Of course it occurred to me to use a 12vac outdoor "garden light" transformer to power up some LED strips (3528's, 5 meter, 300 LED). And so the search began for a rectifier/regulator circuit that would pass 5-6 amps. I have scanned high - and I have scanned low - in fact I believe I may have found the very end of the internet....and nowhere am I finding valid (aka informed) discussion on tapping these transformers to run some strips.
Now add to it that I read through the LED resource info - and I was good right up to the part where the content went upside down with amp reg instead of voltage reg. Now I'm off in the ditch.
SO... using a full wave bridge (6a/200v diodes) with a 1000uf/25v smoothing cap....what needs to happen from there to the led strip? Anything? Amp regulation?
FWIW - the LED count will vary from project to project. The plain white strips (as in NOT RGB) are being used on the frames of xmas yard ornaments. Some use 3-4 meters whereas others are using more. I get it I can distribute power at varying intervals/cuts along the strips. All told though, I don't see any project going over 60-65 watts. My intent was to build a small circuit, pot it, then tie wrap it to the ornament with a short run of cabling to the existing yard light fixture (parallel tap).
(As it turns out, nearly every single one of the yard ornaments will sit within 6 feet of a regular low voltage yard lite (some incandescent most are xenon) - so it just makes sense to use what is already right there! The xfrmr has got plenty to spare (300w rated output / <100w being used)
What the heck am I missing?? I tend to ask questions rather than shoot first (blow up $10 led reels).
Now add to it that I read through the LED resource info - and I was good right up to the part where the content went upside down with amp reg instead of voltage reg. Now I'm off in the ditch.
SO... using a full wave bridge (6a/200v diodes) with a 1000uf/25v smoothing cap....what needs to happen from there to the led strip? Anything? Amp regulation?
FWIW - the LED count will vary from project to project. The plain white strips (as in NOT RGB) are being used on the frames of xmas yard ornaments. Some use 3-4 meters whereas others are using more. I get it I can distribute power at varying intervals/cuts along the strips. All told though, I don't see any project going over 60-65 watts. My intent was to build a small circuit, pot it, then tie wrap it to the ornament with a short run of cabling to the existing yard light fixture (parallel tap).
(As it turns out, nearly every single one of the yard ornaments will sit within 6 feet of a regular low voltage yard lite (some incandescent most are xenon) - so it just makes sense to use what is already right there! The xfrmr has got plenty to spare (300w rated output / <100w being used)
What the heck am I missing?? I tend to ask questions rather than shoot first (blow up $10 led reels).
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