LED strips, relatively recently appeared on the Russian market, instantly gained popularity, which is growing every year. The areas of their application are quite diverse - from lighting in a car to zoning residential premises. However, the light strip itself will not work - it needs additional equipment, which can be purchased at any electrical store or ordered via the Internet. Today we will talk about how to choose a power supply for an LED strip, what characteristics it should have and why it is needed in a backlight circuit.
What is a light strip and what types of it can be found on the shelves
In fact, there are few types of LED strips. They are distinguished by colors (single color or RGB), degree of protection against moisture and quantityelements per linear meter. The LED strip itself is a product for creating decorative lighting for ceilings, niches or furniture. However, do not forget about the high power band with many chips. It can also be used as the main lighting.
For some more useful information, watch the following video.
Why do I need a power supply for LED strip
Such a lighting device is not capable of operating on an alternating voltage of 220 V. It requires a constant stabilized current, which is provided by the power supply. Such devices can convert mains voltage to stabilized 12, 24 or 36 volts.
Some LED strips, in particular RGB, require a controller in addition to the power supply. This device controls LED colors, dims or turns off by user command via remote control.
The most popular models of power supplies for 12 V LED strips - in case of failure of such a device, you can easily find a replacement for it. 24 are much rarer. The last to appear on the market were 36-volt blocks, but they were not in demand, as a result of which almost all manufacturers abandoned their production. In addition, the voltage of 36 volts is already considered hazardous to human he alth.
LED adapter: selection criteria
In addition to the output voltage, you mustdetermine the power supply for the LED strip. It is easy to perform the necessary calculations. The power consumed by the LED strip planned for connection can be found in its technical documentation, and then simply multiply these figures by the number of meters.
Another important selection criterion is the IP protection class. The possibility of using a light strip in certain conditions depends on this indicator. For example, bathrooms and other wet areas require a sealed product in silicone with an IP of at least 66, while a cheaper IP20 LED strip power supply is suitable for a living room or bedroom.
Using low power supplies
If the home master does not have the opportunity to purchase a PSU for an LED strip, it is quite possible to use an adapter from a broken TV. The main thing is that its output voltage is suitable. However, most often the power of such power supplies is small. If it is not enough, for example, for two pieces of tape 5 m long, it is quite possible to use two separate rectifiers connected to one disconnector. In addition, each adapter will be responsible for its own segment of the light strip. Similar 12V power supplies for LED strip can be asked around from friends or searched at flea markets, which are gaining popularity again in the suburbs of megacities. Also to help the home master and thematic groups on social networks.
Three power supplies forled strip: RGB connection without controller
There is a rather interesting way of switching such a multi-color stripe. This connection does not require a controller. Of course, there will be few opportunities for an LED strip powered by a three-gang switch, but such an installation will cope with the main task.
To connect, you will need 3 adapters from 12 V TVs and a 3-pin breaker. The negative terminals from the power supplies must be connected to each other and soldered to the corresponding contact of the LED strip. The three remaining ones are connected to the positive terminals from the adapters. Each of the blocks is powered from a separate switch key. In the end, this is what happens. When the contacts are closed individually, green, red or blue light will be lit. If you experiment, you can get different shades by pressing the breaker keys in different variations.
Which power supply to choose for the bathroom and bathroom
For such rooms with high humidity, there are special requirements for electrical equipment. An output voltage of 24 or 36 V will not work here. Therefore, if the home master has an LED strip at hand that requires voltages above 12 V to work, it is better to put it aside and use it for rooms with normal humidity.
The only correct answer to the question "which power supply for the LED strip to use in the bathroom" will be one word"sealed". Moisture and vapor impermeability to such devices is provided by a housing, which can be made of plastic or aluminum. Here is just the option when a used TV adapter will come in handy - almost all of them have a protection class of at least IP66.
Another way out can be to purchase a low-power compact power supply, which has a fairly low cost. Such an adapter can easily be placed even in a junction box. Moisture from the bathroom will not get into it, which will ensure its trouble-free operation.
Power supplies for lighting furniture and suspended ceilings
If the LED strip is placed in the bedroom or living room, you should not pay special attention to the protection class of the adapter. Here the main thing will be to determine the power of the equipment. When installing furniture lighting, the power supply can be quite simply hidden in one of the cabinets or inside a folding sofa. The only thing you should pay attention to is that the stabilizer should be in close proximity to the LED strip. The greater the distance to it, the more difficult it is for the adapter to work, with an increase in the length of the wires, the load on it increases.
In the installation of suspended ceiling lighting is still easier. The power supply hides anywhere between levels.
Where to buy an adapter: expert advice
Today, many began to order various goods on Chinese resources. Experts do not advise to purchase such equipmentof dubious quality. If you plan to buy a really high-quality product, then before choosing a power supply for an LED strip, you must at least hold it in your hands. The fact is that the description of the technical characteristics of goods from China is not always true. It should be understood that an adapter with a high power rating cannot weigh as much as a pair of LED bulbs. In addition, the Chinese certification is quite confusing, and if you now check their equipment for compliance with Russian standards, then at least 99% of the goods will fail it.
Another plus in the treasury of real stores is the ability to check the adapter's performance. Here the buyer is sure that after completing the installation and pressing the switch, he will see a glowing LED strip, and not a “dead” strip with bulbs.
Example of calculating the required adapter power
Most often, in order to find out how many watts an LED strip consumes, it is enough to clarify the marking of SMD elements and refer to the table. For example, the strip indicates that SMD5050 was used. In this case, the power consumption of a segment 1 m long will be equal to 7.2 W.
Let it be planned to connect two lanes of the maximum allowable length (5 m each). In this case, the required power rating of the adapter will be 7.2 × 10=72 W. However, this is not a benchmark that should be considered before choosing a power supply forLED strip. It is necessary to add 20-30% to this figure so that there is a small margin, and the device does not work at the limit of its capabilities. It turns out that the power supply must have a rated power of at least 90 W.
Summarizing the information reviewed
Buying an adapter for a light strip is easy. However, before choosing a power supply for an LED strip, many nuances should be taken into account, starting from the room where the equipment will be used and ending with its rated power. It must be understood that insufficient technical parameters will lead to a quick failure of the adapter. At the same time, buying a converter with a rated power several times higher than necessary is also unacceptable. After all, the cost of such a device will be very significant and, in fact, it will be money thrown to the wind. But on a sealed case, if you plan to use it in a bathroom or other room with high humidity, you should not save. First of all, this advice concerns the security problems of people living in an apartment or a private house.
