Artificial lighting is perhaps one of the most effective ways to create an appropriate atmosphere for the holiday, especially such as the new year. And thanks to modern technologies, light presentations become even more impressive. What lighting options can be recommended?
There are many ways to organize festive lighting. Our ancestors quite managed to achieve the desired effect with the help of candles, which are used today to create a romantic atmosphere. But we will look at more modern illumination options that replace candles and the open fire of the hearth. The benefit in recent years has occurred several innovative breakthroughs in the field of lighting technologies. In particular, lighting systems based on LEDs, which are distinguished by reliability, safety and fairly low cost. It is the LED systems now most often choose for decorative backlight.
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media
The reason is simple: LEDs allow you to create very compact light sources suitable for highlighting the most unexpected objects. For example, LED garlands-threads are made on the basis of a light, thin and flexible wire with a diameter of less than 1 mm, on which the supernatrical miniature monochrome or multicolor RGB-LEDs are located. The garlands are equipped with a hermetic shell, the degree of protection of which, as a rule, reaches IP65, so products are used both in dry and in wet rooms, as well as on the street.
Similar threads can be used as a classic garland, as well as create different interlacing and curtains from them. Light threads of small thickness do not overheat, so they are permissible literally inserted into the New Year trees, decorations and even in the fabric.
The light bulbs began to apply for festive illumination almost immediately after their invention. It is known that the first Christmas garland smeared in 1882 Edward Hibberd Johnson, Assistant inventor Thomas Alva Edison
When choosing a LED thread, first of all take into account the color of the light emitted by it. There are many variants of decorative LED threads: red, orange, yellow, etc. It should be especially noted by the RGB LED thread that does not require a controller to control (about the controllers it will be discussed below), since the dynamic program is built into it: it is enough to connect the garland to the adapter 12 V, and it will begin to shift with all the colors of the rainbow.
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media
All colors of Rainbow
LED garlands-threads are distinguished by a small thickness (only 1 mm), which allows them to apply them to decorate textile interior accessories. If we fix the garlands throughout the clove of the curtains, then the festive atmosphere will reign with the onset of darkness in the room. In the bedroom, the LED threads can be fixed above the bed in the form of a canopy. Thin and flexible bases of LED threads will help to form "textile" folds and create a real New Year's mood.
Photo: Arlight.
Sealed Decorative LED Thread Arlight
Photo: Philips Lighting
Philips Living Colors lamps. With the help of the remote control, you can choose one of 16 million shades and adjust the color intensity
Photo: Elgato.
Wireless LED luminaires Avea (Elgato). Programmatically also seven main colors and a preloaded lighting script is selected.
Photo: Arlight.
Hermetic (IP65) RGB LED Thread Arlight with Star Sky Effect
Ribbons and controllers
For decorative illumination of rooms, you can use the LED tape. With it, it is easy to arlude large light accents indoors, for example, to highlight the zone of the dance or festive table. The length of the band is usually 5 m, less often 2.5 or 10 m, the number of LEDs on it on average ranges from 30 to 120 per 1 m. The tape is permissible to cut into fragments by stipulated marks, the minimum cut is 5-10 cm, but more often sold Segments from half a meter. Sale presented monochrome and RGB tapes (allow you to change the color of the light stream). Today you can purchase both tape and finished products based on it in the form of LED strips, plates of different lengths and squares.LED tapes differ in color (there are many options for sale), brightness (light flux) and power supply (12, 24, 36 and 220 V). For decorative lighting of residential interiors, medium brightness tapes are usually used, the light stream of which is approximately 450-500 lm to 1 p. m. As for the supply voltage, the most secure ribbons on 12 and 24 V.
Controllers are needed to manage scripts of dynamically changing backlight. The RGB controller allows not only to choose from three colors RGB-ribbon you need, but also mix them, creating a variety of shades. In addition, you can adjust the speed and smoothness of the change of color glow. In memory of the RGB controller, programs of light effects have already been laid, for example, a smooth flow of one shade to another, and advanced models support the development of their own simple programs.
An important parameter of the LED ribbons is the number of LEDs on the tempo point meter: what they are more, the greater the light will be
The controller is selected depending on the type of tape, the required load parameters and control methods. So, in addition to the RGB tape there is a multicolor RGB + W (Red, Green, Blue + White), for which the RGB + W controller will be needed. As for the control, RGB controllers are wired and wireless. The latter can be adjusted using infrared radiation or by radio channel, to work on analog 1-10V protocol or DMX and DALI digital protocol, control one or more zones. For the operational "pre-holiday" installation, it is usually more convenient to wireless systems, and options are preferable with radio channel control, as more resistant to interference.
Good to feel tape!
When connecting high brightness LED tape and long length (over 2 m), power should be supplied at both of its ends. Otherwise, due to the incidence of tension on the tracks and high values of the current consumed, its initial and end portions will be spilled in color. There may be problems with its control. The work of the tape should be pro-deliver at maximum load (when permanent white light on all LEDs is enabled).Flexible, like ... neon
Another promising light source is the so-called flexible neon lamp (or lamp). It is a LED tape in the PVC tube, where the matte filler is placed. Externally, the tube is very similar to neon lamps used in advertising signs, hence the name. But modern lamps are much more reliable and durable than old neon lamps.
And most importantly - the PVC tube can be bend (to a certain radius), giving it the most bizarre outlines. It will retain a curved shape.
Flexible neon is used to decorate buildings facades instead of ordinary garlands. If you connect a flexible neon to controllers, then the backlight can be made dynamic. At the same time, the automatic scenarios of festive lighting will be configured for all sections of neon, which means that the overall illumination program will be united for the object, be it home, garden or apartment.
Photo: Philips Lighting
Table LED Gadgets Philips Lighting in the form of candles convert any surface - whether it is a festive table or a house of Santa Claus under Christmas tree
Advantage of flexible neon - uniform luminescence without flicker, allowing to create sustainable compositions
Flexible neon choose the same way as the LED tape. An additional parameter can be aesthetics. So, there are options with a tube of PVC milky white color or painted. The latest models are more spectacular: even turned off colored lamps are capable of becoming decoration of facades.It's time to update the lamps
Based on LED lamps and ribbons, a large number of decorative lamps have been developed. LEDs consume little energy and can work from batteries for a long time. Such, for example, a variety of desktop gadgets in the form of candles, balls, flasks. They create a mysterious effect of flicker and charge with a simple adapter. Autonomous power allows you to use similar devices to create a point accent backlight.
Winter holidays are approaching. Many of you will arrange a party to the party and will call guests. But in order not to ruin the celebration of yourself and guests should be remembered about electrical safety. Of course, you will dress up a Christmas tree and decorate it with an electric garland. In order not to arrange a fire house, choose only high-quality, certified products. Do not leave unattended lighting devices. Place them in the room so that your guests cannot accidentally drop or shed drinks on them. Remember that a short circuit is one of the main reasons for the fire. If you decide to gather on the countryside, then most likely you will decorate the house and the territory of the festive backlight. Make sure this electrical equipment is designed to work outdoors. Exclude rain and snow on electrical connections.
Ivan Volkov
Lead Engineer-Designer Salon Automation Systems "Lamps, Small Ordine 39"
Photo: Arlight.
An example of installation of equipment for light-musical design based on light-diode tape Arlight "Running Fire" and Audio Controller ARLIGHT CS-HC-312
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media, Philips
LED backlight can provide lighting in any colors that you consider suitable for a festive interior.
Photo: Arlight, Legion-Media
Various options for flexible neon
Photo: Legion-Media
For the street it is necessary to use LED ribbons and threads with a high degree of moisture protection
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media
The basis for the MB-Light decorative lamps is LEDs.
Photo: Boris Bezel / Burda Media
LED lamps If you wish, you can turn into sufficiently complex glowing art objects
Photo: "Lamps, small ordinar 39"
Luminaires can be decorated for interior items. Lamp-cup from the Cappuccino series (Vesoi factory)
Photo: Catellani & Smith
Original LED Fil De Fer Chandelier (Catellani & Smith Factory)
Photo: Philips Lighting
LED lamps with warm spectrum displacing incandescent lamps, even from retro style products. PHILIPS DECO CLASSIC lamps are organically looking in the role of candles.
Photo: Arlight.
Safe in operation LEDs will help save the New Year's mood. After all, the tape does not heat up to such temperatures as the lamps of other types. About it is impossible to burn, unlike incandescent lamp
Photo: Legion-Media
New Year's interior design option
Photo: Catellani & Smith
Fil de Fer lamps (Catellani & Smith) can serve as a local illumination of interior elements