Make your own LED strip lamp. Do-it-yourself powerful LED lamp - development, installation

Economical semiconductor elements, from which it is possible to make LED lamps with your own hands, appeared on our market relatively recently. The first samples of products from LED lamps were developed back in 1962, but their quality left much to be desired ( modern models- in the photo below).

This was explained by the fact that a home-made LED lamp in those years could only be made on the basis of semiconductor devices emitting in a very narrow range of the light spectrum (only red). In addition, these elements were high cost, as a result of which it was inexpedient from an economic point of view to make home-made illuminators from them. With the advent of new technologies, it was possible to expand the emission spectrum of semiconductor components to yellow, green and white.

At the same time, the cost of these products dropped sharply, so the task of making a lamp from LEDs with your own hands did not seem so difficult.

Features of the choice of LEDs

Requirements for lighting elements

Before you make an LED lamp with your own hands, you must definitely decide which emitting diodes are best suited for these purposes.

Additional Information. In general, it is possible to make a lamp based on LEDs only if their efficiency exceeds 50% (compare: for ordinary lamp incandescent, this figure is only 3.5-4%).

The features of the choice of these elements involve taking into account the following determining factors:

• The possibility of obtaining a do-it-yourself lamp made of LEDs (red, yellow, green or white) suitable for the given conditions of the radiation spectrum. A sample product with a white glow is shown in the photo below;

• High light output of a homemade lamp;
• Low power consumption when it is powered by a household network;
• Long service life (at least 30,000 hours) and environmental friendliness;
• Reliability of the design on LEDs (ability to withstand an unlimited number of on and off).

These products should be able to control the intensity of the luminous flux, as well as provide low temperature around the location of the emitting elements.

Selection order

All of the above conditions are fully satisfied by modern LED lamps for the home, the range of which is widely represented in the domestic market.

Let's add to this that the manufacture homemade design no need to spend additional material resources. For these purposes, old electronic components and products containing the relevant parts may well be suitable.

An excellent example of a rational approach to their manufacture can be a lamp from a TV with an LCD screen (not working for any reason), from which you can “borrow” serviceable backlight LEDs. An example of such a display is shown in the photo below.

Device and lamp circuit

Design features

In order to have a clear idea of ​​​​how to make an LED lamp with your own hands, first of all, you need to decide on the following questions:

• Type and supply voltage of a diode bulb soldered from an old device and intended for use in a lamp;
• The number of emitting lamps required to obtain the desired light output;
• Possible schemes for connecting them to a household power supply circuit, used specifically for LEDs.

If a light it is made with improvised means and old elements with its own hands; before using them, you need to decide on the voltage that will be applied to it.

Important! Before collecting electronic circuit, be sure to check the performance of used products by applying operating voltage to them from external source(batteries, for example). In this case, one should not forget about observing the polarity of switching on semiconductor elements.

To obtain the required light output, you will need to connect in series the required number of them yourself, providing a given radiant power. This option is most often worked out when a do-it-yourself LED chandelier is made (it may include several separate lamps).

Schematic solutions and details

Most modern LED LEDs are designed for relatively small constant voltages (from 4.5 to 12 Volts), as a result of which special conversion circuits are used to connect them to the mains.

Additional Information. The best option is a circuit operating on the principle of pulse conversion (it can be taken from an energy-saving lamp, the lamp of which has burned out, and the electronic ballast module is still working).

Due to the possibility of such a choice, a do-it-yourself LED table lamp made from old parts and blanks must be equipped with a typical base suitable for a classic cartridge.

To power such LED lamps, it is sometimes used the simplest circuit rectifier on semiconductor diodes, designed for a voltage of about 400 volts. A limiting resistor is connected in series with the diode bridge, the resistance of which is sufficient to lower the potential on the light bulb to 5-12 volts.

We assemble the working circuit in such a way that an electrolytic capacitor with a nominal capacity of 500 to 2200 microfarads is connected in parallel with the rectifier bridge with a resistor (the more, the better). This element, rated at approximately 25 volts, is necessary for the final rectification of the supply voltage (smoothing residual ripples).

Strip LEDs

The tape design is a set of identical LEDs, combined according to a certain scheme even during their production (that is, in the factory). It already has a built-in limiting element (resistor) and can be cut into separate sections connected in parallel, mixed and serial chains.

Additional Information. Strip LED structures, as a rule, are designed for a constant voltage of 12V (as well as 24, 36 and 220 Volts), which is supplied to them from a ready-made rectifier unit.

Through an arbitrary combination in various ways connected sections, it is possible to obtain lighting devices with a given illumination and power consumption. To connect this design to a 220v household network, you will need a special module that provides a decrease in the supply voltage to the desired value.

Any homemade lamp from led strip should count on a certain amount of elements, on which the total luminous flux of the finished product will depend (its sample is given below).

A classic do-it-yourself LED strip lamp assembled from a set of a certain length can be made as a floor lamp with four sides, each of which is placed in a section of 5-7 diodes.

The strip of LEDs placed in this way is connected in parallel with the rest of the segments and connected to a power supply unit designed for an output voltage of 12 volts and a load current of about 0.5 amperes.

Thus, the seemingly difficult question at first, how to make a lamp from an LED strip, is actually solved quite simply if the right power supply is available.

Homemade lamps in the car

Automotive homemade products for lighting the interior of a car are noticeably easier to manufacture than the products already considered earlier. The fact is that in this case, the user already has an on-board voltage of the car of 12 volts, the connection of which to the lamp should simply be arranged accordingly.

To do this, you can use the cigarette lighter socket available in the cabin, to which a constant voltage is supplied from the battery. Thus, in order to connect the LED lamp used for cars, it is enough to purchase the mating part of the cigarette lighter socket (see the figure below).

After soldering the lead wires to the proprietary connector, based on all the parts of the power node assembled together, we get finished module for connecting a homemade lamp.

Note! In this case, a 12-volt LED strip design can also be used in its manufacture, although a special driver is required to connect it.

In conclusion of the review, we note that a self-made LED lamp or lamp is practically in no way inferior to a branded product. If all the conditions discussed above are observed, then, as a rule, there are no problems with their manufacture and operation.

Video

LED lamps are widely used in the organization of household, street, industrial lighting. Their important advantages are economy, environmental friendliness, unpretentiousness in service.

A handmade LED lamp will definitely find its application in your home. Detailed instructions for manufacturing, as well as assembly diagrams, you will find in the presented article.

basis led lamp is a one-sided semiconductor, the size of which is a few millimeters. There is a unidirectional movement of electrons in it, which allows you to convert alternating current into permanent.

An LED crystal consisting of several layers is characterized by two types of electrical conductivity: positively and negatively charged particles.

The side containing the minimum number of electrons is called the hole (p-type), while the other with large quantity these particles is called electronic (n-type).

When elements collide at a p-n junction, they collide, generating photons of light particles. If at this time to maintain the system at a constant voltage, the LED will emit a stable stream of light. This effect is used in all designs of LED lamps.

Four types of LED devices

Depending on the placement of LEDs, such models can be divided into the following categories:

1. DIP. The crystal is arranged with two conductors, above which is the magnifier. The modification has become widespread in the manufacture of signboards and garlands.
2. "Piranha". Devices are assembled similarly to the previous version, but provide four outputs. Reliable and durable structures most often used to equip cars.
3. smd. The crystal is placed on top, which greatly improves heat dissipation, and also helps to reduce the size of devices.
4. OWL. In this case, the LED is soldered directly into the board, which increases the intensity of the glow and protects against overheating.

A significant drawback of COB devices is the inability to replace individual elements, because of which you have to purchase a new mechanism due to a single failed chip.

Chandeliers and other household lighting fixtures usually adopt the SMD design.

LED lamp device

The LED lamp consists of the following six parts:

• Light-emitting diode;
• plinth;
• driver;
• diffuser;
• radiator.

The operating element of such a device is an LED that generates a stream of light waves.

LED devices can be designed for different voltages. The most in demand are small products for 12-15 W and larger fixtures for 50 watts

Plinth, which can have different kind and size, it is also used for other types of lamps - fluorescent, halogen, incandescent. At the same time, some LED devices, such as LED strips, can do without this part.

An important element of the design is the driver, which converts the mains voltage into a thrust on which the crystal operates.

This node largely depends on effective work lamps, in addition, high-quality, having good galvanic isolation, provides a bright constant light output without a hint of blinking.

A conventional LED produces a directional beam of light. To change the angle of its distribution and provide high-quality lighting, a diffuser is used. Another function of this component is to protect the circuit from mechanical and natural influences.

The radiator is designed to remove heat, excess of which can damage the device. Reliable heatsink performance optimizes lamp performance and extends lamp life.

The smaller this detail, the more heat load you will have to withstand the LED, which will affect the speed of its burnout.

Advantages and disadvantages of a homemade lamp

Specialty stores offer big choice LED devices. However, sometimes in the assortment it is impossible to find a device that meets the necessary parameters. In addition, LED-devices traditionally have a high cost.

The disadvantages of the products include the lack of a guarantee from the manufacturer. In addition, if carelessly assembled, such devices may have an unattractive appearance.

Meanwhile, it is quite possible to save money and get the perfect lamp by doing the assembly yourself. It is not difficult to do this and elementary technical knowledge and practical skills will be enough.

A self-made LED device has a number of significant advantages over an analogue purchased in a store. They are economical: with careful assembly and the use of quality parts, the service life reaches 100 thousand hours.

Such devices show a high degree of energy efficiency, which is determined by the ratio of power consumption and the brightness of the generated light. Finally, their cost is an order of magnitude lower than factory counterparts.

Do-It-Yourself Problems

The main issues that have to be addressed in the manufacture of LED lamps is the translation of the variable electric current into pulsating and its alignment to constant. In addition, it is necessary to limit the strength of the electric current to 12 volts, which is necessary to power the diode.

For self-creation lamps on LEDs, you can use parts purchased in specialized stores, or elements from burnt out appliances

Thinking through the device, you should also solve a number of design problems, namely:

• how to arrange the circuit and LEDs;
• how to isolate the system;
• how to ensure heat exchange in the device.

Before assembly, it is advisable to think through all these problems, taking into account the requirements that apply to homemade source Sveta.

Schemes of LED lamps

First of all, you should develop an assembly option. There are two main methods, each with its own pros and cons. Below we will consider them in more detail.

Variant with diode bridge

The circuit includes four diodes that are connected in different directions. Thanks to this, the bridge acquires the ability to transform the mains current of 220 V into a pulsating one.

It happens in the following way: when passing through two diodes sinusoidal half-waves, they change, which causes a loss of polarity.

When assembling, a capacitor is connected to the positive output in front of the bridge; in front of the negative terminal - a resistance of 100 ohms. Another capacitor is installed behind the bridge: it will be needed to smooth out voltage drops.

LED element manufacturing

Most in a simple way creating an LED luminaire is to make a light source based on a broken luminaire. It is necessary to check the operability of the detected parts, which can be done using a 12 V battery.

Defective elements must be replaced. To do this, unsolder the contacts, removing the burned-out elements, put new ones in their place. It is important to observe the alternation of anodes and cathodes, which are mounted in series.

If you need to change only 2-3 pieces of the chip, you just need to solder them to the areas where the failed components were previously located.

At full self assembly you need to connect in a series of 10 diodes, observing the rules of polarity. Several completed circuits are soldered to the wires.

In the manufacture of the lamp, you can use boards with LEDs, which can be found in burnt out devices. It is only important to check their performance

When assembling circuits, it is important to ensure that the soldered ends do not touch each other, as this can lead to a short circuit of the device and failure of the system.

Fixtures for softer light

To avoid the flickering characteristic of LED lamps, the scheme described above can be supplemented with several details. Thus, it should consist of a diode bridge, 100 and 230 ohm resistors, 400 nF and 10 uF capacitors.

To protect the device from voltage drops, a 100 ohm resistor is placed at the beginning of the circuit, followed by a 400 nF capacitor, after which a diode bridge is installed and another 230 ohm resistor, followed by the assembled LED chain.

Resistor devices

A similar scheme is also quite accessible to a novice master. It requires two 12k resistors and two strings of the same number of LEDs that are soldered in series with respect to polarity. In this case, one strip on the side of R1 is connected to the cathode, and the other - to R2 - to the anode.

Lamps made according to this scheme have more soft light, since the active elements are ignited in turn, due to which the pulsation of the flashes is almost imperceptible to the naked eye.

Materials for making homemade

In addition to the body, other elements will be required to create the lamp. These are, first of all, LEDs, which can be purchased in the form of LED strips or individual HK6 elements. The current strength of each part is 100-120 mA; voltage 3-3.3 V.

The assembly of some circuits involves the use of additional links, for example, a driver, so the set of components for each specific case is considered separately.

Rectifier diodes 1N4007 or a diode bridge are also required, as well as fuses, which can be found in the base of the old device.

You will also need a capacitor, the capacitance and voltage of which must correspond to the electrical circuit used and the number of LED elements used in it.

If you are not using a ready-made board, you need to think about the frame to which the LEDs are attached. For his workmanship fit heat-resistant material, non-metal and non-conductive electrical current.

As a rule, such a detail is made of durable plastics or thick cardboard. To attach the LED elements to the frame, you will need liquid nails or superglue.

Assembling a simple LED lamp

Consider the implementation of the lamp in a standard base from a fluorescent lamp. To do this, we will have to slightly modify the above list of materials.

In this case we use:

• old base E27;
• NK6 LEDs;
• RLD2-1 driver;
• a piece of plastic or thick cardboard;
• Super glue;
• electrical wiring;
• soldering iron, pliers, scissors.

Initially, you need to disassemble the lamp. For luminescent devices, the connection of the base to the plate with tubes is carried out using latches. It is important to locate the fastener and pry the elements with a screwdriver, which will make it easy to detach the cartridge.

The process of assembling a homemade LED lamp is simple. A driver is inserted into the case from the old device, on top of which a board with LEDs is installed

When disassembling the device, extreme care must be taken so as not to harm the tubes inside which there is a toxic substance. At the same time, it is necessary to monitor the integrity of the electrical wiring connected to the base, as well as to save the parts contained in it.

top with gas discharge tubes connected, we use to make the plate needed to connect the LEDs. It is enough to remove the tubular elements, and in the remaining round holes fix the LED parts.

For their secure fastening, it is better to make an additional plastic or cardboard cover, which will serve to isolate the chips.

The lamp will use NK6 LEDs, each of which consists of 6 crystals connected in parallel. They allow you to create a fairly bright lighting fixture with a minimum of electricity consumed.

To connect each LED to the cover, two holes must be made. They should be pierced carefully in strict accordance with the scheme.

The plastic part allows you to firmly fix the LED elements, while the use of cardboard requires additional fastening of the LEDs to the base using liquid nails or superglue.

Since the device is designed to use six LEDs with a power of 0.5 watts each, three elements connected in parallel must be provided in the circuit.

A spectacular lamp can be made using LED strip. This element is inserted into the tube used for fluorescent lighting.

In a design that will operate from a 220 V power supply, the RLD2-1 driver must be provided, which should be purchased from a store or performed independently.

To avoid short circuit before starting the assembly, it is important to isolate the driver and the board from each other using plastic or cardboard. Since the lamp barely heats up, there is no need to worry about overheating.

Having picked up all the components, you can assemble the structure according to the scheme, and then connect it to the mains to check the glow.

The device, powered by a standard 220 V cartridge, has low power consumption and a power equal to 3 watts. The latter indicator is 2-3 times less than that of luminescent devices and 10 times less than that of incandescent lamps.

Although the luminous flux is only 100-120 lumens, thanks to the dazzling white color the lamp appears much brighter. Assembled lamp can be used as a desktop or to illuminate a compact space, such as a corridor or closet.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In the video below you can see detailed story specialist on self-assembly of LED-luminaire:

Self-made LED lamps have high technical specifications. They are almost as good as factory models in terms of strength, reliability, and durability.

The assembly of such devices is available to almost everyone: for its successful implementation, you only need to strictly follow the diagrams and carefully perform all the prescribed manipulations.

Perhaps you have already had to assemble an LED lamp with your own hands and can you give valuable advice to visitors to our site? Or do you have questions after reading the article? Please leave your comments in the box below.

Quite often indoors you can see lighting with LEDs. This is due to the fact that LEDs have excellent characteristics in terms of lighting, and are also energy-saving in their own way. Currently, handmade 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 on their own.

In this article:

LED strip

The LED strip looks like a rubberized board. It is, however, quite flexible. This is where the LEDs are located. Due to the convenience of the design, it will not be difficult to make a lamp from an LED strip with your own hands. Then install ready product can be anywhere.

The tape is arranged 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 in the matter of installing LEDs, they will differ in the direction and power of the luminous flux.

A homemade lamp from an LED strip can be made from a different format. It is only important to follow the recommendations regarding the assembly, taking into account the characteristics of the tape.

You should know that such lamps act, as a rule, as additional sources of illumination. In the form of the main one, a slightly different format of the chandelier is needed. LEDs are perfect for illuminating cabinets, desktops and similar pieces of furniture.

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

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

Materials for the lamp

The tape has a fairly high flexibility, due to this, the product can be made in a wide variety of formats. But at the same time there will be general principles in assembly for fixtures of any models.

First of all, you 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.

It will be necessary to prepare the following materials:

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

You should also take care of the tools:

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

When all the required materials and tools are ready, you can proceed to the actual assembly of the future product.

Mounting process

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

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

• horizontal;
• vertical;
• with legs.

Most of the steps that will need to be performed during the assembly process will not depend on the variation of the final device. Because of this, they will be the same.

The assembly will take place in stages:

• First of all, you need to measure the length of the corner;
• then the required hole is drilled in it, thanks to which the product will be fixed on the selected surface with screws;
• the corner must be fixed in the selected area;
• in the place where the hole is made, you will need to install a switch, also 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 fat-free;
• the tape itself is attached directly to the corner.

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

• after that, 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. Great option for backlighting work surface in the kitchen. In addition, such lamps are in demand in other rooms, for example, in a nursery. It is very convenient to place them on dedicated shelves.

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

In any work, as well as during leisure, good light is needed. You can buy a lamp, but sometimes it is not cheap. In the store, instead of a finished lamp, you can purchase an LED strip. It is relatively inexpensive and cut into pieces of any length. If you put it in a case or fix it in another way, you get a homemade lamp with an LED strip. You can take such a lamp with you to a fishing tent. In field conditions, the LED lamp is connected to a car battery.

Scope of homemade LED lamps

Homemade LED lamps for LED strip can be used instead of the usual ones:

• illumination of the workplace when performing minor work in the workshop or garage;
• backlighting from above the aquarium (if the tape is waterproof or in a sealed case, then the lamp can be lowered into the water);
• seedling lighting or indoor plants in winter;
• night light or table lamp;
• illumination of switches and sockets;
• computer keyboard lighting;
• to replace fluorescent lamps.

On the Internet you can find many other types of floor lamps and ceiling chandeliers from an LED strip with photos and videos, as well as reviews of people who collected and used such lamps.

Types and parameters of LED strips

LED strips are produced in different designs according to the type of security. They can be of different brightness and different colors, which is determined by the color temperature - from warm white (2700K) to cold (6800K), as well as colored or capable of changing their color - RGB tapes. This makes it possible to choose the type of device for specific purposes.

LED strip device

LED strip is flexible plastic strip with conductive strips applied to it. Two are located at the edges and are connected to them. The rest connect the LEDs and resistors to each other. They are arranged in groups - three LEDs connected in series, and a resistor that serves to limit the current flowing through them.

The strip itself can be cut into sections that are multiples of three LEDs. In these places there are marks indicating the place of the cut and the pads to which the wires are soldered or connected using connectors.

LEDs can be coated with silicone on one or both sides. This determines the degree of protection from external influences. With reverse side the adhesive layer is applied on the strip, as on double-sided tape. With it, the LEDs are attached to the base.

The most common supply voltage is DC, 12V. There are designs designed for connection to a voltage of 24V and higher, but these are not common designs.

Types of LEDs used

The LEDs and resistors in the tape are used in the SMD series, without leads. LEDs in production are used in various sizes, which determines the marking of the tape - 5050 and 3528. These numbers show the size of the LED in tenths of a millimeter

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

How larger size, the higher the brightness and the consumed current and power. It also depends on the number of LEDs per meter of length.

Accordingly, the marking of the SMD 5050 tape with a density of 60 LEDs means that 60 SMD 5050 LEDs are installed per meter of length.

Controllers, power supplies for LED strips

Since the LED strip is designed for a constant voltage of 12V, a power supply or controller is required for connection.

Important! When you turn on the LED strip in a 220 volt network, it will instantly burn out!

Power supplies are produced different power and forms. From low-power, tablet-like chargers to powerful metal-cased designs with built-in coolers.

Some power supplies are equipped with dimmers and remote controls remote control. RGB ribbons require an RGB controller to control the color.

There are models with WiFi control, with color and music effects, for example, ARILUX® AL-LC01.

If there is no special block available, then you can use:

• Any transformer with an output voltage of 12V. A diode bridge and a smoothing capacitor must be connected to the output.
• The power supply of the computer, both in the computer itself and separately.
• If 3-6 LEDs are needed, then a capacitor can be used to limit the current, as well as a diode bridge and a capacitor that smooths out the glow pulsations. This scheme is used in LED lamps installed instead of incandescent lamps. The capacitance of a capacitor can be calculated using an online calculator.
• Make a defective energy-saving lamp out of the board.
• Connect 20 pieces of LED strip in series and connect through a diode bridge and a smoothing capacitor to a 220V network.

Preparation of materials and parts

Before starting work, you need to determine required amount and brightness of the LED strip, as well as the power of the power supply.

First of all, you need to determine the length. For luminaires used in different places needed:

• night light and illumination of switches and sockets - a segment of three LEDs;
• aquarium lighting - along the length of the wall;
• illumination of the beds with seedlings - several pieces, equal in length to the length of the beds;
• computer keyboard - along the length of the keyboard;
• to replace a fluorescent lamp, several pieces are needed, the length is equal to the length of the lamp.

The brightness of the tape, the size and density of the LEDs is determined based on specific conditions.

The power of the power supply should not be less than the power of the LED lamp, and preferably 20% more. It is necessary for more reliable operation block.

In addition, you will need wires heat-shrink tubing to isolate the connection point, a soldering iron with tin and rosin or a connector for connection.

Expert opinion

Alexey Bartosh

Specialist in the repair, maintenance of electrical equipment and industrial electronics.

Attention! Do not solder the tape with acid! Acid fumes oxidize and destroy wires, and can also lead to a short circuit.

If the lamp is to be used in an aquarium for internal illumination, then a transparent tube and silicone sealant to ensure the integrity of the structure.

Lamp Assembly

After developing the design of the future lamp and preparing all the tools and materials, the lamp itself is assembled.

Sometimes the entire assembly process consists of sticking tape to the base, for example, when backlighting a keyboard located on a pull-out shelf under a table.

In other cases, it is necessary to make a lamp or remake an existing one.

Features and stages of installation work

Installation and connection of a lamp from an LED strip has a number of features:

• The power supply should be located as close as possible to the LEDs. The longer the wires, the more loss voltage in them, which leads to losses in the brightness of the lamp.
• It is advisable to isolate the LEDs from the base if it is metal.
• When connecting the device directly from the 220V network (through a capacitor), use only a tape coated with silicone on both sides.

Carefully! There is a high voltage on such a tape, so all manipulations with it are performed in the off state.

What to do if there is no finished LED strip

If there is no ready-made LED strip, then you can make it yourself.

To do this, the required number of LEDs must be connected in series, and a current-limiting resistance must be connected to them. You can assemble such a design on a strip of getinax or textolite, where holes are drilled for mounting LEDs. Such a device can be assembled for any required voltage and number of LEDs.

With the rising cost of electricity, many are thinking about buying LED light sources, which bring tangible savings and are excellent substitutes for natural light. However, today not many people can afford an LED lamp, because their cost is still quite high. Therefore, thanks to craftsmen, in this article we will consider how you can make a lighting device from LEDs with your own hands.

What is an LED lamp?

LEDs - semiconductor electronic devices that emit light as a result of the passage of an electric current. Appearing 15 years ago, home appliances literally immediately conquered the market for light sources. Today you can buy LED lamps of any shape, size, power and color. But you can also make them yourself, which even an inexperienced radio amateur can do. The simplest LED devices can operate at a voltage of 3-5 V, i.e. from a conventional battery. However, its power is only enough to illuminate with a flashlight, so below we will look at how to make more serious designs that allow you to illuminate rooms.

lighting fixture

The composition and principle of operation of the lamp

Before proceeding with the manufacture of an LED lamp with your own hands, consider its design and principle of operation.
Diode is semiconductor device passing current through p-n junction only in one direction. As a result of the release of energy during the recombination of electrons and holes, photons are emitted with the release of light and thermal energy.

Heat dissipation in an LED fixture is an important task when assembling a luminaire, because heat leads to degradation and failure of the LED. Therefore, the presence of a radiator - required condition when assembling any LED lamp.

The simplest radiator is an aluminum substrate on which the LEDs are located, however, such heat dissipation will not be enough if the device is assembled on 3 or more semiconductors. In such lamps, special metal radiators. In indoor appliances, it is replaced by a light bulb housing.
In addition to the heatsink, the LED product has a reflector and diffuser that can replace a metallized reflector, and a lens.
Typically, LEDs are produced as a ready-made assembly, but in order for the bright light of the device not to irritate the eyes, a matte bulb is used, which covers the lamp body.

Light bulb device

Lamp Assembly

The circuit of the simplest lamp operating from a 220 V network consists of two 12 kΩ resistors and two LEDs installed in parallel. The scheme is relevant for an even number of LED devices.
For odd, there must be a driver in the circuit that stabilizes the output current and voltage. It is best to purchase a ready-made driver, which is selected for the LED device. In addition, the driver can also be made by hand using a rectifier bridge, capacitors and ordinary diodes, which in the assembly convert the mains voltage into a voltage of a given frequency and value. Resistors in such a circuit act as a current limiter.

As can be seen from the above, an LED device can be assembled by any person who at least once in his life held a soldering iron in his hands and knows how to use the Internet, where there are many examples of standard and non-standard schemes and solutions for assembling an LED lamp.

Lamp scheme

Luminaires in the housing

LED Strip Light

The simplest lamp can be made by hand using an LED strip, which is enough to fix on any flat surface with double-sided tape. For greater reliability and expansion functionality It is convenient to place the LED strip in the case of a non-working fluorescent lamp, the length of which does not exceed 30 cm.
Such a lamp is adjusted at a height of not more than 80 cm above desk, kitchen surface, aquarium or use it for decorative lighting. The light of the lamp is perfectly diffused and does not tire the eyesight.

Application of the lamp

The following types of tapes are suitable for the manufacture of LED lamps:

• SMD 3528 (60 (4.8 W); 120 (7.2 W); 240 (16 W) LEDs per 1 meter);
• SMD 5050 (30 (7.2W); 60 (14W); 120 (25W).

LED Density

Density and arrangement of LEDs on SMD 3528 and SMD 5050 tapes

The best choice would be the SMD 5050 LED strip, the parameters of which correspond to the following values:

• radiation angle - 120 degrees;
• supply voltage - 12 V;
• current - 1.2 A / m

The LED strip with adhesive tape must be glued to the inside of the case. For work, you can buy a power supply or assemble it yourself using the diagram below. The advantage of a self-assembled power supply is that it is possible to hide it in the lamp housing. Purchased - you will have to "attach" next to the device. Anyway assembled structure will look neat and work economically, perfectly illuminating the desktop.

Electrical diagram of the power supply

An important point during installation is the high-quality insulation of all conductive parts.

A do-it-yourself lamp based on an LED strip does not differ in its parameters from a purchased option. At the same time, its cost is much lower than the cost of the finished product.

LED lamps on various bases

LED light

An economical version of the LED lamp can be made with your own hands on the basis of a burned-out lamp. To do this, it is necessary to carefully disassemble the burned-out lamp without damaging the base and clean and degrease it.
In the base we place a 100 Ohm protective resistor and two 220 nF capacitors, the operating voltage of which is 400 V, a 10 microfarad capacitor responsible for the absence of flicker, a rectifier (diode bridge) and LEDs in a ratio of 1 (red glow) to 3 (white ). We connect the components of the circuit by soldering and isolate with mounting glue, filling the entire space of the base between the parts of the circuit and fixing them.

In addition to a conventional lamp, a halogen lamp is used to create an LED lamp with your own hands.

Halogen lamp

Halogen lamp

To assemble a lamp on a halogen lamp, the following components are required:

• assembly diagram, which you can make yourself or take from the Internet;
• LEDs;
• non-working halogen lamp;
• quick-drying glue;
• copper wire;
• soldering iron and solder;
• aluminum substrate 0.2 mm thick, which will replace the radiator;
• resistors;
• hole puncher.

Assembly

The assembly process takes place in the following sequence:

• Cleansing halogen lamp from all of us constituent parts and putty.
• We take it out of the reflector.
• We prepare a reflector disk on which the LEDs will be located. We stick the disk on an aluminum substrate (you can get a disk template on the Internet) and make holes in it.
• According to the diagram, we place the LEDs on the disk with their legs up, taking into account their polarity. We roll a little glue between them, avoiding contact with the contacts.
• We solder the contacts of the LEDs so that the chain starts with positive polarity (“+”) and ends with negative (“-”).
• We connect the positive contacts together by soldering.
• By soldering, we attach resistors to the negative contacts and connect their contacts to each other with solder, getting negatively charged resistors.
• We also connect the contacts of the resistors to each other and solder them to them. copper wires. To avoid a short circuit, fill the space between the contacts and wires with glue.
• We glue the disk and the halogen reflector together.
• After polymerization of the adhesive, a 12 V power supply can be connected.

Powersave lamp

After the energy-saving lamp has served its time and burned out, hand-made craftsmen recommend not throwing it away, but using the device to create an LED lighting device. This can be done if the lamp has a working electronic ballast (EB) and a whole housing with a base, which will become the basis of a new product.
To complete the package, you need to purchase 5 mm LEDs and 4 ultra-fast UF4007 diodes.
The essence of creating an energy-saving LED lamp is to install a rectifier bridge at the EB output, which will allow you to get a constant voltage of 100 V at a current of 130 mA.
To reduce the frequency of the alternating voltage at the output of the EB, we will assemble a rectifier bridge from UF4007 diodes, to the output of which we solder a 0.1 μF capacitor operating at a voltage of 400 V. We install the diode bridge in place of the capacitor C3 (see. typical scheme EB lamp) connecting the filaments of the lamp, which is then connected to each other.

Electrical diagram of the EB lamp

Separately, we assemble a serial circuit of 30 LED devices, the current consumption of which is 20 mA, and check its operation.
With a constant voltage of 100 V and a current of 130 mA, you can assemble 5 chains of LED diodes of 30 pieces each and get a lamp with a power of 15 watts.

As you can see from the above, you can make an LED lamp with your own hands, not only soldering the circuit, but also using various devices - LED strip and lamps of various types.

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