[Closed] LEDs in kitchen

Interested in this as well. We have 6 small fluorescent tubes illuminating the work surface which id like to replace with low watt leds.

Yep. One strip of the higher brightness ones works well. The SMD 5050 type. The ice white is gives a very pure white and will look a bit blue indoors. Warm white looks the most like other bulbs so it looks less out of place. We put ice white in the bathroom and it looked a bit weird to start with but I prefer now I'm used to it. The self adhesive isn't the best so you need anothwr method of fixing. Either glue, clips or an aluminium extrusion.

We have 6 small fluorescent tubes illuminating the work surface which id like to replace with low watt leds.

Pretty much our set up, think it's about 250W it total and on all evening most evenings...

Yep. One stripnof the higher brightness ones works well. The SMD 5050 type.

Thinking of using these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5M-300-LED-Strip-Light-3528-5050-SMD-RGB-Ribbon-Tape-Roll-Waterproof-IP65-12V-UK-/350871703543

Yep. The 5050 version

Fitted the warm white LED strips to our kitchen a few years ago. Just one strip under all the units. Original adhesive worked fine, and they are still stuck there, that is despite some of it being directly over the kettle. Very easy to fit, only hassle really was going around corners. Only problem I have had is one of the transformers blew after a year or so, the replacement was pretty cheap. It looks great and much nicer than individual lights under the units.

Cool, will buy some and see how they work out. Just checked the current set up and it's 3x30W & 1x15W tubes so that's 105W to be replaced by one 12W strip LED strip!

I've got them in my kitchen

Just one strip, they are bright enough and easy to hide

I'm thinking of doing the same thing on some floating shelves in the living room

Just swapped them over so these went out

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15817282158_45d79c7898_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7461/15817282158_45d79c7898_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q6HGVm ]120 W of Fluorescent tubes[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/75003318@N00/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

and were replaced by

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/16004665665_929b17c135_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8675/16004665665_929b17c135_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/qoh6vt ]Twin strips[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/75003318@N00/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

[url= https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15818921637_de15f77eac_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7534/15818921637_de15f77eac_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/q6S7he ]50W 12v LED Driver[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/people/75003318@N00/ ]brf[/url], on Flickr

I wasn't sure how the LEDs would look colour temp wise. At first I tried the high current Daylight LED strip (2.8A @ 12V) which is very bright but too blue for the kitchen, so I then added the less bright warm white strip (1.5A @ 12v) which is definitely better. I think I need two sets of warm white, as there is still a blue hue, but the warm white strip is too dim on its own.

The other slightly disappointing issue is the power saving, from 120W down to 58W, so only 50%, which is less than I was hoping for. Will improve a bit when I swap the high current Daylight LEDs for the Warm white.

could I use that stuff to go round a mirror ?

Yep, ideally in a recess as they're not that aesthetically pleasing....

I wouldn't want to use that with kids around who would still be able to look up at the light.

I wouldn't want to use that with kids around who would still be able to look up at the light.

Fit warm white.. otherwise your kitchen will look like a nightclub.
imo

I've used some 505 and it's fine. I 'might' be tempted to try the colour changing stuff for a bit of fun 🙂

My kids have never had a problem with them? The individual LEDs aren't that bright, they are fine to look at when switched on.

I wouldn't want to use that with kids around who would still be able to look up at the light.

How could it possibly harm anyone by looking at it?

Also - if you're using twin strips you can get a 12V controller that allows you to pick the colour temperature exactly (ie, warm >>>> colder >>>> cold). Have a search on eBay.

There is an argument that led light is bad for children's eyes. Something about not being developed enough to filter out the bad light.
I never looked into it and our house is full of LEDs.

to filter out the bad light.

WTF is bad light?

Something to do with the UV emitted. The kids eyes cant filter out that part of the spectrum.
As I said I never looked into it so don't shoot the messenger.

Any pictures of the LEDs on at night on their own to show overall effect?

50W LED driver? How many were you fitting??

I bought 2M with 2 6W transformers off EBay for £20, warm white - ran all 2M off one transformer. It's decently bright (can work under the cupboards with main lights off), looks nice.. can't complain.

50W LED driver? How many were you fitting??

Both 5m strips combined are slightly over 50W (54W)....

With two sets of the lower power warm white it will be 30W in total.

No one went for the RGB colour changing 5050 SMD's? 😯