I am about to start a kitchen remodel, and planning to add some LED strips under & above the cabinets. I've been doing a bunch of research, and believe I found most of the products I need, but I'm just struggling with the controls. I'd like to be able to control these with the HE (dimming, scheduling, etc. basic stuff), but also have a hardwired control method as well, which can be basic on/off.
I've been looking into the driver from @adamkempenich but not sure what dimmer controller I should really buy for it to just control a single channel. Also, I'm open to other ideas - right now, my plan is some sort of LV controller to manage dimming, which is connected to the HE. From there, I am planning on installing Zooz switches for controlling the can lights in the kitchen, and I can program double/triple taps on those switches to trigger HE events (turn strips on/off). Other option would be a line voltage dimmer (TRIAC) in the wall which is HE controllable, but I don't necessarily want 2 extra switches to control the strips when I will let them be managed via schedule 99% of the time.
Also, I'm planning on using superbrightleds strips, anyone have any experience with them? Looking for something that will last, but isn't overly expensive.
Really depends on how much electrical current the LED strips you’re going to install draw, but I recently replaced our old fluorescent undercabinet lighting with LED strips and used IKEA TRÅDFRI LED drivers. They are paired to my Hue bridge and controlled via the Hubitat Hue integration.
I already had a motion sensor in the kitchen so that when the kitchen is unoccupied for more than 10 minutes late at night, the lights would automatically turn off. So I added a second motion sensor to work together with it. Now when we enter the kitchen in the middle of the night to get a glass of water or something, the toe kick lights come on automatically to the lowest level to provide just enough illumination to see, but not so much that you are jarred out of your slumber.
Thanks for the quick reply! Unfortunately the IKEA drivers won't work as the strips I'm looking at (superbrightleds STN-A30K90-C6A-10B5M-24V - planning 24V, 3000K, 18LED/ft) at the length I need (under cab is 111" total, over is 195" total) need ~40 & ~70W. I've found reasonably priced, TRIAC dimmable drivers/Power supplies for these, but still not sure I'd need them if I can figure out a way to dim on the low voltage side.
It sounds like you're using RGB lights in your setup, have you been able to find a color that matches/compliments your other kitchen lighting? Most times I've used RGB strips before, finding a color that matches/blends well is very difficult.
No I’m actually just using warm white. The accent light nearby is just a Hue bulb. I’m not really into color in my house.
You might then consider the Qubino RGBW controller for the low-voltage side If you’re looking at color
It depends on if you’re in the US or Canada. I am in Canada and the TRÅDFRI controllers are less expensive than in the US for some reason. So splitting the lights out into multiple controllers is feasible because the cost is so low.
Right now I'm thinking warm white by itself is probably best, which I'm still struggling to find a HE compatible dimmer / controller that will work. I'm guessing any of the RGB ones would work, and just use one channel?
It seems that way, but I’m certainly not an expert on the RGBW controllers. There are other folks here that have experience with them. I just didn’t think that I would ever use color most of the time, and it would just be a gimmicky wow factor for a few seconds Before setting it back to White, so I didn’t bother to put it in. My wife asked me if we could set them to a color right after I showed her the installation, but that was it, she’s fine with it not being anything but white
I am using the Qubino controller for my undercabinet strips. I don't need the rgb really, but I do switch it on rainbow during parties. The rest of the time it's on a cool white for cutting vegetables. I cut and soldered my own RGBW strips to spec so they fit all my cabinets sections exactly, and then secured them with clips. Used the 5-wire connector wires in between each strip. The Qubino is connected to a 10A power supply which is way more than enough, as there can't be more than 6ft of strips used.
I don't recall which strips exactly, but they're dirt cheap out there - just look for analog rgbw strips and make sure there are 5 pads. Mine happen to have a weatherproof sleeve on them.
I did not know @adamkempenich made a driver for these, I've been using the Fibaro rgbw driver. I'll check it out.
Gotcha - thanks! I was just thinking... Can you assign the qubino controller inputs manually? Since I'm thinking of having 2 "zones" (under and over cabinet), I've been planning to have isolated systems so far, with all of the controls mounted in the basement below the kitchen. But, if I could use one power supply connected to one of those Qubino controllers, but then have two outputs going to each zone, that would simplify a bit and cut my costs. Just not sure if you can say "turn input 1 to 100%" and then "turn input 2 to 50%" simultaneously or if it just thinks they're different colors on the same string.
So you'll have only 1 controllable RGBW strip, but you can use 4 separate switches to control the R, G, B, and W if you desire. There are some other scenarios it looks like.
Here's the manual:
If you're only using single-color strips, you could probably do 4 separate strips/zones, and control them separately using the R, G, B, W controls. Just treat each R, G, B, W as a separate strip.
Do those include a Zigbee controller? Either way, that’s a great deal. Thank you for sharing that.
@h.peter.simon—I haven’t had time to read through this thread yet, but the MagicHome WiFi single-channel devices work well I’ve got two closets that use them for lighting. Let me know if you have any questions about it, looks like Kilowatts did a pretty good job helping with everything else!
Yes they include the zigbee controller, one controller can drive up to 3 panels in series. I have 5 panels total, two controllers, set up as a Group with zigbee broadcast.
Agree with @adamkempenich, $16 is a good deal. These single color controllers also work well with the Generic Zigbee Bulb driver. Since you are doing a complete remodel, use the momentary switch input for wall control in addition to automation.
Edit: Video showing how the momentary switch input works.
This actually looks perfect - They say right in the manual that you can control up to 4 separate LEDs / strips with each channel, so I can get this one controller, get one power supply, and just branch out from here.
I’ve got two closets that use them for lighting. Let me know if you have any questions about it, looks like Kilowatts did a pretty good job helping with everything else!
