Autumn is coming and the dark period is getting longer. The backyard would still be nice to have and you need some light to see the stairs without tripping. So let's get down to business and LED strip for the terrace! Read here how it was made.
NEON LED strip for easy patio lighting
The LED strip used was a colour temperature adjustable high colour rendering index (CRI) NEON IP65 LED strip. The advantage of the colour temperature adjustable strip is that it gives the patio just the right shade to match the surroundings. The tape was pressed into a groove just 11mm wide between the decking board and the end board.
A metre of NEON IP65 CCT 14,4 W/m LED strip provides 210 lumens and for outdoor use, not much light output is needed. The strip can also be dimmed. The dimming avoids too harsh light in the dark and it sits nicely in its surroundings. Effectively, 7.2W/m would be enough for a project like this, but NEON strip is only available in 14.4W/m.
LedStrip for the terrace made in the LedShop or at home
The idea for the staircase light was born and the steps were as follows:
- LED strip selection.
- The inspector checks the equipment...
- Driving a career with a cricket.
- Cutting the LED strip to the appropriate length.
- Measuring the connecting wire to the driver and soldering it to the LED strip.
- Pressing the LED strip into the groove.
- Connecting the wires to the transformer.
- Wireless control pairing (Zigbee) between the controller and the driver.
The first option was to put an IP65 aluminium profile on which a 7,2W CCT led strip would be installed. This is the most common and best way to ensure the durability of the abrasion and to keep the stripin place. However, at the installation site it was discovered that the decking of the terrace was made without a 2cm drip edge/shelf in the step, so the traditional light could not be fixed to the bottom of the staircase. I had to think of something else.
The old deck had some drying and living on it, so there was already a small gap in the seams of the headboard and deck boards. The idea was born - let's just shave the gap bigger. The easiest way to do this is with a hand-held chisel and a clipper. I drove the slot in place, but lengthwise the board could also have been detached and run loose to make it narrower. Easily so led strip for the terrace!
The LED NEON strip is 11mm wide, 22mm high and rubbery flexible, so a 10-11mm groove would be a snap. The decking board is typically 28mm thick, so driving the board completely through and installing led stripagainst the deck to a depth of 28mm at the bottom proved to be the best solution. The NEON led strip is then also fully protected against snowmelt and steps, and without side glare. Before I took the wires under the terrace for good, I tested the functionality of each led stripwith a transformer. When I pressed the NEON strip into the groove, the groove was very tight in places and I used a wooden stick as a tool because I wanted to make sure that the strip would not break.
An alternative way to install the strip would have been to place it on the front of the step, between two boards, illuminating the front.
Versatility with easy adjustment of colour temperature
The colour temperature of the light can be easily adjusted to the desired Kelvin level with a wireless controller. For example, a warm dimmed light just to set the mood, or a slightly more neutral and brighter light when playing in the backyard with the dog or children. The controller is a Zigbee controller, which was paired with a Zigbee receiver 24V. The receiver was mounted on the rear of the 240W 24V IP 65 transformer before the led strips, inside the protective housing The transformer was screwed to the frame under the terrace. So 230V driver -> receiver -> led strips.
If you want to time and program the light, you also need a Zigbee bridge or hub, such as Philips Hue or Samsung Smart Things. This site has Home assistant and Conbee2 turning on the lights at dusk automatically.
The LED NEON CCT strip is easy to cut every 5cm. So, after cutting the strip + 10cm to be on the safe side, I placed it in the groove and then cut the strip to its final length. The NEON strip is elastic and stretchy and it is easy to measure it when stretched and when you put it in place it is too short. Plugs are supplied for both ends of the strip, and you should add silicone, or other sealant, to the inside of the plug if you want a secure seal.
Amount of light on the terrace
The human eye can detect the flame of a candle outside. So a very small amount of light is enough to guide the passage. There was indeed too much light when it was at 100% power and in practice it is kept at 15% power. This also means electricity savings, as the Led strip for the stairs was 15 metres in total and at full power it consumes approx. 200W, but dimmed only approx. 30W ! Still, the amount of light is sufficient to walk up and down the stairs and create the right atmosphere. And of course there is plenty of room for manoeuvre.
I could say that light is used to decorate anywhere, and the terrace is no exception. We have used LED NEON strip before to create a "work of art".
Read more about how we messed up and cluttered up the office, but it's a great idea! In this NEON Ceiling article: curved shapes with led light on the ceiling.
Read more about our LedPaja service if you are interested in custom-made LED striplighting!
