led-glass-tiles-7.jpg
I wanted to try something interesting while I was doing some bathroom renovations, so I put an LED strip behind the glass tiles I was installing. You can see more a the LED glass tiles on my website too.
 
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Step 1: Prep

I put a small hole in the wall and strung the LED strip wire from below with a wire coat hanger. I used the access hole where the sink drain pipe goes into the wall to feed the wire into.
WholesalersUSA says: Mar 4, 2013. 6:30 AM
I love what you did with the LED's. Very imaginative, I'll have to steal your idea for my next bathroom remodel. :)
Patrik says: May 12, 2008. 4:02 PM
Looks great! I think a built-in LED border around a vanity mirror would be really cool too... I assume you've thought of this, but a quick caution to anyone who might want to follow your example: Make sure your LEDs aren't going to burn out after a couple of weeks of use, if you plan to build them into your wall like this! In particular, you may not want to do this with a cheapo Xmas decoration LED strip that is only made to last one season. For example, if the LEDs are in parallel in the strip, it is important that each LED have its own current limiting resistor, otherwise one might burn out and ruin the whole effect.
newtontroy (author) in reply to PatrikMay 13, 2008. 11:01 AM
The LED strip I used had surface mount resistors on each LED chip, all mounted on a flexible strip. As to whether it will last years? Not sure. This was mainly a proof of concept, and the time between deciding to do it, planning, and actually do it was about ten minutes! I'll spend more time when I do the next one.
DIY-Guy in reply to newtontroyOct 23, 2010. 2:44 AM
Those LEDs behind the glass tiles are beautiful, just beautiful!

The SMD (Surface Mount Device) LED strips are usually intended for automotive lighting, or accent lighting inside a building. Most SMD LED strip specs that I've seen on the big auction sites do claim 50,000 hours life or something like that. Of course, who has 5.7 years to sit around waiting day and night to find out if the LEDs and resistors and every other component will last that long!

I would not hesitate to place one of the waterproof SMD LED strips with integrated resistors into a permanent installation such as this.
the_keiser says: Nov 24, 2009. 10:26 PM
Now what would be an awesome upgrade to this is you use red and blue led's set up to sensors that when you turn on the cold only it lights up the whole row blue and vise-versa with red and when you mix hot and cold. a portion of the leds are blue and a portion of the leds are red. the more hot the more red and so on
tallht says: Dec 25, 2008. 10:01 AM
i think it's greater if you use more colors @!!!
LinuxH4x0r says: May 12, 2008. 4:09 PM
Nice! I'd diffuse it more though
Cat on my Lap in reply to LinuxH4x0rDec 18, 2008. 8:02 PM
Maybe with some etching agent; frost it.
newtontroy (author) in reply to LinuxH4x0rMay 13, 2008. 10:59 AM
Thanks! Yes, that's something I'm going to work on when I do the next one (in the main bathroom).
LinuxH4x0r in reply to newtontroyMay 13, 2008. 5:46 PM
Maybe I should try this in glass bricks
zomfibame says: Dec 13, 2008. 5:16 PM
that's a great idea.
Robotic_mage says: May 13, 2008. 7:52 AM
Great Job!
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