We put up these color changing LED lights on this deck just in time for a big party thrown every year! They added a nice atmosphere to the party and everyone loved them.
This whole project only took about 1 1/2 days to complete. The first day to install the wiring and flexible LED lights, and the second to connect the controllers and go over the strips with clear silicon for extra protection. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy :-)
This whole project only took about 1 1/2 days to complete. The first day to install the wiring and flexible LED lights, and the second to connect the controllers and go over the strips with clear silicon for extra protection. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy :-)
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Signing UpStep 1: Draw Schematics
Don't be intimidated by the planning needed to do this project! I promise you, it will be well worth the effort! Each deck is slightly different, so there is a lot to consider before you get to work:
Draw a rough sketch of your deck including measurements. Decide where you want to put the lighting, making particular note of:
~electrical source (where you can get the power from)- this doesn't have to be outside- you can have the LED controllers/power supply in an attic or basement out of the weather and hidden and just run the low voltage wires out to the strips.
~Where you can run the low voltage wire so that it is not noticeable (for example under an overhang/lip of the deck).
~Where and how you want to control the lights from (wall switch, remote, DMX, or timer).
~ How bright you think you want the strips (this can help size the wire, controllers and power supplies).
After making the rough sketch, you must:
1. Decide how many feet of flexible LED strip you need. Also, decide which sections you want connected together and which ones you want to be able to control separately (for color or brightness).
2. The best way to run the wiring. In most cases you should plan on running a maximum of 2 rolls end-to-end per 22-4 supply wire- if you stick to this recommendation, you will be able to have long runs (up to 50') of the wire without having to worry about voltage drop.
Some final things to consider:
~ The more home runs (low voltage wire from the strips back to the controller), the better- as this will provide less voltage drop (power loss) and more options as far as control (if you ever want to add or change anything).
~ If you have a large area you can have several home run locations and either run a larger wire back to the controller or put an amplifier and power supply there to boost the power and signal.
~ If you are looking to run the strips at reduced brightness (dim level- an example would be for under stair treads or outlining your house, you can run several (4-6) rolls together on one controller and power supply. However, you must then keep the lights at this dim level (for example 35% of brightness) or your power supply will be overloaded and could blink or stop working.
~ Group the wires from each independent section together (each section which you would like to have individual control of), so that they can be connected to separate controllers/amps.
~ For large installations, make note of how many feet of flex strip are on each wire so you can correctly size the amplifier needed.
Draw a rough sketch of your deck including measurements. Decide where you want to put the lighting, making particular note of:
~electrical source (where you can get the power from)- this doesn't have to be outside- you can have the LED controllers/power supply in an attic or basement out of the weather and hidden and just run the low voltage wires out to the strips.
~Where you can run the low voltage wire so that it is not noticeable (for example under an overhang/lip of the deck).
~Where and how you want to control the lights from (wall switch, remote, DMX, or timer).
~ How bright you think you want the strips (this can help size the wire, controllers and power supplies).
After making the rough sketch, you must:
1. Decide how many feet of flexible LED strip you need. Also, decide which sections you want connected together and which ones you want to be able to control separately (for color or brightness).
2. The best way to run the wiring. In most cases you should plan on running a maximum of 2 rolls end-to-end per 22-4 supply wire- if you stick to this recommendation, you will be able to have long runs (up to 50') of the wire without having to worry about voltage drop.
Some final things to consider:
~ The more home runs (low voltage wire from the strips back to the controller), the better- as this will provide less voltage drop (power loss) and more options as far as control (if you ever want to add or change anything).
~ If you have a large area you can have several home run locations and either run a larger wire back to the controller or put an amplifier and power supply there to boost the power and signal.
~ If you are looking to run the strips at reduced brightness (dim level- an example would be for under stair treads or outlining your house, you can run several (4-6) rolls together on one controller and power supply. However, you must then keep the lights at this dim level (for example 35% of brightness) or your power supply will be overloaded and could blink or stop working.
~ Group the wires from each independent section together (each section which you would like to have individual control of), so that they can be connected to separate controllers/amps.
~ For large installations, make note of how many feet of flex strip are on each wire so you can correctly size the amplifier needed.
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i would like to have longer runs able to be set to one color and the stairs set to another. Could you please point me into the right direction for all the components i will be needing.
they are wide angle 120 deg leds so they do make a nice even glow over the whole deck:-)
And as an aside for others reading these comments --- this is how a commercial member of I'bles can contribute! They've got links to their own products for sourcing the raw materials, but nowhere did they stick in a shill, like, "We can do this for you for the incredibly low price of ...." Most excellent.
thumbs up!
I'm new to this, but when I first saw a led light show that goes with the music on one e-mail, I started dreaming about it, does the LEd strips already has different colors on it? where can I purchase it? thanks...
I would like to do a deck lighting, but only with white light.
Can you give me some tips on the kind of material I should use? (I'm new on this kind of things)
Thank you
I have a couple of points about the sentence:
"...even being covered in snow in northern climates where under the railings are raillery going to get wet"
- I think by "raillery" you mean "rarely"?
- You can always tell a northern-hemisphere author, when they think that it snows more in the north than in the south. Depends how far south you go, dude!
What would you suggest if integrating this during the decks construction to make it easier? maybe using a router to rebate all the lights? or put them un der the deck somewhere as well?
Also how much did this cost you?
Thanks again!
thanks.
LEDs are cold -_-
Totally understand, though.