strip LEDs

IJWS15 · 27 May 2021

I have to replace some under cabinet flourescents in the kitchen and rather than do a like for like was looking at LED tape, but then it gets complicated.

Considering RGBW and dimmable (she wants green but will change her mind and white cabability would be useful).

Now I understand that I will need a power supply and a controller (ideally with remote) but the controller is downstream of the power supply so surely the power supply does not need to be capable of dimming, it will always provide 12v (or 24v) to the controller which does the dimming as they won't be dimmed by varying the mains supply.

Mains supply -> Power suppy -> Controller -> LED strip.

Am I correct?

flameport · 27 May 2021

Yes. Power supply just needs to be the correct voltage output (12 or 24 usually) and a suitable power rating for the LED tape that's connected to it.

AndyPRK · 28 May 2021

Some I purchased recently was 1A per meter (white only! So not 2 or 3 colours at once) which rather surprised me.

personally I’d probably use slyvinia led white tubes. (Wickes or Screwfix ) I think they will last longer and give less grief.
You can daisy chain them.

ericmark · 28 May 2021

It is law that lights must show lumen output when advertised, but not decoration, so if you want to look good anything will do, but if you want to see using it then look at lumen output.

Typical LED is 60 to 100 lumen per watt, some detective lighting down to 25 lumen per watt.

bernardgreen · 28 May 2021

Running 12 Volt simple White LED strips like this

on a 10 Volt DC supply will greatly extend the life of the LED elements and still provide ample light.

Some of these strips when fed the rated voltage are running at maximum current through the elements and over time the elements degrade givng les light than when new,

IJWS15 · 29 May 2021

Is that as simple as a 10v power supply instead of a 12v or does it need some black magic with resistors?

bernardgreen · 29 May 2021

IJWS15 said:
Is that as simple as a 10v power supply instead of a 12v

Just that......no changing of resistors

Adam_151 · 29 May 2021

I ended up using some LED Neon last year to re-do a Christmas rope light silhouette that use a filement rope light that was more out than working. Used 12V LED neon and drove it via LM2596 modules which I ended up setting at about 9v if I recall as it was plenty bright enough and the current draw was sensible, I can remember thinking at the time that the LEDS must be driven very hard if the strip was supplied with 12V

SUNRAY · 29 May 2021

I have a 8 pointed cross for my outside Christmas tree made with clear plastic 20mm tube and plastic besa boxes. Initially I used standard push-in fairy light bulbs soldered into suitable strips, then some other wire ended bulbs but both were proving unreliable in the wind. Next I got some LED lights after Christmas in the sale and cut up/rebuilt which lasted the best but by the end of 2019 there were failures. leading to lat year i used HD white tape, doubled over to make it double sided. By far the best look so far. Initially i used a 12V transformer and 4x 1N4004 bridge rectifier which measured about 11.5Vdc and 3.8Aac. Using a 9V transformer gives me about 8.8Vdc and under 2Aac with no blatant loss of light output. Having not done an a-b comparison I can't give a critical description but it is still very bright in the night sky.

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strip LEDs

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