Ribbon Lights
LED Light Strips
The strips are easy to find and cheap. There are many variables to consider such as: intensity, color (cool white, warm white, RGB), amperage, brightness. I researched the options available, read what others are using and made a choice. Even if I guessed wrong, replacing a string is not expensive.
Once the wooden slats are in place, I did a test fit to make sure I had enough strips to cover everything.
To install the strips, I first fastened the end with the plug to the bottom of a wooden slat near the back of the layout, so that the plug went down behind the backdrop backer board and over to the controller.
I repeated that process for the other strip that was to run beside it. I ran a warm white strip next to an RGB strip. The 2 different styled strips allows me to vary the intensity and color of the lighting.
I ran the 2 strips next to each other along the underside of the wooden slats to follow the path of the slats. I used zipties to attach both strips to the slat every few inches. I cut off any unneeded length of the strip but held off until I was all done!
Power & Control
I divided the lights into 6 groups. The layout can be visually divided into 3 parts: left, center and right. For each part, I created 2 groups: one for the front strip and another for the back strip.
For each group, I connected the RGB and warm white strips to a single “Smart Controller”. The RGB strip connects with 4 wires; the warm white uses only 2. So, the Smart Controller has 6 output slots. I needed to be careful to connect each slot to the proper wire on the proper lighting strip. I connected the Smart Controller to a transformer. All transformers were connected to a single power strip that can be turned on by a wall switch.
When the wall switch is thrown, the transformers all feed power to the Smart Controllers which in turn power up the attached strips. Using an app on my phone, I can send commands to each Smart Controller or to several at one time, instructing them to vary the intensity and color of the lights that each of them drives.
The specific Smart Controller I ordered is no longer available but there are different varieties that come and go off the market like crazy. I bought a couple of extras for spares when I was building the lights because I knew these things are cheaply made and are always being replaced by other models. A little research will tell you what’s available now.
