Hello all. Been using Hubitat C8 and it has been working for me for a solid 2 years! It's awesome. I am looking into utilizing light strips under my cabinets and wanted to ask help if I am doing this right.
Here are the specs I have for under my cabinets:
34" underneath for strip
30" 1/2 microwave/stove
then 34" underneath for strip again.
I then have another section near my fridge with the following specs:
43" underneath for strip
With the following specs, I will be buying the following:
Wiring to connect under/over microwave: Amazon.com
GIDEALED Zigbee strip to be used throughout all cabinets: Amazon.com
Total being $95. I am missing the power connector for the GLEDOPTO controller but just wondering is this the right approach since I will have leftover to use the controller with the power connector which will control the light strip.
Thanks again for reading my post all. Appreciate it.
I tend to buy my LEDs from AliExpress as they tend to be about half the price of Amazon. It does take longer to arrive though…
When it comes to connecting LED Strips together, in my experience, soldering them is much better than using the pressure connectors. Those have not worked well/long for me, but soldering has.
I also use the following if I need a disconnect point:
The link is for the 5-pin version - you will want to get the ones with the number of pins you need.
As for the power supply, be sure to get one that has enough amperage to support your LED load, otherwise, it will fail. Had that happen before…
The cable you linked is what I need; however, this is mainly if I want to pass it under my microwave, correct? Where the area that is cut and the other section would be used to connect in 30" 1/2?
I'm interested in how this develops.
We will be moving soon and this will be a project for me.
My current kitchen has led strips built in so will have to stay at my old property.
I am pretty sure that the GLEDOPTO controller won't work with the BTF Lights. I have never used a GLEDOPTO but I have the BTF LEDs in multiple locations. Their wiring is 3 wire for (+), (-) and data. It looks like the GLEDOPTO has separate wiring for voltage and each color. I use and HIGHLY recommend WLED as a controller. It's easy to install on a ESP32 board or there are companies selling ESP32 variations with WLED already installed. That is how I did my under-cabinet lights in kitchen. I have six separate LED strips running thruout house using WLED and there is a community integration for it.
I have a couple of Dig-Uno boards from here that I highly recommend: Shop – DrZzs
I have also heard that the Dig2Go is easy plug-n-play. However, buying the parts separately and doing yourself is not difficult; you just probably wouldn't have the fuse.
EDIT: One last thing, I highly recommend getting some WAGO inline clips instead of trying to solder in your cabinet to make connections:
You can also use these solder seal wire connectors that only require a heat gun:
Thanks for all the input everyone and ya, makes sense GLEDOPTO won't work. I was mainly trying to find a controller utilizing zigbee/z-wave
@stephen_nutt much thanks for your input. DrZzs is a new to me. I have heard Anthom as the controller. Is it a hassle to manage over 6 controllers in your house with Hubitat? Also, what you recommended looks very cool. I'll see about implementing them.
That is always a risk, and with AliExpress, not much of return options as far as I am aware. I have purchased MANY LED strings from them and have not had any issues yet though…
The 10Amp power supply you are looking at will likely be sufficient for your needs.
As for the connector, you can use it anywhere that a connection will make things easier. You can also just solder extension cables to connect strips together as needed.
I have had issues with ALL LEDs that I connected with the pressure connectors. The LEDs ended-up blinking on and off, or dimming down. Because of this, I no longer use them.
To solder, there are quite a few good videos on YouTube showing how. That’s how I learned… The key is to put some solder on both things you will want to connect, and then solder them together.
This one is an addressable LED strip, so as @stephen_nutt indicated, it will need a different controller - It will not work with the GLEDOPTO Zigbee controller. (I haven one of those addressable strips on my desk - haven’t set it up yet on my ESP32 board… something to do at some point soon!)
That is a great idea!!! But something will still need to be soldered to the LED strip…
Have you considered just using Philips Hue? It can connect directly to Hubitat without a bridge and you can use litcessory (Amazon.com: Litcessory: v4 [Micro 6-Pin]) to help connect various strips (or re-use previous cuts) without the need of soldering.
The other thing is that if you are going to use Muzata covers, which I strongly recommend, it is possible to just connect them underneath the microwave and run your strip over the stove. The cover helps protect the strip from the range top and gives better light than the microwave when cooking. I did this about a year and half ago (see below) and love how it turned out.
I usually just use the WLED app to do any fine controls. Opening the IP address of the device in a browser or app can let you do anything and everything you need. I use HE integration in my automations. I haven't done it but there is a way to sync all or some of your devices so that they operate in unison. I have a strip on stairs, one behind computer monitor; DIY version of Govee's Floor lamp, the previously mentioned kitchen cabinet lights, lights behind by theater movie screen for Hyperion that rarely get modified by WLED, and my first and favorite, the state of Texas.
Yes!
The Strip in the provided link is an "Addressable LED Strip".
The Gledopto Controller in the link is RGB(WW) controller. These two are absolutely incompatible!
My take is if you can see the clips, I did something wrong so why not use something convenient and easy to change? I used the heat gun solder seal wire connectors for kitchen under cabinet lights because the connectors do get seen when you open a couple of cabinet doors.
As you might guess based on the football helmets hanging on either side of it, that sign is in my office/home theater/kids playroom so no complaints from the better half. The LEDs are doing a constant chase so everyone is so distracted by how cool that is, they don't notice the wiring.
I believe I have everything I need now. I did also look at the Dig2Uno just unsure if 5v is enough for me for under my cabinets. However, I believe the Dig-Uno is good enough.
@JB10 talked on how they ran right under the microwave/stove, but I'm unsure if I would do that. Let's say if I am to remove the microwave, I would need to find a way of removing the microwave when it is attached.
1 last question which pertains to my previous comment: Would it be possible to use 1.6 meters of 60/LEDs to split on both sides of the microwave/stove area? I would have the power supply above the microwave/stove where the power can be split between the two sides. Is there a WLED controller that can be split down both sides of the microwave/stove?
Absolutely! As you'll see when you get the DigUno, it actually has the ability to drive two strips separately. I don't know why it's called the DigUno then though but that is deceiving. I don't know how much you would use effects in the kitchen but there is an option to reverse one of the strips so the effect should be synchronous across all your LEDs. Can't wait to hear about your successful installation with your new toys.
