How to make a simple LED lamp with your own hands. How to properly make lamps from LED strips Powerful LED lamp with your own hands 220V

According to statistics, it was revealed that the cost of LED lamps has decreased significantly. Such indicators have entailed an increase in the purchase of highly economical lighting products for private houses and apartments. Those who are excellent with a soldering iron will not need to go to the store at all in order to furnish their home, since they can create a lamp with their own hands, without resorting to factory products. This way you can save a large amount of money and choose a device design that will suit the interior of your apartment.

LED lamp circuit.

LEDs have the peculiarity of operating in constant current mode and low voltage. Therefore, devices such as power supplies are mainly used to carry out the lighting process. Some solder electrical circuits on boards themselves, which is not so easy, especially for those who are not familiar with this field of activity.

When creating a lamp with your own hands, a lamp or any other lighting device, you need to take into account the fact that one third of such a unit as the rated power will be spent on converting the light flux, while the remaining parts are needed for heat losses.

It is important to remember that if the LEDs overheat, the lifespan may be reduced. When assembling any LED structure yourself, provisions must be made to remove heat from the entire structure during power supply.

What LEDs should you use?

Table of LED types.

Initially, it is advisable to select the specific type of LEDs that will be required. If we consider powerful and low-power ones, then the first type is much more profitable, due to the fact that the labor intensity is higher. The ratio of low-power to high-power is 20:1. Based on these indicators, we can conclude that with low-power LEDs there is much more soldering to be done. Among high-power LEDs, there are a couple of varieties, some of which are intended for output installation work, and others for surface installation. In most cases, they use output ones, since with them installation work is carried out much faster.

Power supplies

For longevity of LEDs, you need an excellent driver, otherwise it can be called a power supply. The driver can be packaged or uncased, with or without galvanic isolation. If we are considering the modification of lamps, then it is advisable to use a type of open-frame driver in which there is galvanic isolation.

The uncased type is very useful because it is compact in size and also produces less heat. But there are also certain disadvantages, which manifest themselves in the difficulty of fastening.

The use of galvanic isolation is generally required for safety reasons, since electric shock can be avoided. In the absence of such technology, some receive minimal electrical shocks.

Electrical circuit of an LED lamp.

When choosing drivers, it is advisable to pay attention to indicating the minimum and maximum number of LEDs that can be connected to the connection. If such data is missing, then it is worth looking at the output voltage indicators of the power supply.

The power source can be of two types, one of which consists of an electromagnetic interference filter, and the second, accordingly, does not have it. Devices that do not have filters are more likely to interfere with electromagnetic waves and conduct frequencies to receivers.

Using a Heat Sink for LEDs

In order to use the LED successfully and for a long time, it is worth using radiators, since they are just as important components of the process as power supplies. The radiator must be made exclusively of aluminum. Finding such material is very easy, since every person has old aluminum dishes. In order to be able to dissipate heat from the LED, it is the size of the area that needs to be taken into account, not the thickness. It is worth noting that computer coolers have fans installed, since without such a device the heat from the LED will be removed at a minimum speed.

The process of making a lamp with your own hands

Before you start developing a lamp yourself, it is advisable to prepare all the necessary tools. In particular, it is advisable to acquire:

Lamp body diagram.

• basic and spare LEDs;
• microtransformer;
• multimeter;
• red LED lights;
• 100 Ohm resistor;
• 400 µF and 10 µF capacitor;
• cartridge;
• degreaser;
• soldering iron;
• assembly adhesive;
• board;
• lampshade.

Initially, it is advisable to check each LED that will be included in the circuit and the quality of the supply voltage in the network cable. To carry out such a process, it is worth using a microtransformer. Thus, when setting up and testing the future lighting device, the adjustment will be much smoother.

In order to measure whether the voltage drops when a constant current is applied and the resistor is applied or not, a multimeter is used to accurately calculate the current of the diodes. As a rule, when self-assembling, they try to use six-volt lamps, but often you may need those that are designed for 12 volts.

The diodes themselves must be of high quality in order to avoid an unpleasant bluish glow, which will not only spoil the appearance of the lamp, but also harm the eyes.

Connection diagram of LED parts to the lamp body.

The assembly scheme can be called very simple and without loss for the driver. The only drawback is the lack of insulation on the wires, that is, the LED lamp itself can be subject to electric shocks. Based on the latest data, it is worth considering that it is advisable to protect the lamp from falling, but subsequently the circuit can be upgraded.

1. Resistors are needed to protect the board when connected to the network to avoid voltage surges. In case of its absence, it is advisable to use a tiny rectifier bridge.
2. The use of a 400uF capacitor is required in order to set the energy at the desired level, which is required to transmit and add additional lamps, with free bandwidth. Before work, it is advisable to make sure that the type of rated voltage is being used, which, as a rule, is half the normal current in the network.
3. The use of a 10 µF capacitor is necessary to create an ideal light source, as well as to eliminate such consequences as glare and flickering. The height of the rated voltage in this case should be twice as high as the previous capacitor.

If it is not possible to purchase a new socket, it can be removed from the old lamp. To do this, you need to carefully break the light bulb, and so that the socket part of the socket is not damaged. After this procedure, the cartridge itself should be protected and treated with a degreaser. It is important that before installation, the hole in the socket is checked again for the presence of lamp residues that could harm the future lighting system, and it is advisable to carry out additional treatment with acetone or alcohol.

Attaching the cartridge to the resistor and transistor

Next comes the soldering work. A tiny rectifier is installed using a soldering iron, and the materials must be prepared in advance and at hand. The surface is processed in a mandatory manner, and the actions themselves must be as precise and careful as possible in order to avoid damage to already installed parts.

In order to carry out heat shrinking, any type of assembly adhesive is used, since the material must be intended for such actions, and in no case for office purposes.

Installing LED lamps is considered the most important and interesting point in the entire lamp assembly. The basis will be a board purchased in advance or prepared from old appliances. If it belonged to old structures, then, accordingly, the board should be cleaned of parts and various burrs.

When wiring and connecting each contact, they should be checked and cleaned if the signal is not received. There is very little left - and the lamp will be able to please its creator. In order to complete the work, you simply need to collect all the parts that are available. To be more precise, each part is soldered to the plate and to the resistor device. Next, everything is insulated with glue, the connections between the diodes are checked for proper light distribution.

As lighting elements, LEDs have appeared on the market relatively recently. The first LEDs were created in 1962, they emitted a weak red light. Such devices were not used for lighting due to the fact that they emitted a very narrow spectrum of light, and their price was quite high.

LED home lighting

With the development of LED manufacturing technology, other colors of the visible spectrum of radiation appeared, the cost of production decreased, and the range of application of light-emitting devices expanded. But they were still far from economical lighting systems. They were mainly used for display in electrical and radio devices. Positive qualities were low energy consumption and durability.

LEDs of different colors and shapes

Pros of LED lighting

Lighting using LED panels has become widely used with the advent of LEDs with an efficiency of more than 50%, while an incandescent lamp produces 3.5-4% efficiency. Benefitsuhthat lighting system:

• low power consumption;
• environmental friendliness;
• service life of about 30,000 hours;
• reliability;
• unlimited number of on/off switches;
• high light output;
• wide operating range of ambient temperature;
• small geometric dimensions;
• the ability to obtain the desired radiation spectrum (red, yellow, green, white);
• the ability to regulate the intensity of the light flux;
• low operating temperature.

There are many positive qualities, and they give an advantage over traditional incandescent lamps and energy-saving fluorescent lamps.

LED lamp

How to make an LED lamp? It can be made from individual LEDs. To do this, you will need piece emitting diodes. By connecting the required amount in series, you can obtain the specified power.

To protect against failure of elements, it is necessary to install a resistor that will limit the current in the semiconductor circuit.

Regardless of the supply voltage of such a lamp, 220 V or 12 V from the car, the resistor is calculated so that the operating current does not exceed the rating values ​​of the diode. After assembly and testing, you can build the structure into the base of a regular incandescent light bulb. A homemade LED lamp is no worse than a factory one, and even has the advantage that if it fails, it can be easily fixed, which cannot be said about factory-made products.

LED lights

Lamps in which the active element is an LED are called LED lamps. You can use an existing chandelier by inserting a semiconductor lamp into it, or you can make a diode lamp with your own hands to use it to illuminate your home. If you have the skills, you can make a lamp from an LED strip using the developed circuit diagrams .

LED strip for making a lamp

The strip is a set of LEDs connected together properly at the factory. It can be cut into sections and connected into parallel and series circuits. A current limiting resistor is built into the circuit. The supply voltage is usually 12, 24, 36 and 220 V.

By combining the number of sections, you can obtain the required illumination and power consumption. To connect to a 220 V network, you can assemble a voltage reduction circuit if you plan to use it for car lighting ( for voltage 12V). When using a 12V strip of LEDs, special drivers are used, or it is worth spending time making a homemade power supply device.

DIY lamp

You can create a design for a ceiling, wall, floor or table lamp to suit your taste and fit the existing interior. You can use any available materials: from balloons to iron structures.

It is necessary to decide on the type of LEDs or finished tape used. If these are diodes, calculate the required quantity; if the tape, calculate the required length.

This data will be needed to calculate the power consumed by the lamp.

The LEDs are connected in series in groups of 3-4, depending on the operating voltage of the diode, and a limiting resistor is placed in series with them to prevent the diode from burning out when the rated current is exceeded. If it is necessary to increase the luminous flux, another 2-3 such blocks are installed in parallel. This way you can make a table lamp or a car lamp.

Power consumption is known. One option is to purchase a driver. Its parameters must correspond to the consumption parameters of the lamp or be slightly larger.

If the consumption parameters are greater than the driver parameters, it will fail and, quite likely, the LED structure itself will fail.

12V power supply circuit

Transformer T1 with parameters: input voltage 220 V, output voltage 9-12 V. You can use a ready-made transformer from an old TV. The next element is the diode bridge D1-D4. If you have a free diode bridge from the car charger, you can use it. The voltage for which the diodes are designed must be higher than 12 V, and the rectification current is greater than the current consumption of the LED lamp.

Element A1 is any voltage stabilizer with an operating current exceeding the current consumption of the lamp, and an output voltage of 12 V. All circuit elements are available in any radio parts store. You can assemble and solder the circuit using a soldering iron, securing all the parts into a plastic case. Printed installation will be unnecessary here; a mounted one will do, subject to the rules of high-quality soldering.

The 220 V input circuit voltage is dangerous to human life. When working, you must follow safety regulations.

After completing the installation, you need to secure all the parts in the case and bring out two wires for connecting the input voltage and two for 12V. Be sure to mark the input “+” and “-” output wires to prevent polarity reversal. From practice: the red wire means positive, the blue wire negative.

This diode lamp for the home is made with your own hands; it pleases the eye and saves energy.

Car lamp

The car battery voltage is 12 V. When the car operates at high speeds, the generator produces a higher voltage - 14-14.5 V. This is necessary to charge the car battery. It is important to take this information into account in order to assemble an energy-saving lamp for your car.

Illumination of the underbody of the car with LED strip

If you use an LED strip for this, then you do not need to use any additional circuitry. Take a 12V strip, cut it to the required size and, observing the polarity, connect it to the car's network instead of a regular light bulb.

With my own hands. Video

How to assemble an LED lamp with your own hands for a suspended ceiling is shown in the video below.

Using a tape to highlight the underbody, you can get a very beautiful effect. The resulting lighting system can be called energy-saving, because the car’s energy consumption will be significantly reduced.

Making a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands, if you follow the instructions, is not too difficult.

Such a modern and quite original lighting device can be used to organize lighting for rooms for various purposes.

Read on to learn how to make a homemade lamp from LED strip.

Currently, domestic and foreign manufacturers produce several types of LED strips, which differ from each other in several parameters. In order to correctly determine the type of tape, you must carefully study all the markings on the product being sold.

LED strips IP-20 open type are used in rooms without high humidity. Tapes with IP-65 are most often used in the bathroom and kitchen work area, and devices with IP-68 are completely insulated from moisture, so they remain operational even in adverse outdoor conditions. According to the direction of illumination, all strip LEDs can be front or end.

A feature of the very popular and modern RGB strip with diodes is the ability to use a controller that allows you to get a monochrome glow or blinking in different colors.

Types of LEDs used

To produce a single-color LED strip, SMD-3028 and SMD-5050 diodes are used.

The second option is represented by three crystals, and therefore provides a brighter glow.

Also, the brightness indicators are influenced by the number of light diodes per meter of lighting strip.

The dimensions of the LEDs are reflected in the power level of the lighting fixture:

• the presence of 30 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - consumption 7.2 Watts;
• the presence of 60 SMD-3528 diodes per meter – consumption 4.8 watts;
• the presence of 60 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - consumption 14.4-15.0 Watts;
• the presence of 120 SMD-3528 diodes per meter - power at 9.6 Watt;
• the presence of 120 SMD-5050 diodes per meter - power at 25.0 Watt;
• the presence of 240 SMD-3528 diodes per meter - power at 19.2 W.

Tapes with chips that are placed in two, three or four rows are called multi-row and, as a rule, include diodes with different glow colors.

With the introduction of new connection standards, the functionality of diodes of various types can be ensured by both a DC power supply with a voltage level of 24V and 36V, and an AC network with a voltage level of 220V.

What will you need?

Due to its high flexibility, a lighting device based on LED strip can have a wide variety of formats. However, the basic principles of manufacturing such a lamp remain unchanged, therefore, in addition to the diode strip itself, it is expected to prepare materials and basic tools, presented:

• screws;
• aluminum corner 10x10 mm;
• small-sized switch;
• electric drill;
• marker;
• ruler;
• electric jigsaw;
• pliers.

If necessary, the aluminum corner can be replaced with a standard plastic electrical box. The functionality and quality characteristics of the manufactured lighting device, in this case, will not be affected.

LED strips are designed for a voltage of 12 Volts. Therefore, it is a mandatory element for connecting the device.

Let's look at the operating principle of LED lamps.

Are you thinking of replacing your old lamps with LED ones? You can familiarize yourself with the pros and cons of the devices.

Controllers, power supplies for LED strips

Installation and connection of a homemade lighting device based on a diode strip requires the use of a rectifier and an adapter.

The purpose of the controller, or adapter, is to convert 220V AC into 12V or 24V DC according to the power level of the tape.

To choose the right power supply for a homemade diode lamp, you need to multiply the power of the diodes of one meter of strip by the length, and then add a power reserve of at least 15% to the result obtained.

Creating a multi-color lighting device with light switching and brightness level adjustment involves the use of a controller and remote control.

Build process

The assembly option for a lighting fixture depends on its type. The device can be on legs, vertical or horizontal. The main stages of self-assembly of the simplest and most common design are as follows:

• measure the length of the box or corner;
• drill mounting holes for screws in the corner or box, as well as a place to install the switch;
• secure the corner to the location chosen for installation of the lighting fixture;
• install a switch in the cut-out location;
• solder wires to the diode strip;
• degrease the surface with acetone;
• install a diode strip on a corner or box;
• connect the wires to the power supply or adapter;
• check all connections.

In this way, a horizontal design is created, which is most often used as effective illumination of the work area in the kitchen, countertops, desks, and wall shelves. Decorative elements can be almost any materials that suit the interior of the room.

When choosing a place to install a diode lamp, you need to remember that the optimal height is 0.7-0.8 m from the illuminated surface. Only in this case can you obtain maximum lighting efficiency.

For stretch ceiling

Diode-type lamps installed in the presence of suspended ceilings are easy to do with your own hands. Modern diode strips are equipped with double-sided tape, so installing them around the perimeter of a stretch ceiling under a translucent film is not difficult.

LED lighting for stretch ceiling

In order to correctly and reliably connect the LED strip to a power source or controller, it is advisable to give preference to stranded wires, on one side of which there are tips with a cross-section of 0.75 mm. During the installation process, the tips are installed inside the block and secured with screws.

It is important to remember that all wires soldered to the end of the diode strip need to be completely insulated with a special heat-shrinkable tube, which will significantly increase the strength of the connection and make the operation of the lighting device safe.

For workplace lighting

The best option would be to use a failed fluorescent lamp 30cm long and an SMD-5050 diode strip with a light emission angle of 120º, a supply voltage of 12V and a current consumption of 1.2A/m.

After degreasing the inside of the case, the diode strip is fixed with double-sided tape.

The power supply can be factory-made or home-made. After connecting the diode strip to the block, all connections and functionality of the finished, very economical and high-quality lighting device are checked.

During the installation process, all current-conducting areas of the lamp must be carefully insulated, and the power supply must be neatly disguised in the housing or securely fixed next to it.

Conclusion

When designing on your own, you need to remember that in addition to fairly simple diode strips, manufacturers of LED products produce products that have broader capabilities, including special kits through which quite complex dynamic effects are realized, as well as synchronization of simultaneous control of several lighting sections at once.

Video on the topic

Many will ask the question - why make an LED chandelier with your own hands, if such a thing can be bought in a store?
This question is partly true. There are inexpensive Chinese chandeliers that are easier to purchase ready-made because... the price gain from making such a thing homemade will still not be that significant.

However, the situation is completely different with expensive large models, such as you can see in nice restaurants, hotels or theaters. Their price most often ranges from 60,000 rubles or more. In many cases, this amount may be unaffordable. At the same time, the cost of such a product may well fall within 3000 - 6000.

In addition, situations arise when an absolutely individual approach is required for interior design, and no standard model purchased simply will look good.

In general, sometimes making a chandelier yourself can be very profitable.

Today we will look at a small example, the goal of which was not to make a masterpiece. We would just like to show some interesting practical techniques in this matter. Knowing them, you can come up with your own interesting design and bring it to life.

So - we need:
1) Black plexiglass plate 50cm by 50cm
2) 200 pieces of transparent glass balls
3) RGB LEDs
4) Controller for LEDs
5) Heat shrink
6) Power supply
7) Glue
8) Optical fiber
9) Sheet of plywood
10) Electrical tape, a socket and a number of other little things, the list of which directly depends on your idea.

First of all, let's mark the base of our chandelier on the plywood. In this case it will be a circle. Carefully cut it out, mount a socket there and connect the power supply. In our case, we used a socket similar to the one on the back of the computer system unit. This choice, in fact, is not conditioned by anything - you can use any other option.

Then we make a mount for our chandelier and cut off the chains of the required length, so it will hang on them. We cut out a second plywood circle and a very even circle of plexiglass, so that it is 5 millimeters larger than the plywood one. Then we will connect them together. This step is needed to strengthen the plexiglass, which is not designed for loads.

Now we have one plywood circle and one two-layer one (plywood + plexiglass). This is the basis of our chandelier.

Let's connect these 2 levels with small, neat planks to create some semblance of a cylinder.

We mark the circle with concentric circles, thereby marking the contours where the balls will be located.

We drill small holes where the centers of the balls will be.

Now you need to assemble a box in which the light from the RGB LED will go into the optical fiber. In the example we used a 12 Volt LED, however in real life we ​​would advise using 4 3 Volt RGB LEDs connected in series. We connect the controller to the LEDs.

We use a plastic fitting as a clamp for the optical fiber.

We begin to prepare the balls, in each of which a non-through hole should be drilled approximately to the center. This is not an easy task and requires quite a lot of time. It's best to use a Dremel. It is also important to consider the issue of securing the ball during the drilling process.

The main feature of our project is the use of fiber optics. This is what we will deal with next. We cut the fiber very carefully.
ATTENTION! Consider the fact that in addition to the length of the fiber from the ball to the plexiglass, there must be some margin for connecting to the LED.

In our case, the dimensions are as follows:

7 threads 75cm + 10cm = 85cm
21 threads 60cm + 15 cm = 75 cm
35 threads 45cm + 20cm = 65cm
50 threads 30 cm + 25 cm = 55 cm
64 threads 15 cm + 30 cm = 45 cm

We collect the optical fiber into a bundle, put a heat-shrink tube on the end, rest the bundle against the table (as a result, all the fibers will be at the same level), heat the heat shrink so that it tightly compresses the fibers to each other. It looks like a “broom” with a handle. We fix the end compressed with heat shrink in the fitting and spread the fibers along the holes drilled in the plexiglass.

Pour a little glue onto the paper, dip a toothpick in it and carefully coat the hole in the ball. Insert the fiber there and temporarily secure the connection with tape. Give it a little time for everything to harden. Check the connection strength. It is important to exclude the possibility of the ball falling off.

We hang the chandelier together with the balls and carefully adjust the lengths of the fibers for each ball. It is necessary to ensure that the balls hang perfectly at the planned level. We secure the correct position of the optical fiber with hot glue.

Then we make the sides for our cylinder.

All! As a result, we have an original chandelier with luminous balls that can change their color depending on the button you press on the remote control. You will also have many interesting effects at your disposal.

This idea seems very promising to us and has several extensions, for example:

Obviously, in the scheme described above it does not shine with ordinary light and can only be a decorative element. But no one is stopping you from making a more complete version yourself by adding ordinary white LEDs to it.

You can make the outer rings of the balls glow in one color (for example, red), and the inner ones have a controlled color. You will get a very beautiful multi-colored chandelier. In this case, you will need to make several fittings, each of which will shine a different color.

In general, this approach provides a truly wide field for maneuver!

Quite often you can see lighting with LEDs in rooms. This is due to the fact that LEDs have excellent lighting characteristics and are also energy-saving of their kind. Currently, DIY LED strip lamps are very popular. The cost of such devices in finished form is quite high, so some consumers want to make such a product themselves.

In this article:

LED strip

The LED strip looks like a rubberized board. At the same time, it is quite flexible. This is where the LEDs are located. Thanks to the convenient design, it will not be difficult to make a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands. Then you can install the finished product anywhere.

The tape is designed in such a way that it is possible to divide it into pieces of the required size. In addition, the strip has a self-adhesive layer, due to which it can be installed anywhere.

Manufacturers offer various options for installing LEDs; they will differ in the direction and power of the luminous flux.

A homemade LED strip lamp can be made from different formats. It is only important to follow the assembly recommendations, taking into account the features of the tape.

You should know that such lamps, as a rule, act as additional sources of lighting. As the main one, a slightly different format of the chandelier is needed. LEDs are perfect for illuminating cabinets, desks and similar furniture elements.

Strips of LEDs with different characteristics can be used almost anywhere where there is a need for artificial lighting. A lot can be said about the advantages of LEDs over a conventional lamp. First of all, it is necessary to highlight the main characteristics:

• efficiency;
• long period of operation;
• variety in color combinations;
• raw materials are available to consumers.

Materials for the lamp

The tape has quite high flexibility, due to this the product can be made in a wide variety of formats. But there will be general principles in the assembly for lamps of any model.

First of all, you will need to prepare all the materials that will be involved in the assembly. This is a necessary condition for the end result to be of high quality and to please the owners of the home.

You will need to prepare the following materials:

• directly LED strip with the necessary LED parameters;
• screws;
• aluminum corner, which can be replaced with a plastic box;
• switch.

It is also worth taking care of the tools:

• drills;
• pencil with ruler;
• electric jigsaw;
• pliers.

When all the required materials and tools are ready, you can begin to assemble the future product.

Installation process

There are a considerable number of variations on how you can make a lamp using LED strip.

The specific option will be determined only by what kind of device you want to see in the end. They are presented in the following varieties:

• horizontal;
• vertical;
• with legs.

Most of the steps required during the assembly process will not be affected by variations in the final device. This is why they will be the same.

Assembly will occur in stages:

• First of all, you will need to measure the length of the angle;
• then the required hole is drilled in it, thanks to which the product will be fixed to the selected surface with screws;
• the corner must be secured in the selected area;
• in the place where the hole is made, you will need to install a switch, and in the place where there is a cut, you need to solder the wires;
• the tape should be treated with acetone so that its surface becomes grease-free;
• The tape itself is attached directly to the corner.

To do everything smoothly, it is better to glue it lightly at first, and only after making sure that everything is done smoothly, level it over the entire surface.

• after this you will need to connect all the wires; as a rule, the power for such devices is chosen at 12 V.

Thus, the output will be a lighting device that can be installed horizontally. A great option to install lighting on a work surface in the kitchen. In addition, such lamps are in demand in other rooms, for example, in the nursery. It is very convenient to place them on dedicated shelves.

As an additional light source, the option with an LED lamp is optimal. Because it can be used as a backlight and will not irritate the eyes. Moreover, doing it on your own will not be difficult.