Hello everyone, I am currently considering how to best upgrade my IKEA Billy shelves with LED lighting. It is important to me to find a solution that is both visually appealing and technically reliable, and that can be easily retrofitted without compromising the stability of the shelves. Can anyone offer advice on what type of LED strips or lights are suitable, the best way to attach them, practical power supply options, and what to watch out for during installation? Any tips regarding wiring or possible alternatives to standard LED strips would also be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for your experiences and recommendations!
Thank you,
How can you tell when voltage drop becomes a problem? Is there a general rule of thumb regarding cable length or cross-sectional area? And how can voltage drop be easily measured or tested?
Also: Is it better to mount LEDs on the shelves themselves or on the cabinet frame? I want to avoid the LEDs being directly visible or causing glare.
Enrico4 schrieb:I needed to look into that more closely.
Keep in mind to minimize voltage drop over longer cable runs
How can you tell when voltage drop becomes a problem? Is there a general rule of thumb regarding cable length or cross-sectional area? And how can voltage drop be easily measured or tested?
Also: Is it better to mount LEDs on the shelves themselves or on the cabinet frame? I want to avoid the LEDs being directly visible or causing glare.
Sufakau schrieb:
How can you tell when voltage drop becomes a problem?That’s a very good question. The rule of thumb for 12V systems is that the voltage drop should not exceed 5% of the operating voltage, which means no more than 0.6V. If you go beyond that, the LED light will noticeably dim or flicker.
To check this, you can use a simple multimeter to measure the voltage at the start and end of the cable.
Regarding cable cross-section: the thicker the cable (larger cross-sectional area), the lower the resistance and thus the less voltage drop. For LED strips, cables around 0.75 to 1.5 mm² (1 to 1.5 mm²) are often sufficient, depending on length.
Sufakau schrieb:
Does it make more sense to attach LEDs on the shelves themselves or on the frame?If you don’t want the LEDs to be directly visible, the lower edge of the shelves is usually a good spot. A small aluminum angle bracket can help direct the light downwards or backwards and reduce glare. Inside the cabinet frame, the LEDs can sometimes be more visible unless you use cover profiles or diffusers.
J
JOHNATHAN16 Nov 2018 07:43Hey Sufakau,
great topic! LED lighting in the BILLY really is a game changer for the atmosphere. This is how I did it: warm white LED strips attached to the underside of the shelves, which creates a cozy living room feel.
If you want to avoid glare, consider LED aluminum profiles with diffusers. They blend visually into the shelf design and protect the LEDs.
Exactly that! I combined angle brackets with diffuser lenses, and it looks really stylish 🙂
A central power supply with a dimmable remote control makes the whole setup more flexible – it feels more like high tech and less like a DIY project from a hardware store.
Good luck with your lighting magic!
great topic! LED lighting in the BILLY really is a game changer for the atmosphere. This is how I did it: warm white LED strips attached to the underside of the shelves, which creates a cozy living room feel.
If you want to avoid glare, consider LED aluminum profiles with diffusers. They blend visually into the shelf design and protect the LEDs.
LANICOLE schrieb:
A small aluminum angle bracket can help to direct the light downward or backward and reduce glare.
Exactly that! I combined angle brackets with diffuser lenses, and it looks really stylish 🙂
A central power supply with a dimmable remote control makes the whole setup more flexible – it feels more like high tech and less like a DIY project from a hardware store.
Good luck with your lighting magic!
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