Adsibob Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 I am having a cabinet/drop down desk being built which is about 67cm wide. The cabinet door drops down and forms a desk, and within the cabinet is our home PC. It would be useful to have an LED strip fixed into a routered out channel of the top of the cabinet carcass, which is 27mm thick. Can anybody recommend an LED strip that comes in warm white (I prefer 2800K but anything between 2800K and 3000k is fine) and that can be switched on by the cabinet being opened and switched off by the cabinet being closed? It would need to be around 60cm or 65cm wide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 There is an IKEA option which at 60cm is the right size. But at 1.8cm It’s probably a bit too think to conceal as l within a 27mm thick piece of carcass. Also, it has mixed reviews, so not sure if it’s any good and I don’t need all the smart tech, just a sensor that works. https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/skydrag-led-wrktp-ward-lghtng-strp-w-sensor-dimmable-white-10529109/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 TLC electrical for led strip then standard micro switches switching the supply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 Can you give an example of a microswitch please @TonyT? I Googled it, but didn’t get consistent results. Is it PIR or just push activated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 It’s in the TLC catalogue, maybe as a cupboard switch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 3 hours ago, Adsibob said: Can you give an example of a microswitch please @TonyT? I Googled it, but didn’t get consistent results. Is it PIR or just push activated? I use these LINK and you just swipe your hand in front of them, a-la a mirror light bathroom cabinet. For LED strip just go on Amazon / other and buy a 5m roll for cheap as chips and you can cut these every 3 LED's to the length you want. Look for one that is a kit so you get the PSU etc with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 50 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: I use these LINK and you just swipe your hand in front of them, a-la a mirror light bathroom cabinet. Thanks, but I’m not sure this would work how I intended. The description give by Mr Bezos is: “The sensor turns on when detect the hand movement at a distance of 5-6 cm, and turns off the light on the next hand movement.” But I’m looking for something that will only turn on by opening the cabinet, and ONLY turn off by closing it. That’s because the cabinet is a drop down desk and so I want the light to be on as a reminder to my family to close the cabinet/desk when not in use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Domestic_Index/Kitchen_Lighting/Switches_Miniture/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 5 minutes ago, Adsibob said: Thanks, but I’m not sure this would work how I intended. The description give by Mr Bezos is: “The sensor turns on when detect the hand movement at a distance of 5-6 cm, and turns off the light on the next hand movement.” But I’m looking for something that will only turn on by opening the cabinet, and ONLY turn off by closing it. That’s because the cabinet is a drop down desk and so I want the light to be on as a reminder to my family to close the cabinet/desk when not in use. They'd only be able to turn the light on once it is opened. Job done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 4, 2023 Author Share Posted June 4, 2023 (edited) 6 minutes ago, TonyT said: https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Main_Index/Domestic_Index/Kitchen_Lighting/Switches_Miniture/index.html Thanks, had just found that page. This looks like it could work, but I would need wiring running into the door presumably? https://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/FM141WB.html 2 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: They'd only be able to turn the light on once it is opened. Job done. And leave the cupboard/desk open, but switch the light off by just swiping the sensor, right? If so that won’t work. Edited June 4, 2023 by Adsibob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 4, 2023 Share Posted June 4, 2023 Just now, Adsibob said: And leave the cupboard/desk open, but switch the light off by just swiping the sensor, right? If so x that won’t work. Have you tried the threat of violence? Seems it would save you a fortune...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 (edited) Just needs wiring to the front of the carcass, the switch is held open closed by the weight of the door Edited June 5, 2023 by Nickfromwales typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 2 hours ago, TonyT said: Just needs wiring to the front of the carcass, the switch is helix open closed by the weight of the door that is possibly genius! So it would work with a drop down door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Sure there could be a block of wood on the inside of the door that hits the micro switch I found when I did mine 20 years ago it was best to have the parts to let the joiner see what was involved, how much travel the microswitch has etc im sure there are options in the Hafele catalogue but don’t know that one so well compared to the TLC one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Just need to position the LED strip so the glare / reflection doesn't affect the user (from reflection off the monitor). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 Just now, Nickfromwales said: Just need to position it so the glare / reflection doesn't affect the user (from reflection off the monitor). Indeed. This is all proving quite complicated. Here is a cross section to show the design of the unit: we want the light to project forward slightly, so it illuminates the drop down desk, so I probably need a fairly low beam angle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Dispersion is pretty much unmanageable with LED strips. Would you not be better off installing the strip near to the inside edge of the upper opening ‘door’? You can then have a stubby timber pelmet which stops the light from shining ‘inwards’. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 (edited) 27 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Dispersion is pretty much unmanageable with LED strips. Would you not be better off installing the strip near to the inside edge of the upper opening ‘door’? You can then have a stubby timber pelmet which stops the light from shining ‘inwards’. Possibly, although surely a timber pelmet could act as a diffuser along the top just as easily. Alternatively, should I be looking at a GU10 bulb light fitting, with a bulb that has a 12 or 24 degree beam angle, and get one of those light fittings that allows you to angle the bulb slightly? Or a miniaturised version of that: https://mastertrade.co.uk/ans-aigled-ww-ansell-aigled-ww-downlight-led-3w-w-w.html Edited June 5, 2023 by Adsibob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Usually a min dispersion of 24° or 36°. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 11 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said: Usually a min dispersion of 24° or 36°. I’ve seen as low as 10 degree. E.g.: https://www.lamps2udirect.com/led-energy-saving-light-bulbs/6-watt-narrow-beam-10-degree-gu10-led-spotlight-bulb-3000k-warm-white/135944 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nickfromwales Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Yes, but you'll then just get a dot of light, if that's ok? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-elliott-desk-lamp-gloss-slate-blue/p4285391?s_ppc=2dx92700075585127963_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6rnnko2s_wIVDpbVCh3WSQMxEAQYAiABEgJpD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds problem solved 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adsibob Posted June 5, 2023 Author Share Posted June 5, 2023 3 hours ago, TonyT said: https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-elliott-desk-lamp-gloss-slate-blue/p4285391?s_ppc=2dx92700075585127963_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6rnnko2s_wIVDpbVCh3WSQMxEAQYAiABEgJpD_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds problem solved I considered a desk light, there should just be enough storage for it and we have sockets for the computer which could easily be expanded, but how do you activate it to come on when the desk is opened and off when the desk is closed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted June 5, 2023 Share Posted June 5, 2023 Jesus, can no one use a finger anymore. switch on switch off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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