Plinth with LED

At night is it always a problem, if you have to go to the toilet, because you need a light.

Until now we used the normal light, but this is really bright.

 

I had the idea to create a light which is more soft and serve the purpose.

 

So I started to develop a plinth with integrated LED´s. 

Watch the YouTube video or read the description below


The system consists of

  • 3 parts plinth
  • 2 connections (wires inside the floor) 
  • 2 LED bands incl. transformator (behind the cover of the floor heating)

 


During the building of our house I put hose and wires into the floor. This was only a preparation to use it now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The base for this project was some plinth (oak) which we use in the whole house.

 

I ordered 6m u-profil (17 x 7mm) together with an opal cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

First step was to cut all needed plinth elements to the right length and angle.

Therefore I used the one and only Festool Kapex 120. The adjustment at this mitre saw is very easy and quick.

 

The accuracy is marvelous!

 

Adjustment Festool 120 Kapex (EN): Link

Adjustment Festool 120 Kapex (DE): Link


After the cutting process I started to mill the groove into the plinth to put the u-profile inside.

 

Therefore I used a cutter with a diameter d = 17mm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I put the cutter to the router table and adjusted it to

a depth of 7mm and to the middle of the plinth.

 

 I made the groove within two passes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


To eliminate the roundness of the cutter at the end of the plinth I used a chisel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next step was to drill holes (3mm) for fixing the plinth on the floor and holes (8mm) to pass the connecting wires through. 

 

The 8mm holes I made at the beginning and the end of every plinth.


The woodworking activities were ready and so I could start with the elctrical part.

 

Therefore I ordered 2 LED bands (5m with 300 LED´s), 5 connectors and 2 connection cables (each 2m).

 

 

 

To pass the LED band through the hole it was necessary to cut the wires and solder them later to the LED band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was ready to fix the plinth with the LED´s on the floor I found out, that the diameter of the hose is to small to pass the wire with the plug through.

 

So I cut the wire of the LED band and from the connection cable too and soldered them directly together.

 

 

Finally I put the Opal cover to the u-profile.

  

 

The whole system is controlled by a central located motion detector. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan

  • Not existing

Material

  • Plinth (oak)
  • U-profil (Aluminium brown)
  • Cover (opal)
  • LED band 
  • Nails 
  • Wires

Tools

  • Festool Mitre saw KS120 EB Kapex
  • Festool Fastening clamp FSZ (2 pcs.)
  • Bosch router POF 1400
  • Ferm Router table
  • Cutter d=17mm
  • Bosch Table drilling machine PBD 40
  • Drill 8mm/ 3mm
  • Makita Driver drill kit
  • Wolfcraft clamps
  • Soldering station
  • Hand tools (Chisel, Screwdriver,...)

Lessons learned:

 

  • Take care that you have enough U-profile. I had 1m to less...
  • Do the milling process for the groove in more than one step. More steps give a more beautiful structur and the cutter has a longer lifetime.
  • Drill the holes large enough for passing the wires. In the other case you can destroy the LED band.
  • Take care that you have 2 LED bands from the same company. If you have two different ones there is a big risk that they have a different light colour. 
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