How to install cove lights, tips and considerations

There are lot of things to do before you start to install your LED Coves. In this tutorial we have tried to show and explain the most important steps of getting a LED Coving light in the most efficient and easiest way.

1. Draw a layout of ceiling

2. Make precise measurement

3. Decide the purpose Lighting

4. Decide how to switch & control  

5. Make the cable layout plan

6. Carry out the cabling

7. Install the Coves

8. Install the LED strips into the Coves

There are lot of things to do before you start to install your LED Coves. In this tutorial we have tried to show and explain the most important steps of getting a LED Coving light in the most efficient and easiest way.

1. Draw a layout of the ceiling

2. Make precise measurement

3. Decide the purpose Lighting

4. Decide how to switch & control  

5. Make the cable layout plan

6. Carry out the cabling

7. Install the Coves with adhesive

8. Install the LED strips into the

    Coves

Draw the layout of the ceiling with precise measurement

This step is very important for further planning. The total length (perimeter) is not enough for planning. The length of single wall is necessary. It is important (if you know) to mark the position where the main supply cable will enter to the coving area. Please calculate with some waste at the corners. 

decide the purpose of the cove lighting

The type of LED Strip, Dimmer, Controller, Driver depends on the purpose of lighting.

It is also very important because cables are advised to be installed before the coves and the cable specification, number of cables and caballing layout are all depends of the purpose of the lighting eventually the power and type of the LED strips.

Cove lighting is suitable for decorative/mood lighting, supportive lighting, main lighting or the combination of the above. 

For mood lighting a single LED strip is used which can be white (most frequently warm white) or multi-color (RGB).

For main lighting a single extra high bright white LED strip is advised (1800Lumen/metre +). By decreasing the brightness, it will transform to mood light. 

Combination of both: It is also possible to use 2 LED strips, for example high density RGB LED Strip for mood function and an extra high bright white LED strip for main lighting function, then they can be controlled with RGBW remote controller to allow mixing the colors, increasing and decreasing the brightness or running animations. Using 2 LED strips will obviously increase the complexity of planning, cabling and installation time. 

decide the purpose of the cove lighting

The type of LED Strip, Dimmer, Controller, Driver depends on the purpose of lighting.

It is also very important because cables are advised to be installed before the coves and the cable specification, number of cables and caballing layout are all depends of the purpose of the lighting eventually the power and type of the LED strips.

Cove lighting is suitable for decorative/mood lighting, supportive lighting, main lighting or the combination of the above. 

For mood lighting a single LED strip is used which can be white (most frequently warm white) or multi-color (RGB).

For main lighting a single extra high bright white LED strip is advised (1800Lumen/metre +). By decreasing the brightness, it will transform to mood light. 

Combination of both: It is also possible to use 2 LED strips, for example high density RGB LED Strip for mood function and an extra high bright white LED strip for main lighting function, then they can be controlled with RGBW remote controller to allow mixing the colors, increasing and decreasing the brightness or running animations. Using 2 LED strips will obviously increase the complexity of planning, cabling and installation time. 

Decide how to switch and control the cove light

Using only your existing traditional wall switch (in this case you will not be able to dim the light). However you can install a manual dimmer beside the power supply to control the brightness. 
 
Using you existing traditional wall switch combined with handheld remote controller (in this case the wall switch will switch on/off the entire system. Our RF dimmers have built in memory function, so they remember for the last state of light.  When you switch on the light it will switch on according to the last state). YOU DO NOT NEED TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE ROOM, but the power supply has to have direct wire connection with your wall switch.
 
Using only handheld remote controller. You will be able to switch on and off and control the brightness of your lighting system with a simple remote controller. No matter where the controlling system/power supply is installed, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE ROOM.  
 
Using only wall touch panel with no remote controller. With the wall touch panel you will be able to switch on and off and control the brightness of your lighting system with a simple remote controller. No matter where the controlling system/power supply is installed, YOU DO NOT NEED TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE ROOM. The connection between the wall switch and dimmer/power supply is wireless.
 
Using wall touch panel combined with remote controller. Both the wall switch and the remote controller are act as remote controller. There is no need to direct cable connection between them and the dimmer and power supply.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO REWIRE THE ENTIRE ROOM. The connection between the wall switch and dimmer/power supply is wireless.

As you can see there are many options and you do not need to rewire the whole house or room for LED Cove Lighting. In terms of controlling there are many further options beside RF, such as 0-10V, TRIAC, DMX512 even combined with RF radio controlling.

Make a cable layout plan

The Cove lighting is composed of the Coves, Aluminium bar, LED strips, cables, LED Dimmer and Power Supply (LED Driver). In certain cases, Dimmable LED Driver can also be used instead of LED Dimmer and Dimmable LED Driver.

Once you know where the Dimmer and driver will be placed you can start to plan the cabling, including the types and thicknesses of cables and the layout.

In rectangular room if the total length of two adjacent walls are not more then 5m one corner supply is usually enough. However if it is longer than 5m, but not significantly longer than 10m it is advised to supply from the two opposite corners, otherwise the voltage drop along the LED strip will result in decreased brightness on the opposite sides. The following two pictures show the most frequent scenarios. The blue dots show the point where the cables enter into the room behind the cove. The red lines represent wires running behind the cove and the 2 RED dots represent the area where the wires go into the cove at the corner. These are the points where the two adjacent led strips are connected to the wire. The necessary thickness of the cable running behind the cove has to be calculated for safety reason and in order to avoid significant voltage drop.

 

LED cable planning needs expertise, the thickness of the cable(s) depends on lot of factors, please consult with professional, ask your electrician or contact us for help. 

Cabling, how to hide the cabling

Cables can be hidden behind the coves and/or within the coves. We prefer to hide the cables behind the coves as there is more space there and it is easier to hide the cables at the corners this way. On the right scenario a part of the led cove has been cut by the installer in order to easier installation.

 

Cove LED light hide cablesCove LED light dimension

You can easily fix the cables to the wall using cable tie mount with adhesive back or cable clip with adhesive back. You do not need to use too many, just to keep the cables at the edge until the cove is installed. See the pictures below. The cove adhesive is strong enough to hold the cables then.

Cove hide cable with cable tie
How to hide cable behind coving
Cove how to hide cabling at the corner

Install the coves using cove adhesive

XPS Coves are installed using construction adhesive so called Cove adhesive. Cove adhesives are available in most of large hardware stores.

You can cut the cove using fine teeth panel saw using firm positive saw movements. Electric saw can also be used.

For corner parts you need to mitre cut, for this use mitre block – available from us or form most of the hardware stores.

1) Apply adhesive on the back side and top side of the cove. You have to use the adhesive both on the top and on the back. 

2) Push the Cove into place to the edge between the ceiling and the wall. You can move it right and left a bit to spread the adhesive evenly on the surface. 

3) Do the same with the next and align them each other.

4) Wait until the adhesive is set.

5) Fill the joints! Apply coving adhesive or painter caulk to the joint between the cove and ceiling. You can remove the excess with your finger.

6) Fill the joints! Use the same method between the cove and wall. 

7) Fill the gaps! Coving adhesive and caulk also work well to fill any small gaps between the cove joints.

8) Sanding the gaps. Once it is dried, the joints can be sanded smooth with number 320 sanding paper.

9) Use Primer! Use one coat of primer before you overpaint the cove. 

10) Paint it! Use wall paint to paint over the cove.

Always keep the inner side of the cove clean particularly the area for the led strips/aluminium bar.

Install the led strips into the cove

 

You have two options.

1) You can cut the aluminum bar (L or I shape) to size, put them into their place, solders/connect the led strip to each other and then stick them to the bars,

or

2) if you have at least 2 helpers you can stick the led strips to the bars first before placing them into the coves.

The most important you have to have the tail cables ready for connecting to the corner cable or cables. 

So, you will have led strip with tail cables which need to be connected to the supply point(s).

These connections can be made by A) soldering B) quick connection using quick connectors, C) quick connections using ferrules.

This all down do you or your electricians’ capabilities.

We have installed one or two led strips using both methods. All worked.
If you want to achieve mood light, the I bar is sufficient.

However, if you want to have mail light the L bar is advised, same as if you want to use RGB and single-color light together.

The direction of light can be adjusted by tile wedges, see below.

 Cove led light installation

Edition of this page is in progress..g.

Product added to wishlist
Product added to compare.

This website uses cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. More information and the cookie preferences are available on our Privacy Policy page.