# Recommend a basic primer on LED lighting
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 22, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197 "2011-09-22T14:48:54Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/1 "2011-09-22T14:48:54Z")
I’m planning on doing a little DIY project that’s going to require buying and rigging up an LED system for a specific purpose. Can anyone recommend a good starting place for learning how LED systems work and what’s required? It could be a book, magazine, website, DVD, anything that might help. Thanks!
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### Author:  [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/2 "2011-09-22T14:54:10Z")
Depending on your application, an Arduino microcontroller may be of assistance:
[http://www.arduino.cc/](http://www.arduino.cc/) with a forum at [Arduino Forum](http://arduino.cc/forum/) for questions
An arduino is essentially a tiny computer that can be programmed to control the LEDS (or various other controllers) - the basic tutorials will teach you pretty mush all you need to know about LEDS, and wiring them up
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/3 "2011-09-22T15:52:32Z")
What sort of “LED System?”
Area lighting, moving message, video wall, novelty, etc?
(FYI - I’ve designed large special-purposed LED displays)
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### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/4 "2011-09-22T16:11:16Z")
Backlighting for an artist’s lightbox/table.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/5 "2011-09-22T17:19:57Z")
Oh, that’s better -
First of all, LEDs can have poor color rendering, so be very careful using them, if color accuracy is important. I would probably look at what is available off-the-shelf as drop-in 110v lamp replacements. You could make your own system using raw emitters and driver circuitry, but it’s going to be a lot easier to just find some replacement bulbs and wire them to a lamp cord. Home Depot sells some quality (Phillips) LED lamps.
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### Author:  [@FlyingDragonFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingDragonFan)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/6 "2011-09-22T18:13:40Z")
Actually, what I’m looking for is putting together a strip light system, something like these: [LED Strip Lighting (SOC61-10) - Semicon Optronics Channel Corporation](http://www.allproducts.com/ee/socc/led-strip-lighting-03.html)
I want a very low-profile set-up, not regular bulbs. Sorry, probably should have been clear on that from the beginning.
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### Author:  [@Belrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belrix)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/7 "2011-09-22T18:32:13Z")
There’s a bunch of stuff on eBay intended for auto applications. Long strips, bullet lights, etc. Add it to a 12v power supply and you’d be all set.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/8 "2011-09-22T18:37:42Z")
Ikea sells LED strips for under-cabinet light.
Once again, be careful with the color rendering - these are designed to be inexpensive, and they tend to be rather “blueish."
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### Author:  [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2011, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/9 "2011-09-22T19:35:16Z")
> **[LED Lights, Drivers, Controllers and Custom Lighting | Environmental Lights](https://www.environmentallights.com/)**
>
> We transform environments by engineering our customers’ visions into innovative lighting solutions using LED lights, channel, drivers and controllers.
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### Author:  [@ElvisUnknow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisUnknow)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2012, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/10 "2012-04-17T09:41:41Z")
> [@FlyingDragonFan](#):
>
> I’m planning on doing a little DIY project that’s going to require buying and rigging up an LED system for a specific purpose. Can anyone recommend a good starting place for learning how LED systems work and what’s required? It could be a book, magazine, website, DVD, anything that might help. Thanks!
[waterproof led spotlights](http://www.ledstrips8.com/wholesale/waterproof-led-lighting-strips-spotlights-for-light-bulb/)
[led dimmer 12 v](http://www.ledstrips8.com/wholesale/waterproof-remote-led-dimmer-12vdc/)
[led wall dimmer](http://www.ledstrips8.com/wholesale/inline-wall-12volt-led-dimmer/) :smack:
😛 led strip!
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### Author:  [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)
#### Post date: [April 17, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/11 "2012-04-17T19:56:51Z")
> [@beowulff](#):
>
> Ikea sells LED strips for under-cabinet light.
>
> Once again, be careful with the color rendering - these are designed to be inexpensive, and they tend to be rather “blueish."
Lots of RGB strip lighting (i.e. three LED colors) out there. I’ve seen many in gem/jewelry display cases that give very good color rendering. Google for “RGB LED strips”.
One such [website](http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Flight_bars.htm), provided only as an example, I have no experience with them in particular.
Another example [with pics](http://www.ecologicsavings.com/all-products/copy-of-most-popular-16-4-ft-cool-white-waterproof-smd5050-led-strip/)…
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/13 "2012-09-03T16:52:24Z")
Reported.
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### Author:  [@Jaledin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaledin)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/14 "2012-09-03T16:57:55Z")
Oh, hey. This is fun – I like the arduino board. Actually I’m saving up to buy one just for fun.
Good links all. But there _is_ no primer – this is linear circuits 101 from Kirchoff and Ohm. Trust me – without the basic tools of the trade you can make your circuit, but you probably won’t enjoy it as much as designing it yourself.
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### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/15 "2012-09-03T17:19:43Z")
I have bought a number of Sylvania 2700k led bulb replacements. I am generally quite pleased with them, except when they are on a dimmer, when their performance flickers some. They are supposed to be dimmable. The color is pleasing and other than the dimming and flickering issue, I give them no thought.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [September 3, 2012, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-basic-primer-on-led-lighting/597197/16 "2012-09-03T22:12:25Z")
Well, I sure the OP has done what he needed to do, but I thought I’d mention that I just recently installed under-cabinet lights using [these](http://www.ebay.com/itm/5M-300LED-5050-SMD-Pure-White-Flexible-Lamp-Light-Strip-/230847218272?pt=US_Car_Lighting&hash=item35bf910260) LEDs.
They look great, and provide a lot of light.