LED strip is a modern type of lighting fixture. It is used in interior decoration of premises and for exterior decoration of building facades. Correct installation and fastening is a prerequisite for its reliable operation.
Surface preparation
LED strip is used to create lighting in the living room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway, kitchen. Due to its flexibility and adhesive base, it attaches to wood, plasterboard, metal, plastic, ceramic surfaces. Their shape can be rectilinear, curved, spherical.
During installation, the following rules should be followed:
- Do not allow mechanical impact on the board.
- You can cut the tape at specially marked places.
- When the LEDs work, heat is generated, so the canvas must be cooled.
- To connect the sections of the LED strip, connectors are used.
- The tape is connected to the network through a power supply unit of appropriate power, which provides a voltage of 12 or 24 V.
The adhesive base of the LED strip is 3M acrylic tape. For its strong adhesion to the surface, the following conditions must be met:
- The surface should be flat, without protrusions, sharp edges, bumps.
- The base is preliminarily prepared: cleaned, dedusted, degreased with isopropyl alcohol or a napkin with an adhesion promoter. White spirit or acetone can be used to degrease metal and plastic substrates. The painted surfaces are treated with a vinegar solution.
- Marking is applied to the base, which allows the canvas to be fixed along the required trajectory.
- The air temperature in the room is above 18 degrees. At room temperature, the adhesive tape sets as much as possible during the day. At temperatures above 60 degrees - within an hour.
The LED strip can be glued to wood. The wooden base must be smooth, painted or varnished. On an unprepared surface, it does not stick and quickly peels off.
Sticking materials
The LED strip has a standard self-adhesive backing. But for long-term fixation on rough surfaces, for example, wooden, it is unsuitable. The list of materials that can be used to glue the LED strip is as follows: aluminum profile, tape for led tape, aluminum tape, quick-setting glue. They improve the properties and increase the fastening efficiency.
Scotch tape for LED strip
The commercially available tapes are a printed circuit board with LEDs attached to double-sided tape. Its free side, used for mounting, is protected by a smooth transport foil. High-quality models have the 3M mark on it.
How to glue the LED strip:
- Marking is applied to a previously prepared surface.
- Soldered to the backlight contacts or using a connector connect wires, power supply; install a switch.
- Using a sharp object, separate the beginning of the tape from the protective film, release a 15-20 cm long section.
- Apply the LED strip to the surface and press firmly.
- Gradually freeing sections of the tape from the film, completely stick the tape along the marked trajectory. When making connections in the corners, it is not bent, but corner connectors are used or soldered.
- Install the power supply in a convenient place protected from moisture.
If, when removing the protective film, the conductive paths are exposed, it is necessary to apply a substrate made of electrical tape to this place. Otherwise, a short circuit will occur when connecting.
The tape should be precisely applied to the markings. If it is incorrectly positioned, the adhesive tape loses its properties after disconnecting. It will be problematic to reattach it firmly.
Aluminum profile
Optimal mounting for LED lighting - aluminum profiles. They are used for extended powerful models SMD 2835 and SMD 5630, 5730 and for the popular ones based on LEDs SMD 5050. For fastening structures with a power of more than 14 W, their use is mandatory.
Profiles are overhead, cut-in, corner. LED lighting is glued into the profile, and it is mounted on the selected surface.
Aluminum profile properties:
- the self-adhesive surface of the tape ideally adheres to a flat and smooth base;
- easily and firmly attached to the mounting plane;
- heat generated during the operation of LEDs is removed through the aluminum surface;
- a matt diffuser, which covers the front part of the profile, gives a pleasant appearance and softens the lighting.
An inexpensive alternative to the aluminum profile is the plastic cable duct without cover. Its disadvantage, which leads to premature loss of LED brightness, is poor heat dissipation during operation. Therefore, its use is not justified.
Glue
The correct adhesive for the LED strip ensures a quick-setting bond. Adhesives cope with this task:
- on the basis of cyanoacrylate, called superglue, for example "Super Moment";
- based on rubber or silicone, for example, liquid nails "Titanium" or "Moment Installation".
Recommendations for fixing with glue:
- Superglue is applied pointwise every 50 - 100 mm. So the tape is securely fixed and, if necessary, it is easier to dismantle it than when applying a continuous layer of glue.
- The strip with LEDs is applied with the base to the surface to which the adhesive is applied and pressed firmly.
The adhesive joint is used on vertical, inclined porous surfaces. It is resistant to temperature and humidity. The tape adheres to a properly processed surface in 20-60 seconds. They are completely glued together in no more than 2 hours. You can glue the LED strip to metal, wood, plastic, wallpaper, glass.
Hot melt glue is not recommended. It adheres well, but due to low heat dissipation properties, overheating of the emitting crystals and their premature failure are possible. When exposed to elevated temperatures, it melts and gives off an unpleasant odor.
Aluminum tape
If it is impossible to use the LED strip profile of low and medium power (6-10 W), they are attached to aluminum or foil tape. Its surface has heat dissipating properties and can function as a reflector.
Aluminum tape for LED strip is glued to the surface according to the previously applied markings. Superglue is dotted onto it to ensure a good bond. Then a strip with LEDs is attached to the tape.
Other mounts
If the led strip is hidden or the appearance does not matter, you can use to fix it:
- disposable nylon ties;
- plastic clamps.
Do not attach the LED strip with staples with a construction stapler.
Two ways of sticking LED strip got widespread: on scotch tape and on glue. The scotch tape comes off over time. The strength of this mounting is increased by using super glue. Optimally attach the lighting with an aluminum profile.
220V tape sticker
Models rated for 220 V are produced without an adhesive backing and are placed in a sealed enclosure. They heat up during operation, therefore they are not recommended for use indoors. Used to organize outdoor lighting of buildings in well-ventilated areas.
You can attach such a model in one of three ways:
- mounting on an aluminum profile using clamps;
- fixing with fastening pads, clips, studs;
- gluing on double-sided tape.
For attachment to adhesive tape, it is cut into strips 3-5 cm long. One side is glued to the canvas after 5-7 cm. Then, the structure, separating the free surface of the adhesive tape from the protective film, is fixed in the required place.
When using a 220 V LED strip outdoors, the most reliable option is clip fastening.
Rules for sticking on an uneven surface
The flexibility of the LED board allows it to be glued to surfaces of any geometric shape, including arches and circles.
When gluing the tape, such surfaces must be cleaned of moisture, dust, grease and other contaminants. Additional fixing strength is provided by the application of glue. Rough surfaces, such as wood, are pre-painted or varnished to smooth and increase the contact area.
Where to hide the LED strip
Depending on the type and shape of the base on which the LED strip is attached, it can be hidden in several ways.
- Ceiling. LEDs are mounted in the ceiling plinth or plasterboard cornice. So that the tape is not visible, it is laid to a depth of at least 2 cm. If stretch ceilings are installed, first fix the backlight and lay the wires, and then stretch the canvas.
- Walls. To hide the tape in the wall, make a niche in the form of a drywall box. Low-power models are attached directly to the surface of the niche; for powerful ones, an aluminum profile should be used.
- Furniture. LED lighting can be attached to any cabinet furniture in the living room or bedroom, kitchen set. It is glued to the base of hanging cabinets, inside sideboards or cabinets with glass doors, highlighting their contents. To organize decorative lighting, it is glued to the top of the furniture.
- Ladders. You can focus on the stairs in a multi-storey building with the help of LED lighting. It is laid under the steps or in the recesses in the railing.
A hidden ribbon with diffused light complements the main lighting, creates backlighting in the dark, focuses on decorative elements, or is used for zoning a space.
Common mistakes and methods of their elimination
The service life of the LED strip will increase if you do not make the following mistakes:
- Bonding lighting on the surface of ceilings, walls, furniture without a profile. Such a fastening does not provide cooling of the tape, overheating, it will quickly detach, the LEDs will fail.
- Bonding bare LED strips. Installing the tape on a damaged base, through which the LED board protrudes, will cause a short circuit when connected.To avoid this, a layer of insulation is applied to the damaged areas.
- Using a stapler for fixing on wood and plasterboard surfaces. Attaching the backlight requires shooting the staples many times. If only one inaccuracy is allowed, the LED board will be damaged and the strip will be unusable.
- Mounting on a plastic profile from a cable duct. This type of profile is not intended for mounting LEDs: it does not provide heat dissipation, which leads to overheating of the structure.
- Hot glue application. When the LEDs operate, it will heat up, preventing heat dissipation and emitting a harmful odor.
Stick the LED strip only with specially designed materials.
What to do if the LED strip comes off
Depending on the length of the unsticked area, you can apply one of the following methods:
- If the length of the sagging section is insignificant, it is fixed with superglue without disturbing the overall structure.
- If a significant piece of tape is detached, the entire structure must be re-glued. To do this, it is better to use durable 3M tape.
The tape is re-glued in the following sequence:
- neatly dismantle the LED backlight;
- the base is cleaned of the remnants of old glue;
- a new double-sided tape is glued to the surface of the cleaned area;
- release the tape from the protective film and fix the tape in place.
With the correct procedure and the use of high-quality scotch tape, the LED strip will be permanently and durable.
Installation of LED strip does not require special skills. It is easily attached to its own tape base. The use of additional techniques and inexpensive materials will ensure high reliability of fixation. Effectively glue the backlight using an aluminum profile, using adhesive tape and superglue together.
