Replies

1. 
   junkhound | Feb 11, 2016 04:25pm | #1

   LED strips I have are only 1.5" by 1.75 inches, and the driver (looks like small ballast) onl 2" by 1". 

1. 
   user-5487038 | Feb 11, 2016 08:35pm | #2

   Recessed shelf

   thanks for the info....my main concern is aesthetic. To shallow and the lights might be seen from the floor area. To deep might hinder light diffusion.  Anybody have experience with these concerns.

   thanks

1. 
   spclark | Feb 12, 2016 10:37am | #3

   LED'S...

   ... are where lighting technology's going, for sure. Problem now is there's so many variables in their fabrication (size, lensing - if any, wattage vs. lumen output, color temperature...) without knowing what specifics instrument (fixture) you're working with, no convincing arguement can be made for any opinions you might get on this.

   Were I in your position I'd look to build a mock-up by which I, with the client being present, could get some idea of how these fixtures perform in an installation such as you've described. Then you can tweak the mock-up if need be to better suit your client's expectations.

2. 
   DanH | Feb 12, 2016 04:59pm | #4

   Keep in mind that if you make the recess too deep you can shim it out somehow, but it's harder to recover from making it too shallow.

1. 
   user-5487038 | Feb 12, 2016 05:12pm | #5

   LED lighting

   very good point...thanks!!!

   ,

1. 
   DanH | Feb 12, 2016 05:31pm | #6

   Yeah, with LED lighting being in its infancy I'd figure that the components are apt to be replaced 10 years from now with new stuff that is not the exact same form factor.  So leaving wiggle room (including, eg, a screwable surface at the back of the niche for its entire length) is probably a good idea.

3. 
   florida | Feb 15, 2016 12:43pm | #7

   We make a lot of these out of 2 X 4" and crown molding. Typically we use single bulb florscents for the main lighting and Led strips for mood lights. I buy the 16' strips from Amazon for about $4.00 each with drivers for about $8.00 each. They are very small and have adhesive backs. I just removed the florscents from a kitchen and used 3 strips of LEDs all around to match the wattage of the florscents. The customer loves them althought they are a little dim for me. They are cheap lights and as such I don't expect to get 20 years out of them but my experience so far has been that they'll go for at least 5. I priced name brand 16' Leds at a lighting store at $160.00 each so for the $150.00 savings we can just replace the strips when they burn out. They are available ina good range of K tempertures too.