colors are used naturally for room decor, while traditional white is used for comfortable task lighting.
• Such a tape does not need to be “thinking” (long-term flaring up), it burns with a bright light immediately after switching on.
• In principle, such a tape is quite affordable.
• It is completely environmentally friendly and does not harm health at all.
• Easy to dispose of - with others household waste, which is unacceptable for energy-saving lamps.
• Not afraid of temperature changes.
• The durability of the tape is another clear advantage. Even if it works for about 20 hours a day, its service life will be about 12 years, and maybe much more.

Variety of LED strips.

Let's start with the fact that in the kitchen you need to purchase LED strips, exclusively marked for wet rooms. After all, splashes from washing dishes fly in the working area every now and then, often arranged wet cleaning etc. Give this item Special attention, otherwise, the tape will simply burn out, and you will throw it away, and then go back to the store for a suitable tape.

So, today on sale you can find the following types of tapes with LEDs:

1. Bilateral. These are the same tapes that should be used in the kitchen. They are completely sealed, as the LEDs are hidden under a special protective layer. Such tapes are marked as follows - IP68 and IP67.
2. Open. They are absolutely not tight, which means they cannot be used in rooms with an increased risk of moisture ingress. Such tapes are marked with IP33 type.
3. Unilateral. According to its name, such tapes are protected by a special overlay from the top, which allows you to protect the LEDs from moisture in some way, but naturally it is incomparable with double-sided tapes. Such tapes are marked with IP65 type.

What else to look for before buying.

You need to pay attention to the power and strength of the glow. The power indicator will directly depend on the number of LEDs placed on the tape. The brightest ribbons are those that are equipped with at least 120 LEDs per 1 meter (they are used not only for lighting, but also for decoration). Accordingly, tapes with 60 LEDs per 1 meter of tape will shine a little less brightly (they are used for decoration).

Varieties of LEDs.

Below we will talk about the power of various LEDs.

Marking 2835 - despite the small size of the LEDs, the tape shines brightly. In addition, their power does not fade even after 50 thousand hours of active use.

Marking 3528 - average power, illuminates somewhere at 120 degrees. Suitable for highlighting furniture, in general, it is used more for decorative purposes.

Marking 5050 - shines very brightly due to high power. The angle of illumination is approximately 120-160 degrees. Ideal as a primary task light.

Marking 5630, as well as 5730 - they are considered the brightest. The lighting angle is within 160 degrees. Perfectly copes with the task of lighting even hard-to-reach areas.

Where can I mount LED strips.

LED lighting for the kitchen can be mounted not only on furniture below the upper cabinets of the kitchen set, but also in various niches, inside the drawers, on the lower cabinets of the set, on kitchen table, bar counter. And in this way you can complement the paintings, wall clocks, shelves, windows, cornices and glass doors of the headset.

What you need to mount the tape.

1. The LED strip itself (sold in lighting equipment stores).
2. Power Supply. This block will help to convert the current, and the first one that caught my eye will not work. This issue should be given attention, because the service life of the LED strip will depend on its quality and power. For example, lighting for the kitchen under cabinets and other elements needs a certain amount of power. Well, calculate required power can be based on the length of the tape, as well as its type. Let's say the choice fell on the best tape for the kitchen marked 5050, and its power is 12 watts, so the transformer must be chosen as follows: the length of the tape is multiplied by the power of 12 watts, and also make a margin by multiplying the resulting result by 1.25. It is for this result that you should purchase a power supply.
3. PVC cable. Its cross section should be 0.5 mm.
4. Scissors and tape.
5. Soldering tool and rosin.
6. If you plan to connect tapes, then you need to buy connectors.
7. For multi-colored ribbons, you will need controllers.
8. If the tape does not have an adhesive composition on which it will be fixed to the surface, then you need to purchase double sided tape.

Installation of LED tape.

It is necessary to measure the length required for installation. Namely, measure the space where the tape will be attached. The tape in the reel is usually sold in lengths of 5 m, which means that a certain footage must be cut from it. You need to cut along the marks, otherwise it will not work. After that, your eyes will see bare contacts, they will be needed for soldering and connecting connectors. Moreover, it is better to solder the wire, since the use of detachable connectors can lead to burning of the contacts. Then the connection must be isolated with electrical tape. It remains to remove the protective layer and stick the tape to the surface of the cabinet. If the tape is not equipped with an adhesive layer, then double-sided tape can be used. Adhesive tape is glued to the tape, and then after removal protective film and degreasing the surface of the furniture, this tape is glued.

A transformer should be placed near the fixed tape. Accordingly, the previously fixed wires on the tape must be connected to the network through this transformer. It remains to plug it into the network (socket), and admire the result.

LED lighting in the kitchen, photo:

How to connect a strip with LEDs (video):

Illumination of the working area in the kitchen (video):

Friends, you must admit that the LED lighting for the kitchen under the cabinets looks incredibly beautiful, moreover, it perfectly fulfills its direct duties, namely, it wonderfully illuminates the work area. Well, by placing the tapes under the bottom of the entire kitchen set, you can even achieve the effect of soaring furniture, which will allow the room to acquire that very feeling of weightlessness. Until we meet again on the pages of the site "Comfort in the House".