smollerthings wrote: ↑Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:19 pm
dtsh wrote: ↑Wed Oct 20, 2021 8:15 pm
I use a wall-wart with mine, but I use an LED driver which converts the volts and amps to ranges appropriate to the LED and adding a driver increases the cost. I believe the driver was the single most expensive part on mine.
What about something like this then to get to the proper voltage range?
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32897614510.html
I would not choose it.
For one reason, its low voltage range (3-5V) is practically useless for LEDs. A LED starts shining when the forward voltage is typically ~3V (roughly; depends on the LED). But there are other components in the circuit. So the supplied voltage must be higher. The useful range for LEDs is north of 5V. Usually 9-12VDC.
Second, the current provided by the gadget in the link is merely ~2.5A at 12V maximum (I believe, since it is stated to give 30W).
If the forward voltage on a LED is 3V, and it should be rated at 6W, the current through the LED must be 2A at least.
2.5A is too close to that minimum.
A LED strip typically requires less than a high power LED.
To control LED intensity, variable voltage is not used. Rather, control either the current (best method) or the duty cycle (that is PWM).