Tape Lighting

[zg825]

I am about to build out my basement and haven't touched my ISY system since I set it up about a year and half ago. I learned a lot while setting it up, but have since forgotten about what I learned (i'm sure it will come back once i get back into it). I am looking to build a tray ceiling and install rope lighting. I'd like to buy a rope lighting system with everything intact (a controller, light, transformer) that works well with ISY.  I'd like to go for the simplest system and was curious if anyone had any ideas on one? I saw philips HUE, but it is a pricey as I will need to do a pretty decent area, about 40 SF of rope light. 

Appreciate any guidance anyone can give

[Bumbershoot]

You might check with @Scottmichaelj to see if he still has any of these left for sale.

I'll bet you can control these network resources, or better, with a Polyglot nodeserver (requires 5.x.x firmware).

[larryllix]

Look for past threads. This was elaborated on in some detail including photos of all the components. You will require a WiFi controller, 5 pin connectors (RGBW) with pigtail wires, and PSU = 12Vdc @ 2-3 amperes for each 5m of RGBW LED string. I have combined two 5m strings on one 12v, 5 amp power supply in some cases.

You will also require a RPi or PolISY to run polyglot on if you use the MagicHome NS. It can be done with NRs only and no additional hardware.

The RGBWW strips provide a lovely white suitable for all around usage, while the colours are all brilliant and deep. Each 5m will cost you about $50 per length. Do NOT attempt to cascade longer than the 5m lengths on one controller. The brilliance will diminish.

 

[lilyoyo1]

When I built my home, I went with line voltage lights where I didn't need colors as I didn't want to go through different transformers down the road should one go bad. I also thought about future homeowners experience as well should they need to replace one. 

For color changing areas I went with hue. While expensive, I felt it was worth the cost. It's ecosystem is pretty much supported by most systems so it wouldn't lock me into 1 thing. The fact that there are other uses outside of automation was appealing as well. 

[zg825]

Thanks for the info. Lilyoyo1, good point on colors and transfering to next person. Maybe I'll just stick to a standard white led. Do I need something special or it's just a standard transformer? Anyone that you recommend?

[lilyoyo1]

The ones I have are driverless so I don't need a transformer. Should you go with something that requires a transformer, magnitude works really well with insteon

[GPritchard]

I have a Magnitude transformer for my ceiling-tapelights (uplighting, in a dropped-tray around the edge... 1950's home ).

The only dimmer I've found that will work with Magnitude is the Leviton DZ1KD... maybe another will work (Lutron??), but it MUST BE RATED as a Magnetic Low Voltage (MLV) dimmer (otherwise, it will be noisy, buzz and flicker, then trip the Magnitude internal circuit-breaker).  I tried Insteon at first - no go!  Then a GE switch rated for MLV, but it didn't work (buzzed, flickered, tripped).

 

My ISY 994i with Z-Wave module works well to control the DZ1KD.

 

Parts:

-DZ1KD (rated 1000VA if nothing else is in the box; I bet the PowerFactor of the Magnitude supply is 0.6 or even worse... meaning 600W capacity max - 100% extra)

-Magnitude M300L12DC (300W transformer supply - 100% extra)

-150W of LED tapelights

 

 

Good luck!

[midrar]

When I remodeled my kitchen, I installed a single color LED under cabinet lighting. They were 12V and I installed a strip under each bank of cabinets. I then tied each of my 5 separate strips of LED lights that ranged from 2-6 ft each to one 5 amp transformer in a accessible location. Transformer plugged directly to an outletlinc but a switchlinc non dimmer could of worked.