Illumination of the work area in the kitchen: options, implementation

Proper lighting is one of the components of the effective design of any room. It is especially important in the kitchen, where the correct distribution of light flux turns cooking into a pleasant and comfortable process. All you need for this is a lighting design and calculation. One of the most interesting options in modern interiors, which you can implement with your own hands, is LED strip lighting.

LEDs are special semiconductors that emit light when electrical energy passes through them. LEDs can have different chemical compositions, which causes the brightness of the light they generate to differ. There is one more nuance - the installation of LED backlighting is never carried out directly, since this way the tape can overheat and break. A prerequisite for connecting LEDs is the presence of a stabilizer.

Advantages of LED lighting

LED lighting has a number of obvious advantages:

• Resistance to mechanical external damage;
• Durability – kitchen lighting strip can last 14 years or more even when working more than 15 hours a day;
• A variety of colors - kitchen lighting under cabinets can be made in white, red and orange, green and blue, purple and yellow. You can also choose LEDs that operate in the infrared and ultraviolet spectrum;
• Excellent lighting brightness, and the device does not require time to warm up;

• Affordability (due to distribution and popularization);
• Possibility to use tape with different radiation angles;
• Safety;
• Environmental friendliness;
• Undemanding to room temperature.

Connecting the neon lighting of the kitchen unit

Another interesting way to organize lighting in the kitchen is neon lighting.

Most often it is presented in the form of lamps or tubes. It has exclusively decorative functions. This type of lighting can be multi-colored. A special block that can be installed will allow you to observe the change of colors after a certain time interval.

Previously, neon lighting was used exclusively for suspended ceilings. In recent years, designers have come up with a new use case. Neon lamps were used to illuminate the kitchen cabinets.

The installation principle is identical to that of LED lighting. The only difference is the temporary color change sensor. Its installation is optional.

Methods and places for interior lighting in the kitchen

The number of crystals directly affects the number of colors in the ribbon. In general, LED strips can provide 15,000,000 shades - if they combine crystals of different brightness.

You can make LED lighting for the following purposes:

• Combined lighting for zoning, highlighting cabinets, niches;
• Illumination of paintings or other decorative elements of the interior;
• Illumination of the kitchen apron; lighting looks especially impressive if the apron is made of glass;

• Lighting inside drawers and cabinets;

• Highlighting stained glass or clear glass shelves;

• By installing lighting at the bottom of the bedside tables, that is, under the cabinets, you can create the effect of “floating furniture”;

• Lighting of several ceiling levels;

• Lighting the bar counter with LED lighting creates the atmosphere and style of a real bar.

Warm spectrum LEDs are installed for classic interiors, while in a high-tech style, cold light will be more appropriate.

Choosing a suitable LED strip - classification and comparison

Most often, LED backlight installation is made from SMD LEDs. They are classified according to a number of characteristics:

• Number of crystals – from 1 to 4;
• Glow type – full color or monochrome;
• Dimensions - in the range of 1.06x0.8 to 5.0x5.0 mm.

Before you buy an LED strip, you need to decide what type of lighting you want to make. Here are the following recommendations:

1. SMD 50x50 strip with three-crystal LEDs is perfect for lighting the work and dining areas and can provide uniform bright light.
2. For decorative lighting, a single-chip SMD 35x28 tape is suitable.

LED strip (LED) consists of several small LEDs located within the same plane. It can also have several varieties depending on the density of the LEDs:

• 30 pcs/meter;
• 60 pcs/meter;
• 120 pcs/meter;
• 240 pcs/meter

The power consumption and the brightness level of the generated lighting depend on the number of LEDs.

Tapes are divided into groups according to the degree of moisture protection:

• IP20 – not suitable for the kitchen because it cannot withstand high humidity;
• IP65 – average level of moisture protection, can be used in the kitchen;
• IP68 – complete moisture resistance – even a swimming pool can be illuminated with this tape.

How to choose a power supply

Power supplies come in different capacities, and therefore sizes. We need to determine the optimal option so that the power of the transformer is sufficient with a reserve, but at the same time so that it is not too large.

You can calculate the optimal power supply power for a five-meter SMD 5050 tape with a power of 12 W according to the following principle:

We multiply 12 W by 5 m (the length of the tape), for a total of 60 W. But since we need a reserve, we also take into account the coefficient equal to 1.25 - it turns out 1.25 × 60 = 75, therefore, we need to buy a 75 W transformer.

Selection of cable cross-section

Table for calculating cable cross-section
It is better to connect the lighting device with copper wire. Its cross section depends on the backlight power. An acceptable option is 0.75 mm2. To obtain accurate data, there is a formula: S=(2xIxpxL)/ΔU, where

• S – cable section;
• I – current strength, calculated by dividing power by voltage;
• L – wire length;
• p – metal resistance, taken from the reference book;
• ΔU – permissible voltage drop.

Calculations can be made using online calculators on various Internet resources.

How to illuminate a tabletop or dining area with LEDs

For the work area, a device with an average degree of moisture protection is suitable - it has a special protective layer that protects against vapors and contamination, water and other liquids. This means that if wet cleaning is necessary, you can wipe down the cabinets along with the lamps.

Installing the tape to the table involves attaching a special aluminum profile. It is necessary to hide the wires and make the lighting aesthetically pleasing. You can also make lighting from self-adhesive tapes. By the way, by installing additional devices you can create a backlight that will change brightness and/or color.

Advice! A warm white LED strip color is optimal for a desktop, as it will not change the natural colors of the food.

Additional lighting can be made from LED strips in the work area. Designs with high moisture protection are also needed here. The tapes here are installed with double-sided tape. You can use several ribbons to create an expressive decorative effect.

Types of desk lamps

Manufacturers offer various solutions for desk lamps. There are different types of housings, materials for their manufacture, luminous flux power, etc.

When choosing a specific option, it is necessary to take into account the maximum number of individual factors, including the architectural features of the kitchen, the type of furniture and the cost of the system.

Prices for LED strips

LED strips

What do we need for installation?

Self-installation of LED backlighting will require the use of the following tools and components:

• The actual kit: tape reel (12W), electrical cable with a cross section of 0.74 mm square;
• Transformer - 12W power supply and dimmer with remote control (if available);
• Solder with rosin;
• Soldering iron;
• Scissors;
• Double sided tape;
• Insulating tape (or heat shrink tube with a heat gun);
• PVC corner and or aluminum profile for LED mounting – if necessary;
• Drill - if necessary;
• Electrical installation brackets - if necessary.