Led strips behind my table

[IMPERIUS]

Hi!

 

I want to stick some led strips behind my table. Preferably rgb.

 

So what must I look for in those strips? I have 0 experience in this. How do you even mount them? With glue? And how do you power them? Is there a standard ac power cord on the end?

 

Also any suggestions on which particular led strips would you recommend? Only place I can buy from is ikea and some other stores but you guys only know ikea out of those

 

Thanks

[cesrai]

I would say this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ASHQQKI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ASHQQKI&linkCode=as2&tag=mt005-20&linkId=YMZYL7SZHWACLBPG

Matt uses this kit

[IMPERIUS]

I would say this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ASHQQKI/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00ASHQQKI&linkCode=as2&tag=mt005-20&linkId=YMZYL7SZHWACLBPG

Matt uses this kit

 

Nope, costs 104eur where I live

[cesrai]

Nope, costs 104eur where I live

Shit that's expensive, look around you may see similar kits from other sellers.

[IMPERIUS]

Shit that's expensive, look around you may see similar kits from other sellers.

 

Anything in particular I must look after? i get that more leds=better and don't care if its waterproof or not, but anything else important? Also, I need around 2m in total for my L-shape table. I need 2 strips, 1 1.5m and another 75cm

[cesrai]

Anything in particular I must look after? i get that more leds=better and don't care if its waterproof or not, but anything else important? Also, I need around 2m in total for my L-shape table. I need 2 strips, 1 1.5m and another 75cm

Too bad I don't have any experience so I can't help.

[IMPERIUS]

@LinusTech pls make a led strip guide for case and table use haha

@nicklmg @Slick

[IMPERIUS]

Too bad I don't have any experience so I can't help.

 

Are there any differences between "table" led strips or case led strips?

[NannerBeans]

Are there any differences between "table" led strips or case led strips?

Nope, no difference. You can even just get case LEDs and then connect them using a wall outlet to molex adapter. 

[W-L]

Are there any differences between "table" led strips or case led strips?

 

The LED strips on  the market today are SMD (surface mount LED's) there are different variety where SMD 3528, SMD5050 are the most popular where the SMD5050 can do RGB. The difference is just the connectors used, on a desk a dimmer or controller using a DC power supply with a regulated power brick is good. The kit that was recommended by @cesrai is a good choice, as for mounting they usually have some double sided tape on the LED strip but it does tend to fail pretty quick since it's not very good so something like 3M double side tape or mounting tape is good alternative.

[Critizin]

The LED strips on  the market today are SMD (surface mount LED's) there are different variety where SMD 3528, SMD5050 are the most popular where the SMD5050 can do RGB. The difference is just the connectors used, on a desk a dimmer or controller using a DC power supply with a regulated power brick is good. The kit that was recommended by @cesrai is a good choice, as for mounting they usually have some double sided tape on the LED strip but it does tend to fail pretty quick since it's not very good so something like 3M double side tape or mounting tape is good alternative.

 

im curious on how this works.  it says its cuttable every 3 LEDS.  if u cut it, is the rest of the strip garbage or can it still be used?  if so how does it all work under one controller if u cut multiple strips.

[W-L]

im curious on how this works.  it says its cuttable every 3 LEDS.  if u cut it, is the rest of the strip garbage or can it still be used?  if so how does it all work under one controller if u cut multiple strips.

 

I'll use an SMD3258 LED strip as an example since it only has a positive and negative and can't do RGB. What happens is the 3 LEDs are wired in series with a resistor to achieve the 12V rating and each 3 LED section gets hooked up in parallel to the next section so it allows for cut lines of every 3 LEDs, mind it has to be done on the specified cut lines. For RGB it's the same concept but instead of just positive and negative they have to power for Red, Green, and Blue in the LED and a common ground wire (4 Wires).

 

As for using it under one controller once you cut it say in half, you will need to install new connections to the cut LED strip by soldering on some power leads so it's won't go to waste, and controlling one LED strip is no different than two LED strips you can connect the two strips either in parallel or series and they both will have the same color and controls, the only thing is there is a max limit for series length which i think was around 10M or two 16.4ft rolls.

 

SMD3258:

[Critizin]

I'll use an SMD3258 LED strip as an example since it only has a positive and negative and can't do RGB. What happens is the 3 LEDs are wired in series with a resistor to achieve the 12V rating and each 3 LED section gets hooked up in parallel to the next section so it allows for cut lines of every 3 LEDs, mind it has to be done on the specified cut lines. For RGB it's the same concept but instead of just positive and negative they have to power for Red, Green, and Blue in the LED and a common ground wire (4 Wires).

 

As for using it under one controller once you cut it say in half, you will need to install new connections to the cut LED strip by soldering on some power leads so it's won't go to waste, and controlling one LED strip is no different than two LED strips you can connect the two strips either in parallel or series and they both will have the same color and controls, the only thing is there is a max limit for series length which i think was around 10M or two 16.4ft rolls.

 

SMD3258:

 

Makes sense, thanks for clearing that up.