Stair (tread) lights

[PaulSC]

Evening all,

I've being doing a number of jobs for a new customer recently, and he's dead keen (or rather his missus is) on LED lighting up his stairs in the wood aside and above the tread themselves - the kind of thing you used to see a lot of on TV house programmes. I personally think this is sooo last year, but hey what do I know :C

I'm guessing these will be pre-made CE marked LED units, though he hasn't speced them yet. I have a couple of questions for anyone who's done this type of work before:

1. If LED they will obviously have a driver. Where would you normally hide the unit? (If prewired sets, I guess you have limited lengths to work with)

2. How would you normally feed the wires up the riser to the required position?

Any other tips or words of wisdom would be appreciated. I imagine this would be a PITA, but don't want to turn anything away at the moment.

Kind regards

Paul

 

[Andy™]

fitted loads of them. usually use LED decking lights. they have a 5mtr cable, which goes to a junction box, which has a 5mtr cable which them plugs into transformer.

 

[PaulSC]

Thanks Andy,

In the second pic, are the holes above the skirting access points for the LED's? Did you have access from below? It's more of a practical quesion on getting from A to B.

Paul

 

[Andy™]

1st pic plastered wall, chase along top to get cables in

second pic, dot & dab, so small hole above each light, pulling more cables to the top as you go

 

[Robin Spark]

For my tuppence worth, if you have leds in the risers your blinded when going up, if in the treads blinded when going down so try to advise customer to have them in the sides as photos above.

 

[Robin Spark]

Here you go, leds in the treads and what it looks like from above. (hope you've got your sunglasses)

I did tell the customer it wasnt the greatest idea beforehand but he wouldnt listen and once his mind is made up then thats it!

 

[Badger]

personally thought it would have blinded people as they were walking up or down the stair case.

 

[batty]

what do the customers think though.

 

[Robin Spark]

Customer told me to get the blue leds from B&Q as that is what he done in his decking at home. However what he actually meant was he wanted to improve the lighting as the stairwell wasn't that well lit and he really wanted white leds.

If he actually told me he just wanted the lighting improved in the first place then I would have sorted that for him and advised accordingly.

So after putting in over 30 leds it actually meant that I had to go back at a later date and improve the ceiling lighting.

Customer was happy in the end but I thought it was a bit of a waste of money tbh.

 

[batty]

So this is in a house sorry thought it was a high class brothel or a nightclub.

 

[Andy™]

all customers ive fitted them for like them. fitted them in plinths & around baths etc aswell

they work well lighting up the stairs. the first pic of mine above is at my house

 

[batty]

I have fitted them and the white ones look ok but them blue ones are really not my cup of tea.

 

[Revved Up Sparky]

Paul I'm sure you'll be OK, I would recommend a step by step approach.......

 

[PaulSC]

What about the driver though? I guess technically its a connection so must be accessible. Where do you guys hide the box (I know every installation will be different)?

 

[Badger]

more than likely under the stairs in the cupboard :innoccent :^O

 

[Andy™]

usually under the stairs

 

[~Sparky~]

If its an open stair (no cupboard under stair) we put it in a twin box with a blank plate... 9 times out of 10 the customer puts something in front of the blank plate and its hidden but still accesable.....

 

[Technician]

Come back Led Zeppelin, all is forgiven...what do these things

consume power wise, as a matter of interest?

 

[Badger]

about 10watts i think we have 45 in the decking :^O

 

[Technician]

Thanks Badger;...I think LZ were kicking out a bit more than that.