home › Housing and communal services › The main types of outdoor LED advertising. LED lighting for illuminated advertising and household lighting. Calculation of the content of a three-dimensional LED letter. R G B led strip

The main types of outdoor LED advertising. LED lighting for illuminated advertising and household lighting. Calculation of the content of a three-dimensional LED letter. R G B led strip

This is an artificial light source, which is a narrow flexible tape with conductors, up to 5 m long, on which LEDs are installed equidistantly. The LEDs on the tape are divided into groups. Each group consists of several LEDs connected in series and is a complete circuit, which allows you to cut the tape across into segments of any length multiple of the length of one group.

LED strips

LED strips are available in monochrome, luminous only in one color (red, blue, green, yellow or white) and universal (R G B), the glow color of which can be changed independently using the remote control remote control, including one of the primary colors or choosing any that exists in nature.

It is also possible to turn on a mode in which the color of the LED strip will change smoothly over the entire range with a given rate of change over time.

R G B led strip

According to the organization of light emission R G B LED strips are of three types.

The first type of tape uses LEDs LED-R-SMD3528 or LED-R-SMD5050 (red), LED-G-SMD3528 or LED-G-SMD5050 (green) and LED-B-SMD3528 or LED-B-SMD5050 (blue) , soldered in three pieces next to each other in repeating triads along the entire length of the tape. Changing the color of the glow of the tape is achieved by group changing the intensity of the glow of the LEDs of each color. Such LED strips are well suited for interior lighting in cases where LEDs are hidden from human eyes. If the LEDs are visible, then changing the color of the glow will be less effective.

R , G and B LEDs of the SMD3528 series have a size of 3.5 × 2.8 mm 2 and emit a luminous flux from 0.6 to 2.2 lumens, depending on the color of the glow. LEDs of the SMD5050 series are larger in size (their size is 5 × 5 mm 2) and accordingly shine brighter, the luminous flux is, depending on the color of the glow, from 2 to 8 lumens. Therefore, by the size of the soldered LEDs on the tape, even without knowing the technical characteristics, it is easy to determine which of them will shine brighter.

In the second type of tapes, R G B LEDs of the LED-RGB-SMD3528 or LED-RGB-SMD5050 series are used. Distinctive feature of these LEDs is that three LEDs are mounted in one housing at once - red, green and blue. Therefore, their luminous flux is much less and is only 0.3-1.6 lumens for LED-RGB-SMD3528, and only 0.6-2.5 lumens for LED-RGB-SMD5050. But due to the fact that the color emitters are located almost at one point, a high efficiency of color gradation has been achieved.

More recently appeared new type LEDs WS2812B (has four pins) and WS2812S (has six pins). In terms of geometric dimensions and appearance, these LEDs do not differ from LED-RGB-SMD5050. However, thanks to the installation of the WS2811 PWM controller in the WS2812 LED housing, it became possible to control each of the LEDs installed on the LED strip personally with just two wires.

Thus, designers have the opportunity to change the color of the glow of any section of the tape, regardless of its length, at their discretion. The wide distribution of the LED strip based on WS2812 LEDs is constrained by the high price and the need to use an expensive specialized controller. Without a control signal from the controller to the WS2812 LED, it will not shine.

LED strip marking

LED strips are marked by all manufacturers, as a rule, according to a single international standard. The degree of protection in the marking is indicated in accordance with the requirements of the standard for protecting electrical equipment from exposure external factors IEC-952.

Reference table for marking LED strips
Ordinal number of the alphabetic or numeric sequence in the marking	Designation in the marking	Deciphering the designation
1 (light source)	LED	Light-emitting diode
2 (glow color)	R	Red
	G	Green
	B	Blue
	RGB	Any
	CW	White
3 (type of pins on the chip)	smd	Leadless chip for installation directly on the printed circuit board
4 (geometric size of the light source body)	5050	in the example 5 mm×5 mm
5 (number of LEDs per meter)	60	pieces
6 (class of protection against external factors)	IP	The protection class in the marking is indicated in accordance with the requirements of the IEC-952 standard for protecting electrical equipment from external factors.
7 (first digit after IP, protection against ingress of solid objects)
	0	No protection
	1	From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 50 mm or more
	2	From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 12 mm or more, a length of not more than 80 mm
	3	From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 2.5 mm or more
	4	From the penetration of bodies with a diameter of 1 mm or more
	5	It is allowed to ingress dust in an amount insufficient to disrupt the operation of the equipment
	6	Dust ingress is not allowed
8 (second digit after IP, protection against liquid ingress into the housing)	0	No protection
	1	From vertically falling drops of water
	2	From water drops falling at an angle of 15°
	3	From water drops falling at an angle of 60°
	4	From water splashed at any angle
	5	From a jet of water sprayed at any angle
	6	From strong water jet (100 l/min, 100 kPa)
	7	From water ingress when immersed to a depth of 15 cm
	8	From water ingress during prolonged immersion

Consider, for example, how the marking of the LED strip LED-CW-SMD-5050/60 IP68 is deciphered. LED - LED strip, CW - white light, SMD - made on the base without output LEDs, 5050 - LED housing size 50x50 mm 2, 60 - 60 LEDs are installed on one meter of the tape length, IP68 - according to the degree of protection, the tape is designed for long-term operation on depth (for example, to illuminate an aquarium or pool from the inside).

If there is no IP parameter in the marking, then the LED strip does not have any degree of protection, that is, the degree of protection corresponds to IP00.

Moisture resistance of LED strips

According to the degree of protection against moisture, LED strips can be divided into three categories: waterproof, waterproof and moisture resistant.

Waterproof can only be used in dry rooms where there is no high humidity. Moisture-proof are designed for use in rooms with high humidity (bathrooms, baths, building facades, where direct contact with water on the tape is excluded).

Moisture-resistant tapes are designed to work directly in the aquatic environment, such as in an aquarium, they can be placed to illuminate the bottom of the pool.

In the photo, the LED strip is completely sealed with silicone, so the LEDs and resistors are reliably protected from water. Waterproof LED strips can be used without restrictions for outdoor advertising, light decoration of streets and buildings. When choosing a moisture-proof tape, it should be borne in mind that part of the light flux is lost when passing through the silicone layer.

For outdoor decorative lighting, there are special led strips called Duralight, which belong to the waterproof category.

Density of placement of LEDs on the tape

The brightness of the LED strip depends not only on the type of LEDs installed, but also on their number. The unit of measurement is considered to be the number of LEDs installed per meter of tape length. The more LEDs, the naturally, the luminous flux will be greater. Typically, the number of LEDs per meter of strip length for 12 V LED strips ranges from 30 to 120 pieces. For LED strips designed for a supply voltage of 24 V, the number of LEDs can reach up to 240 pieces per meter of length; in such strips, the LEDs are placed in parallel in two rows.

But it must be taken into account that the more LEDs per meter of the length of the LED strip, the more powerful the power supply will be required and the more expensive the purchase will be. The choice of this parameter must be approached from the position of "necessary and sufficient". For example, there are 30 LEDs per meter of tape, therefore, the distance between them is 3.3 cm, which is quite enough in the vast majority of cases.

Choosing an LED strip according to the amount of light output

The main lighting characteristic is the intensity of the luminous flux, which is expressed in lumens per meter (lm / m). The amount of luminous flux is determined by the type and number of LEDs installed on one meter of tape. Knowing the type of LEDs and their number, it is easy to independently determine the luminous flux.

For example, 30 LED-CW-SMD3528 type LEDs (size 3.5×2.8 mm 2 ) having a luminous flux of 5 lm each are installed on a meter of a white light LED strip. We multiply 5 lm by 30, we get 150 lm. Such a luminous flux emits a 10-watt incandescent light bulb. If the tape is made on the basis of 30 LED-CW-SMD5050 LEDs (size 5×5 mm 2) already having a luminous flux of 12 lm, then 12×30=360 lm, which is equivalent to using a 24-watt incandescent light bulb. Everyone has experience in using incandescent lamps, therefore, using the above method, it is easy to determine the type of LEDs installed on the tape, their number and the length of the tape. And if the length of the tape is already determined, then perform the reverse calculation.

Let's perform the reverse calculation on a specific example. You need to make ceiling lighting in a room measuring 5 mx4 m. The perimeter of a room of this size will be 5+4+5+4=18 meters. You want to create soft and not very bright lighting. If you use incandescent lamps, then their total power will have to be about 200 watts, the luminous flux from which will be 3000 lm (15 lm × 200). The length of the tape should be equal to the length of the perimeter of the room, that is, 18 meters. To determine the luminous flux that one meter of LED strip should emit, you need to divide 3000 lm by 18 meters. It turns out 166 lm / m. For our case, a tape with 30 LED-CW-SMD3528 LEDs per meter of length is suitable. The calculation was made without taking into account reflection losses from the ceiling, and they are at least 50%. Therefore, for guaranteed illumination of the room, you need to choose a tape with a twice as large luminous flux. There are two options, either take a strip with 30 LEDs LED-CW-SMD5050, or LED-CW-SMD3528, but already in the amount of 60 pcs. on the meter. The first option is preferable, as it will provide a guaranteed supply.

For R G B and monochrome LED strips, the calculation is performed in the same way as for white strips.

LED strips are not always marked, which makes calculations difficult. But it is very easy to find out the technical parameters of the LED strip if you use the data given in the reference table. In modern LED strips, as a rule, three types of LEDs are used: SMD3014 (super bright) with a size of 3.0 mm × 1.4 mm, SMD3528 with a size of 2.8 mm × 3.5 mm and SMD5050 with a size of 5.0 mm × 5.0 mm. Therefore, by the size of the LEDs, you can determine what type of LEDs are soldered on the tape. By counting the number of LEDs per meter of length, using the reference table below, you can get data on technical specifications LED strip.

Table of the main characteristics of LED strips
for voltage 12 V

Using the table, it is easy to choose the type and length of the LED strip - an analogue of incandescent bulbs. For example, to replace one 80W incandescent bulb with an LED strip, you need to take 8 meters of SMD3528 (30) or two meters of SMD3528 (120) or SMD5050(60) LED strip.

The main technical characteristics of LED strips for voltage 12 V
LED type	LED size, mm 2	Number of LEDs per meter of LED strip length, pcs.	Power consumption of one meter of LED strip length, watt	Luminous flux of LED strip length meter, lm	Equivalent power of an incandescent lamp, watts
SMD3014 superbright	3.0×1.4	60	6,0	600	40
		120	12,0	1200	80
		240	24,0	2400	160
SMD3528	3.5×2.8	30	2,4	150	10
		60	4,8	300	20
		120	9,6	600	40
SMD5050	5.0×5.0	30	7,2	360	24
SMD5050	5.0×5.0	60	14,4	720	48

How to connect the LED strip to the mains

Connecting the LED strip to the car's on-board network

LED strips are ideal for direct connection to the car's on-board network. The main thing is that the tape matches the voltage of the vehicle's on-board network in terms of supply voltage. For cars you need to choose a waterproof tape designed for a supply voltage of 12 V, for trucks - for 24 V.

At what voltage is the battery installed in the car, at this voltage you need to take the tape. When connecting the LED strip to the vehicle's on-board network, the polarity must be observed; the symbols "+" and "-" are marked on the tape. If the polarity is confused, then nothing bad will happen, just the LEDs will not glow.

Connecting the LED strip to a 220 V household power supply

Unlike electric lamps, LED strips cannot be connected directly to a 220 V household electrical network. They require a DC supply voltage of 12 V or 24 V. The supply voltage is indicated on the tape along its entire length. Voltage converters are used to obtain the required voltage.

While there is no established terminology, they are called differently: drivers, adapters, converters, power supplies, power supplies. All these words refer to one device that converts the AC mains voltage of 220 V into a DC voltage of the required value, for tapes, depending on the type, 12 V (often used) or 24 V (rarely used, as a rule, in RGB tapes).

To choose a power supply for an LED strip, not only the value of the constant voltage at the output is important, but also the amount of current that it can deliver to the load. To select the appropriate power supply for a particular case, you need to find out the total amount of current that all installed LED strips will consume.

An example of calculating a power supply for an LED strip

For example, let's select a power supply unit (PSU) for the LED strip, which we have chosen above to illuminate the ceiling. Usually, the current consumption of a tape meter is indicated in the accompanying documentation, but if there is none, then it is easy to perform the calculation yourself. It is enough to multiply the number of installed LEDs by the current consumption of each of them.

We chose an LED strip with installed LEDs of the LED-CW-SMD5050 type, the length of the strip is 18 meters, and there are 30 LEDs per meter. The total number of LEDs is 18×30=540 pcs. One LED-CW-SMD5050 (according to the reference table) consumes a current of 0.02 A, therefore the total current consumption of the entire backlight will be: 540 × 0.02 A = 10.8 A.

But we did not take into account that LEDs with a supply voltage of 12 V tape are connected three in series through resistors, therefore, the calculated current must be reduced three times: 10.8 A / 3 \u003d 3.6 A. But in one housing of the LED-CW- SMD5050 contains three elementary LEDs, so the resulting current must be multiplied by 3. That is, the resulting current will be 10.8 A. As a result of the calculation, it is determined that a 12 V power supply with a load current of up to 10.8 A is required.

To calculate the power of the required PSU, you need to multiply the voltage by the current: 12 V × 10.8 A = 130 W, it turned out that you need a 130 W PSU. For reliable operation of the PSU, a 20% power reserve is required. As a result, you will need a 156W power supply. In practice, you can use any power supply that meets the necessary requirements.

Device and installation of LED strip

On a flexible plastic tape up to 5 m long there are thin copper conductive tracks of the required configuration. LEDs of the SMD3528 or SMD5050 type and current-limiting SMD resistors of the P1-12 type with a power of 0.125 W are soldered to the tracks. Please note that the size of the LED is indicated in the designation, for example, SMD5050 has a size of 5.0 mm × 5.0 mm. With a supply voltage of 12 V, three LEDs connected in series and one or more current-limiting resistors are installed. The number of resistors is determined depending on the amount of power dissipated on them. The resistor can be placed anywhere in the circuit, on the circuit it is on the plus side, you can install it on the minus side or between any LEDs.

Electrical circuit and wiring diagram
LED strip segment

Resistor marking

The resistor is marked with the number 151. This means that the resistor value is 150 ohms. Deciphering the label is easy. It is indicated by a three-digit number. The last digit in the number tells how many zeros to add to the first two digits. For example, the resistor is marked 153, which means you need to add 3 zeros to 15, we get 15,000 ohms.

For clarity, I gave below the eclectic wiring diagram. A complete LED strip circuit is a large number of such circuits connected in parallel. With a supply voltage of 24 V, the number of LEDs connected in series in the circuit can reach up to 10 pieces. Pay attention to the marking of the LEDs, from the side of connection to the cathode (minus), the corner of the LED body has a cut. Pictured in the lower right corner.

Connection and fastening of LED strips

On the side of the tape opposite the LEDs, a sticky layer is applied, protected by a film. In order to fix the tape on the surface, it is enough to remove the protective film and apply the sticky side to the installation site. When organizing lighting using LED strips, often a length of 5 meters is redundant, so it is possible to cut the strip into segments. The places where the tape can be cut are indicated by the image of conditional scissors and the cut line. The step of cutting the LED strip into segments sets the number of LEDs connected in series. Near the cut line on both sides there are contact pads that allow you to solder wires to them in case of splicing tape segments to each other. You need to solder very carefully with a low-power soldering iron.

The connection polarity and the supply voltage are marked next to the contact pads. There are special clips that allow you to connect LED strips without soldering.

To one end of the LED strip, conductors are usually already soldered for connection to the power supply. Two wires are required to connect monochrome tapes, four wires for RGB tapes: black (common is connected to the positive terminal) and three color wires. The length of the wires is no more than half a meter, and if the power supply cannot be installed next to the LED strip, then the conductors will have to be extended to the desired length.

LED strips are indispensable when you need to provide lighting or backlighting on great length. Only LED strips that are not protected from moisture can be cut into pieces, that is, only those that are intended for indoor use. It is unacceptable to cut moisture-proof and moisture-resistant LED strips without subsequent sealing.

To eliminate this shortcoming, LED modules have been created that make it possible to illuminate the interior and illuminated advertising easily, quickly and reliably. The scope of LED modules in practice is limited only by human imagination. Particularly useful modules for lighting in the car. It is enough to connect through the fuse to the on-board network and glue or fix the module with self-tapping screws inside the car interior or from its outside.

The design of the LED modules is a shallow crib made of plastic or metal, in which a printed circuit board with LEDs is installed. The top of the board is filled with transparent silicone. Thus, protection against moisture and splashing water is provided. The LEDs are connected in the same way as in the LED strip above.

On the outer side of the bottom of the crib there is a sticky layer, by opening which, by removing the protective film, the module can be fixed on any flat surface. It is possible to mount the modules by the lugs using self-tapping screws. All lighting and electrical calculations given above on the page for the LED strip are also valid for LED modules.

Rectangular LED modules are sold in the form of blocks, in the photo there is a block of 20 modules.

Modules are easily separated from the block one by one or in groups. All modules are already electrically interconnected. It is enough to apply power to any of the extreme ones and the LEDs on all modules will light up. Blocks can be increased in any number by connecting them in parallel.

About the choice of wire cross-section for connecting LED strip

The LED strip consumes little power, and the current consumption with a strip length of one meter, even the brightest SMD5050 (60), is no more than 1.2 A. Therefore, you can not think about the wire cross section when connecting such a piece of tape, almost any available under hand stranded wire.

But when connecting a tape 18 meters long like LED-CW-SMD5050 (30), which we selected to illuminate the ceiling of the room above, you should already seriously think about how the total current consumption will be 10.8 A. Unfortunately, I didn’t find it anywhere, what current is allowed on the copper track of the tape itself. But, knowing the power consumption of one meter of the LED strip and the supply voltage, I calculated the amount of current that LED strips of various lengths of popular types would consume, and summarized the results in a table.

Reference table of current consumption of LED strips for voltage 12 V
LED strip type	Number of LEDs per meter of LED strip length, pcs	Current consumption (A), LED strip length:
LED strip type	Number of LEDs per meter of LED strip length, pcs	1m	2 m	3m	4 m	5 m
SMD3014	60	0,5	1,0	1,5	2,0	2,5
	120	1,0	2,0	3,0	4,0	5,0
	240	2,0	4,0	6,0	8,0	10,0
SMD3528	30	0,2	0,4	0,6	0,8	1,0
	60	0,4	0,8	1,2	1,6	2,0
	120	0,8	1,6	2,4	3,2	4,0
SMD5050	30	0,6	1,2	1,8	2,4	3,0
SMD5050	60	1,2	2,4	3,6	4,8	6,0

Since LED strips are produced with a maximum length of up to 5 meters, the manufacturer must ensure the necessary cross-section of the tracks that can withstand the current consumption of the LED strip, and you can take its value as a basis for developing a wiring diagram for connecting the LED strip to a power source.

Based on economic considerations, the stock of tracks in terms of load current does not exceed 20%. Therefore, connecting all four of our tape segments in series, soldering the end of one segment with jumpers to the beginning of the next LED strip, is not permissible, since a current three times higher than the permissible will flow through the conductors of the tape connected directly to the power supply.

This will lead to overheating of the first tape, which is fraught with its failure, and a weak glow of those included behind it. Therefore, it is necessary to connect each tape individually with a double wire with a core cross section of at least 0.5 mm 2 directly to the output of the power supply. Below is a typical scheme for connecting LED strips to a power source when organizing room lighting by installing LED strips along the corners of the ceiling behind the cornices.

Since one power supply is designed for a current consumption of 6 A, we had to use two identical blocks, each supplying half the length of the backlight. The switch connects both units at the same time. If you use a double switch, then it will be possible to turn on the tapes in sections. When parallel sections of the tape are connected to the power supply, it will be possible to turn them on individually or all at the same time, changing the lighting design. RGB tapes are connected according to exactly the same wiring diagram. Only instead of two wires, 4 are laid. One common and one for each color.

If one powerful power supply is installed at a considerable distance from the tapes, then it is advisable to stretch a pair of thick wires from the power supply to the LED strips. You can select the required wire cross-section for a given current according to the table. For example, for our case, at a current of 10.8 A, you need a wire with a core diameter of 1.6 mm (section 2.0 mm 2). Put the junction box and already in it with thin wires connect the tapes through the terminal block or by soldering to the incoming wire from the power supply. In each specific case, it is necessary to make an individual decision based on the boundary conditions.

Powerful power supplies are usually large, and it is often more advisable to use several less powerful units, placing them in close proximity to the LED strips.

Until now, many manufacturers of visual advertising continue to use LED strips as internal illumination of signs and three-dimensional letters, and do not adopt more advanced solutions in the field of LED technologies. We offer you a comparison key parameters LED strips and modern LED modules, built on the basis of research and years of experience.

It is unlikely that anyone could have imagined that the transition to the use of LED technologies in the internal illumination of three-dimensional letters and light boxes, which began about ten years ago, would become so large-scale and massive. Initially, LED strips appeared on the market, which almost no one knew how to use properly, unlike classic fluorescent lamps. There were cases when this solution, outlandish for those years, sometimes spontaneously peeled off the back wall of the box. And yet, due to their compactness, even conservatives began to use LED strips after enthusiasts. Advertisement manufacturers learned how to mount tapes with Cosmofen adhesive, protect them from external influences with polyurethane varnish, and after a while, LED strips began to be used more and more often ...

What is the reason for the popularity of LED strips? Firstly, their use greatly facilitates the weight of the sign, besides, power supplies in most cases are taken out of the box or letters. Secondly, unlike fluorescent lamps, which emit a glow of 360 degrees around their axis, the angle of dispersion of the light flux for LEDs is from 105 - 120 to 160 degrees (when using a light-diffusing lens). Thus, if a T8 lamp 600 mm long generates 1000 lm, to replace it inside the light box, it is enough to use an LED backlight with a luminous flux of 400 lm. As a result, the power consumption of the lighting system is also significantly reduced: a standard fluorescent lamp can be replaced by LEDs, which consume only 4.4 W (with an average luminous efficacy of 90 lm/W). Thirdly, the design of LED strips provides convenience in their use and ease of replacement. Finally, since LEDs are connected to low voltage power supplies, they can be mounted, wired and connected safely in almost any weather.

The first LED strips were not of stable quality, could not boast of high efficiency and quickly lost their original brightness as a result of diode degradation. However, a few years later, full-fledged tapes with 5050 diodes and a light output of 90 lm / W appeared on the market. It was then that the massive use of LED technologies in the industry began. A little later, quite economical solutions appeared in the form of LED modules and rigid rulers, which accelerated the formation of the LED backlight market.

Meanwhile, until now, many manufacturers of visual advertising continue to use LED strips and do not adopt more progressive solutions in this area. We offer you a comparison of the key parameters of LED strips and modern LED modules, built on the basis of research and experience gained over the years.

So, what is on the market today for light sources for interior lighting of signs?

These are, firstly, LED strips, which differ in the type of LED crystal size (3528, 5050, 2835 and 5730), the thickness of the substrate and resistance to external influences (for interior use or for outdoor use - waterproof). The light output of the tapes directly depends on the types of diodes and ranges from 70 lm / W to 110 lm / W. There are LED strips that consume 2.4 W / rm. m (3528), 14.7 W / rm. m (5050) and 24 W/rm. m (5730 and 2835). Depending on the required brightness, each manufacturer selects the type of tape appropriate for the task.

Comparing the parameters and efficiency of economy-class and premium-class devices when illuminating a light box 15 cm thick and 1 x 1.5 m in size, we found that, taking into account the cost of the power source, with approximately the same illumination of the front surface of the sign, LED strips on 5050 crystals are the most profitable economy class (50 lm / W), and the most energy efficient - premium tapes on crystals 3528 (87 lm / W).

However, the question is quite natural: how can you save on lighting? And now it's time to pay attention to LED modules.

The first LED modules were inefficient and were equipped with the same diodes used in tapes, with the only difference that the crystals were placed in plastic cases. Over time, the performance quality of LED modules improved, their characteristics improved, standards were formed for the dimensions of cases and boards: 26 x 7 mm, 36 x 9 mm, 75 x 9 mm, 35 x 35 mm and 75 x 12 mm. A little later, modules equipped with light-diffusing lenses to provide a wide angle of dispersion of the light flux, and modules for edge illumination equipped with Fresnel lenses appeared. So far, LED-modules with lenses do not enjoy wide popularity, which is due to their more high cost than standard modules, as well as the industry's lack of experience in their long-term use, as a result of which the "uncertainty factor" becomes an argument for abandoning modern solutions.

Compared to LED strips, LED modules have the following advantages:

1) mechanical strength: due to the presence of a housing, diodes are more difficult to damage;

2) less soldering: convenient connection with wires of various lengths;

3) protection against moisture and dust: most often, the modules are filled with a transparent compound, which prevents contacts and boards from oxidizing;

4) optimal heat dissipation: in LED modules, heat is distributed evenly, unlike a tape, which is desirable to be glued to a heat-conducting material;

5) easy replacement of failed modules at the facility: it is enough to dismantle the damaged cluster and install another one instead, connecting it to neighboring ones using terminal blocks, while there is no need to use a soldering iron;

6) lower cost of backlighting, taking into account the cost of power supplies;

7) Energy efficiency: effect design features execution for illumination of a sign requires a smaller number of diodes.

It is known that in order to optimize the cost of manufacturing a light structure, it is necessary to take into account the cost of illumination, labor costs for installation and the luminous efficiency of the light sources used. When comparing the parameters of LED strips and modern LED modules, it turned out that with an illumination of 1 sq. m of the front surface of the light box, the cost of modules is almost one and a half - two times less than for tapes. This is exactly what advertisers should keep in mind, who still consider LED strips to be the most affordable light source for signage.

The most profitable, oddly enough, were the LED modules of the sample of 2015, equipped with a light-diffusing lens and a light scattering angle of 160 degrees.

During the experiments, it was also found that, unlike modern LED modules, LED strips consume much more electricity and at the same time heat up much more, and high temperatures, as you know, are the main enemy for the durability of LEDs.

When it comes to the performance of the latest LED modules, in practice we have seen that the new samples of two-diode 2835 modules are almost indistinguishable in brightness from three-diode modules on 5050 chips and consume not 0.72 W, but only 0.4 W. At the same time, the luminous efficiency of the modules has already reached 105 lm/W (taking into account current-setting resistances). In turn, the three-diode module 2835 can be confidently used as an alternative to the previous generation LED modules on chips 5730 and four-diode modules on chips 5050. And this is with a price difference of 1-3 rubles per product. As a result, 5050 four-diode modules are no longer as attractive as before, and LED strips are no longer a viable choice.

Savings on light sources become obvious if you use LED modules with a nominal value of 1 W and a 160-degree light flux dispersion angle, equipped with a light-diffusing lens, not only in the illumination of thin light boxes, but also in the illumination of three-dimensional letters. For example, only 5 modules were enough to illuminate the letter “K”, 30 cm high, and 46 such modules were required for the entire sign “PRODUCTS”. In addition to saving on light sources and power supplies, it is obvious that additional savings in labor costs and time for manufacturing illuminated advertising design, and this is really important.

Color temperature: what to choose?

The issue of choosing the color temperature of the white light emitted by LED modules is the subject of an eternal dispute between the client and the sign manufacturer, between the manufacturer and the supplier of the modules, and even between sign makers among themselves. Why? It is worth referring to the history of the mass appearance of the product on the market. The first white LEDs were not distinguished by their high quality of illumination and high color rendering index. As a result, the first major retail chains and car dealerships that switched to new technology, had to make appropriate changes to their brand books, based on the features of the light sources offered at that time.

But time changes the idea of quality, and new devices with a more realistic white temperature of 6000 - 6500 K began to appear on the domestic market, although modules with a white glow temperature of 8000 - 12000 K still prevail in China.

For illuminated advertising in our country, it is optimal to use LED modules with a white temperature of 5500 - 6000 K, which ensures higher color saturation on illuminated films, unless, of course, previous customers stipulate the need to use LED modules with a colder glow shade, according to earlier approved corporate standards. In some cases, especially for backlighting displays with subtle tones (for example, with the image of fashion models), LED modules with a color temperature of 4500 K (which corresponds to lighting in neutral sunlight, typical for European countries) will be preferable. The color temperature indicator, as a rule, is not reflected in the cost of modern LED modules.

In conclusion, a few wishes Russian manufacturers signage:

1. Place the modules inside the box not only according to the “depth minus two centimeters” principle, but also according to the principle of sufficiency. The letter should glow evenly and brightly enough, so it's better to make a few prototypes for the demo and coordinate the brightness of the signs with customers on a "like here" basis.

2. An important problem that many people have to face is the loss of brightness in the chain on the last clusters. It is recommended to combine modules in a chain in the amount of no more than 20 pieces - for the classics and no more than 30 - for modules equipped with light-diffusing lenses and built-in drivers.

3. Try to provide the product with efficient heat dissipation. It is best to make the back wall of the box from metal, in which case the degradation of the LEDs will be minimal.

Oleg Karpukhin, head of the OD-IN company

When deciding how to make a light box, you should first of all study all the subtleties of this type of design. For example, for operation in more severe conditions (outdoors), it will be necessary to prepare a reinforced frame. For premises, a simplified frame is sufficient, in addition, the manufacture of a box with illumination for advertising in this case does not imply the use of a metal profile for installation as side walls.

Learn more about lightbox signs

To attract the attention of passers-by on the street or visitors shopping center, shop, cafe, a more advanced type of advertising is used - one of the versions of which are boxes. In form, these are three-dimensional structures illuminated from the inside by light sources. different types. The simplest - rectangular lightbox designs can be made by hand.

The scope of such signs is very wide: from cafes to commercial enterprises. Basically, illuminated boxes are used for advertising, brand promotion or interior design interior. In the latter case, it is customary to use thin light boxes, their lighting is carried out using LED strips located around the perimeter.

View overview

For operation with certain conditions and in order to solve various kinds of problems, illuminated boxes are usually used special purpose, which are characterized by individual design features.

Types of boxes

Their main varieties:

Unilateral.
Bilateral.

The first version of the advertising medium is used for installation on the facade various objects, as only the front panel is illuminated. Illuminated double-sided boxes can be placed perpendicular to the facade of the building, illuminating both sides of the light box, which increases the effectiveness of advertising. In addition, there are performances that are different for their intended purpose:

for internal use;
for outdoor installation.

There is also a division according to the type of lighting: ultra-thin light boxes, thin designs, bulky structures of great thickness. The latest performances are usually used for advertising on the street. But the first two types are used in interior design. In such designs, the use of LED lighting around the entire perimeter of the panel is assumed.

Design and principle of operation

If we consider one-sided boxes, this species involves the use of the front panel to illuminate information, while the back panel is the base for installing lighting equipment. To increase the intensity of the glow, it is recommended to use milky acrylic in the manufacture of the front panel. But polycarbonate, banner fabric, composite can act as the main material.

Double sided device

Side panels are usually made of polymer or metal (steel, aluminum) profiles. The inscription is applied by means of a self-adhesive film. Double-sided boxes have two front panels. The principle of operation of such structures is simple: when turned on, the light sources illuminate the panel with the inscription. Versions operating on LEDs are energy efficient and have a long service life.

Stages of work in the manufacture of a lightbox

A reinforced frame is used for outdoor signs. Its manufacture involves the use of profile pipes of different sections, which is determined by the level of load: from 20x20 to 20-40 mm. All frames are welded from this material. In the future, they must be connected with many jumpers to obtain a frame of sufficient rigidity.

Further, the do-it-yourself construction is cleaned, primed and painted. A metal or polymer sheet is used as the back panel. The front wall is often made of acrylic, since cellular polycarbonate and polystyrene are not resistant to deformation when heated. In addition, these materials are prone to rapid contamination.

To ensure a high intensity of illumination of the sign, you need to calculate the number of LED modules based on their passport data. The manufacture assumes the need to use connecting wires for modules based on LEDs. They use a transformer to operate. The final stage is the installation of a front panel, pre-prepared with your own hands, with a self-adhesive film applied.

Installation and connection

The power supply is used for wiring. It is important that its power matches the number of LED modules used. The intensity of the glow is affected by the depth of the box, the thickness of the front panel, as well as the distance between the LED light sources. But first of all, when making with your own hands, it is important to correctly calculate the number of modules.

Brackets (for double-sided installation on the facade), hangers or support structures (separate installation) are used as signage fastening.

Thus, it is quite possible to make an advertising box with illumination on your own, which is often used as LEDs. They are selected based on the area of the lightbox, the depth of the box, and also on the basis of the electrical parameters indicated in the passport of the light sources. Given the same parameters, the total number of LEDs is calculated.

If you are thinking of renovating an apartment, one of the first questions to ask is the choice of lighting equipment. A great alternative to traditional lamps and fixtures is the LED strip. When installing a tape with LED lamps on the ceiling, not only the appearance of the room will significantly change, but great opportunities open up in choosing a design solution. In the article, we will acquaint you with how to install an LED strip with your own hands, as well as the advantages of using this lighting equipment and the features of choosing a particular strip.

Duralight (LED strip) is a plastic printed circuit board in which small light bulbs of various shades are mounted, as well as resistors. The latter play the role of resistance. The printed circuit board (circuit board) has a sticky self-adhesive base, so you can use LED strips in many places: at home, in an apartment, in restaurants, hotels, clubs, bars and other commercial buildings. Due to its features, the LED strip can be freely used to illuminate hard-to-reach places.

Important! LED lamps are usually located on the surface of a conductive thread at the same distance.

LED strip color options

LEDs have different colors of glow:

Warm white.
Cold white.
Green.
Blue.
Yellow.
Red.
Multicolor.

Standard sizes of LED strip

Width 8-10 mm.
Thickness - 2-3 mm.
The length of the tape in the coil is 1 or 5 m.

Choosing an LED strip - criteria, properties

When choosing an LED strip, it is advisable to immediately determine your requirements, and for this you need to know what kind of criteria the types of lighting filament presented for sale differ. This will speed up the process of buying the right version of the lighting fixture in the planned price range.

We list the main distinguishing characteristics:

Brightness.
Type (single color or tricolor).
Important! One-color duralights can be green, white, blue, red, yellow. Multi-color - RGB ribbons are able to change the color of the backlight, thanks to a special controller.

The hue of LED lamps depends on the type of crystal embedded inside.
The number of lamps per meter. The more of them, the brighter the tape, which means that its cost will be higher.
Base (self-adhesive or not).
The quality of moisture protection is determined by the IP class.
Using DIP or SMD. SMD (surface mount) is more commonly used as a cheaper option.

Important! Before purchasing an LED strip, decide on the brightness of the lighting you need, the humidity level of the installation site, as well as the length of the strip you need. When choosing, consider the optimal number of LEDs for the required level of illumination, so as not to overpay for unnecessary brightness.

Advantages of LED strip

Before installing and mounting the LED strip, familiarize yourself with the advantages of lighting equipment. This will make sure you make the right choice.

The main advantages of duralight:

Low power consumption due to low power.
Favorable service life, regardless of the type of premises - from 5 to 13 years.
The possibility of laying along any trajectory is due to the plasticity of the thread.
The ability to choose the required length of the duralight, since the cutting ratio is 6-10 cm (after 3-5 LEDs).
Lighting with such a tape has the highest efficiency. LEDs do not generate heat, electricity is only spent on emitting light.
No flicker.
Tolerance to voltage drops in the mains, in particular, the tape continues to function at a reduced voltage of up to 130 V.
No ultraviolet radiation.
Possibility to choose your own colors.
Fire safety.
Environmental friendliness.
The quality of the glow throughout the entire period of operation remains unchanged.
Easy installation - thanks to the use of mounting tape or a self-adhesive base.
Manufacturer's warranty. All LED products have a long-term warranty, which distinguishes them from conventional incandescent or fluorescent lamps.

General rules for mounting LED strip

When installing the LED strip, follow some rules and requirements to ensure flawless and long-term lighting performance. Most often, the most advantageous for laying the lighting thread in terms of practicality and design are such places in the premises:

wall or ceiling niches - special boxes are used for this;
on the surface of walls and ceilings inside plastic corners;
behind the ceiling plinth.

The technology of connection and installation in all cases is almost the same. General rules are as follows:

Tips for designing a room with LED lighting

To get a really winning interior result, when laying duralight, consider the following recommendations:

Ways of fastening the LED strip

The LED strip is mounted on the ceiling in the following ways:

Installation of LED strip in the ceiling plinth. This method has a huge advantage - you do not need to rework the ceiling, since the ceiling plinth itself is mounted at a certain distance (8-10 cm) from the ceiling. After installing the plinth, proceed to gluing the duralight: remove the bottom layer of the tape and stick it on the ceiling plinth, like a regular adhesive tape.
Installing the tape in a cornice made of drywall. This method is much more complicated, but the ceiling will look much more spectacular.

Installation of LED strip on the ceiling

Do-it-yourself installation of the LED strip in sequence:

Determine the length and type of tape, select the profile.
Get a controller for controlling the color and brightness of the glow. It smoothly switches colors, and adjust the brightness with a dimmer using the remote control.
To connect duralight, buy connectors. The connectors can be flat or round, depending on the type of LED strip and the manufacturer.
Choose a power supply that will act as a step-down transformer - it is not included in the kit.
Assemble the entire system by successively laying and gluing the thread with LEDs.
Connect the LED strip to the power supply.

Let's dwell on some points in more detail.

Choosing a power supply

Power supplies come in various capacities - from 6 to 400 watts. Energy consumption depends on the quality of the tape, the density of the LEDs. As mentioned earlier, the power of the block should be at least equal to the power consumption of the tape, plus a margin of about 25%.

Important! Consider the calculation of power on an example:

We have a tape with a length of 5 m and a power of 9.4 watts.

To calculate the power of the power supply: 5 m * 9.4 W = 47. Do not forget about the margin: 47 * 1.25 = 58.75 W.

As you can see, we need a power supply of at least 58.75 watts. Can be rounded up to 60W. This is not difficult to find in a radio parts store.

How to choose a profile?

Profiles for mounting lighting equipment differ in material and device. Let's consider the main ones. According to the material of manufacture, they distinguish:

Aluminum profile. Such a system is versatile and reliable and will be appropriate in the interior of any style. Profiles of this type are used to create the design of the lighting system as quickly and easily as possible.
plastic profile. The profile box for lighting equipment is often made of durable plastic. It is transparent or matte. The advantage of this profile: elastic, resistant to mechanical stress, temperature extremes and moisture.

Important! The plastic housing is suitable for the installation of lighting structures in public buildings, in the illumination of shop windows, commercial equipment, as well as furniture. Plastic profiles are even used to illuminate ice slides, skating rinks and sculptures.

According to the device, the profiles are:

Angular. In some cases, the standard profile is inappropriate, and then a corner profile is used, which is suitable for shop window lighting. trading floors, cabinets and is used instead of a ceiling plinth. By choosing this option, show your imagination on the location of the lighting thread. In this case, it is possible to carry out installation even in non-standard places, due to the small dimensions of the fasteners, high speed and ease of installation. For example, to highlight window frames, floors, front door panels, etc.
Embedded. The built-in metal profile looks voluminous and has a lot of advantages, in particular, it is resistant to aggressive influences. environment. When installing this type of profile, use special glue or fasteners so that the design is of high quality.
Mortise. The profile of this design is most often used in the furniture industry to illuminate tables, kitchen sets, cabinets. Aluminum construction has the color of silver or gold. The length of the profile is 1-2 m. Often, the mortise profile is equipped with matte light filters so that the light from the tape is scattered. Such filters give an attractive look to new furniture, and new life to old furniture.

Scheme of mounting the LED strip under the stretch ceiling:

Important! After installing the lighting tape, plug it back into the network and check the quality of work. Only after positive result test, you can collect the canvas of the stretch ceiling itself.

Before gluing the LED strip, prepare the mounting surface. It should be smooth and fat free. To do this, treat it with alcohol and a clean rag.
Mount a powerful duralight (more than 10 W \ m) on a metal profile or on an aluminum substrate.
For convenience, glue the structure on a 3M layer or glue / sealant.
When mounting duralight on conductive surfaces, for example, on metal constructions, be sure to insulate the tape by placing it in the frame.
Avoid damage to the conductive tracks during assembly.
When connecting large lengths of tape, use a parallel connection. In series, there will be an overload of the conductive tracks, which will lead to burnout.

Important! Before you install the LED strip, not only remember all these rules, but also watch the video tutorials. Especially if you are doing this kind of work for the first time and are not confident in your abilities.

Installation of LED strip - video

Conclusion

Added on 07/28/10

LED technology is developing rapidly, and many people involved in the manufacture of illuminated letters and other advertising products are wondering what is better to use today: LEDs or neon? This article discusses some of the most important aspects regarding LED lighting for interior and outdoor illuminated advertising - LED letters, signs, etc., and also addresses the issue of domestic lighting with LED products. LED backlighting, of course, is becoming more and more attractive every year in terms of brightness, and more affordable in terms of prices, and, therefore, more preferable, given all the existing advantages of LED-based light sources. The article contains information that may be interesting and useful for managers, designers, manufacturers, as well as anyone interested in LED topics.

Neon or LEDs? Neon and LEDs!

The history of inventions in the field of artificial lighting sources shows that the appearance of the next newly made light source does not cancel out earlier inventions overnight and does not make existing light sources useless. All of them, in one form or another, peacefully coexist to this day, each occupy their own specific niche and are in demand in one way or another. This can be said about almost all light sources ever invented by mankind, including non-electric ones, with the exception, perhaps, of the most archaic ones: splinter and torch. If we take this fact into account, it becomes clear that the opposition that sounds in the question "LEDs or neon?" Is not entirely appropriate, and the question "Will LEDs replace neon?" one can safely answer: "No, they will not force them out, but, apparently, they will squeeze them out in order to take their rightful place!"

So, today the question is "LEDs or neon?" moved to the practical plane, and for many people involved in the manufacture of outdoor illuminated advertising, it sounds like this: "In what cases is it more appropriate to use neon for indoor lighting, and in what cases is it better to use LEDs?" Neon has been used in illuminated advertising for a very long time, therefore, as a rule, there are practically no questions about neon lighting - everything is quite well known, understandable and well worked out. As for LEDs, everything is not so clear and simple here, so we will talk about the practice of LED backlighting in illuminated advertising.

We will try, using the example of LED products offered by our company, to conduct a certain comparative analysis, which will help to reveal and comprehend the main points related to the choice of the desired product, calculations and, ultimately, the financial side of the issue.

What should be taken into account when choosing LEDs for interior illumination of illuminated advertising products?

There is a lot of information on the range of LED products now, but this information is often predominantly advertising in nature, despite the technical characteristics present in the product description, which, by the way, may not be entirely true. Understanding the technical characteristics of LEDs and choosing the right product from the existing variety of LED products is not always easy.

Adhering to the point of view that it is impossible to achieve a real solution to the issue without solving this issue in practice, we bring to your attention the results of a comparative test conducted in our company. The results of this test, in our opinion, can be very useful as our regular customers, who have been professionally engaged in the manufacture of light outdoors for a long time, and all those interested in the practical aspects of manufacturing products with LED backlighting.

The test is purely applied in nature and does not contain any difficult-to-understand scientific and theoretical calculations or formulas. You just need to compare the results obtained during testing. The main criterion for comparison was the amount of illumination of the surface of the final product (with observance of uniformity of illumination), since in illuminated outdoor advertising the brightness of the glow of a sign and the uniformity of illumination are the most important indicators (after design, of course).

As an object for measurements, a box 1 x 1 meter, 140 mm deep with a light-diffusing surface of 4 mm milky acrylic plexiglass was chosen. Thus, all the data presented are valid for a surface area of 1 square meter, which is the starting point for most managers of advertising and production companies for calculations.

For internal illumination of the box were used:

flexible sealed tapes with single-chip LEDs

The measurements were carried out with a Testo 540 light meter. The actual measurement results, as well as information on the quantity, power consumption and cost (as of April-March 2009) of the light sources used in the test, you can see on photos (click on it to enlarge).

To be able to compare various products in a comprehensive way, we combine all the data obtained in a table.

Name	Number of sources nicknames	Number of light diodes in the source	glow angle	Voltage power supply	Power consumption	Energy consumption kW per year (when operating 10 hours a day)	Illuminated- surface news	Total cost of illumination (per sq. meter)*
4-diode modules (single-chip LEDs)	126 pcs.	504 pcs.	100	12 V	72.5W	265 kW	1653 Suite	7972 rub.
LED strip PL99 (single-chip LEDs)	7.5 pcs.	528 pcs.	110	12 V	72 W	263 kW	1896 Suite	7040 rub.
2 diode smd modules (three-chip LEDs)	78 pcs.	156 pcs.	120	12 V	47 W	172 kW	1633 Suite	7860 rub.
3 diode smd modules (three-chip)	80 pcs.	240 pcs.	140	12 V<	58 W	212 kW	2649 Suite	RUB 8880**
neon tubes	6 pcs.	-	360	5000 V	175 (105) W	639 (383) kW	1797 Suite	RUB 5800***

* The total cost is calculated based on the retail price (without discounts), so the table shows the maximum cost of lighting 1 sq. meters.

** The calculation is made for old-style three-diode modules. New modules will need 70 pcs/sq. meter. The total cost will be 8430 rubles.

*** Neon lighting is calculated as an average economical option (the minimum possible number of tubes + a transformer with a current of 35 mA). If you use more tubes and a transformer with a large current (50 mA), then the cost will naturally increase. The illumination of the surface will also increase.

Some useful calculations, comparisons and conclusions.

By simple calculations using tabular data, you can get an idea of the effectiveness of the tested light sources:

4 diode modules - 23 Lux with 1 Watt
LED Strip PL99 - 26 Lux with 1 Watt
2 diode smd modules - 35 lux with 1 watt
3 diode smd modules - 46 lux with 1 watt
Neon tubes - 10 Lux with 1 Watt

Curious information, isn't it?

Now we find out the cost of 1 Lux from each of the tested light sources, we will need it for further calculations:

4 diode modules - 4.8 rubles.
LED strip PL99 - 3.7 rubles.
2 diode smd modules - 4.8 rubles.
3 diode smd modules - 3.4 rubles. (3.1 rubles for new ones)
Neon tubes - 3.2 rubles.

We calculate the real cost of backlighting 1 sq. meters.

Knowing the cost of 1 Lux from each light source considered in the test, you can calculate the total cost of backlighting with one or another light source. This information will be especially needed when terms of reference a certain level of illumination of the surface is stipulated. For example, a promotional item requires a surface illuminance of at least 2500 Lux (that is, a surface illuminance comparable to neon or fluorescent lamps).

We get the cost of lighting one square meter (at a depth of 140 - 150 mm) using various light sources from our test:

4 diode modules - 12000 rub/1 sq.m.
LED strip PL99 - 9250 rubles / 1 sq.m.
2 diode smd modules - 12000 rub/1 sq.m.
3 diode smd modules - 8500 rub/1 sq.m. (7950 rubles for new ones)
Neon tubes - 8000 rubles / 1 sq.m.

If we compare the calculation results, it becomes clear what we will get in the final and for what money, that is, there is an opportunity to make a more informed decision and make a more rational choice.

The performed calculations show a clear advantage of multi-chip 3-diode smd modules in all respects.

Calculation of the cost of boxes or three-dimensional letters.

Calculating the cost of backlighting for rectangular boxes using any of the listed LED products is now very simple - you just need to calculate the area of \u200b\u200bthe box and multiply it by the cost of lighting one square meter. Calculating the number of LED products is also not difficult - you just need to multiply the area of \u200b\u200bthe box by the number of products required to illuminate 1 sq. meters.

Calculating the cost of lighting for boxes with a complex configuration (various trademarks and three-dimensional letters) is somewhat more difficult, since you will have to use a program, such as Corel Draw or Autocad, with a module for calculating the area. But after the areas of objects with a complex geometric shape are calculated, the illumination cost is determined with the same ease as in the first case.

Calculate required amount LED modules.

Since the calculations made above clearly showed the advantage of 3 diode smd modules of a new sample, therefore, we will do the calculation just for them.

As an example, let's make a calculation for the sign "FLOWERS", the height of the letters is 0.7 meters, the depth is 140 mm.

1. Let's measure the area of the letters in Corel Draw.

2. Knowing the number of modules for 1 square. meters (70 pieces), we multiply the obtained values of the area of \u200b\u200bthe letters by this amount.

3. We get the estimated number of modules in each individual letter, which will provide illumination of its surface equal to 2649 Lux: "C" - 12 pcs., "B" - 13 pcs., "E" - 13 pcs., "T" - 10 pcs., "Y" - 13 pcs.

However, keep in mind that this is only an estimate. In order for the illumination to turn out to be uniform, it is necessary to correctly place the modules inside the letters. The placement of modules inside the letters, as a rule, makes its own adjustments: in some cases, modules will require a little less than the calculated number, in other cases, a little more than the calculated number. This is inevitable and depends mainly on the size of the letters and the complexity of the font.

Thus, when placing LED modules in letters, we find out that their number has slightly increased, which we owe to the originality of the selected font, and the surface illumination will be higher than the initial value of 2649 Lux. With a decrease in the depth of the box, the illumination of its front surface, respectively, will increase.

You can quickly select a power supply for the required number of LED modules according to the table, which was compiled taking into account a margin of 15%. This calculation scheme can also be applied to other LED products (modules or strips) offered by our company.

Can LED products be used for home lighting?

The use of LEDs for domestic lighting purposes is another interesting and important aspect. Indeed, LEDs, as well as products made from them, have many advantages in terms of their parameters in relation to other sources of artificial lighting. Let's list them again.

High mechanical strength. They don't break, they don't break.
Electrical safety. Supply voltage 12 volts.
Energy efficiency. The power consumption is very small.
Durability. The service life of white LEDs is 30 - 50 thousand hours.
Low heat generation with high light output.
Sealed. Do not require additional protection from atmospheric phenomena.
Environmentally friendly. Do not contain substances hazardous to health.
Continuous light emission. Frequency pulsations are absent.
Good color rendering index. As a rule, at least 80.

The last three points are especially interesting from the point of view of the use of LEDs for domestic lighting.

So, the first thing worth noting is the environmental friendliness of LED light sources. LEDs do not contain liquid mercury like fluorescent lights or mercury vapor like neon.

An LED, if not dimmable, emits light continuously, and in this way it is similar to sunlight as well as the light coming from a flame. All other sources of artificial lighting, using alternating electric current for power, emit flickering light, with a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the alternating current. This applies to all types of incandescent and fluorescent discharge lamps.

The flickering of lamps operating on alternating current is imperceptible to the naked eye, but, nevertheless, the brain fixes it and this is the cause of fatigue - a person gets tired faster. In addition, there is the so-called strobe effect, when the illumination of rapidly rotating or rapidly moving objects creates the illusion of their static or slow movement. In production, this can lead to various accidents and injuries, so nearby fluorescent lamps are connected to different phases or high-frequency control gear is used.

With incandescent lamps, the situation is somewhat better, since the filament cannot cool instantly and, as a result, continues to emit light for some time, although not so intensely. Therefore, due to such inertia, the flickering of incandescent lamps is not so pronounced and not so tiring.

The color rendering index of an artificial light source is also a very important indicator, as it affects the perception of the color palette of surrounding objects. If the source has a low color rendering level, then the natural colors of the objects will be distorted and no longer look as natural. The only and unique standard of our world is the light emitted by the Sun: it is continuous and has the most complete spectrum.

For incandescent lamps, the emission spectrum is more shifted towards orange and red, so the colors of objects with warm shades will be emphasized, and blue and green tones will appear darkened, gray. Inexpensive fluorescent lamps with conventional halophosphate phosphors, on the contrary, have an emission spectrum shifted towards green and blue, so the colors of objects with cold shades will be emphasized, and yellow, orange and red tones will have an unpleasant "dead" shade. The color rendering index of such lamps does not exceed 70. Modern fluorescent lamps with modern broadband phosphors have a color rendering index of 84 - 90 and higher, but they are naturally more expensive.

The color rendering index of white LEDs is, as a rule, at least 80. Thus, LEDs are not only not inferior to traditional light sources in many respects, but also have some clear advantages and theoretically should be perfect for household lighting.

There is, however, one "but": LEDs are a point and directional light source, and traditional light sources are not. Therefore, it will take a lot to fully replace the LEDs. Let's try to find out, using the example of the LED products we have, how many of them will be needed to fully replace more traditional household light sources - incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps.

To do this, we first need to turn to the concept of effective optical power. The effective optical power of incandescent lamps is a maximum of 5 W of the total lamp power. For fluorescent lamps, this is a maximum of 15 W of the total lamp power. The effective optical power of an LED product is calculated depending on the brightness of the LEDs used, the light scattering angle and the emission spectrum, and it will be different for each product.

In order not to clutter up the text and not bore readers with the details of the calculations, we will immediately present the finished result of the calculations. The table lists the number of different LED products that can serve as an effective equivalent to conventional, traditional artificial lighting sources: 100 W incandescent lamps and 18 and 36 W fluorescent lamps, as well as, for comparison, their power consumption.

LED equivalent	Incandescent lamp 100 W, 1 piece, (100 W)	Fluorescent lamp 18W x 1 (22W)	Fluorescent lamp 36W x 1 (45W)
4 diode modules	78 pcs. (47W)	42 pcs (25W)	84 pcs (51W)
LED strip PL33	6 pcs. (20W)	3 pcs (10W)	7 pcs (24W)
LED strip PL99	2 pcs. (20W)	1 piece (10W)	3 pcs (28W)
2 diode smd modules	52 pcs. (33W)	28 pcs (18W)	56 pcs (35W)
3 diode smd modules	27 pcs. (24W)	15 pcs (14 W)	29 pcs (26W)

To complete the picture, let's compare the service life, cost and cost of energy consumption.

Service life of light sources:

LED products (white light): 30,000 - 50,000 hours
Incandescent lamps: 1000 hours
Fluorescent lamps: 12000- 20000 hours

Since the sources of artificial lighting in living conditions work on average about 10 hours a day, the service life will look like this:

LED products (white light): 8.5 - 14 years
Incandescent lamps conventional: 0.3 years
Fluorescent lamps: 3.3 - 5.5 years

Thus, for the entire period of operation of the LEDs, it will be necessary to purchase and replace from 28 to 46 incandescent lamps or 2-3 fluorescent lamps.

Now let's compare the cost of traditional lighting sources and LED. The cost is based on the starting kit "light source + necessary components", that is, "lamp + cartridge", "LEDs + power supply" and "fluorescent lamps + choke, starter and accessories".

Traditional light source / LED equivalent	Incandescent lamp 100 W, 1 pc., (25 rubles)	Fluorescent lamp 18 W, 1 pc., (140 rubles)	Fluorescent lamp 36 W, 1 pc., (200 rubles)
4 diode modules	78 pcs. (4895 r)	42 pcs (2915 r)	84 pcs (5248 r)
LED strip PL33	6 pcs. (2030 r)	3 pcs (1140 r)	7 pcs (2480 r)
LED strip PL99	2 pcs. (2030 r)	1 piece (1140 r)	3 pcs (2980 r)
2 diode smd modules	52 pcs. (5410 r)	28 pcs (3050 r)	56 pcs (5770 r)
3 diode smd modules	27 pcs. (3430 r)	15 pcs (2030 r)	29 pcs (3630 r)

The table shows that the most inexpensive alternative to traditional sources of artificial lighting are sealed LED strips PL33 and PL99, as well as multi-chip three-diode smd modules. Therefore, we will continue further comparison with them.

Let's add to the initial cost of light sources the cost of paying for electricity for the entire period of operation and the cost of light elements replaced over the same period. Because many people doubt that real term the service life of LEDs is so great, then we will make the calculations based on minimum term service life of our LED products, that is - 8.5 years.

So, for example, in a year 2 PL99 tapes (or 6 PL33 tapes) consume 73 kW at an operating mode of 10 hours a day. With the cost of electricity 2.11 rubles / kW, the cost of paying for electricity for 8.5 years will amount to 1309.3 rubles. Add this figure to the initial cost of the same number of tapes and get the total cost for the entire (minimum) period of operation.

Let's do the same calculations for an incandescent lamp. The lamp consumes 365 kW per year, that is, for 8.5 years the cost of electricity will be 6546.3 rubles. + 280 rub. for 28 lamps, which will have to be purchased and changed during this period. The total cost, therefore, will be 6851.3 rubles. After that, we will do the same calculations for fluorescent lamps and LED modules.

In order not to tire the reader, we omit a further detailed description of the calculations, which, by the way, anyone can repeat at their leisure, and offer a table with ready-made results that are convenient for comparison. So, the table shows the total cost of lighting sources for a period of operation of 8.5 years, including their starting cost, the cost of replacing light elements and electricity costs.

Traditional light source / LED equivalent	Incandescent lamp 100 W, 1 pc. - 6851.3 rubles.	Fluorescent lamp 18 W, 1 pc. - 1665.2 rubles.	Fluorescent lamp 36W x 1 - 3416.7 rubles.>
LED strip PL33	6 pcs. (3339.3 rubles)	3 pcs (1794.7 rubles)	7 pcs (4051.1 rubles)
LED strip PL99	2 pcs. (3339.3 rubles)	1 piece (1794.7 rubles)	3 pcs (4289.3 rubles)
3 diode smd modules	27 pcs. (5001.1 rubles)	15 pcs (2946.5 rubles)	29 pcs (5333.8 rubles)

The table clearly shows that, in relation to incandescent lamps, LED strips have a clear advantage in price, and in relation to fluorescent lamps, the difference in price is not so great. If we take into account that fluorescent lamps contain liquid mercury, which is harmful to human health (and the environment too), and the fact that lamps can break from time to time (because they are made of glass), then perhaps the difference will not seem at all essential.

Thus, perhaps, the only argument against the use of LED products for household lighting has been and remains to this day their relatively high initial cost compared to traditional lighting sources. But for how long?

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