LED step light detail

[mike maines]

Has anyone used LED tape lights for step lighting? Our electrician suggests routing a groove into the underside of the tread to recess the light. I don't see why that wouldn't work but wonder if there is a more clever solution?

[dgbldr]

I worked on a 1940 house where every other step had a small round recessed light in the riser, with a glass cover. All flush and very nice, deco-looking. Soft diffused light, glass was opaque.

[tjbnwi]

No reason it will not work. Just make sure you check the diameter before routing.

I tried talking someone into doing this on the back of a cabinet face frame today. I have it planned for my next one.

These are Juno Track 12 routed into a hand rail. I've done it often. Using LED's next time.

Tom

[mike maines]

Tom, we used to use those Juno 12's a lot, including on the backside of face frame stiles. Great product IMO but our current electrician and some of our clients feel differently. The bulbs seem to burn out quickly.

For my step lights, you're right--it's not that complicated.

[tjbnwi]

Yes, the bulbs can be an issue. Juno now has LED modules to replace the bulbs, or just buy LED bulbs for the lamp holders.

The real advantage to the new LED "systems" is size. So many more places they will fit.

Tom

[mike maines]

Good to know they now have LED's, Tom. True about size, smaller is better. Insert joke here.

[David Meiland]

The idea of the routed groove makes sense, but you have to plan how each piece of tape is going to be fed. Is this stair between walls, open on one side, open on both sides?

[mike maines]

David, the steps are captured by an interior wall on one side and a cabinet on the other side, so the feed shouldn't be a problem as long as we plan for it.

[tjbnwi]

Feeding things like this I have never seen as an issue. Use 12-24 volt units and it becomes pretty easy. You just have to watch you amperage increase with the voltage decrease. Many of these I do as a ring system.

The railings are fed through the brackets.

Tom

[David Meiland]

With the LED tape light I've used, there are end connectors, power connectors, all sorts of pieces that have to be fit together. You could spend quite a bit of money buying enough parts to feed a dozen stair treads.

[tjbnwi]

Yes, it can get expensive. The rails shown weren't cheep. Then again most new technology is expensive.

Proper lighting can make or break a job. For some reason lighting always takes a back seat to rest of the plan.

Tom

[David Meiland]

I'm really trying to nail the lighting on the remodel of our place. Quality fixtures, LEDs, diffuse/indirect light but plenty of it, no bright spots, etc. Its takes a lot of planning. Most jobs don't have it. I have one remodel client I've done a lot for, he's a retired developer, he knows lighting from working with designers on large buildings, and his stuff always works out nicely.

[tjbnwi]

Lighting is one of the first things I work on, general, task, ambient, color, kelvin, beam spread.

The one I'm working on now was designed by a designer. I'm doing the best I can to salvage the mess called lighting. Ordered adjustable beam LED's. Can't figure out how to avoid a soffit shadow-----------yet. Facial shadows will be horrendous. One chandelier cannot physically fit the space due to NEC 410.10(D). Suggestions fall on deaf ears.

Tom

[Cheyenps]

David, the steps are captured by an interior wall on one side and a cabinet on the other side, so the feed shouldn't be a problem as long as we plan for it.

If your plan is to run the low voltage wiring in the wall, what sort of wiring will you use?

[mike maines]

I don't know Steve, whatever the electrician says we should use I suppose. What do you recommend?