I'm making a lightbox to house a strip light behind a large photographic print. I'd like to use relatively thin (i.e. light) plastic. I looked into using foam PVC, but it's not very heat resistant and I'm worried it would melt.
Any suggestions?
Lighting – What heat resistant plastic should I use for a lightbox
lightingplastic
Related Solutions
I've used a similar process to restore hazed automotive headlights. 3M sells a kit that is used with a power drill and includes all the required materials.
I've used this kit and was happy with the results. I'm not affiliated with 3M.
What watt power transformer should I be using?
You can use a power supply like the one pictured, rated for the amount of LED's you will be driving. Read the specs on the lighting. They should tell you how many watts per a given length of the strip. So if it says, for example, that needs about 1 watt per meter, then a 15-foot section would require a 5 watt power supply. Take your total length of 76 feet, and divide by the strip's requirements. It wouldn't surprise me if you ended up somewhere in the ballpark of 20 to 30 watts.
Can I run 14 gauge wire directly from a circuit 15 amp breaker to the transformer?
No. You can't put the power supply inside the wall, and you can't bring the wire out of the wall without going through a junction box. The best way to do this is to put a cord on that power supply, and plug it into an existing outlet. There is no need whatsoever to add a new circuit or connect these directly to a circuit breaker.
Can I plug in all 5 circuits of LED strips on top of each other to the output of the transformer?
Yes, you can wire multiple strings in parallel at the power supply. If the sections are short, you can also wire them end-to-end. Double-check the specs for maximum length of a single run.
Is this the recommended way of doing what I'm trying to accomplish?
The recommended way is to plug into an existing outlet. If your lighting requirements added up to 1000 watts, you'd want a new circuit. At 20, 30 or 50 watts, it is ridiculously small in household circuit requirements.
I would also like to add a on/off switch, do they make a wall switch for 12v?
Any switch can be used for 12v. I would put the switch before the power supply. Put a cord on the power supply like this cord with switch.
Can low volt wires come right out of the wall, or do they need a junction box before being connected to the LED strip lights?
The low voltage wires don't need a junction box, but they do need a junction plate, like those used for phone jacks.
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Best Answer
I'm not sure if you are still looking for strips but using these may help you with the heat problem.
They are slim, 7/8" by 1-5/8", not overly expensive and have a lens over them. They can even be mounted on their sides. These would be cooler to run. On the plastic, I'm not sure if just want to color the light or turn it into a part of the art piece, like lighting the ends for effects like that.
The nice thing is that there are similar brands so you can get something similar in you area. Another type of lighting you can use is LED, but it would be 3 or 4 times the price of these.
On the plastic you can always use a piece of opaque white lens from recessed lighting. You should be able to get them at a lighting store or at a DIY box store, or even an arts and crafts store.