Hidden LED lighting conversion and dropped ceiling

AHarvey · 11 Nov 2019 at 12:25

Hi all,

In the middle of redoing our hall, stairs and landing. We're looking for lights at the moment and struggling to find anything we really like.

The ceilings are really smooth, a few imperfections and it's annoying me so had an idea.

Has anyone put thin batons on a standard ceiling, added 2-4 mm painted board and then converted the standard house lighting to LED strip hidden above the boarding? I think it'd give a nice soft light overall but I'm unsure about the electrical requirements for converting standard house lighting to run warm white LED strips.

rhysduck · 11 Nov 2019 at 12:37

You'll need a 240v / 12v LED Transformer to sit inline with the existing wiring and the new led strip.

The LED Strip will determine what "size" led transformer you will require.

200sols · 11 Nov 2019 at 12:39

AHarvey said:
but I'm unsure about the electrical requirements for converting standard house lighting to run warm white LED strips.

You just connect up the Live and Neutral in the ceiling to the corresponding terminals in the LED drivers. You can control them from a dimmer switch, or with a remote control or smartphone app/speaker.

psd99 · 11 Nov 2019 at 13:05

have u got any pics of what you are trying to do? that would help get more replies.

balls · 11 Nov 2019 at 13:39

Not completely sure what you're asking but; In my flat we had to have a false ceiling added to have spotlights as there was no easy way of adding them to the existing ceiling. Lost ~60mm in ceiling height

peige · 11 Nov 2019 at 13:54

If I was doing that i'd go for RGBW but then I lover coloured lighting, that and a controller with the desire to have it come on to schedules or when movement is triggered

Be careful to pick a dimmer that works with the setup your thinking about, your going to need to ether build room to hide the transformer or poke it up in the ceiling. Do it in a way that you can get to it if you need to without wrecking the ceiling. The transformer size will depend on how long the light run is.

Mark M · 11 Nov 2019 at 15:34

Ive done this in the dining room and it looks good, I went with white rather than RGB as above but personal preference really. I nearly made the mistake or concealing the transformer in the false ceiling which would have meant chopping a hole in the ceiling if/when the transformer breaks. I ran the cables through the wall into the kitchen and the transformer sits on top of the kitchen cupboards out of sight.

AHarvey · 11 Nov 2019 at 16:12

rhysduck said:
You'll need a 240v / 12v LED Transformer to sit inline with the existing wiring and the new led strip.

The LED Strip will determine what "size" led transformer you will require.

200sols said:
You just connect up the Live and Neutral in the ceiling to the corresponding terminals in the LED drivers. You can control them from a dimmer switch, or with a remote control or smartphone app/speaker.

Thanks for the info

balls said:
Not completely sure what you're asking but; In my flat we had to have a false ceiling added to have spotlights as there was no easy way of adding them to the existing ceiling. Lost ~60mm in ceiling height

https://www.instyleled.co.uk/suppor...-ceilings-coving-plinths-kickboards-cabinets/

peige said:
If I was doing that i'd go for RGBW but then I lover coloured lighting, that and a controller with the desire to have it come on to schedules or when movement is triggered

Be careful to pick a dimmer that works with the setup your thinking about, your going to need to ether build room to hide the transformer or poke it up in the ceiling. Do it in a way that you can get to it if you need to without wrecking the ceiling. The transformer size will depend on how long the light run is.

Mark M said:
Ive done this in the dining room and it looks good, I went with white rather than RGB as above but personal preference really. I nearly made the mistake or concealing the transformer in the false ceiling which would have meant chopping a hole in the ceiling if/when the transformer breaks. I ran the cables through the wall into the kitchen and the transformer sits on top of the kitchen cupboards out of sight.

I've already purchased standard on/off light switches as it's for the hall/landing ring. I supposed I could fit a dimmer along the line and have it set and always on.

200sols · 11 Nov 2019 at 16:25

You can use normal switches and control as you would normal lights.