My project is to improve the lighting of the classrooms at a local school. Can anyone recommend some good high-end LED Strips to be used in the classrooms and hallways? Which are the best retailers to buy from?

 

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Why is this in Homework Help?

Can anyone recommend some good high-end LED Strips to be used in the classrooms and hallways?

Not sure what you mean by "LED Strips". You'd be better off looking for drop-in LED replacements for whatever they're using now. If I was involved with district management, I certainly wouldn't want some homebrew/DIY lighting to be used in any of my schools.

Which are the best retailers to buy from?

It's not the retailers you need to be worried about; it's the manufacturers. Most seem reputable, but I had a warranty problem with Philips. They were the first, or one of the first, with a 75W (100W) bulb that had a 22 year warranty. They didn't even respond to my warranty replacement request, and those bulbs weren't cheap.

I like Cree. They don't quibble over warranty replacements, and I've had a few.

 

If you are talking about the cheap DIY strips, they are not really good for illumination, they are more accent or decorating lights. Go to a commercial lighting provider for this.

 

LED light strips can be good for primary lighting but for something like a classroom in a school you'll probably get better bang for your buck with commercial lighting options. If you really want to try strips though, look for high density SMD 3528 LED strips, approx 72 LED per foot. Because they are high density they will produce a lot of heat as well, so you will need to make sure you mount those inside of aluminum channel or some other metal enclosure to act as a heatsink.

 

Welcome to AAC.

If you are actually planning to install these LED strips it is very important to keep in mind that they are not permanent. Like all heat-generating electronic components, they will eventually fail and need replacement.

Designing the installation so they can be replaced is very important. You must also:

1. Buy at least a couple of spares so replacement is possible for the first failures. These may come earlier than expected and the exact replacement may no longer be possible. This includes the LED drivers/power supplies.
   
   
2. Document everything about where they were purchased, part numbers, specifications (so equivalents can be found), cost, etc. so more can be purchased as needed. This includes the LED drivers/power supplies.
   
   
3. Document everything about the installation with wiring diagrams, schematics (as needed) and BoM (Bill of Materials—the parts list).
   
   
4. Provided a troubleshooting guide so someone can determine what might need replacement.
   
   
5. Provide a how-to guide on replacing each part, and on installing new ones if expansion is desired.

Documentation should not be an afterthought. It is an essential part of a complete project. You are almost certainly going to be gone when the time comes to do any maintenance or expansion. This will be your legacy and whether people have find memories of you or curse your name every time one of these strips starts flashing like there’s a rave in progress will be determined mostly by the documentation.

Keep in mind, too, that if they call you for help it may only be the documentation that determines whether you avoid their call because you realize you have no idea how to help, or answer it and cement your hero status.