What can be cooked from squid: quick and tasty

Most of the modern rooms are decorated in accordance with the latest design developments. One of these solutions is neon lighting in the apartment, which allows even an ordinary room to be made unique and original. With the help of neon, the required level of illumination is provided not only for the entire room, but also for all the necessary places. In accordance with the requirements, lighting devices and lamps are selected.

Features of neon lighting

As a result of properly arranged lighting, a soft environment is formed. It is advisable to protect the details of the neon illumination from aggressive external influences. This will significantly increase the service life.

To power the backlight in any room, various electronic converters are used. They are much lower than that of conventional electromagnetic transformers. The quality of installation work is of great importance.

All elements that make up the lighting system must be hidden. This is especially true for wires and electrodes. For direct illumination, most often, special neon tubes with a diameter of 15 mm are used. As a rule, before starting the installation, all the details of a specific neon lighting are agreed upon.

Lighting of the main elements

Parts of the neon lights are very fragile and must be handled with care to avoid accidentally hitting them. There are very successful individual options to solve this problem. The main focus is on the design of special niches for laying parts of the lighting system. Their design should, if necessary, ensure the unhindered replacement of neons. If there are several niches in the room that are not connected to each other, then each of them must have its own supply cable.

Ceiling neon lighting is done in accordance with the general rules. All elements are hidden under the plasterboard boards, giving the interior additional style and elegance.

Thus, neon lighting in an apartment is actively used not only by architects, but also by designers. With the help of neon lighting elements, you can create drawings and other images that give uniqueness to any interior. The advantages of this kind of lighting are the ability to use multiple colors and shades.

Neon lamps rarely fail, consume very little energy, and can be used open or closed. In some cases, neon lighting acts as an additional lighting in low visibility conditions.

Assembling the frame

The installation of a frame for a suspended ceiling is carried out in two ways and depends on whether an open or closed type of structure is used in each particular case.
Option number 1. Open version of the design.
It is the simplest option and is easy to do with your own hands. In this situation, two installation options are assumed:

embedding;
making holes;
hanging the luminaire under the ceiling surface. The weight of the luminaire to be suspended must not exceed 10 kg.
This is due to the fact that the frame and plasterboard sheathing will not be able to withstand more weight.

In this case, the frame itself is mounted using standard technology, which we will consider using the example of assembling a ceiling device with a niche.
Option number 2. Hidden design option.
This method is somewhat difficult to do it yourself. But if you follow the installation steps, even such a design will be quite feasible.
Here, the installation of the frame is carried out according to the following scheme:

Installing the main profile

first of all, you need to step back 10 cm from the ceiling;
then, using a level (laser or water), we draw a horizontal line along the entire perimeter of the room;
along the marking line, we attach the starting profile to the wall using dowels. It is necessary to make a fastening step of 50 cm;
then you need to insert the main ceiling into the starting profile. Its fastening is carried out using distancers (suspensions);
for this profile, you need to make a mounting step of 40 cm;

The result is the first basic level, which at this stage should be sheathed with drywall sheets. Using this scheme, we build an open type of construction. But you must not forget to do one thing - to wire the central lighting. Usually, it is a chandelier or small spotlights.
Now you can start building a niche for lighting:

we draw the markup of the niche on the first level;
retreat 4-6 cm and fix the starting profile. This distance is equal to the width of the cornice;
cut the profile into the desired pieces with metal scissors;
after that we insert the main one into the start profile. It should be equal in length to the height of the second level. He plays the role of a suspension;
on the bottom side, one more starting profile should be fixed on the hangers;
then, using the main ceiling profiles, we connect the entire structure.

Assembled niche

Now the niche is ready and you can start covering it with plasterboard sheets.

Correct connection and installation

In order for the backlight to turn out without flaws and shortcomings, some rules should be taken into account.

Rules:

The tape is sold in 5m spools and, if needed, is cut and soldered to the desired size;
The tape is carefully cut only according to the markings;
Pieces of tape are soldered according to the scheme;
In order to fix the LED strip, use double-sided tape, or self-adhesive tape. Before gluing, the surfaces are degreased, the protective layer is removed, and the tape itself is pressed against the required area .. Installation of the tape on the plinth is different from the installation of the tape on the wall

Both options are used by the consumer

The installation of the tape on the skirting board is different from the installation of the tape on the wall. Both options are used by the consumer.

It happens that the power supply is sold without a power cord. Then you need to buy a cord.

How to solder correctly:

Plus or minus when the tape is the same color;
If the tape is colored (RGB), then the V +, R, G and B pins should be soldered.

After the tape is the correct size, you need to connect the transformer and controller.

At all stages of work, the main principle is accuracy, care and thoroughness. Bending radius - not less than 2 cm

The tracks must not be bent more than 90 °.

Luminaire selection

The modern lighting market has a fairly wide variety of lighting fixtures that can be used as a backlight for a plasterboard suspended structure.
The following lighting fixtures can be inserted into this kind of pendant:

Spotlights;
LED Strip Light;
duralight;
fluorescent lamps;
light projectors;
fluorescent lamps;
standard chandeliers;
combined lighting.

Range

The choice of a lighting device that will act as a backlight on the ceiling should be done according to the following parameters:

sizes;
type of ceiling structure (open or closed);
the presence of insulation and sound insulation;
desired lighting level;
the cost of the device;
functional or decorative role of the luminaire;
installation option (with your own hands or by a master).

Installation method

It is necessary to rely on these parameters, because each type of lighting device is provided for specific purposes and has different technical characteristics. You can only make the right choice if you evaluate everything correctly. In the above list, you can include a number of other parameters that are relevant in a particular situation.
For example, when using an LED strip, you will need to purchase special equipment: a remote control, a controller, etc.

Installing neon lights

Backlight frame

Neon ceiling lamps are usually mounted either in a special plasterboard box, or in a ceiling plinth - a fillet. In this case, the first option is most often used if the backlight is assembled at the repair stage, i.e. when the walls and the ceiling itself are not finished.

Installation of lighting in a polystyrene ceiling plinth is convenient in that it can be done almost at any time without violating the integrity of the room decoration. Especially in cases where there is no way to install a plasterboard cornice around the perimeter of the stretch ceiling.

We do the plasterboard cornice for neon lighting like this:

We attach the hangers for the metal profile to the ceiling (or to the first level of the false ceiling).
We attach the main profile to the suspensions from below, and on the wall along the perimeter of the entire room (where the lighting installation is planned) we fix the starting profile.
We attach a strip of drywall to the profiles, cut so that the resulting cornice has dimensions of 100-150 mm.

Installation of lighting in a niche

To obtain a clear outline of neon lighting on the ceiling, we attach a vertical side to the flat part of the cornice. The optimal side height is from 20 mm (when laying the lamp directly on the cornice). The higher the side, the clearer and sharper the edge lighting will be.
If we want to get diffused light on the ceiling, then we do not need to make a curtain rail.

Eaves mounting options

When mounting the lighting in a fillet plinth, you need to choose large enough models, since it is problematic to hide the transformer in a small plinth. However, if it is necessary to install the lighting in a plinth of small dimensions, the transformer can be "drowned" into a niche in the wall.

Backlight connection

As we noted above, neon lights only work with high voltages. Therefore, a step-up transformer is needed for the neon illumination to work. As practice shows, it is enough to install one transformer for 5-7 meters of backlighting.

The transducer is installed in the middle of the illuminated area, so you need to take care of its placement in advance.

Neon transformer

Due to the average power consumption, there is no need to power the neon lights with a powerful cable. As calculations show. A copper cable 2 × 0.75 mm2 is enough for twice the power reserve when connecting 45 meters of neon illumination with a diameter of 15 mm.

And yet, no matter how difficult the neon illumination may be in the installation, the final result is worth the money and effort spent. This is because the neon-lit ceiling cannot be compared with other design options.

Video installation of LED strip

To clearly demonstrate the work of installing the backlight, we suggest studying a small video selection of training materials:

How to connect an LED strip - important nuances that will help you correctly mount the backlight circuit.

How to make a plasterboard cornice for hidden lighting is one of the options for arranging a U-shaped box for an LED strip.

As you can see, you can do it yourself with the installation of LED backlighting. Therefore, the main task is to choose the right length of material, transformer and controller, taking into account the configuration of the kitchen ceiling and the expected decorative effect. But if you doubt your abilities or the correctness of the calculations made, it is better to entrust the purchase of components and installation of the backlight to a qualified electrician.

Before we consider the main options and ideas for lighting the ceiling, I would like to devote a little time to the requirements that apply to this issue. It should also be clarified that these requirements apply not only to the layout itself, but also to their design, as well as design features.

So, when doing electrical work, you must take into account the following requirements:

The light should be evenly distributed over the entire area.
All luminaires (or each specific group) must have the same power, light spectrum and backlight intensity. Otherwise, there will be no harmony and the interior will noticeably deteriorate.
Lamps must be economical, bright and durable at the same time. The leaders in this case are.
If the ceiling lighting will be hidden, the luminaire bodies should be hidden in a special cornice.
The design of plafonds (or other products) should be combined with furniture and wall decoration.
Light bulbs should not dazzle the eyes. Point the lamp up to create a soft floodlight. To create a bright light, the lamp must be facing downward.
All wires must be hidden. When the track is hidden under the wall decoration. When laying the wire open, it is necessary to hide it in special cable channels (most often this option is used in the garage).

Interior lighting plays an important role. Neon lighting is becoming more and more popular all over the world and is used to illuminate apartments, cottages, offices, shopping and entertainment centers. It takes imagination and a sense of style to create unusual neon lighting.

Neon lighting has many advantages:

a soft, even glow is created without light spots and darkening, heating does not occur, and there is no noise. Neon lighting is pleasing to the eye. The growing popularity of neon ceilings in the interior of an apartment is due to a long service life (from 10 to 15 years), low energy consumption (66 W is required for 5 meters of neon pipes), as well as the beauty and uniqueness that can only be achieved with such lighting. In terms of energy saving, neon occupies a leading place, only slightly inferior to the LED. Light can be of different shades and brightness. Usually neon tubes are custom made to the desired length and thickness. They are easy to hide in a well-designed interior.

Neon tubes are rarely used as the main light source, usually their purpose is to emphasize certain details of the interior, to create lines of any color and length. Neon tubes have an amazing ability to take on the most complex shapes. Usually they are placed in the niches of the ceiling. Placement in an open niche gives the glow a diffusing character, in a closed one - emphasizing the contours. When installing neon pipes, it is necessary to leave access to the lamps, since over the years of service, the transformers will have to be changed several times. It should be noted that the help of professionals when working with neon tubes is necessary, since this process is quite complicated and requires knowledge of many nuances of the work of neon lamps.

How does neon light work?
- Neon gas is pumped into a glass tube, then electricity is supplied to it, which makes the gas glow.
How is the power supply carried out?
- Power is supplied by means of transformers, the power of which depends on the length of the tubes.
How long is the service life of a neon tube?
- The durability of the tube depends on its quality and ranges from 10 to 15 years.
Is it possible to replace a broken tube?
- Replacement is possible, and it is not very difficult. The only drawback is that neon tubes are usually made to order, and if they fail, you will have to make a new one according to a template or sample.

What switches should I use for neon tubes?
- Any switches can be used, but without dimming. When installing and connecting lighting, it is better to contact the professionals in their field.
What kind of light to choose for lighting living quarters?
- The choice of color depends on the interior, but it is preferable to use soft diffusing light for bedrooms; lighting in the living room can be made brighter, but not harsh and pleasing to the eye.

What are the pros of using neon lighting?
- Neon is very aesthetic, it allows you to embody the most daring design decisions. Tubes can be of any shape and length. Large selection of shades. Heats up no more than 4 degrees, that is, approximately to the temperature of the human body. Even illumination without spots is possible only with neon.
What are the disadvantages of neon lighting?
- The disadvantages include the high fragility of pipes and their high cost. True, the result is worth it.

Design options

Using different lighting, you can select the necessary parts or objects into the room. Designers have different approaches to the design and, thanks to the play of light, they create extraordinary interiors.

Very often, light is used when dividing a room into different zones, this is useful if you have a small apartment.

There are several main types of lighting applications in modern society apartment design:

The main or lighting in the apartment for the background. In this case, the light is scattered over the entire room, the source in most cases is a chandelier.

Local light. In this way, you can focus on the required area of space. In such circumstances, design items are used by the source.

Lighting for work. Used to illuminate the area where you work or study. For this option, special lamps with directional light are used.

Decor light. Dim light is used to illuminate paintings, design objects.

For indoor lighting, it makes sense to use these types of lighting devices:

Chandelier. Used for main lighting. Increasingly, this type is being abandoned.

Chandeliers can be replaced by spotlights. They are adjustable and can be lit in the background or act as the main lighting.

LED bulbs. Used in stretch ceilings. Plays the role of a backlight.

Also, other lamps and elements can be used as lighting devices.

Indoors, you can use one light source or intelligently combine several types. It all depends on the purpose of the space.

Peculiarities

Today there is a wide range of materials for ceiling finishing works. Plasterboard with built-in lighting is one of the most popular and relatively budgetary ways to give the ceiling a sophisticated look. When using drywall construction, you can afford to experiment with different lighting options, for example, adjust the number of lamps, their configuration, use only those fixtures that suit your preferences and taste.

The use of a suspended ceiling has a number of advantages:

plasterboard construction will mask all the irregularities and defects of your ceiling;
no preparatory work is required before installing the stretch ceiling;
under the plasterboard structure, it is possible to hide thermal insulation, electrical and sound wiring, exhaust compartment;
large space for design ideas, for example, you can build a multi-level ceiling.

As well as the positive aspects, any idea has its drawbacks:

the use of a suspended ceiling is not recommended for low rooms; its height will be reduced by at least ten centimeters;
the installation of a suspended ceiling is quite simple and quick, you do not need to resort to the services of a working team, but a specialist must definitely deal with electricity and lighting. Often, an incorrect wiring connection provokes a short circuit.

Types of recessed lighting for false ceilings

A suspended ceiling with recessed lighting is a luxurious, pleasant and sleek option to update your interior. All modern types of lamps are used for suspended ceiling structures.

A lamp for a spotlight - suitable for illuminating a space at night and in order to separate or highlight functional areas. This is one of the most affordable lighting options.
LED - has a long service life, endows the room with diffused light (uniform, illuminating all objects in the room).

Classic - these are ordinary chandeliers that do not always fit into an interior with a suspended ceiling.
Fluorescent lamps are great for economical and long-term use. Such lamps are often installed in non-residential public areas. The only negative is that they are very sensitive to power surges.
Fiber optic - this type of lamp will create an effective lighting for your room. Its cost cannot be called budgetary; it is quite expensive.

How to choose and install LED strip

Manufacturers present us with so many Led-solutions that it is not surprising for a person far from an electrician to get confused. But since the correct installation of the diode backlight and its operation depend on the purchase, we will try to disassemble the most important technical nuances in order.

Varieties of LED strips

All systems with LEDs can be classified according to several parameters: type of mounting, number of diodes, color, power

What exactly to pay attention to depends on the design idea that you want to implement with the help of light effects.

For example, for decorative lighting, the most important parameter is the color shade of the glow. And according to this characteristic, ribbons are divided into single-color and multi-color. The former, when switched on, emit light of only one tone. And not necessarily traditional white, it can be red, green, yellow, purple or bright green. Of the non-standard options, it is worth noting tapes with ultraviolet or infrared glow.

Ceiling lighting with LED strips

Backlighting with LED strips is gaining more and more popularity. The LED strip is a flat flexible base with LEDs connected to it, which, when connected, form an electrical circuit.

There is a wide selection of LED strips on the market with a variety of colors and lighting programs. According to the density of diodes, tapes are 120, 60, 30 diodes per meter. Which one to choose depends on the desired backlight intensity. The brightest can be used as the main lighting. It should also be noted: the convenience of the LED strip also lies in the fact that you can cut any required size in a specially marked place on a flexible base.

Installation of such a backlight is as simple as possible. The electrical circuit consists of the LED strip itself, which is attached using the sticky side to a ceiling niche or ceiling cornice. A controller is connected to it, which performs the function of a switch, and a power supply unit, which is connected to the electrical network in compliance with the polarity.

Backlighting with LED strips is the most practical, economical and easy to install.

A ceiling with perimeter lighting is a very original solution that looks much more attractive than just a ceiling without lighting. This design solution is simple and quite inexpensive. In addition, such illumination can be made by yourself, with your own hands, without resorting to the help of a hired team, which, by the way, is quite expensive.

LEDs were not taken into service by chance, since LED lighting is not just lamps, but a very thoughtful design solution, which, together with the main lighting, creates a harmonious light ensemble.

In our time of incessant crises, budget repairs have become fashionable, which, by the way, are even more spectacular than expensive ones, at incomparably lower costs.

Perhaps it is worth considering one of the most common methods, where the LED strip is placed in a drywall box.

Its advantages:

Since the box is placed in the second level, it seems that the light is coming from nowhere;
The light does not hurt the eyes, and it flows evenly around the entire perimeter of the ceiling.

Installation of such a box, of course, requires some cost and effort in terms of installation. However, there are much simpler methods.

Installation of lighting devices

After the above steps, you can do the backlight itself. Consider the installation of lighting devices using the example of an LED strip, which is used quite often today.
Its installation involves the following steps:

we cut the tape in places specially adapted for this;
we connect the tape using specially designed LED connectors. Instead of these connectors, you can use a regular soldering iron, but very carefully;
choose a power supply with a 20-30% power reserve;
we fix the tape along the rim of the niche. In this case, fastening to metal sections should be carried out only through an insulating material.

In order not to confuse anything, below is a diagram for connecting an LED strip.

Connection diagram

The main thing here is not to confuse the input (220 V) for the outlet and the output (12 V).

If there is a controller, the red wire will mean plus, and black or blue - minus. They cannot be swapped. If you need to connect multiple tapes, use power supplies that must be connected in parallel to each other.

This will avoid a drop in brightness on the second ribbon.
After connecting, check the operation of the LEDs on the tape, as well as the correct connection to avoid overloading and failure of devices. A suspended ceiling made of plasterboard sheets with backlight, subject to the sequence, is easily done by hand.
Particular attention should be paid to the connection of the backlight to avoid a fire hazard. In addition, when carrying out work with your own hands, maintain safety measures when interacting with electrical appliances

One of the most effective design tricks is the use of lighting effects. Often it is the light that gives the interior a zest. A backlit plasterboard ceiling is one of the most common options. It is good because, if you wish, you can do it yourself, with your own hands.

Additional options

Halogen lamps. The base of the halogen lamp is filled with iodine and bromine vapor. This distinguishes them from conventional incandescent lamps, in which the coil is located in a vacuum. The main disadvantage of such lamps is their strong heating up to 250 ° С. Therefore, the scope of application of halogen is significantly reduced.
Fluorescent This lamp consists of a bulb and a base, into which two electrodes are soldered.

When an electric current is applied, mercury vapor is converted into ultraviolet radiation, which subsequently turns into visible light.

The main disadvantage of such lamps when installing ceiling lighting is the depth of the socket for the lamp base. Therefore, it becomes necessary to lower the ceiling by 8-10 cm, which is unacceptable in rooms with low ceilings.

Fluorescent lamps are economical and heat dissipation is low. This allows such lamps to be mounted in a PVC stretch ceiling.

LED lamp. The most economical and the most efficient one is the LED luminaire. A light emitting diode is a semiconductor that glows when an electric current passes through it. The more LEDs are built into a light bulb, the brighter the light.

The disadvantages of such lamps include only their high cost. But it's worth it. All the advantages that an LED lamp has, allow you to close your eyes to this only disadvantage.

Installing a spotlight on any suspended or suspended ceiling is easy. To do this, you must first prepare a hole to size. In plasterboard ceilings, this can be done using a grinder with a nozzle that matches the diameter. In tensioning, there is a fairly sharp clerical knife, while the lamp is installed on a special stand that is attached to the main ceiling. The recessed luminaires are fixed to the ceiling by means of spring tendrils.

Spotlights are connected to the network using a copper wire with a cross section of 2: 75 mm2. In the places where the luminaire is installed, plinths are connected corresponding to the type of the selected bulbs.

How can you arrange a plasterboard ceiling with a backlit photo

LED lighting of the plasterboard ceiling is only a spectacular design technique. Lighting needs to be taken care of separately

Ceiling lighting in the bedroom

Drywall is a very versatile material. In good and skillful hands, it can become a whole work of art. A creative approach is the main thing that guides any builder when choosing this material. In principle, more is not necessary. Drywall is also a good alternative to any stretch ceiling. By the type of implementation, this is a classic single-level or multi-layer structure. The illuminated suspended ceiling is a dream come true. The properties of the material allow you to fantasize with a wide variety of shapes.

How to connect RGB video LED strip

Finally, the following should be noted. It is not worth talking about the originality of the ceiling with LED lighting, since it is already quite obvious. In addition, one of the advantages of such a ceiling is the fact that the installation of the backlight is not something prohibitively complicated, requiring the intervention of narrow specialists with special training - you can easily do it yourself. It is also pleasing that such lighting can be arranged both on a plasterboard ceiling and on a stretch ceiling. In a word, after studying articles on this topic, viewing photo and video materials, properly thinking about how it all will look, purchase the necessary materials, and, rolling up your sleeves, get down to business.

It's not so difficult to make a false ceiling yourself.

In order for a high-quality and beautiful work to be obtained, at least it must be a two-level ceiling. The two-layer technique has most of the advantages:

Simplicity. It is easier to screw one sheet to another than to screw it to the ceilings.
Stylishness and imagination. A single-level ceiling will not give as many ideas for implementation as a multi-level one.
It is easier to cut bends.

Required material

Repair is always a painstaking and costly business. It is impossible not to spend a penny and still get a beautiful, modern design. Even the simplest designs are expensive. An indicative list of the required material:

Gypsum plasterboard - 1 sheet is required per 1 m2.
Ceiling profile.
Guiding profile (PPN).
Profile connector: single-level, double-level if necessary.
Straight suspension.
Screw for fastening a direct suspension.
Spring suspension.
Rod with a loop for spring suspension.
Dowels. If the ceiling is made of reinforced concrete, then anchoring will be required.
Extension of profiles.

Illumination of an apartment is not only an interesting design solution: such a factor of human life as a psychological state depends on the correct lighting.

For more correct lighting of the room, the most functional areas are illuminated using spotlights or LED strips and rulers.

For example, dividing a room into a dining and living area:

Or dividing the hall into a living and sleeping area, as shown below:

It can be divided using lighting in the bedroom 2 zones - a work and a bedroom, using the ceiling lighting with LED strips as the main lighting:

Illumination by recessed luminaires to illuminate a large room:

The lighting of rooms looks interesting without using the usual massive chandeliers as the main lighting, simply and concisely highlighting the functional areas of the room:

The lighting in the bathroom and toilet can also be interesting and functional:

Interesting decorative lighting in the hall and bedroom:

Why do you need additional lighting?

If earlier cars with beautiful interior lighting could be seen only in expensive high-class cars, now more and more interesting options for lighting can be found in a random car in your city. Car manufacturers are looking for new ways to improve the interior lighting of their creations year after year, as are drivers who don't sit around experimenting with their cars on their own.

Car interior neon lighting:

And what is bad about the interior lighting with your own hands. It looks beautiful, comfortable, and what a pleasure it is to answer: "I made it myself!"

Or, for example, install the illumination of the thresholds - in the dark, when you open the doors, you can see which surface you are going to. What a plus! There are a variety of uses. The most important thing is that you can do everything with your own hands!

Of all the places where additional lighting can be installed, here we will consider the lighting of the car's interior, and also tell you a little how to do it yourself. Why exactly a salon? Because it is not as difficult as ambient lighting, and not all manual car changes are allowed. For example, with a neon-lit underbody, you simply won't be able to pass the inspection. External lighting is beautiful, but, with your permission, let's start with the interior, with the convenience for you and your passengers.

Interior lighting of the car

What to choose: neon or LEDs?

And now you have decided that there is not enough native light in the cabin of your car. Or do you want constant soft relaxing lighting, or just add some uniqueness? It's time to think about installing additional interior lighting. Fortunately, in our time it is quite possible to realize it. Two types of lighting will help you with this: neon lamps and LEDs.

First, let's take a look at the advantages of LEDs over neon:

Flexible design, not accidentally ripped or broken, unlike neon lamps, which can break.
Easy to solder.
Arbitrary length of the LED strip.
Individual diodes can be placed virtually anywhere.
RGB tapes have the ability to change color.

But they also have their disadvantages:

In large quantities, more expensive than neon lamps.
As a rule, neon "lives" much longer.

Currently, the quality of LED products is steadily going uphill, the price, on the contrary, is falling.

If earlier there were only individual LEDs, then modules and tapes, now it is possible to cover the entire interior with one complex under general control via a remote control or control panel. Perhaps soon LED interior lighting will become standard for installation in the production of cars.

Car interior lighting

Neon, in turn, is increasingly fading into the background due to its less convenient design, lower brightness, and limited use. But, as they say, neon interior lighting was, is and will be, it has its advantages, and significant ones. Both lamps can be used in tuning, the main thing is to have a design approach.

Neon interior lighting

Information before starting work

You will be lighting your car, but before you start, you should be warned that if you do not fully understand how to implement lighting with your own hands, then it would be better to resort to the help of specialists. It will still be cheaper to pay to craftsmen than to re-purchase a new salon. And if you realize that your hands are growing from the right place, then go ahead!

Diodes can be purchased on the radio market, they are inexpensive, but in this case, you will have to work a little with a soldering iron. Therefore, it is still better to purchase ready-made tapes specifically for cars.

LED strip for installation in cars

Now let's check if we have the necessary tools for the job:

A switch (mandatory when installing outdoor lighting, as representatives of the traffic police can fine you for lighting the bottom, you need to turn it off somehow)
Fuse
Screwdriwer set
Electrical cable insulation tube
When unscrewing car panels, you may need heads and keys with stars.
Tools that are mentioned in the instructions for the backlight that you purchased.

How to install LED or neon car lights from battery

IMPORTANT! Before carrying out work on the car related to electricity, and the interior lighting is such, it is imperative to disconnect the battery!

Choose the place where you want to install the LED strip / neon tube, attach, visually remember and calculate the length of the wires to this point. Also consider the locations of the switch and fuse. The latter will protect the lamps from power surges and errors (yes, your mistakes, try not to confuse plus and minus) it is strongly recommended to install it closer to the battery in an easily accessible place.

Two places are often used for interior lighting:

Under the driver's torpedo and the front passenger's glove compartment
Under the front seats
Luggage compartment

After connecting the switch to the battery, you need to put a fuse on the entire backlight. Maximum distance from battery positive terminal to fuse is 18 inches. You can run the wire itself through the hole in the plate, between the passenger compartment and the engine, or drill your own, provided that you take care that you do not touch anything important, and the metal around the edges of the fresh hole does not cut the wire. Use rubber rings of the correct diameter to avoid this.

Now it remains to connect the second wire to the corresponding battery terminal.

LED lighting in the apartment - a magical glow in the interior!

You can stretch the wire in the same way as the first one - through the hole in the plate, or you can connect to the car body, the main thing is to make sure that this piece is pure metal, without rust, paint, dirt. Switch on and check if it works.

Ready! This completes the installation of the backlight. Now you have experience in this area, and next time even the interior lighting of a VAZ, which is often subject to tuning, will not be difficult for you. It is cheaper and more interesting to install the backlight with your own hands, but still, if there is even a drop of uncertainty, it is better to contact the masters. In this case, you will spend more, but your car will shine exactly the way you want it.

Even with bright ribbons, there is little light... It is light along the perimeter of the ceiling, but the middle falls into twilight. Therefore, a light source is needed in the center of the ceiling.

You can conduct an experiment like this... Screw the lamp into the table light.

Wall lighting: step by step instructions

It is only light near the table, but the whole room is dark. Now, screw the same lamp into the chandelier. It became light throughout the room.

In the first case, the light is directed in one direction, in the second - in EVERYTHING. Therefore, a light bulb on the ceiling lit up the whole room. The same thing happens with the illumination in the niche. The light from it is directed to ONE side. There is no uniform dispersion over the entire space of the room, so there will be a "desk lamp" effect.

In the bedroom you can

The only room where you can do without central lighting is the bedroom. There is no need for bright lighting here. LED strip and bedside lamps will be enough.

Output:

LED lighting around the perimeter of the ceiling will not replace a chandelier. Illumination will be worse. If this suits you, then use a bright white tape of 14 watt / meter, luxury class. We have clients who have given up on the chandelier and say that they really like it.

In the era of high technologies, when a car becomes available to almost every inhabitant of the planet, the problem of external indistinguishability of many cars arises. Therefore, many car owners want with the help of all kinds of styling options - from bright paint to complex body changes. One of the options for changing the appearance of the car is to install neon lights. It does not require huge cash investments from the owner of the car, but at the same time it will give a special zest to the car's appearance. Moreover, it is possible to install such lighting without outstanding skills, so this task can be dealt with even at home. In this article, we will tell you about the features of neon lamps, give the necessary information about them, and tell you how to make a car backlight with your own hands.

Why install neon lights

It is very popular among motorists in many countries of the world. The lights from under the car body will not leave anyone indifferent. Neon lighting on a car is a great way of self-expression, it will allow you to emphasize the individual style of the owner of the car. In addition, lamps today are not so expensive, so every motorist can afford them. In addition to external decoration, such lights are suitable for interior lighting - soft dimmed light, which provides comfort and coziness in the cabin, will surely please both the driver himself and the passengers he will put in his car.

However, in most cases, neon lighting is still used to decorate the outside of the car. Remember how spectacular vehicles with a luminous bottom of the body look in films. Why is this one popular for car styling? Now we will list the main advantages of neon lamps for car lighting:

A bright and soft uniform glow, which is very pleasant for the eyes, will not leave indifferent either the owner of the car or passers-by who see it on the street.
The low cost of lamps, which will allow you to decorate the car not only for wealthy motorists, but also for middle-class drivers who nevertheless want to distinguish their car from the crowd, making its appearance special.
The ability to focus light will allow you to make exactly the desired design, emphasizing the lines of the car, without creating the opposite effect, when the lighting only repels, causing negative emotions.
Quite simple installation and maintenance of neon lights will make it easy to take care of the installed equipment, and with some skill, you can even make a backlight at home in your own garage.

Despite these advantages, neon lamps have a number of disadvantages, for example, compared to another method of lighting - LED strips.

LED bulbs are still brighter than neon bulbs. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage, because too bright lighting sometimes hurts the eyes. Depending on the preferences of the motorist, this item can be considered a disadvantage. But compared to neon, the light from LED backlighting is impossible to focus, so it is more difficult to create a unique design with it.
Neon lighting consumes more power. It's all about the gas discharge lamp that is used in these devices. It is much more demanding on electricity than an LED, which means that there is a higher risk of remaining in the car, and the monetary costs of electricity will force your wallets to strain.
The resistance to deformation of neon lamps is quite low. LED strips, on the other hand, are more shock-resistant, which ensures a longer service life.
Neon lights are designed to be constantly on. And this, in combination with the previous paragraph, makes the service life of such lamps much lower than LED ones.
LED backlighting is easier to install and maintain. We noted the ease of installation of neon lamps as an advantage, but, in comparison with
installation of LED lighting, it is still more complicated and requires some abilities from the car owner.

Installing neon lights on a car with your own hands

Before installing the backlight on your car, you need to decide on the choice of the mechanism for turning it on. They are of the following types:

From the button. The simplest and most common option is to turn on the backlight from the switch. This method of switching on has a number of advantages, the main one of which is energy saving, since the lamp will turn on only when the car owner himself wants it. For example, they will not light up during the day when lighting is not required, and it simply will not be visible. Also, during business trips, the brightness may be excessive. It is also the easiest and most practical option for installing such equipment.
When the ignition is turned on. This way of turning on the lamps also exists, it is more comfortable than the previous one, since you do not need to constantly press the button. Turning on the lighting at the same time as starting the engine looks more effective than turning it on separately by pressing the switch. However, this method has all the disadvantages that the previous method does not have. The lamps will turn on every time you get behind the wheel of the car, so this mechanism will not work if you often have to travel to official meetings or travel during the day. Moreover, if you can put up with the second problem, it is better to try to avoid the first one.
When opening doors / trunk. This method will look extremely impressive when illuminating, respectively, the interior of a car or trunk, but not when decorating the appearance of the car. To install lighting on the underbody, it is better to consider the first two methods of lighting neon lamps.

Now let's go directly to the installation. It is quite simple, but requires some skill, so you should perform the listed actions very carefully:

Having decided on the choice of attachment points, attach the lamps to them in order to calculate the optimal length for each wire.
Choose a convenient location for the switch and fuse. The latter will protect the system from all sorts of unforeseen circumstances.
Connect the breaker to the battery and install the fuse.
Attach the neon lights under the bottom of the car in the places that you provided in advance.
Wire the lights to the fuse and switch.
Connect the entire system to the car's power supply.

After the entire system is installed, check for possible errors (for example, if you have confused plus and minus), and then try to turn on the system. Neon lights are quite vulnerable to impacts, so now you have to drive your car more carefully so as not to damage the result of such painstaking work.

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Many people feel like doing everything on their own. But, there are several factors that must be taken into account. And above all - the need to manufacture special lamps. Due to the fact that they can be made only on specialized equipment, neon ceiling lighting is usually not done with your own hands, although there is such an opportunity.

What is required

First, you need to figure out how such a backlight works, and how all the elements included in this system work.

The basis here are special lamps filled with an inert gas - neon. It is on behalf of this gas that such lamps got their name. The inner walls of the lamp are covered with a special powder - a phosphor, which interacts with neon when a high voltage is applied and starts to glow. The composition of the powder affects the color of the resulting glow.

The need for high voltage to obtain the glow effect forces the use of special devices in the system - voltage converters, or voltage-boosting transformers.

It is this moment that is worth remembering especially - high voltage is unsafe for life, therefore, the installation of the electrical part of the backlight should be a person who has experience working with high-voltage components.

The lamps themselves are made of thin glass and can easily be damaged during transportation or during installation. You should be very careful when installing them.

How to install

The most common option for installing such lighting elements is the side lighting of the ceiling. In this case, all elements of the system are located in a pre-prepared niche.

Usually, such a device is equipped even at the stage of installation of the ceiling structure. If a niche is not provided, you can install the backlight using a conventional polystyrene baseboard.

To do this, it must be glued, leaving a small distance between the ceiling surface and the edge of the cornice, as shown in the diagram.

Due to the location of the luminaire, you can change the width and intensity of the diffusion of the light flux. But, the same effect can be obtained by choosing lamps of a different diameter.

Neon lights have an interesting property - the larger the diameter of the lamp itself, the more diffused the luminous flux becomes. Therefore, by installing small diameter lamps, you can get a sharper border of the light spot.

The rest of the nuances are typical for all types of installed backlights. If a closed-type niche is arranged, that is, there is a side that cuts off the luminous flux, then its height will determine the degree of scattering of the luminous flux.

The higher this side is, the sharper the light spot will break off and the clearer its border will be. The same side will help to hide the installed voltage converter - it will not be visible behind the side.

To avoid mistakes during installation, you need to draw up a schematic diagram of the backlight in advance, calculating the power of all installed lamps. This is necessary to calculate the number of installed transformers.

It is not difficult to make such a calculation - neon lamps consume about 10 watts of power per meter of length. Therefore, a ten-meter design will require about one hundred watts.

Voltage converters are recommended to be installed, based on the fact that for every seven to eight meters of lamps, one transformer is required. Based on these data, it is necessary to calculate the number of installed converters and the number of their connection points.

Variants

If the neon lighting of the ceiling is done by hand, you can look for ready-made solutions in stores. Sometimes, such kits are available for sale. They include everything you need to independently mount and connect the backlight.

But, even with ready-made kits, everything needs to be done strictly according to the instructions attached by the manufacturer. Lamps are very fragile, and improper electrical installation can lead to short circuits and fire. If you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to contact an electrician.

The second way to get exactly the same effect as neon lighting is to use the "flexible neon" that has recently appeared on the market. There are much less difficulties with manufacturing and installation. The flexible cord itself, which will glow, is sold in coils, or cut in pieces.

In order for the cord to start glowing, it must be connected to the converter. The power of this unit is calculated based on the length of the connected cord. Glows exactly the same level as the neon tube, however, the intensity of the glow is lower.

It is much easier to mount such flexible neon, and even not the most experienced electrician can connect it. However, you need to know the safety rules when handling high-voltage devices.

Conclusion

There are not too many options on how to assemble a neon ceiling light with your own hands. In the simplest version, you don't need to do anything on your own, except for the final installation - everything is done by specialists. Calling it a self-installation can only be a stretch.

Another thing is the installation of a ready-made set of lamps. It won't be that easy, but the effect of the glow is very beautiful.

The easiest, from a technical point of view, option is to install flexible neon. You can do everything yourself, but the price of this option will be higher than that of all the others.