LED Driver

[neil_ev]

I have recently bought a reel of SMD LED strip lighting. I know it's suggested that you use an LED driver to power these but they seem very expensive. I was wandering if I could use a standard electronic transformer used for powering LV spotlights, as long as I meet the minimum load?

I struggle to see why not but am open to correction.

thanks. neil

 

[telectrix]

first of all, what do the instructions say and what is the recommended voltage applied?

 

[neil_ev]

standard 12VDC. the strip takes 5W/M

 

[MDJ]

I doubt it will work, LEDs need uninteruppted power supply drivers to help them work, I know electronic Transformers will not be able to give an uniteruppted supply, you will have to buy the driver with a low voltage LED system.

 

[neil_ev]

I doubt it will work, LEDs need uninteruppted power supply drivers to help them work, I know electronic Transformers will not be able to give an uniteruppted supply, you will have to buy the driver with a low voltage LED system.

OK. so by uninterrupted you mean not a SMPS, which I guess is what the electronic transformers are.

thanks for the info

 

[telectrix]

if they're 12Vdc use a car battery and charge when necessary.

 

[neil_ev]

if they're 12Vdc use a car battery and charge when necessary.

they're under-cabinet lights for a kitchen. think a car battery might look a bit out of place.....

 

[telectrix]

on top of the wall units. usually piled with junk, anyway.or a 12Vdc psu, as used gor cctv cameras. available maplins and virtually anywhere.

 

[neil_ev]

I doubt it will work, LEDs need uninteruppted power supply drivers to help them work, I know electronic Transformers will not be able to give an uniteruppted supply, you will have to buy the driver with a low voltage LED system.

Sorry, just twigged. the Transformers used for LV spots are 12VAC not 12VDC as the LED driver are.

 

[telectrix]

see post 8. 12v dc psu. costa round £5 upwards.

 

[MDJ]

Tel to ensure the LEDs are guranteed under warrenty it is best to use a driver and not cut corners, these manufacturers these days will void anything which they do not recommend, anyhow, I don't think the drivers are that expensive myself, the cost of a decent cree LED is more than expensive.

 

[neil_ev]

see post 8. 12v dc psu. costa round £5 upwards.

I'm pretty sure they will have a greater minimum load than 5-10W. I think this is why designated LED divers are around £20, as they work down at that level

 

[ian.settle1]

Which LED driver will depend on how the LEDs are connected it could be a constant voltage or constant current driver.

 

[DPG]

The LED strip I've used (cheapies off ebay) has been 12V rated and fine to run from any 12VDC power suppy. Current limiting has been handled in the strip. Daz

 

[Farmelectrics]

Follow the manufactors instructions

 

[electric will]

Edited
dumb post by me

 

[higgi17]

I supply and install alot of LED Strip lighting. I find caged power supplies up to 150W 12V DC drive LED very well but if you group a few together on a circuit they sometimes cause RCD's to trip probably through leakage. There are some decent 60W LED drivers online from UK suppliers around the £13 mark which look like slightly larger transformers. As already mentioned they need a constant power supply, I haven't seen any standard transformers drive LED without causing flickering or some other problem.
Most strip is supplied now at 12V DC allthough some do still get 24V DC strip but I have yet to use that to see what benefits it has over 12V DC.