Fibre optic star ceiling – how to choose the light engine and fibres

Planning stars on a ceiling – in a bedroom, a living room or for a client – and not sure which light engine to buy, how many metres of fibre to order and where the usual mistakes are made? This guide walks you through the selection step by step, with ready calculations.

Good news first: we have resumed sales of fibre optic star ceiling products. The 2K-TRADE range again includes RGB+CCT and RGBW LED light engines, optical fibre on reels Ø 0.75 mm and Ø 1.0 mm and ready-made bundles – all in the fibre optic lighting category.

In short:

• the number of stars a light engine can feed depends on the fibre diameter – Ø 1.0 mm means almost half as many fibres as Ø 0.75 mm,
• fibre length is measured from the light engine to the point on the ceiling – measure the longest route first,
• two light engine outputs do not always mean two independent zones,
• the light engine needs ventilation and service access.

What is a fibre optic star ceiling?

A star ceiling (also called a starry sky ceiling) is decorative lighting in which hundreds of tiny light points spread across the ceiling imitate the night sky. The light source is not a diode in every point but a single LED light engine hidden above the ceiling. Light from the engine enters a bundle of thin optical fibres, and their ends, brought out through the ceiling, shine like stars.

The effect is used mainly in stretch ceilings and suspended plasterboard ceilings – wherever there is space above the ceiling surface for the light engine and the fibre routes.

How does fibre optic lighting work?

An optical fibre has a transparent core surrounded by a cladding with a lower refractive index. Light reflects inside the core (total internal reflection) and travels along the fibre to its end. Core and cladding are dielectrics – materials that do not conduct electricity. In practice this means:

• all the electronics sit in one place – the light engine,
• the “star” points in the ceiling hold no diodes or wiring, only fibre ends,
• colour, brightness and effects are changed centrally by controlling the light engine.

LED light engines for star ceilings – our range

We offer four light engines. They differ in the number of outputs, power, capacity (number of fibres) and control.

Net prices in EUR, excluding VAT, price list 09/2026. Maximum number of fibres per output according to the data sheets.

RGB+CCT or RGBW – what is the difference?

RGB+CCT (16 W and 30 W models) gives RGB colours plus white tunable from warm 2700 K to cool 6500 K. A good choice when the stars should shine both in colour and in a natural warm white – in a bedroom, for example.

RGBW (50 W model) gives RGB colours and a separate cool-white 6500 K channel without colour-temperature adjustment. The light engine has a flush-mounted touch wall panel and app control.

Which light engine for which ceiling?

Fibres for star ceilings – reels and a ready-made bundle

We offer fibres in two forms: on reels – for preparing a bundle of any lengths yourself – and as a ready-made bundle.

The ready-made bundle is 550 fibres of uniform 4 m length (2200 m of fibre in total). It suits ceilings where 4 m reaches from the light engine to the farthest point. We confirm the match of the bundle to a specific light engine in the quotation.

How to choose the number and length of fibres

The number of fibres a light engine can feed depends on their diameter, not only on the power. A thicker Ø 1.0 mm fibre gives a sharper point, but fewer of them fit one output than Ø 0.75 mm fibres.

Worked example: 550 fibres × 4 m = 2200 m. A 2700 m reel (Ø 0.75 mm) leaves about 500 m spare. With 4 m pieces one reel yields about 675 fibres Ø 0.75 mm or about 375 fibres Ø 1.0 mm (1500 m reel) – excluding waste and reserve.

The calculation ignores trimming and different route lengths, so start by measuring the distance from the light engine to the farthest point on the ceiling.

Control from a phone – app, remote, panel

All light engines connect to a phone over Bluetooth:

• RGB+CCT 16 W and 30 W – remote plus the iStar Lighting app (Android / iOS),
• RGBW 50 W – touch wall panel plus the My Smart LED app.

The RGB+CCT models offer, among others:

• colour and brightness control – white 2700–6500 K and RGB colours with brightness and saturation,
• star twinkle effect – smooth 1–100 on the 16 W, five levels on the 30 W,
• light scenes and a schedule – automatic switching on and off,
• music mode – the light reacts to music or to sound from the phone microphone.

Star ceiling in a stretch or suspended ceiling – how is it installed?

The light engine is mounted above the ceiling and the fibre bundle runs from it to the places where the stars will appear. In a stretch ceiling the fibre ends are brought out through holes made in the membrane and fixed. In a suspended plasterboard ceiling, holes matching the fibre diameter are drilled, the ends are passed through, secured and then trimmed.

When planning the installation keep a few rules in mind:

• service access – leave room to connect the bundle and the power supply and to reach the light engine later,
• ventilation – do not block the vents and do not mount the light engine in a closed, unventilated recess,
• dimensions – the 16 W housing is 104 × 79 × 67 mm, the 30 W 132 × 88 × 132 mm, the 50 W 150 × 150 × 90 mm (without space for the bundle and cables).

Each light engine comes with a connection manual (PDF on the product page). Electrical installation should be done by a qualified person. For stretch ceilings we also recommend Starsky fibre-light pins – the three star ceiling methods are described in our article Fibre optic LED lighting – how to turn your ceiling into a starry sky.

How much does a fibre optic star ceiling cost?

The material cost depends on the ceiling size, the number of stars and the chosen light engine. For example, a kit with the RGB+CCT 16 W light engine (1 output, €69 net) and a ready-made bundle of 550 fibres × 4 m (€179 net) is €248 net for the materials. For large ceilings the 30 W light engine with two bundles, or fibre from a reel cut to length, is the better fit.

Labour and the stretch ceiling itself are priced by the installation company – they are not part of our material quotation.

Frequently asked questions

How do you make a fibre optic star ceiling in a stretch ceiling?

Count the points and measure the longest route from where the light engine will sit, choose the fibre diameter and a light engine from the table above, order a reel or a ready-made bundle. The light engine goes above the ceiling (ventilated, with service access); the fibre ends are brought out through holes in the membrane, fixed and trimmed.

Do the fibres in the ceiling conduct electricity?

No. An optical fibre carries only light – core and cladding are dielectrics. Power and electronics are only in the light engine.

Which fibre diameter to choose: Ø 0.75 mm or Ø 1.0 mm?

A Ø 1.0 mm fibre makes a larger light point, but a light engine feeds fewer of them – e.g. the 16 W model up to 300 instead of up to 550 fibres Ø 0.75 mm. The diameter is chosen to suit the ceiling design and the output capacity.

Fibre optic star ceiling or LED points – what is the difference?

In the fibre optic version the ceiling holds only fibre ends – no diodes, wiring or heat in each point – and a single source (the light engine) controls the whole sky. That is why the points can be as fine as real stars, and colour and twinkle change with one remote or in the app.

Can I control the star ceiling from my phone?

Yes. The RGB+CCT light engines work with the iStar Lighting app and the RGBW 50 W with the My Smart LED app. The connection is over Bluetooth.

Are two light engine outputs two independent zones?

On the RGB+CCT 16 W with two outputs both outputs are controlled together – they do not form two independent zones.

Do you sell to stretch ceiling installers?

Yes. We work with installation companies and prepare quotations for specific projects. Availability, delivery time and kit contents are confirmed in the quotation.

Ask for a star ceiling quotation

To prepare a quotation we need: the ceiling area and layout, the number of light points, the fibre lengths and the preferred control method. See the products in the fibre optic lighting category or write to us.