About to move the kids into attic bedroom, it's got a proper stair case in the room so I need something to illuminate the stairs without being so bright as to prevent them sleeping, figured on running an led strip under the bannister, beyond that dunno what I'm doing.
Figure I need around a 2m strip, any ideas what wattage to go for?
Where's the best places to buy from?
Anything else I need to bear in mind?
Thought about putting it on a timer [url= http://www.screwfix.com/p/masterplug-plug-in-mechanical-daily-24-hour-timer-240v/25518?kpid=25518&cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&kpid=25518&cm_mmc=Google-_-Shopping%20-%20Mixed-_-Shopping%20-%20Mixed&gclid=Cj0KEQiAn9-kBRDloNeUw7Pe_YwBEiQA4HXMUyt01thkqWC7RX0XYJpyiP9-lEUUsJZ6R64Jf_AwB2waAgmN8P8HAQ ]like this[/url], any better ideas?
http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/leds-in-kitchen
any info on here?
running leds under cupboards
Just got a couple of these - reckon they'd do the job well.
cheers, have seen a few threads about cupboard ones however, dunno about what everyone else uses but the under cupboard lighting I have (currently fluro tubes) would be way too bright for this application.running leds under cupboards
Just want enough for them to get safely down the stairs without having to switch biog light on and waking sibling.
Maybe a coloured light would help? less harsh than white light?
nemesis 1.8W for .75m sounds lower than other stuff I've seen so could be ballpark figure, dunno tho
I just put a strip in the sauna. When I fitted the wrong 240V to 12V transformer they were just a dull glow. when I fitted the right one they went to the right brightness. The wrong one was about £8 from B&Q
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How bright do you want it - just to be able to see or what?
Mr Beams do motion controlled night lighting that is "Wireless" AKA battery powered and the batteries do last a long time.
I would probably go the route of a few RGB 5050 SMD strips with controller (Raspberry Pi), motion and light activated. Depends if you want a DIY solution or complete. I would go for RGB so you can set it to Red at night.
The LED strips I have seen on the likes of eBay will turn on to a set brightness and set display (flashing/fading) and you cannot modify this default setting. You can change it with the remote when its on, but defaults back once you turn it off.
From experimenting in the kitchen (see other thread), a 5m 5050 LED warm white strip (15W load) is pretty dim on it's, similar to 60W of Fluorescent tubes which spread over 5m isn't that bright.
see above X posted, just see enough to get down the stairs.How bright do you want it - just to be able to see or what?
Milkie wireless motion sensor sounds good will have a look. Raspberry pi controller sounds complicated (despite being an IT monkey)
For stairs though you don't need a bright light like for working on food in the kitchen - hence my suggestion above - you wouldn't want to be using them for a kitchen but for showing where the stairs/steps are, I reckon they'd be about right and not so bright as to keep kids awake.
As to how to actually wire them, I'd get a light level switch to automatically switch them on at night just wire that into the power supply to operate both. You could also set a timer if you really wanted.
How about some glow in the dark paint around the edges of the steps? I think you can get stuff which is clear by day too.
Just had new carpet fitted scruff don't think I'll be painting the steps 😆
Something [url= http://www.lighting-direct.co.uk/dusk-to-dawn-with-timer-for-plug-and-play-lighting.html? ]like this[/url] nemesis?I'd get a light level switch to automatically switch them on at night
bumpity for morning crowd.
Yeah, something along those lines.
this sort of thing:
So you'd have this connected to the mains (either hard wired or you could just do it using plugs) then the LED strips I linked.
There are lots of LED strip lighting and various different controllers on dx.com but delivery can take 12 weeks.
If you want a quick easy solution I would go the Ikea route. They are well made and very cheap and user friendly. For example [url= http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40192356/ ]this light[/url] can change colour so you can make it a bit warmer colour. I don't think you can change the brightness using the controller but you can either put some tinted film over the top or just put some black tape over every other led to reduce the output. There are a few different designs using the same controller have a poke around their website.
Cheap dimmer? All this motion detection and raspberry pi sounds like overkill. I got the strip,transformer and everything from Amazon. Dimmer was about 3 quid. Search for "atdoshop New 12/24V LED Brightness Adjust Dimmer Controller for Single Color LED Light Strip Lamp"
cheers for the info fellas, that dimmer sounds worth a punt for £2.70.
Light sensor switch is a bit bulky, I'm more inclined to go for a motion sensor, like the ones used on corridors that switch on then time out after X minutes, but again added complications and the question of where to mount the sensor - otherwise I think the easy approach of a timer plug is winning so far, just need to remember to adjust it as the sunset/sunrise changes.
completely different approach to the solution.
[url= http://www.poundland.co.uk/christmas-micro-led-lights-on-wire ]http://www.poundland.co.uk/christmas-micro-led-lights-on-wire[/url]
A set of aa's last around 3 months. Got them on the stairs and when I go for a wee at night its easily bright enough to not have to turn the lights on. Always take some when I'm traveling with the family to avoid wee the suitcase.
cracking idea Earl!
Ikea ones are very expensive compared to EBay strips - I did 2M of cupboards, with a spare transformer for the cost of one light unit from Ikea (and no wat to drive it).
You can cut down the 3M LED strips so just use less if you want it dimmer, and space out the clusters to mark the steps. But to be honest I would go with lighting the staircase well if its a bit dodgy - all my 3 can sleep perfectly well with lights on in their bedrooms (youngest prefers his 10W LED lamp left on) that would keep me awake.
So the optimal solution lies somewhere between a bespoke computer controlled PIR system and a string of battery powered Christmas lights from Poundland?
That's why I love this forum! 😀
When I say a set of AA's last's 3 months I mean they last 3 months with them on 24/7.
was browsing through the argos catalogue whilst sat at my mums over xmas, £39.99 for a roll of led strip! AFAIK just the 5050 strip no transformer or other kit. Hell of a mark up.Ikea ones are very expensive compared to EBay strips
🙂 @ pealy
had some red led poundlights at home, give them a go but they weren't bright enough, had a look in a few £1 shops but, understandably, xmas decorations were in short supply. Just trying to decide whether I CBA riding 10miles up the road from work to ikea or ordering led strip kit from ebay...hmm
