LED Lighting for 2 rooms

[sillyfrog]

(From an email chain) Trying to get my head around the planning of the LED lighting. I’ve got the plan for the rooms:

I want to use something like these LED strips: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DC24V-LED-Strip-5050-60LED-m-5M-IP20-IP65-LED-Flexible-strip-Light-5050-SMD-RGB/32852537610.html The question I can’t quite answer on these ones is I want the warm white, but can I get the RGB option and then be able to produce warm white from it? And use this wif-fi controller: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/DC12-24V-RGB-WW-CW-LED-WIFI-Controller-4A-5Chanel-IOS-Android-Smart-Link-Timer-Music/1245436_32675853079.html

If I understand the specs of the wireless controller it should be able to run 3 strips of 40W (120W total) without too much hassle. I’m guessing that I will need to use the splitter cables on the output of the controllers to go to each of the LED strips. I’m also assuming that I can run the wiring from the power point/24V adapter for about 4m or so without too great a voltage drop that wouldn’t cause the lights to dim at the end. Thinking about the LED strips in blue in the diagram I’m expecting to run the adaptors and run all the wiring in the wall where the red x is marked’ I’ll have the gyprock off the wall in the small room so it’s nice and easy to put the wiring in there while it is off. That would make some long runs of wiring before getting to the LED strips themselves.

What do you think, am I heading down the right path or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[sillyfrog]

Re the type of LED strips: You could, but the issue is the RGB LED’s are no where near as bright per metre/LED as the straight white LED’s. There are some 12v options that can do RGB and White (you would want something called RGBWW - RGB Warm White). They are driven by 4 different channels from the controller (one for each colour). With something like this I would be suggesting at least the 96 LED’s / m (this is what we are using in the ground level living area). But after doing the stuff in the games room, I think the straight white are the way to do (but no where near as much fun).

Re the controller: I have not used that exact one, but from reviews this is one I would be suggesting: https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/H801 (link will take you to the firmware I use). The controller has much larger mosfets, so should be much more reliable longer term - especially as you’ll be driving them at full power.

I would suggest one channel per strip (side/wall) as that will give you more control, and more headroom for each driver - even if you end up linking them all together.

The other thing to consider is how you’ll drive/control it. That H801 should allow you to use one of the internal headers for an input so you can link it to a wall switch. Tasmota supports “macros”/“rules” (very limited!), but you can do basic things based on actions (such as button changes), see here: https://github.com/arendst/Sonoff-Tasmota/wiki/Rules

You can then do more advanced stuff from your phone/what ever you have controlling everything else.

Re the distance: I don’t see any issues with voltage drops if you are using good quality cable. The 2 core mains cable from Bunnings is designed for 10A, so the 4A max this will be carrying will be good. (You probably saw, but I work on about 0.4A/m for these strips).

You’ll also likely not be driving them at full power, so in an absolute worst case you could run each strip at a slightly different brightness.

Other thoughts: The other thing to consider is the mounting, I got this type of thing: https://www.instyleled.co.uk/coving-uplight-extrusion-led-tape/ From this seller: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/4x1M-Single-Side-Flood-Alloy-channel-Aluminium-bar-for-Led-Strip-Cabinet-/263245062430?hash=item3d4aa0e11e If going with that, all good - if not, I would suggest getting some samples to see what works best for you.

The last thing is if you are going with WiFi, what “controller”/“hub” you’ll use - Home Assistant continues to look pretty good, but I have not used it - so maybe a learning curve. But it has support for MQTT (sending events from the devices) and HomeKit (for controlling from your phone).

[sillyfrog]

Re the channels in the controller, the H801 has 5, (ie: R, G, B, W1, W2) - each channel drives a strip of LED’s, and has a max of 4A per channel. The use case with that labelling is obviously a single strip with RGB and white LED’s in it, but you can use each channel how ever you want. Each channel is its own PWM output, running at its own output power. With the Taxmota firmware, you can configure it how ever you want it to run.

[sillyfrog]

Re the power supply, I used something such as this: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Lighting-Transformers-DC-5V-12V-24V-36V-Power-Supply-Adapter-5-12-24-36-V-1A/32962523591.html

But there are a lot of options locally - and I always make sure I get something with 20-30% head room. Obviously consider where it'll go, and how it'll cool as many are fairly open, so you'll want to mount them sideways or similar to prevent too much dust build up.

Another thought - remember that LED's do "wear out" they don't just die - so over time they will become less bright. They are getting better - but it's still an issue, so having extra output power is good so you can crank it up in the years to come.