joe90 Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Hi all, my workshop is nearly complete and you may remember that I asked about lighting on the last forum and the consensus was LED ribbons. Well my next question is how much light do I need?. The space is 7 meters by 9 meters with 3 meters height to rafters. I thought about 5 meter LED ribbons on every other rafter ( 500mm spacing 7 meters long ) or every third rafter. The benches ( one for woodwork and one for engineering ) will have their own direct lighting over them). I know these ribbons require DC input at each end. Any help would be appreciated and in particular any good suppliers or recommended kit ( good protected transformers to reduce RF interference). I have no broadband on site and ST visited me and kindly worked out how I could use my phone as a mobile hot spot to give me a signal to use my iPad on site but I have found that the only way to get a decent signal is to sit on my van roof and it is still slower than wi fi.!!!. So access to this forum will be sketchy when on site ( I have come home for a few days to rest . ) when the workshop is finished I will post a picture. Nice to be back guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 Any use? Anywhere between 750 and 2000 lux depending on the detail of the work you're doing: http://www.aceinnovation.co.uk/Downloads/LUX Fact Sheet.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 2, 2016 Share Posted June 2, 2016 The powerful LED strips need a lot of current and are very bright. Three across a 4m width seems more than adequate for me. I've found the best way to fix them is to paint or prime the surface, then stick on a length of 50mm wide aluminium tape (the stuff used to join insulation sheets), rub the aluminium tape down well and then stick the LED strip down the centre of the line of tape. This makes the LED strip adhere better and also seems to make the strip run a bit cooler, which in turn helps the self-adhesive backing stay fixed. For power supplies, I've used ventilated aluminium cased 12V supplies, wall mounted. The bright 5630 strip needs about 3A per 5m length at 12V, and I opted to use three 5A supplies, like these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-24V-IP67-Waterproof-LED-Transformer-Driver-Power-Supply-CCTV-240V-DC-2A-5A-/291663843407?var=&hash=item43e885104f:m:mp4HSAn6fw0MWK4ZUIErztg I ran lengths of 1.5mm² T&E cable above the ceiling to feed the far end of each strip (I've used the full 5m on each roll) joined to either end of the strip and then with single 1.5mm² T&E feeds running to the power supplies, inside a length of conduit where they come down the wall. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Start a new thread you lot Not quite LED lighting now 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 52 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Start a new thread you lot Not quite LED lighting now I have moved all the mobile phone repeater discussions to a new thread here 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 3, 2016 Author Share Posted June 3, 2016 Yes, the mobile stuff is good and should be on another thread thanks, Jeremy, thanks for your info will source shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 Cheers dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 23, 2016 Author Share Posted June 23, 2016 Well, finally ordered the lights, 5 off 5630 5 meter lengths with shrouded power supplies as per Jeremys advice, however their spec page says each 5meter length runs at 6amp ( 72 watts) and no mention of power to both ends of the strip? Is it ok to power from one end like they say? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrc Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Yes, they normally have a flying lead on one end, just need wiring into the driver (secondary) 12v - your 230v into primary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 They definitely run far better with power at both ends, plus the little 3A wire on the ends doesn't get warm! There is a fair voltage drop down a 5m length of the super bright stuff I found, hence the reason I fitted wires at both ends, to halve this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 23, 2016 Author Share Posted June 23, 2016 Thanks Jeremy, I will copy you and power from both ends. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 You risk the voltage drop tbh. If you put one before the other then you'll most likely see the difference in the first and last led. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrc Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 Generally the VD is not a problem over 5m (which is why that's the usual max reel length) - don't forget that's 12v at both ends Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 The max lengths at 5m don't change from the weak output to the monster output ones so the laws of physics kick in here. High wattage and low voltage = big current. Divide the wattage by the voltage and you get your current. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted June 23, 2016 Share Posted June 23, 2016 There is most definitely a significant voltage drop along the length if you don't feed the high power stuff from both ends if using the full 5m length, as the track sizes down the strip are tiny, so if fed from one end the power tracks at the end the power is fed from are running at over their safe limit, so they get warm and they cause most of the voltage drop. Feeding the length from both ends halves the current in the feed tracks at the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share Posted June 25, 2016 All the kit has arrived from eBay and going to site next week to "illuminate" my workshop. Jeremy, the power supplies you recommended look very good. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted June 25, 2016 Author Share Posted June 25, 2016 If anyone else wants LEDs and drivers from EBay I can recommend "Dream-led2013", I even changed my order at the last minute and he sent it without even waiting for the extra £8 to be sent to him. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted July 1, 2016 Author Share Posted July 1, 2016 well it was all going so well, got the workshop all wired and decided a coat of undercoat and gloss paint on the timber rafters after sanding ( it was more like planed wood rather than sawn) would be sufficient for the LED ribbon to adhere too with its sticky back,. Wrong. :(, first ribbon duly peeled off after about two minutes). I should have copied Jeremy with the aluminium foil tape, I hope a thin bead of CT1 ( after seeing the utube video on here) will stick the ribbon now that it's sticky side has collected dust from the floor. Just a warning for others contemplating making the same mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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