Anyone Know about LED Drivers?

[Dave100456]

Just come to fit a self adhesive strip of LEDs from IKEA on the boat planning to use the boats 12v supply.

I was thinking that because the LED kit came with a connected 230v plug/transformer (230v in 12v out) I could cut the plug off and connect straight to the 12v ship supply.

However, Just had a thought, will the plug have “driver” facility built in that the LEDs would need to work.
The plug is sealed and I don’t want to destroy it by taking apart before some advice.

Thanks.

 

[simonfraser]

my led strips work straight of the the house batteries.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Just come to fit a self adhesive strip of LEDs from IKEA on the boat planning to use the boats 12v supply.

I was thinking that because the LED kit came with a connected 230v plug/transformer (230v in 12v out) I could cut the plug off and connect straight to the 12v ship supply.

However, Just had a thought, will the plug have “driver” facility built in that the LEDs would need to work.
The plug is sealed and I don’t want to destroy it by taking apart before some advice.

Thanks.

Did that - plagued with interference. The leds are (sometimes) pulsed to increase the apparent brightness.

 

[savageseadog]

Most likely they will run straight off 12V. A couple of points though. 12V on boats tends to be more like 14v while charging and spikey too. The higher voltage will probably be OK but the spikes can be an issue with leds. I use ferrite cores on the wiring close to the light.

 

[Dave100456]

Thanks guys
Will give it a try when back onboard tonight, I’m 5 hrs behind you.
Cheers

 

[lw395]

Most '12V' strips of LEDs have groups of 3 leds and a resistor, so they will draw a current set by the resistors.
Other LED drivers output a regulated current, so the LEDs don't have a resistor in the package.
E.g.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-Driv...hash=item1a13d7dc6c:m:mDLpvRRMspZY176w4ixJOpA

The labelling on the driver unit should make it clear whether its voltage or current regulated.

 

[rszemeti]

it all depends if the current limiter is in the plug top supply ... or in the LED itself ... I would have thought making a small test with a meter and trying to test if the voltage on the cable going up to the LEDs is 12V or not would be a start.

 

[davidpbo]

If the supplied PSU is a fixed 12v supply and there is no colour variation or dimming controls then you will probably be ok running it off boat's 12v supply. Measure the output voltage on the psu, some are so poorly regulated (or not at all) that it may be putting out 14v or more.

If perchance it is a constant current supply it may show an output voltage range as in the picture someone posted.

I would suggest making sure the final circuit is appropriately fused.

 

[Dave100456]

By way of update....

I cut off the 230v plug/transformer and connected the LEDs direct to the ships 12v supply and all works well.
Thanks to all for the advice