Led Strips As Cove Light

[user123 5]

For the benefit of those who want to see how using LED strips instead of normal T5 as cove lighting.

Previously I have been searching all over the forum but none can give any help.

Just go ahead with the trial and error and it turns out to be too good! Not as bright as T5 but bright enough.

The color here is warm white (3000K), LED size: 3528 90LEDs per meter. Uses 2x 12V 2.5A and 2x 12V 5A adaptor.

[martin1023 0]

Very nice! Where did you get the LED strips? Locally or online? How much? Where you get the adaptor? Where you mount the adaptor? Sorry i got too many questions for you. I am eager to know because I can use the LED to replace the T5 for my feature wall and the side of living room platform.

Edited December 30, 2010 by martin1023

[lynd3ralla 0]

i feel LED prices are still too ex for now..waiting for them to drop further..when the demand for it is more.

I used t4 for my cove lightings/platform..and the only drawback is that you can see some 'gaps' of shadow in between.

But the disadvantage to LED is the **** transformer...must buy so many for individual switches..goodness...in the end...i gave that idea up..

[manutd1972 1]

But the disadvantage to LED is the **** transformer...must buy so many for individual switches..goodness...in the end...i gave that idea up..

they hv different sizes of transformers for diff lengths of the LED strips.

why do u nd to hv different transformers for individual switches? depending on the wiring, different combinations can be made. i have 6 separate strips, 3 transformers, 3 switches, in the following combi.

1) 3metres + 3metres, tied to 1 transformer, controlled by 1 switch.

2) 1.5m + 1.5m, tied to 1 transformer, controlled by 1 switch.

3) 1.5m + 0.75m, tied to 1 transformer, controlled by 1 switch.

Original design was to tie (2) and (3) to just 1 switch, but i wanted individual control, so amended design to individual switches. If it had stayed in the original design, den i would have only needed 1 transformer, and 1 switch for (2) + (3).

So as u can see, depending on your requirements, a lot of customisation can be done.

These LED strips tt i'm using are super economical. When I switched off everything n only turned on these strips, i noticed the PUB electrical meter outside my house was hardly moving. And if u use warm white, it's a direct replacement for cove lighting/mood lighting fixtures.

[fierydragon 1]

Where did u get the led lights and transformer from and how much are they? thanks

The lights and transformer can be bought at Sim Lim Towers.

Please try and get prices from different shops. Some shops are 'Buaya Besar'

I tried to get a transformer, a control and a flashing bulb from a shop on the third floor a month ago, and it cost me a bomb. When I asked him for such a set up, he said $35 to which I think as resonable, but when he handed the finished produt to me, he asked for $60 claiming the rest was for labour,soldering and wiring.

I did not want it, but he said if I do not want it, I still got to pay or his labour and wiring to uninstall the set up.

Never buy rom SLT unless you are desperate and know the price.

[manutd1972 1]

Hi Manutd,

Able to share some pictures of your lightings and your transformer too?

Where did u get the led lights and transformer from and how much are they? How many watts transformer are u using for the 3m+3m. Able to show how you connect the 2 led strips to 1 transformer?

thanks

i can't rmb the transformer wattage liao, but it's 12V 8.3A. Think its a $30 transformer. below 2 pics, first one is taken without flash, 2nd one taken wif flash. LED is actually warm-white in colour but when taken without flash, it will appear white.

Taken wif flash:

wiring-wise, i dunno hw my electrician did it, but the transformer is mounted on top of the cabinet. there must be a wire running frm d bottom LED strip to the transformer on top.

i got all frm this LED shop at Sim Lim Square, B1. can't miss it if you drive into their carpark frm Jln Besar road. But i wldn't recommend gg thr. i dun like the service though price is competitive. a lot of other shops in Sim Lim Tower. also can get frm Choo Chiang, maybe slightly more ex.

Edited January 13, 2011 by manutd1972

[ayukie 0]

For the benefit of those who want to see how using LED strips instead of normal T5 as cove lighting.

Previously I have been searching all over the forum but none can give any help.

Just go ahead with the trial and error and it turns out to be too good! Not as bright as T5 but bright enough.

The color here is warm white (3000K), LED size: 3528 90LEDs per meter. Uses 2x 12V 2.5A and 2x 12V 5A adaptor.

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/88ed41c0.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/689d9169.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/2df05f51.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

I just gt my led strips for cove light did you have to install those coveledger or u paste directly inside the cove on the false wall ?

thx

[littlejun 0]

For the benefit of those who want to see how using LED strips instead of normal T5 as cove lighting.

Previously I have been searching all over the forum but none can give any help.

Just go ahead with the trial and error and it turns out to be too good! Not as bright as T5 but bright enough.

The color here is warm white (3000K), LED size: 3528 90LEDs per meter. Uses 2x 12V 2.5A and 2x 12V 5A adaptor.

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/88ed41c0.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/689d9169.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/2df05f51.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

hws the price like? can i use it at other place like cupboard? installation, can b done by any electrician?

[terrygerrard 1]

hws the price like? can i use it at other place like cupboard? installation, can b done by any electrician?

Normally LED strip can purchase from outside/commercial store.

But please ensure the color you purchase is correct.

Sometimes even warm white has different color too.

12Vdc LED strip is easily obtain but 24vdc will be better in LED light distribution and brightness.

Cupboard can be done and easily done up.

Connection will be given too for your electrician.

I working at LED industrial, therefore LED got different grade too.

Our pricing include tailor made length to requirement.

Feel free to pm me.

Regards,

Terry

[siongboon 0]

The cove lights looks good enough. Impressive.

LED strip price range from $12 to $25 per meter depending on the type of strip.

Smaller LED bulbs are generally less expensive as compare to a bigger brighter one.

RGB colored LED are the most expensive type at about S$25/m

The power adapter can easy cost $12 to $30 depending on the length/type of the strips you are getting.

The LED strip uses 12V and the amount of current depends on the LED strip's length.

The highest powered LED strips uses 0.5A per meter.

12V 2A typically supports about 2-3 meters

12V 3A typically supports about 3-5 meters

12V 6A typically supports about 5-10 meters

Sim Lim Tower's LED strip looks more expensive than I thought.

[Edlyn 0]

For the benefit of those who want to see how using LED strips instead of normal T5 as cove lighting.

Previously I have been searching all over the forum but none can give any help.

Just go ahead with the trial and error and it turns out to be too good! Not as bright as T5 but bright enough.

The color here is warm white (3000K), LED size: 3528 90LEDs per meter. Uses 2x 12V 2.5A and 2x 12V 5A adaptor.

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/88ed41c0.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/689d9169.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

<img src="http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i289/Ezekiel76/2df05f51.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Your cove light is nice, why is it that not many consider using LED for downlights too

Looking into LED lights too for my new flat...and really hoping to make my home an environmental friendly one...went sim lim and price there is ok/reasonable at about $20 per meter..and according to shop attendent, it does not generate any heat as it it DC operated..quite impressed and almost going to confirm with them but luckily I did not. Just attended a housewarming ... and saw the LED strip lights used in my friend's place too, they place it below kitchen cabinet and in their master bedroom.... very impressive.......managed to get the contact of the supplier(hurray)......

Spoke to the contractor and understand they have the different types of waterproofing IP code depending on where I am going to place it. Every LED strip needs a power adapter/transformer... and some has RGB type like mood lights. Confused with so many different types.... anyway ask for a quotation and this is what he quoted me and please share if this is reasonable price.

5M LED strip light warm white c/w power supply/ transformer & 3M double side tape but not water proof type $60

5M LED strip RGB c/w power supply, remote controller & 3M double side tape but not waterproof type $90

Not inclusive of installation... cos he said the electrical contractor just need to link the power cable and it will work already... just need to lay the LED strip to where I want and take out the double side tape... sounds easy ya.

the LED all running at 12vdc. The warm white ones are 3528 model running 60 LED per meter. He highlighted that there are cheaper ones that run at 30 LED per meter. The led type/size is 3528

The rgb ones using 5050 led and c/w 12vdc transformer, IR transmitter for 12 channel(12 different colours) and wireless receiver. It has 60 LED per meter too which means 300LED for 5 meters.

DO u think the price is reasonable for the specifications stated? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[swiper 0]

My living room cove is about 5.5M X 2.5M in size. ID qouted me 12 ligthing points (12 X T5) which cost me $420 for just the lighting points. Am i right to assume that if i were to use LED strips, then I'd save (11 lighting points ~ $385) assuming when switch on the light, all light is ON at the same time? Of coz the price for LED will be much exp but it still works out to be quite a lot saving (and environment friendly).

Another question is will LED cove have the same brightness as T5 cove (warm white)?

[terrygerrard 1]

My living room cove is about 5.5M X 2.5M in size. ID qouted me 12 ligthing points (12 X T5) which cost me $420 for just the lighting points. Am i right to assume that if i were to use LED strips, then I'd save (11 lighting points ~ $385) assuming when switch on the light, all light is ON at the same time? Of coz the price for LED will be much exp but it still works out to be quite a lot saving (and environment friendly).

Another question is will LED cove have the same brightness as T5 cove (warm white)?

Yes you can and you can avoid the shadow produce by T5 spacing too.

Environment friendly, UV free and most important thing power saving too.

You either take 12vdc with size of LED 5mm by 5mm or take 24vdc with size of led 3.5mm by 2.8mm.

My opinion. cheers.

[arowana 2]

the weakness of LED lights is one critical factor that most people overlook - The efficacy ratio, Lumens/Watt. Basically how bright a light source can be, based on the amount of wattage it has.

If you thought T8s were really efficient already, T5 efficacy ratio is near 100 with some models slightly mroe than a hundred.

A 5050 SMD LED - which is generally the brighter of LEDs out there. Typically it has a wattage of 0.24watts, lumens only 12L. Efficacy ratio is 50L/W, half of T5.

Where LED can win, is when you just want abit of light to go over a longer distance and do not need things to be too bright. In this case, strips are used. Another way where LEDs are better, if one needs more little spot lights spread over a longer area, LEDs work great here. Using Halogen light sources would be too bright and consume too much electricity to achieve this effect.

What LEDs need to improve on is not really cost, it's the Efficacy ratio, which as of now is sadly too far behind.

[swiper 0]

the weakness of LED lights is one critical factor that most people overlook - The efficacy ratio, Lumens/Watt. Basically how bright a light source can be, based on the amount of wattage it has.

If you thought T8s were really efficient already, T5 efficacy ratio is near 100 with some models slightly mroe than a hundred.

A 5050 SMD LED - which is generally the brighter of LEDs out there. Typically it has a wattage of 0.24watts, lumens only 12L. Efficacy ratio is 50L/W, half of T5.

Where LED can win, is when you just want abit of light to go over a longer distance and do not need things to be too bright. In this case, strips are used. Another way where LEDs are better, if one needs more little spot lights spread over a longer area, LEDs work great here. Using Halogen light sources would be too bright and consume too much electricity to achieve this effect.

What LEDs need to improve on is not really cost, it's the Efficacy ratio, which as of now is sadly too far behind.

I'll be using this http://www.inleds.com/inleds_files/inledsLEDBarbrochure.pdf for all my cove and the 50W driver http://www.inleds.com/products/?cid=3. Anyone using this before?

Edited September 5, 2011 by swiper