LED power supply 12 volts. Power supplies for LED strips. Power supply assembly process

It is known that the most commonly used power supplies for LED strips are 12 volts. Only their power can be different - it depends on how many LEDs you plan to connect. In Russia, the standard voltage in a household network is 220 volts. In industry, a network with an interphase voltage of 380 V is used. By the way, between zero and any of the phases, the voltage is 220 V.

Therefore, if there is a need to connect an LED strip, you will have to lower the voltage to an acceptable value - this is 12 volts, and the current must be constant. The presence of large voltage drops is unacceptable - this will lead to the fact that the brightness will change, which is not very convenient for vision. And the most important thing in this case is that the resource of the LEDs will decrease.

Power supply features

To power the LED strips, it is necessary to use special blocks that have a stable output voltage. Therefore, the choice of this device must be approached with all seriousness. The source for connecting to LED strips must produce a voltage of 12 or 24 volts. They must operate over a wide temperature range. The metal case must prevent mechanical damage, and also prevent the passage of impulse noise.

When connecting, carefully study the manual and the diagram to prevent a short circuit. Be sure to use blocks that have a slightly higher power than the tape. For example, one 100W unit can easily power three 20W tapes. In order to ensure the normal functioning of the entire lighting system, it is necessary to have a power reserve - approximately 25-30%. In other words, if there is led strip power of 100 W, you need a unit with a capacity of at least 125 W.

Tape connection

To connect the rectifier and the LED strip, you must use copper wires with a cross section of at least 1.5 square meters. mm. It is desirable that the wire be two-core and colored. Standard colors are brown, black, red, pink, white. It is advisable to use red, brown, pink to connect to the positive terminal. For connection to a negative source - black or white. This will make repairs much easier later on.

If you need to connect two or more tapes, they must be connected in parallel. When doing this, be sure to observe the polarity so that the LEDs do not fail. But such a scheme is acceptable if a powerful block can be used. If it is not possible to install one, then each tape must be powered from a separate small-sized source.

When connecting small sources to an alternating current network, it is enough to use a wire with a cross section of 0.75 square meters. mm. The advantage of this connection scheme is that DC voltage sources are small in size and can be installed anywhere.

Where to install power supplies?

Be sure to take into account several factors in order to choose the most suitable place for installing the unit.

If you are choosing a place to install a 12V power supply for an LED strip, you need the following items:

1. The scheme that will be used to connect devices.
2. The total number of rectifiers.
3. Overall dimensions of the device.

To install a large appliance, you need to make a special niche in the wall or furniture. You can even place it on a shelf in your closet. The main thing here is that it should be inconspicuous. Small-sized sources can be mounted in such places:

1. Under the ceiling lining.
2. In case of plasterboard walls you can put a block under them.
3. For concrete walls an acceptable option with the manufacture of a niche, which can be done with a drill or puncher.

Power supplies not sealed

There are several types of power supplies for 12 volt LED strips. Leaky or open ones are used to power tapes in non-residential premises, or in residential closed ones.

They have a very large weight and dimensions, marking IP20. The case is perforated, made of metal. Perforation allows for more efficient heat dissipation from circuit elements. You can install such devices in hardware niches or special cabinets. It is not recommended to use in the bathroom or basement - such devices are not protected from moisture.

Sealed power supplies

Most often, such devices are used for equipment installed on the street. The body is made of aluminum sheets. The dimensions of blocks of this type are very large, the mass is also sometimes more than 1 kg. But they have very good protection against all negative environmental influences - direct sun rays frost, rain and snow.

Marking of devices - IP66. A 100 watt source is enough to power two LED strips. Such blocks are used exclusively for powering signs located on the street. Of course, they can also be installed indoors, but this is impractical - the cost of sealed power supplies is much higher than all-weather ones.

Semi-sealed power supplies

If you choose a power supply for a 12V LED strip, then pay attention to all-weather or semi-sealed. The degree of protection of such devices is IP54, the case is made of high-quality metal. Some power supplies are enclosed in a plastic case, which does not underestimate their merits. Moisture does not get inside, the weight and dimensions of the device are quite small. The advantage is that this type of power supply can be easily hidden in any niche of a room or furniture. The power of this type of device usually does not exceed 75 watts.

Power supply power calculation

When choosing the capacity of the power supply, load characteristics are taken into account. If tapes with low power are connected, then a 40 W power supply will suffice. If the total power of the tapes is large, then a power supply unit of at least 500 watts may be required. To make a more accurate calculation, you need to know the following parameters:

1. The total number of LEDs included in the circuit.
2. According to the tables, determine the total power of one running meter LED strip.
3. The total length of the LED strip.
4. Be sure to consider the coefficient for the margin - about 1.2.

Power calculation example:

1. It is necessary to determine the total load. To do this, you need to know the power consumption of 1 meter and the total length of the tape. This data is multiplied.
2. Knowing the total load power, you can calculate the voltage source parameter - for this it must be multiplied by the safety factor.

In the event that the design has an RGB controller, it is necessary to take into account the power that it consumes. Usually the value is not more than 5 watts.

Most Popular Models

Before choosing a power supply for a 12V LED strip, you need to carefully study the market. There are many models of devices, each of which has disadvantages and advantages. Here is a list of the most common versions:

1. PV-15 - of all devices, it is he who is the most low-power. The block is used to connect LED strips (voltage 12 Volts). The power of the device does not exceed 15 watts. The case is protected from moisture, made of aluminum. Inside there is a filter that protects the device from power surges. The resource of the device is at least 200 thousand hours. The cost of the product is 550-600 rubles, it can be placed outdoors.
2. PV-40 - devices similar to the previous ones, but the power is higher (40 W). It is used to power LED strips, the output voltage is 12 and 24 V. The cost of the device is about 1000 rubles.
3. A feature of the LV-50 model is that it has a completely sealed plastic case. Perfectly copes with voltage drops in the network, short circuits. Used to power outdoor LED strips. It can be used in the temperature range -25..+40 degrees Celsius. Its resource is over 200 thousand hours and the cost is about 1000 rubles.
4. LPV-100 is a 100W switching type power supply. It can be used to connect LED strips that require 12 or 24 V to be powered. The design has built-in short circuit and overvoltage protection. The resource of the device is at least 200 thousand hours, and its cost ranges from 2500 rubles.
5. The SUN-400 is very powerful. It has protection against power surges in the network, as well as short circuits. The power of the power supply is 400 watts. It can be used with tapes that require a voltage of 12 or 24 V. The price of the device is 3500-4000 rubles.

Based on the operating conditions, you need to choose a source of constant voltage. It is unwise to install a 400W PSU to power a 10W tape. It is not profitable from a financial point of view, and it is more difficult to hide such a device in a room. It is better to use a 12 volt LED strip power supply with a power of 15 watts.

Can you make your own power supply?

It is quite possible to make a 12V power supply for an LED strip with your own hands, and quite quickly. A very large number of modern equipment is equipped with power adapters. And if the device breaks down, the power supply is unnecessary. There are several types of adapters:

1. Generating a voltage of 5 Volts are the power supplies of some models of routers, charging device for phones, navigators. In power supplies for personal computers, there is an output with a voltage of 5 and 3.3 Volts.
2. Producing a voltage of 12 volts. They are installed in personal computers, routers with an access point function, fixed phones.
3. Voltage 19 volts. These devices are equipped with laptops, monitors, and other equipment.

You can easily convert any power supply for use with LEDs. True, low-power chargers, which have an output voltage of only 5 V, can be used with only 2-3 LEDs. A full-fledged tape cannot be connected to such a device.

PSU conversion to 12 volts

In the design of the lighting system, it is allowed to use power supplies for 12 Volt LED strips various kinds. There are two types of power supplies:

1. Outdated transformers. They are rarely used, as they have a very large mass. The more power needed, the heavier the transformer will be.
2. More modern switching-type power supplies are small in size and weight, but capable of delivering high power.

Switching power supplies for LED strips are best used, as they are less susceptible to heat than transformer ones.

Assembly from improvised components

If you have an idea about repairing power supplies for LED strips, then you probably know that they have a transformer. Even in pulse power supplies, the circuit is built on a transformer - only its dimensions are very small. One of the most common ICs for assembling a rectifier is the LM2596. It has many analogues, among which are the following:

1. To obtain a fixed voltage value - LM2596-12.
2. For use in regulated power supplies - LM2596ADJ.

For the manufacture of power supplies, you can use ready-made rectifier boards. Their characteristics should be something like this:

1. The voltage supplied to the input is not more than 40 V.
2. The output voltage is in the range of 3...37 V.
3. Output current 3 A.
4. Threshold of operation of protection - over 3 A.
5. The operating frequency of the converter is 150 kHz.

It is most convenient to use circuits for powering LED strips, the output of which is a fixed voltage value. The use of adjustable power supplies allows you to change the brightness of the LEDs and nothing more.

Using LED lighting in the interior, it is important that its operation is stable, durable and does not have a harmful effect on human vision. The correct functioning of LED devices is provided by voltage converters, which should be selected by making some calculations. A properly selected power supply for a 12V LED strip will protect the LEDs from voltage drops and premature loss of glow quality.

Unlike conventional incandescent lamps, LED designs cannot be connected to a 220V network. They are available with a supply voltage of 12V or 24V. As a backlight in home interiors, 12V LED strips are most in demand. To obtain the required voltage, special adapters are used - power sources that convert the voltage in the 220V network to the required value of 12V.

Before choosing a power supply for an LED strip, you should familiarize yourself with their types and characteristics. Stabilizers for LED products differ according to the following criteria:

• degree of protection - there are models hermetic and non-hermetic;
• body design - plastic, aluminum sealed for rooms with a high level of humidity, metal with perforation and contact pads (used for dry rooms and requires installation in a closed place to prevent dust).

Voltage stabilizers are an essential element of high quality lighting, ensuring maximum efficiency of LED light sources. They supply the necessary parameters with electricity, protecting against possible power surges and premature failure. Thanks to power supplies, LED strips emit a uniform glow without flickering.

Power supply for LED strip 12V: calculation and connection of the device

To understand which power supply is needed for the LED strip, it is necessary to make certain calculations that take into account not only the output voltage, but also the amount of current supplied to the load. Therefore, for each specific backlight, you should calculate the total value of the current consumed by all the LEDs in the tape.

Options for calculating the power supply for the LED strip

Before calculating the power supply for the LED strip, you need to familiarize yourself with the accompanying documentation for the product, which indicates the current consumption of one linear meter. In the absence of such data, the calculation can be made independently.

For example, let's calculate the total number of LEDs for a 12V strip 15 m long, with a density of 30 SMD 5050 LEDs per meter: 15 (m) x 30 (pcs) = 450 pcs. Considering that each SMD 5050 LED consumes a current of 0.02A (this value is given in the diode parameters table), the total current consumption of the entire strip is 9A (450x0.02 = 9). Therefore, a 12V power supply with a current carrying capacity of 9A will be required.

Helpful advice! Overall power supplies are quite difficult to hide in the cornice design. Therefore, to illuminate ceilings, it is not recommended to use tapes with a high density of LEDs, which require powerful converters.

When calculating the power of the power supply for the LED strip, we multiply the voltage and the resulting current value: 12Vx9A = 108 W. Therefore, a stabilizer with a power of at least 108W will be acceptable. However, it should be noted that the unit is selected with a 20% power reserve, otherwise it will quickly fail from overload. This means that the required power will be: 108x1.2 \u003d 129.6 W, i.e. for this case, the choice of a power supply for a 12V LED strip - 150 W will be optimal.

In addition, you can calculate the converter power using data on the main characteristics of flexible LED products. Having selected the desired type of tape, we find in the table the corresponding power value of one meter and multiply by the total length of the backlight. Considering the power reserve, we get the required power of the power supply.

Table of the main technical indicators of 12V LED strips:

LED class	LED size, mm²	LED strip power, W/m	Tape density, pcs/m	Luminous flux value, lm/m
SMD 3528	3.5x2.8	2,4	30	150
		4,8	60	300
		9.6	120	600
SMD 5050	5x5	7,2	30	360
		14,4	60	720

An example of connecting an LED strip to a power supply

It is necessary to mount the backlight to the selected surface after the power supply is connected to the LED strip. For example, we use the connection of a tape to a block, the body of which is made of metal and has holes for cooling the constituent elements and the terminal strip. One of the walls of the housing is equipped with a plate indicating the marking for the correct connection of wires.

Terminals with the designation "L" and "N" - phase and zero, are intended for connection to a 220V network. Grounding is marked with the symbols "FG". The terminals marked "G" are interconnected and are designed to connect the negative output of the LED strip. The three terminals with the symbols "V" are also connected inside the adapter and the positive terminal is connected to them respectively. It should be noted that this marking is also used on other converter models.

To connect a single-color tape, we connect the wires to the terminals, taking into account the polarity. The mains plug has three sheathed wires in brown, blue and green/yellow. We attach the brown and blue wires to the “phase” and “zero” terminals, not being afraid to mix them up, since they can be interchanged. The yellow-green wire is connected strictly to the ground terminal. If there is no ground, the terminal is not used: it does not matter for the functioning of the tape.

Note! The absence of a ground wire in the power cord is a violation of safety regulations when performing electrical work.

The above example of connecting an LED strip to a power supply is suitable for using a backlight from a single strip up to 5 m long. If you need to connect several pieces of tape, then you need to use a parallel connection scheme.

Scheme of parallel connection of LED strip power supplies

If during interior design it becomes necessary to highlight several decorative elements located at a certain distance from each other, parallel connection of tape segments to a voltage converter is used. Such a scheme is also used in the case when the lighting line of the structure is long enough and exceeds 5 m.

Serial connection of segments will lead to an uneven distribution of the load, as a result of which the LED strip will not work correctly, emitting weak light in the final section. It is possible that the extreme section of the tape will not glow at all, while the initial one will start to overheat and quickly fail. This suggests that it is impossible to connect the end of the first segment to the beginning of the second.

At parallel connection, each segment of the LED strip must be connected to a power source independently of the others. This can be done by connecting each piece of tape to the power supply with separate wires. But a parallel connection can be made in another way: lay the main line of wire from the converter, to which you can later connect individual sections of the LED strip.

In order for the contact of the tape conductors with the main wire to be reliable and strong, they use soldering or connection through special connectors - connectors. The use of connectors for connecting connectors greatly simplifies the repair of the backlight in the event that a malfunction occurs during operation. If the tape needs to be laid along a complex path, the tape itself can be used as the main wire.

The price of the power supply for LED strip 12V

You can buy a power supply for a 12V LED strip not only at lighting sales points, but also on the web pages of manufacturers and organizations selling LED products. There you can get acquainted with the range of converter models, their technical specifications and cost of blocks.

By contacting site managers, you can get professional advice on how to choose a power supply for an LED strip, depending on its type and operating conditions. Experienced specialists will help in choosing the right device that will ensure long-term and high-quality operation of the LED design. As a rule, all products are certified and provided with a guarantee from the manufacturer.

Note! When purchasing an open type transducer, remember that it can only be used in rooms with a minimum degree of humidity and in places where there is no risk of water ingress.

Before you buy a power supply for an LED strip, it is worth reviewing the cost of products offered by different companies. This will help in choosing a model with the necessary parameters on favorable terms. Estimated prices for power supplies for 12V LED strip are presented in the table:

Inverter model	Dimensions, mm	Main settings	price, rub.
PSU interior 12V 15W IP 20	70/39/30	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 15W, equipped with power indicator and voltage regulator	270
PSU 12V 35W IP 20	85/58/32	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 35W, has a power indicator and voltage regulator	380
PSU 12V 60W IP 20	159/98/38	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 60W, has a power indicator and voltage regulator	540
PSU 12V 150W IP 20	200/89/40	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 150W, equipped with power indicator and voltage regulator	780
PSU waterproof 12V 30W IP 67	220/28/20	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 30W, protection against moisture and dust	560
PSU waterproof 12V 60W IP 67	148/40/30	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 60W, protection against moisture and dust	1100
PSU waterproof 12V 100W IP 67	202/71,2/45	Supply voltage 110-220V, power 100W, protection against moisture and dust	1670

Sometimes there are situations when it is necessary to make a backlight on a small area. Then the purchase of a power supply will cost much more than buying the tape itself. In this case, you can make the converter yourself.

How to make a do-it-yourself power supply for an LED strip

The cost of switching power supplies for a high power LED strip often exceeds the flexible strip itself. However, there is an option to reduce the cost of a backlight device by using power supplies from outdated models of computers, TVs, tablets or other electrical appliances as a stabilizer. Surely such products can be found in every home.

The power of 12V converters from old electronics is usually from 6 to 36W. This is quite enough for the functioning of a small segment LED backlight, for example, kitchen apron zones. You can use transformer models, but they are quite heavy and their power exceeds the same tape parameter twice. As a result, when such a power supply is connected to the tape, it overheats greatly, even if it is improved by means of an additional cooling device.

For normal operation of the LED strip, it is better to use switching power supplies, which, with sufficient power, weigh very little. Suitable, for example, a converter for 12V and 2A from a failed TV. The power of such a device is 24W (12x2), which allows the LED strip to work properly, and the power supply does not overheat.

Helpful advice! Chargers from 5V mobile phones can be used as a power source for a small self-assembled night lamp of 3-6 LEDs.

You can adapt the electronic ballast (current limiter), which fed the fluorescent lamp that failed, under the power supply for the 12V tape. To do this, it is necessary to convert the fluorescent lamp regulator into a step-down transformer, after which, using the circuit, connect an LED strip to it. The transformation is a winding of the secondary winding, then a secondary diode and a capacitor are added to the circuit. The main condition is that the power of the tape must correspond to the same ballast parameter.

Performing repairs to the power supply for LED strips

12V voltage sources that have failed are usually repairable. If you have enough knowledge and skills, you can try to repair the voltage converter yourself. Faults can be eliminated using the power supply circuit for the 12V or 24V LED strip, as they are identical.

The most common power supply problems are:

• capacitors C22, C23 fail - usually they swell or dry out;
• transistors T10-11 do not function;
• the PWM controller TL494 is faulty;
• dual diode D33, capacitors C30-33.

Malfunctions of other components of the converters are rare, but they are also worth checking.

To diagnose and fix problems, follow these steps:

• open the case and check the fuse. If everything is in order with it, it is necessary to measure the voltage on the capacitors (C22, C23), having previously applied power. The value should be around 310V. Therefore, the surge protector and rectifier are normal;
• carry out PWM diagnostics (KA7500 microcircuit) - if there is a voltage of 12-30V on pin 12, then we check the microcircuit. Otherwise, check the standby voltage power supply;
• the voltage at pin 14 after applying external power should be approximately + 5V. If not, you need to replace the chip. If there is, you need to check the microcircuit with an oscilloscope.

Repair of the power supply consists in replacing faulty elements with the same components or their analogues. In order not to encounter the problem of breakdown later, it is necessary to follow the manufacturer's recommendations, since exceeding the permissible load limit will lead to the failure of the adapter.

Right choice power supply and related devices for LED systems guarantees the durability and quality of lighting. Thanks to these devices, LED sources emit a bright, flicker-free light that can gracefully transform your interior.

Many, equipping their homes with LED lighting, do not even think that the optimal and high-quality operation of the tape is ensured not only by its price and characteristics. In addition to this, you need to buy equipment, which in turn is necessary not only for power, but also for protecting the tape from overloads. To do this, you need to have the necessary information.

Models 5050 and 5630 LED strip power: comparison

LED strip is a practical type of lighting. It is used as an illumination of decorative elements, as an auxiliary illumination of premises or, depending on the power of LED strips (LEDs), they are used as the main type of lighting.

The main parameters when choosing:

• What is the luminous flux;
• Working voltage;
• Number of LEDs per 1 meter;
• Degree of protection;
• Colored or single color.

The LED strip is presented in the form of a printed circuit board on which light sources (LEDs) are located. The width of the tape itself varies from 8 to 20 mm, assembled with LEDs, its thickness is up to 3 mm.

The main classifying features of all tapes include: the class of LEDs used (SMD and DIP). The numbers in the designation indicate the dimensions of the diodes used (for example, 5050 - 5 mm by 5 mm). Tapes are distinguished by the number of LEDs located on them, the size of which varies from 60 to 120 pieces per meter.

The amount of luminous flux also depends on the type of LEDs. The LEDs themselves are divided into color and monochrome. Color include RGB - LEDs, which are capable of changing color with the help of a connected controller, and color - monochrome, with the glow of one unchanging color (red, blue, green, yellow and white).

Certain types of LED strip require 12 V or 24 V power supplies for connection. Some types operate on a 220 Volt network.

5050 brand LEDs differ from the rest in that the glow angle of these products reaches 120 0, the LED itself consists of three crystals, which provide a strong glow. The maximum power of this tape is 25 watts.

5630 brand LEDs are more powerful than 5050. An additional condition for installation is the presence of a cooling radiator to remove heat during operation. Power reaches 75 watts per meter.

How to correctly calculate the power supply for the LED strip

When calculating the power of a power supply for an LED strip, several parameters should be taken into account that will ensure the stable operation of the strip itself and an important element, like a power supply.

When calculating take into account:

• Rated operating voltage of the tape;
• The power consumed by the tape per meter.

For each tape, the power consumption is individual. This is due to the fact that for different types appropriate LEDs are used with their characteristics and their number per meter of the product.

To make the correct calculation and understand which transformer is needed, they use the simplest formula, in which the main conditions are: how much energy the tape consumes per meter and the footage of the tape itself.

For the calculation, we use the 5050 LED strip, in which there are 60 LEDs per meter, the power of which is 15 watts, with an operating voltage of 12 volts. The most common length sold tapes are five-meter bobbins. This means that the power supply for all five meters should be: 15 watts, multiply by the footage of the tape 5 (15 x 5 = 75 watts).

It is worth noting that in this case, a 75-watt block will not be enough, since they usually need to be hidden during installation. With such a load, the power supply is very hot, which affects the lack of ventilation and additional cooling.

In order for the power supply to withstand the load, its power must be 30% more than the power consumption of the tape.

Based on this rule, the required modality of the power supply must be at least 100 watts. It is considered so (75 + 30% = 100).

Suppose that during installation, not the entire footage is used, but only 4.2 meters, then the calculation is as follows (15 x 4 \u003d 60 watts). We add 30% to the consumed fashion (60 + 30% = 80 watts). For the normal operation of all elements of the circuit, an 80-watt power supply is required.

What power supply is needed for an LED strip: selection

The choice of a power supply for an LED strip is as important as the strip itself. The selection is carried out based not only on the characteristics of the tape, but also taking into account other important parameters.

Adapters are available in three different housings:

• Ordinary case;
• Aluminium case;
• Metal case.

The usual adapter case resembles a power supply for a laptop. On the body of such products, there is a sticker informing about the technical characteristics.

The aluminum body is hermetically sealed. Such power supplies are used for rooms with high humidity, they are not afraid of water and condensate.

Power supplies presented in metal cases have holes and pads. Installation of these products is carried out in a dry room and inaccessible place.

In order to correctly select a power supply, you need to take into account the functional component. The simplest models act as a power supply only. More advanced, in addition to supplying electricity, are equipped with built-in dimmers. The most advanced devices are equipped with both a dimmer and a remote control, which saves space.

The quality of the product is affected by the price. Prose speaking, the higher the price of the device, the higher its practicality.

Also, power supply units for LED strips are made with two types of cooling, passive and active. Passively cooled adapter cases are equipped with a grille, and cooling is not forced.

Power supplies with active cooling are equipped with a fan, due to which air is circulated. This cooling allows you to increase the power of the product. It is worth noting that these power supplies periodically need to be cleaned of dust.

Powerful do-it-yourself 12 V LED strip power supply

In order not to overpay, and to ensure the continuous operation of longer LED strips, you can convert the computer power supply to 300 watts.

For work you will need:

• soldering iron;
• Screwdrivers;
• Heat shrink tubing or electrical tape.

First of all, remove the cover from this power supply. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the four bolts. After that, we unscrew the board on which the circuit elements of the block itself are located. If the power supply is dusty, then you need to clean it. To do this, you can use a regular brush for painting.

After the block is cleaned and the board is unscrewed, you need to unsolder all the wires that go to power the elements of the system unit, except for the yellow (positive) and black (negative) wires. To connect the button, you must leave the power wire (green). The button is connected green, supply and black minus.

Next, the yellow and black wires are stripped and twisted. The resulting two conductors are connected to a conventional contact terminal block in a plastic sheath. These will be the supply plus and minus for the LED strip.

The wires connected to the terminal block must be insulated using heat shrink tubing or electrical tape to ensure safe operation.

The power supply is assembled, the contacts of the LED strip are connected to the contacts of the terminal block, and a test run is carried out.

Powerful power supplies for 12 volt LED strips (video)

Using this information, choosing LED lighting, you can easily choose additional equipment for its normal operation. Or, with the necessary skills, independently remake the computer unit.

Power supplies can be used not only to connect LCD monitors, laptops and lamps. These devices can also. Typically, LED lighting is used for decorative lighting.

What is an LED strip? This is a flexible board with placed LEDs and resistors. It does not impose special requirements and its length can be changed with simple scissors.

12v power supplies provide strip LEDs with electricity of the required parameters. They stabilize the voltage and protect against interference and burnout. When used outdoors, the glow elements are mounted in sealed enclosures.

Some advantages:

1. Minimum energy consumption;
2. Network filters, which makes it possible to operate in a variety of conditions;

Blocks, rated at 24v, are used to connect SMD5050 LEDs with a calculation of 120 pieces per 1 meter.

Description

Switching type power supply units are a small device with a 180x96x38 mm case.

Specifications:

1. The input current is 1.5 - 2.5 amperes.
2. Input power - 115 - 230 V.
3. Frequency - 50 - 60 hertz.
4. Operating voltage - 220 volts (our standard networks).
5. Output voltage - 12 V.
6. Output current - 15 A.
7. Power - 180 watts.
8. Safety parameters: overload and short circuit protection. Some species are moisture resistant.

This is one of the most common types. Some models are different in size.

Here are some examples:

• 165x65x40;
• 115x80x37;
• 165x100x44;
• 255x75x45;

Other differences in some species:

1. The current strength has a decent range: from 1.25 to 41 A.
2. Power ranges from 1 - 1000 watts.

Safety and compliance with standards are guaranteed by the manufacturer. Therefore, before buying, read the characteristics of the equipment.

In order to make the installation of the unit easier, it is equipped with a special connecting block with holes. In addition, the blocks do not allow the wire to involuntarily stretch and disconnect from the block with screw terminals, due to which the wire is connected.

Power supplies are cooled by natural air convection. Some of them are made with built-in fans, similar to computer coolers, and do not allow the device to overheat during prolonged use.

Such fans allow you to increase power. The only negative is the noise, which only increases with time. If you use this type of device, remember to clean it regularly, lubricate the rotating mechanism and remove dust from it.

Purpose and principle of operation

The power supply unit or adapter is designed to connect equipment to power sources for its normal operation. The power supply for the LED strip serves as an input voltage converter to the required output voltage. In this case, we are talking about twelve volts.

The use of such a power supply device requires a certain competence. If the device is used for its intended purpose, it will not pose a threat to either the health of the owner or the equipment.

Switching adapters equalize power surges using a special filter. Therefore, an electrical network with unstable voltage critically needs such a device. Power surges can not only adversely affect the operation of electrical equipment, but also disable it.

Kinds

Designations on the photo:

1. Compact sealed.
2. Sealed in an aluminum case.
3. Open.
4. Compact network.

12-volt blocks come in two main types:

1. Voltage stabilized- 12/24 volts. Twelve volts are mainly used to connect G4 and MR16.
2. Current stabilized– constant/variable.

In addition to these differences, the following types are produced:

1. Sealed. Degree of protection - IP66 and 67. The small case protects the device from dust and water. It has a built-in potentiometer that functions as a current adjustment. Blocks with low power are produced in plastic cases, high power is sealed in aluminum.
2. Semi-hermetic. Degree of protection - IP54. Suitable for outdoor use as the adapter body is metal and moisture resistant. Power varies between 10 - 360 watts.
3. Leaky. Used only in indoor areas. Are carried out in the metal or plastic corrugated case.

Since each model differs from each other in properties, characteristics and purpose, you should be careful when choosing a device.

The PSU of LED strips is selected according to the following principles:

1. Power that the tape consumes.
2. Voltage needed to feed the tape.
3. Protection from moisture ingress.

Power calculation

Be sure to pay attention to the power consumption of the adapter.

When calculating data, add 25 percent to the available tape capacity. Thus, the power supply will not work under heavy loads. This is important to do to extend the durability and uptime.

Example: 1 meter LED strip with a power of 15 watts requires a connection of 5 meters.

We carry out the following operations:

1. It is necessary to multiply 15 by 5. At the output we have 75 watts.
2. Now add ¼ of 75. This is 18.75.
3. We add to 75, we get 93.75 watts. This is the minimum power of the block in our example.

PSU calculation for LED strip:

The average price for a 12v power adapter is 500-1000 rubles. Many older men who were once intimately tech-savvy are taking their appliances to the flea market. You can buy an inexpensive, time-tested adapter from them.

How to do it yourself?

For self-manufacturing power supply will need:

1. A lot of time.
2. Few details.

What we may need to assemble the LED strip power supply:

• frame;
• tape of the required length;
• pay;
• cord;
• screwdriver;

We present to your attention the assembly diagram of the PSU 12v:

Designations:

1. C1 is a ballast capacitor.
2. C2 is a smoothing filter.
3. VD1 - VD4 - diodes.
4. VD5 - zener diode.
5. R1 - R3 - resistors.

Walkthrough:

1. by the most the best option a transformerless power supply unit with a ballast capacitor will serve.
2. The capacitor extinguishes the mains voltage, which is then fed to a rectifier assembled on diodes. From the rectifier, it enters the smoothing filter.
3. Resistors provide fast discharging of capacitors. R1 limits the current when connected, the zener diode limits the output voltage, providing 12 volts.
4. The current depends on the value of the capacitor C1 for the power supply.
5. It is not necessary to power the LEDs with the maximum allowable current.

Connection

Scheme of connecting the power supply to the LED strip.

To connect the power supply to the LED strip, we need a cord with a plug. It is important to install a switch on the cord.

We take the adapter and find 4 contacts:

1. Phase.
2. Zero.
3. V+ (output voltage).
4. COM (the tape is connected there).
5. We expose two wires of the cord and connect to phase and zero.
6. Insert the plug into the socket. A lit green LED indicates that the power supply is ready for use.

1. Any unit designed to power LED lamps must comply with lighting standards.
2. It is not advised to disassemble the case and try to make any changes. Soldering the adapter circuit is difficult and time consuming. Even for electronics.
3. Depending on the power of the PSU, several tapes can be connected to it. There is an RGB amplifier for this. It takes a signal from one tape and distributes it to others. At the same time, the synchronism of color changes and brightness is not lost.

Attention! If you try to connect the tape directly to the outlet, it will start to smoke and, of course, will not work after that.

As an inveterate electronics engineer, I continue to share my experience and best practices. I try to express without technical terms, so that it is clear from a child to a grandmother. On this cloudy day we will choose right block power supply for 12V LED strip, hereinafter abbreviated as "BP". Of course, there is also a led tape for 24 volts, the principle of selection and calculation is the same, but the most common is 12V. Voltage 24V. used for designing high power lighting, it reduces the current used and the cross section of the wires by 2 times. LED lighting with great success is replacing the usual chandeliers and lamps. Lighting around the perimeter of the room looks modern and unusual.

• 1. Types of power supplies
• 2. Calculation of the power of the power supply at 12V
• 3. DIY power supply
• 4. Review of prices in stores

Types of power supplies

PSU with active cooling, round hole at the top

In stores, the blocks may be called "electronic transformer" in the old fashioned way. When I was young, there was no cell phones and switching power supplies on microcircuits. I and many others do not understand the modern name "driver", which is generally translated from English as "driver". It has absolutely nothing to do with electricity. In fact, the terms "power supply" and "driver" refer to different devices. The PSU is a voltage source, and the driver is a current source, such as in an LED lamp.

According to the cooling system, there are two types, with active and passive:

1. active cooling - a fan is installed in the case, as in a computer box. The fan allows you to reduce the dimensions of the case and increase power. But the disadvantage will be the noise from the fan, which will only increase over time. After a couple of years, the entire inside will need to be cleaned, and the fan lubricated or replaced, a large air flow brings a lot of dust. As a lover of absolute silence, I do not use such;
2. passive - the case is like a laptop power supply, or it is closed with a grill on top.

laptop type PSU

According to the execution are divided into several types:

1. body like a laptop unit, made of black plastic with a sticker with technical specifications. I think the best option;
2. hermetic case made of aluminum for wet rooms, not afraid of water and condensate. Well proven;
3. metal case with holes and a contact pad, used for dry rooms, mounted in an inaccessible place, preferably in a closed volume to protect against dust.

By functionality:

1. can be simple, only provide food;
2. more functional ones have a built-in dimmer;
3. the remote control of the remote control via infrared channel or radio channel can be built-in;
4. the most expensive ones have a dimmer and a remote control at once, this helps to get rid of the clutter of these blocks in different places.

Calculation of the power supply for 12V

Let's carry out a simple calculation for a popular LED strip on SMD 5050 3 meters long, 14.4W power and having 60 led/m.

1. We calculate the consumption of the entire tape, 3 meters
   14.4W*3m. = 43W
2. We add 20% to the margin, which will go to the losses in the conductors
   43W*1.2=52W
3. We got that the minimum power of the unit should be 52W. nearest suitable model usually has 60W, so we choose it accordingly.

In addition to losses in the wires and in the LED strip itself, the quality of the design, circuits and components of the PSU also plays a significant role. If it is of medium cost and not of super high quality, then the indicated characteristics will be the maximum permissible, it will work unstably on them. I will give an example from practice, on a 60 W PSU. I connected tapes to 55 watts, but after 10 minutes of operation, the tape began to flash. When heated, the electrical parameters change slightly, the voltage drops. The power was a little lacking. I disassembled it and lowered the voltage from 12.5 to 11.5 V with an internal regulator. This was enough for stable and full lighting of the room.

DIY power supply

Sometimes you need to make a small one or a loggia, from the remnants of an LED strip, but you don’t want to buy at all, because of the costs that exceed the cost of the entire designed structure. The first thought comes to make an electronic transformer with your own hands. Buying from the Chinese on Aliexpress is not an option, you will have to wait a very long time for delivery. But there is more interesting options which many people forget, but I constantly use. I will not publish 12V circuits here, I will write about this separately and in detail.

Now many devices are powered by external 12V power supplies and have a power of 10 to 50 watts. These can be tablets, TVs, electric shavers, laptops, computers, routers and routers. Roughly speaking, 10W provides 700-800 lumens of brightness, which corresponds to the brightness of a 60W incandescent lamp. Surely a similar PSU is lying around in your pantry or garage. If you don’t have a house, ask your neighbor, he definitely has one.

You can buy a power supply very inexpensively on Avito. Many people have some kind of 12-volt power supply lying around at home, they don’t know where to put it, it’s a pity to throw it away, so they sell it through an ad. The seller does not know its real value and puts a low or average price. Since we do not buy in a store, but according to an ad, we can bargain. As a result of such auctions, I buy at a symbolic price of 50-100 rubles. It is beneficial for both, the seller got rid of unnecessary trinkets, and I bought a useful device cheaply, paid 5 times less than in a store. I think it’s more efficient to spend time searching for ads than looking for parts and soldering it yourself.

Overview of prices in stores

..

Even despite the global crisis and various sanctions against Russia, the Chinese continue to work properly and flood with their products Russian markets. The cost directly depends on the quality, here the Chinese offer freedom of choice. Unless you are interested in a very high quality electronic transformer, except if you are designing lighting in a bunker in case of a nuclear conflict. If you will operate at home in a heated room, and not in the limit temperature conditions, then an inexpensive Chinese block will be enough for you.

I do not advise buying from the Chinese, in half the cases they deceive and overestimate electrical characteristics. Therefore, it is safer, faster, cheaper to buy in the nearest online store, your spent nerves and time are also worth a lot.

In order for you to have a general idea of ​​the average price level in Russia, I have compiled a price-capacity correspondence table. Usually it is a multiple of 12, with a current of 1 Ampere, 12W is obtained. The price level will vary depending on the manufacturer and the city in which the online store is located.

Power, Watt	Conventional housing IP20, price	Sealed IP67, IP68, price	Expensive sealed
6W	190	250	300
12W	220	350	750
24W	300	500	950
36W	450	650	1200
48W	500	750	1400
60W	550	800	1600
72W	600	850	1700
80W	650	900	2000
100W	750	950	2200
120W	850	1050	2400
150W	950	1200	4000
180W	1050	1450	4400
200W	1250	1550	4600
250W	1350	1700	5000
360W	1500	1850
400W	1600	2000

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Feedback and questions, 94 comments

1. Max 18.04.2019

   I warn you right away in electronics a complete zero, I'm trying to figure it out. There is an RGB LED strip for 132 diodes 2.5m which will be used as an active backlight for a 32″ monitor, +5V marking on the contacts on the tape, the power supply for 5V 2.5A successfully launched the tape, but it burned out safely during the setup process through AmbiBox. There is a block for + 12V 2.08A, can I use it or will I burn not only the block?

   1. Expert Answer 19.04.2019

      We need a more powerful unit, it is better to measure the power of the tape in all modes.

2. Valery 03.04.2019

   Good afternoon LED strip 14.4w, 5 meters, it turns out 72 w, there is a 350 w power supply (from a PC). I heard there will be problems with the operation of the unit, from an excess of excess energy

   1. Expert Answer 15.04.2019

      There is no extra energy, there will just be a power reserve.

3. Vyacheslav 26.02.2019

   Hello! I want to connect two meters of LED strip 5630 to a laptop-type power supply, 35 watts 3 Amperes. The LED strip will work for twelve hours a day, every day, will this power supply burn out in this mode of operation?

   1. Expert Answer 02.04.2019

      Depends on the power of the tape. The power supply margin in terms of power should be 20-30%.

4. Artem 26.11.2018

   hello, tell me - there are 3 tapes: 1st 30 diodes / m, 2nd, 3rd each 60 diodes + 3 power supplies 3.5 A, 5.0A, 7.0A connected without hesitation through a 3-key switch to power supplies each tape and what is the result: the 3rd one works, the 2nd one burned out the wiring on the connector, the 1st one lights up 3 diodes at different distances 1 green and 2 blue help me figure out the connection? Thank you …

   1. Expert Answer 03.12.2018

      Connect according to the diagram, apparently there are errors. Use thick wires to withstand 5-7 amps.

5. Alexander 18.11.2018

   Good afternoon. The LED lamp burned out in which there are two strips of 50 cm each. 18W 50 pieces of LEDs are written on each strip. There was a small driver in the lamp, which burned out. Help with choosing a driver. As I understand it, the tape is not for 12 V. The lamp says 230V 36W. Thank you

   1. Expert Answer 03.12.2018

      Can't pick up. Ready-made kits of 4 rulers and a driver are on sale, I saw them for 300 rubles.

6. Oleg Mishugin 24.09.2018

   Good afternoon
   When using the Arlight LED strip with a 80W PSU, powerful interference occurs on the radio in the FM band.
   What is the problem? In the power supply?

   1. Expert Answer 26.09.2018

      The power supply is phoning. Bring a radio receiver to it, the interference should increase.

7. Alexei 16.09.2018

   Thank you for the previously received answer, tell me - did you mean to apply voltage to both ends (the beginning of the tape and the end), then you need to cut (separate) the tape “on the other side”, for example, after 7 meters?
   And what kind of tape would you recommend, almost 15 meters long?
   Is the specified transformer sufficient? Or is it not good quality...

   1. Expert Answer 17.09.2018

      The tape does not need to be cut. Tapes for 12 volts longer than 5 meters are not connected. It is necessary to measure the power of the tape.

8. Alexei 12.09.2018

   Good afternoon, please tell me: we installed an LED strip, 14.5 meters, 14.4W per 1 meter, 12V, 60led / m, white - FERON and power supply Transformer, 360W - Navigator ...
   Question: “The last 2 meters burn less brightly - what could be the problem?

   1. Expert Answer 14.09.2018

      Voltage drops towards the end of the tape, connect power at both ends.

9. Maksim 11.09.2018

   Good afternoon. What power supply is needed for a 2.8m 60 diode / m 12V tape. How many watts and amps should be in it so that the tape does not burn out?

   1. Expert Answer 14.09.2018

      You need to measure the power or ask where you bought it.

10. Alexander 04.09.2018

    Good afternoon. There is a non-sealed power supply for 240 watts. It has three pairs of outlets. Is it possible to combine these outputs into one pair so as not to pull three separate wires.

    1. Expert Answer 14.09.2018

       Usually they are combined, check the resistance between them with the unit turned off with a tester.

11. Julia 14.08.2018

    Hello. I don’t understand anything about electrics) I lost my feet picking up a block for light tape. Tape SMD2835 DC 12v, 60 / m.

    1. Expert Answer 18.08.2018

       Tape power can be from 15 to 60 watts. If the real power is unknown to you, then you need a 12 volt and 60 watt power supply.

12. Novel 10.08.2018

    Hello Sergey. I have a power supply for tapes 36W 12 V 3A. Is it possible to power three 10 W phytodiodes from it? There are no exact characteristics of the diodes yet, but I assume that the voltage is 7-10 V, the current is 0.75 A.

    1. Expert Answer 18.08.2018

       You can power up, connection diagrams are on the site.

13. Anton 18.03.2018

    Hello,
    What can happen to the tape if the driver is much more powerful.
    For example. 3 m tape at 9.6 watts per meter. A 100 watt unit.
    Thank you.

    1. Expert Answer 19.03.2018

       A miracle will happen, the tape will work even longer and better.

14. Beslan 21.02.2018

    Good afternoon Please tell me where can I buy quality years and power boards?

    1. Expert Answer 21.02.2018
15. Eugene. 23.12.2017

    I took the tape. Smart / Addressable
    144 LEDs per meter, 12V, the problem is that the seller could not name the power needed in watts. , I want to make the backlight of the monitor, someone wrote that there are 30-35 watts per meter. There is a PSU / Driver in a metal case with holes 12V-36W which is 3A, and there is also a PSU from the monitor, 12V, 4A which will be equal to 48 W.
    Is it enough? 1st copy or 2nd one?

    1. Expert Answer 23.12.2017

       Measure the power of the tape and then select the block.

16. Andrey 05.12.2017

    Hello! I want to ask the burnt led lamp 12 watts (working diodes) from a computer power supply, and use it as a carrier, do I need to modify the PSU?

    1. Expert Answer 07.12.2017

       Feed, the main thing is that the voltage is suitable.

17. Konstantin 07.11.2017

    Good afternoon. The question is next. I want to make ceiling lighting, the total length of the tape is 16 meters 12W 60 diodes / m. Advise a power supply that will not make noise. The store showed either with a fan or 2 blocks, but then 2 remotes and, accordingly, will not shine synchronously. Thanks a lot!

    1. Expert Answer 08.11.2017

       Replace the fan with a silent one, you can't hear it from the meter.

18. Anonymous 30.08.2017

    Good afternoon
    We plan to produce small lamps. LED strip 3528-60 will be used in them. Length
    - 40 cm.
    Which driver or transformer small size What is the best food to use?

    1. Expert Answer 05.09.2017
19. Andrey 27.07.2017

    Hello, tell me how to do it better. There is a tape which consists of three pieces of 2, 3 and 5 meters. The total length is 10m. Load per 1m 14.4W total 144W I chose a 250W transformer. But people say it won’t work and you need to take two transformers for 150 due to the fact that the tape does not have enough current. I don’t know how many amperes the tape consumes, it’s not written on the packaging, but the transformer gives out 2a. And here is the best way to buy transformer holes or you can put one.

    1. Expert Answer 16.08.2017

       One power supply is enough.

20. Valery 02.06.2017

    Good afternoon There is such a question - when using 2 or more power supplies 12V 1.5A in the product - it is noticeable how different sections of the tape turn on not at one moment, but with different delays. It's not exactly pretty. And to put one powerful power supply does not work because of the limited dimensions.

    1. Expert Answer 08.06.2017

       Various circuitry. You will have to buy a small specialized power supply.

21. Sergey 13.04.2017

    Hello. There are 4 tapes of 5m. They bought a PSU 360w 30A with active cooling. Too noisy. I want to return. Which passively cooled reliable one could be chosen for this configuration and where to buy? Or is it easier to change the cooler to 1000 rpm? (If so, then I suppose it is necessary, in addition to looking at the speed of the new cooler, to look also at the air flow?)

    1. Expert Answer 19.04.2017

       It is better to put the cooler up to 1000 rpm. I put silent Arctic Cooling F12 Silent, you can't hear them at close range at night.

22. Konstantin 04.03.2017

    Sergey, good afternoon. There are 6 tapes with a current consumption of 2A each (the current was measured, not passport). There is a 5-channel controller (5 * 4A). Permissible power on the controller is 240 W (for 12v). I want to buy a 12V 200W PSU. I looked at what is on the market - are such PSUs all multi-channel? At the output there are two (+ V + V -V-V), or even three outputs (+ V + V + V -V-V-V). And the instructions say - load the outputs evenly. And I need one 12V output to immediately go to the input of the controller. Or maybe you can connect three + V into one output and three -V into one and apply to the input of the controller? Or is there a PSU with one output? What do you advise? Thank you!

    1. Expert Answer 10.03.2017

       At random I do not advise, depending on what filling. You can look for a PSU with one output.

23. Eugene 02.02.2017

    Good day. In continuation of the topic.
    Good afternoon. Please tell me how to check the real power consumption of the LED module? There is only mA on the tester. The package says that one module is 1.2w. 1.2/12=0.1A . I connect this LED module to the network through a transformer and insert a tester into the gap. I get readings of 0.06 A, instead of the declared 0.1A. having received readings from 3-4 types, I received an underestimated consumption of 40% for each type, from which I decided that I was measuring incorrectly, tell me the solution.
    ————————-
    yes, I also thought that these are modules, after which I measured 4 types of modules from different suppliers and different delivery dates, and they all show readings with an underestimated factor of 40%. If you claim that I am taking measurements correctly, then at least 4 suppliers are deceiving me ((

    1. Expert Answer 03.02.2017

       For maximum certainty, test with a good tester. And they deceive in half of the cases, this is a feature of an unformed market. The Chinese manufacturer overestimated, they did not check in Russia.

24. Eugene 30.01.2017

    Good afternoon. Please tell me how to check the real power consumption of the LED module? There is only mA on the tester. The package says that one module is 1.2w. 1.2/12=0.1A . I connect this LED module to the network through a transformer and insert a tester into the gap. I get readings of 0.06 A, instead of the declared 0.1A. having received readings from 3-4 types, I received an underestimated consumption of 40% for each type, from which I decided that I was measuring incorrectly, tell me the solution.

    1. Expert Answer 31.01.2017

       You were deceived, slipped weaker modules.

25. Maksim 10.01.2017

    Hello, the following question is: yes ceiling chandelier with 5 lamps (the base is 40 mm discs with soldered diodes, other main characteristics are not indicated) 5w each, while all of them are “powered” by a transformer with a voltage of 42V and a current of 300ma (written on the case). At the same time, I will not say that the chandelier shone brightly on all its 25w, although the light did not look extinct. Recently, the transformer broke down (the controller flew). I decided to put more powerful on 7w with the same diameter of 40 mm (voltage 21-24V, current strength 280-300mA) and a driver for 42V and with a current strength of 900ma. In fact, initially at a voltage of 42 V and a current of 300ma, the calculated power was only 12.6w (with 5 lamps * 5W = 25W), which was naturally not enough (maybe this was the reason for the dim light). Now it turns out the voltage of the new driver is 42 V, the current strength is 900ma and the output power is 38w, which is quite enough (with 5 lamps * 7W = 35W). So the question is, is it correct to use such a driver for such lamps?

    1. Expert Answer 10.01.2017

       The main thing is that the current matches.

26. Mmoguider 05.01.2017

    But which one to choose for 12 volts or 24? Basically, there is no difference. The only difference is that the 12V tape and power supply are cheaper, plus they are more common in the distribution network. Therefore, many choose products with this particular voltage. So, with one indicator sorted out. Now we need to consider another characteristic - this is power.

    1. Expert Answer 07.01.2017

       When powered by 24 volts, the current will be 2 times less.

27. Oleg 27.12.2016

    Good afternoon Ceiling lighting is made of three strips of 5m. Each on its own power supply and all this on a common switch. Two years later, the beginnings and ends of the ribbons began to turn very yellow. Why can this be?
    And one more problem: one of the tapes began to be very late when turned on. Maybe in half an hour it will turn on. And then it might turn off. What could be the problem?
    Thank you

    1. Expert Answer 27.12.2016

       Yellow because low quality LEDs have gradually changed color temperature. If the power-on is delayed, the power supply is faulty.

28. Dmitriy 25.12.2016

    Good afternoon I want to make a backlight on the niche of the ceiling. The perimeter is 22 meters. Question - is it possible to do it with one tape? Or is it better to break it into 4 (two 4 meters each and two 7 meters each) with one transformer?

    1. Expert Answer 26.12.2016

       Read on my website about connecting LED strips.

29. Dmitriy 08.12.2016

    Good afternoon There may be a somewhat amateurish question, but nevertheless: a niche in the ceiling was illuminated, 2 transformers were used, for two pieces of tape, 8 m each. Six months later, both power supplies began to chirp strongly, both transformers with passive cooling. What could be the problem and what should I replace it with? Thanks for the replies!

    1. Expert Answer 15.12.2016

       In power supplies, most likely the chokes began to make noise, the compound probably disappeared. They would be smeared like epoxy resin so as not to fumble.

30. Vitaly 30.10.2016

    Good afternoon! Please tell me there is a power supply 400w 33a. From outputs 3 - and 3+, DC + 12v MAX 150W is written on the block (as I understand it, this is a maximum of 150 watts per output) how can I get 400 watts from it

    1. Expert Answer 31.10.2016

       Look at the instructions for it 🙂

31. Andrey 24.10.2016

    Good afternoon
    The question is the following: is it possible to put a transformer for LED strips behind a dimmer, and will this not affect the brightness of the LED strip?.
    P.S. A CD tape and 4 retro lamps (Edisson) will be connected to one wiring outlet from the ceiling. The light from them is not particularly needed, the glow of the thread is needed, therefore, instead of the switch for this ceiling outlet, it is planned to install a dimmer.

    1. Expert Answer 25.10.2016

       You can't do that, the power supply is not designed for this.

32. Garik 21.09.2016

    OSRAM HALOTRONIC HTB 70/230-240, compatible with s1md 5050 3 meters, will it shine without interruption? thanks for answers

    1. Expert Answer 23.09.2016

       Measure the power consumption of the tape, this is the only correct option. It can be from 15W to 45W.

33. Vit C 21.09.2016

    I decided on the power supply for the LED strip (200W). So 200W is on the low-voltage side (12V). Question - what is the power consumption of the power supply on the high-voltage side (220V)?

    1. Expert Answer 23.09.2016

       Efficiency is usually 80-90%, it is better to measure with a wattmeter.

34. Alexei 24.08.2016

    Good afternoon
    Made a light niche in the country
    I installed SMD 5050 diodes - in 5 lines of 50 pieces each. (The declared power of each cluster is 0.9W, 240 mA)
    Installed the block to it connected the block 380W 30A
    After 5 minutes after turning on, it goes out, then after a minute it turns on and so on.
    What's my mistake?

    1. Expert Answer 24.08.2016

       Don't even know. Maybe the load on the power supply is too small and it turns off the output voltage, such as standby mode.

35. Konstantin 23.08.2016

    Sergey, good afternoon. As you suggested, I measured the LED strip current. And so, a laboratory transformer power supply 30V 5A. Tape type 5050, 60 diodes per meter. I set it to 12.2 V. The device showed consumption - 0.7 A !!!. That is, the consumption is less than 1A, and the power is 8.4 watts. And the nameplate power is 14.4 W!!! I admit that two meters can consume a little more than 8.4 * 2 = 16.8 !!! Well, how to choose a power supply?

    1. Expert Answer 23.08.2016

       Choose a block according to the real power of the tape with a margin of 20%. With power, you were deceived a little.

36. Konstantin 18.08.2016

    Are you still answering? Tell me, in the country for a child in the room I want to install 6 strips of 2 meters each. Ribbon 14.4 w/m, i.e. each strip 28.8 watts. How to choose a PSU - one for everything or 6 for each lane? And the second question, maybe a little unexpected - put the switch on LED strips, that is, break the circuit to 12v or 220v, i.e. to bp? Each connection has its pros and cons. What do you recommend?

    1. Expert Answer 20.08.2016

       The switch is placed in front of the power supply. One block for all LED strips. First measure the real power of the tape, it can be 2-3 times lower.

37. Rustam 05.08.2016

    Good afternoon I burned out the driver from the LED spotlight with a power of 30W. The voltage was written on the driver 16-40V. There is a driver for 48V, 33W, 700 mA available. Can this driver be connected to a spotlight? Or should the voltage be lowered to 40V? If yes, what is the best way to do it? Will the driver or spotlight burn out? Need a stabilized current or voltage? Thank you in advance for your response!

    1. Expert Answer 08.08.2016

       The voltage needs to be lowered. The LED works on a stabilized current.

38. Pauline 28.06.2016

    Good afternoon I need to mount a mirror light from a 70 cm long LED strip with a power of 4.8 W/m. Then I need a 12 V power supply, with a power of 0.7 * 4.8 * 1.2 = 4.032 W? Does the current strength matter? Will a 12V 5W unit be enough for me?

    1. Expert Answer 28.06.2016

       The block is selected by power, suitable for 5W.

39. Dmitriy 08.06.2016

    Good afternoon spotlight 100w jazzway burnt driver what to replace

    1. Expert Answer 10.06.2016

       Replace with another driver suitable for current

40. Anonymous 23.12.2015

    Hello. There are several power supplies from phones. I would like to use them to connect LEDs with power from 1 watt to 10 watts. Of course, each power supply for individual LEDs, or a group if 1 watt. Is it possible to rework the PSU from economy lamps. Tell me how to do it. Thank you.

    1. Expert Answer 23.12.2015

       I use power supplies from phones as nightlights, at 20-30 Lumens.
       Calculate and measure the power of each block and select LEDs for it. You set the current and the connection scheme based on the parameters of the diode.

41. Alexei 10.12.2015

    Sergey, thanks. As I understand it, I need a third 200W power supply. Can you draw a diagram of what it should look like?

    1. Expert Answer 11.12.2015

       There will be 3 blocks with an amplifier for 3 segments. Better measure the real power of the tape, suddenly deceived. Then you won't need to buy another block.

42. Alexei 09.12.2015

    Hello. There are 3 strips of 5m each with a power of 150W each. There is 1 dimmer 4-channel (768W) at 192W each channel. There are 2 amplifiers of 360W each. And there are 2 power supplies of 200W each. Can you please tell me how to tie all this into one scheme ?! It seems that I found something similar on the Internet, but I am confused by 200W power supplies, because the total power of the tapes is 450W. Thank you.

    1. Expert Answer 10.12.2015

       There are wiring diagrams on the site. Power supplies must have a power reserve of 20%. Measure the actual power of the tapes.

43. Maksim 28.10.2015

    Hello Sergey. Thanks for the helpful articles, I learned a lot, but I have a few questions:
    1. Quote from the article: “PSU 60 W. I connected tapes to 55 watts, but after 10 minutes of operation, the tape began to flash. When heated, the electrical parameters change slightly, the voltage drops. The power was a little lacking. I disassembled it and lowered the voltage from 12.5 to 11.5 V with an internal regulator. As I understand it, the PSU has less than the nominal power, because of this it could not cope with the load and heated up, in connection with this, the voltage dropped? Or is the PSU itself unable to cope with its voltage of 12.5 volts and, in connection with which, it heated up and lost voltage?

    2. Will the 5050 meter long LED strip and PSU work stably if I connect not 12 volts, but 9 volts and 1.6 amps? In general, it is interesting how the LEDs and the PSU will behave when different meanings voltage and current.

    1. Expert Answer 28.10.2015

       1. The block did not pull the rated power.
       2. Will work from 9V, but dimly. Experiment, lower the voltage. You can't control the current.

44. Dmitriy 14.10.2015

    I saw on YouTube on the LOUD SOUND channel that a 4-channel amplifier was connected to a power supply from an LED strip. The current consumption of the amplifier is declared 75 amperes. Amplifier ARIA AP4.100. What power supply should I get? Perhaps two blocks will need to be taken. Will stay in the room.

    1. Expert Answer 14.10.2015

       The amplifier is powered by 12 volts, then a 1000 W power supply will be required if the maximum peak current is 75 amps. If the amplifier works at full capacity, the power reserve will work out the bass better, without failures. The main disadvantage of the power supply from the LED strip is that there is a lot of noise and interference at the output, which affect the sound quality. I used to collect DACs, amplifiers and speakers. I do not recommend installing two blocks, they will need to be coordinated according to the load.

45. Anonymous 23.09.2015

    Hello! I am interested in the following question: is it possible to get by with one, but powerful power supply to connect 12 five-meter LED strips, or will I still have to take 2 PSUs?

    1. Expert Answer 23.09.2015

       Depends on the power of the LED strip, but you did not specify this. When installing long sections, it is more rational to use 2 power supplies, otherwise very long and thick wires will be required. In the long ones there will be voltage losses. I don’t know the installation conditions for the diode tape and the dimensions of your room, so I can’t say for sure.

46. Alexander 03.09.2015

    Very helpful information, but there is a question: is it equivalent to using a regular power supply unit from a computer, because there are loops with a 12v output and the power of the unit is large enough: 300-500 watts?

    1. Expert Answer 03.09.2015

       You can also use the power supply from the computer, in compliance with safety regulations. But blocks have protection, and without the presence minimum load it won't start. Although the models are different, simple and complex, and the circuitry is different. I forgot to include these power supplies in the review, I hurried. The main thing is to have 12 volts stable. The only thing they have fans are noisy, someone really does not like it.

47. Valery 02.08.2015

    Hello Sergey. Diode tape 5730, 3 strips pasted on a copper radiator, PSU from a CCTV camera. The first 3 LEDs started flashing. Can you suggest something for the repair. Thanks in advance. Valery.

    1. Expert Answer 02.08.2015

       SMD 5730 LEDs on the tape are connected in 3 pieces. If 3 diodes start flashing, then one of the diodes is burned out, the contact is either there or not. The problem may be overheating of one of the diodes, contact with the radiator is broken, the LED strip is peeled off somewhere.
       A section of 3 diodes can be replaced with a new one, or a faulty diode can be found and replaced with a new one.