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Digital
10-06-2014, 08:47 PM
Wondering if anyone has installed colour changing RGB LED strip in a room (or outside), and has advice on type / quality and the correct installation.

This is my intention and what I allready know / am thinking....

I wish to run RGB strip lighting around the full perimeter of a 2x2 room, starting and ending at the same point.
By Starting and ending at the same point I can connected (via 4 core wire) the start and end point together creating a ring and as such rather than having an 8m length of strip powered from one end I effectively get two 4 meter strips in parrallel. This is improtant because you can only route a certain amount of power througth the first section of strip (so i have read), and the RGB controller can only control about 5 metres of strip in series before a powered amplifier is required.

So - I intend to buy a power source, 8 metres of 5050 LED strip (30 LEDs per metre), and a RGB controller. Am going for 30 LEDs for metres rather than 60 as it keeps the price of the power source down and most cheaper RGB LED controllers can only do about 75W, not enough for 10m of 60 LEDs.

Does anyone have good technical knowledge of this type of installation? Am I on the right lines, design wise?

Next - what to buy, advise please.

You can buy cheap kits from amazon and ebay which include all of those components for about ?30. As I am perminently installing and wiring this into a room, i'm concerned that it should at least be CE marked and reliable etc - am not sure at this price point that they can be?

So - looking at LED specialists on line - add up the components I need and its more like ?120. However the power sources and controllers don't look any different to the cheap kits, so really I think the difference is in the LED strip themselves. They are quoted as either Epistar chips or "Grade A" LEDS. I am hoping that as they are never solde at less tehn ?7 a metres they are genuanly better, but am worried i'm just paying more than I need to.

Currently am tempted to buy a 12V 100W lighting transforer from somewhere reputable like screwfix, get a RGB controller from Amazon or ebay and then buy the lighting strip from a UK online/storefronted business.

So anyone any experience and can offer more advise? or am I already the expert?

Thanks

Gazer
12-06-2014, 01:22 PM
When I did my kitchen I went for the 24v system and got my stuff from instyle using a DMX Wall controller panel...looks the Dogs nuts
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But in my front room for the glass shelf over my fire and round the TV I used 12v RGB 5050 Waterproof off Ebay.... both do a good job but the 24v as around 15 meters on it, and as sound to light .

Digital
15-06-2014, 10:00 PM
Thanks for the reply, and the link. Hadn't thought about 24V, forgot I was not installing in my car and can choose what I like! Glad to hear the ebay ones work okay too. Cheers,