Quick Question.. LED Aquarium Lid DIY

[Denards]

Hey all, 

Newbie here in need of some advice.. 

I am purchasing:       1 x 12V DC SMD 5630 LED 5m Roll (Cool White)

                                  2 x 12V DC SMD 5630 LED 5m Roll (Warm White)

In total 3 5M rolls = 15M 5630 LEDs

What i am looking to do is run the 2(two) warm white 5M string together as 10M.. Then the cool white on its own...

My Question is..

**What Power supply / adapter do i need to run the 2 warm rolls with?

** What Power supply / adapter do i need to run the 1 cool roll with? 

On the site i want to buy the rolls threw , the specs are listed as

**Wattage - 50 watts

**Amperage - Capacity 4A

Thanks is advance for any support i receive!

 

[Murdoch]

I would ask the supplier of the LED's what THEY recommend.....rather than guessing from random internet advice.

 

[Blue Duck]

That's helpful Murdoch. NOT.

@op Did u get the LED's on ebay?

Ask the supplier or see if they have any adaptors listed? If not you may need something like these http://www.ledlightszone.co.uk/34-led-tape-driver

If it's for a fish tank make sure the ends are sealed and there is no damage to the silicone as we had someone on here a while back who fried their fish.

 

[Murdoch]

That's helpful Murdoch. NOT.

@op Did u get the LED's on ebay?

Ask the supplier or see if they have any adaptors listed? If not you may need something like these http://www.ledlightszone.co.uk/34-led-tape-driver

If it's for a fish tank make sure the ends are sealed and there is no damage to the silicone as we had someone on here a while back who fried their fish.

Would you buy a BMW and then ask the internet if you can fit a Ford engine?

Don't be so daft.

Anyone with any sense buys the tranny from the same vendor, so when it doesn't work, they have the single vendor to go back to ......

 

[Blue Duck]

depends what engine I suppose? If it were a 427 V8 then it might be worth it.

:C

 

[Denards]

That's helpful Murdoch. NOT.

@op Did u get the LED's on ebay?

Ask the supplier or see if they have any adaptors listed? If not you may need something like these http://www.ledlightszone.co.uk/34-led-tape-driver

If it's for a fish tank make sure the ends are sealed and there is no damage to the silicone as we had someone on here a while back who fried their fish.

Purchased from:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B019K6IMY0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks for the advice Murdoch  ill get on that aha

SO, if i get a transformer that out puts 1A per string , i would need ONE 3A transformer ?  

https://www.amazon.ca/Kitop-Switching-Constant-Voltage-Transformer/dp/B017XHVZ1K/ref=sr_1_3?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1458138734&sr=1-3&keywords=3A+LED++transformer

or would i need 3 1A for each string of LEDs?

 

[Evans Electric]

You need drivers for leds Peter not just transformers so need to be careful & take advice from suppliers .

The technology is still new to many.....such as when trying to dim LEDs ......and wattage no longer an indication of the brightness.

 

[binky]

one question, have you checked the suitability of the LEDs for the tank, as in right colour spectum for the fish / plants. I ask becuse a forme employee was very keen on his fish tank, and spent ages desribing lots of technical stuff that I didn't really listen to.

 

[Denards]

one question, have you checked the suitability of the LEDs for the tank, as in right colour spectum for the fish / plants. I ask becuse a forme employee was very keen on his fish tank, and spent ages desribing lots of technical stuff that I didn't really listen to.

I'm positive that these LED's will hit the correct spectrum. I'm just lost on what i need to power them ..

I know i need these -

* IR Control Box

* Remote control

* Power Supply

But i dont know the numbers for it. I need to be able to control the Dimming of the lights, I know each roll of 5M takes 12V, 50 Watts, 4A at its peak.. I want to make 1 X 10M roll and have 1 X 5M roll. 

I know this will power 1 X 5M roll .. 

https://www.amazon.ca/JOYLAND-100-240V-Switching-Adapter-Flexible/dp/B019N0EL2K/ref=sr_1_15?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1458146385&sr=1-15

butt if i want to power the 10M roll do i just double it ? then add the control box? 

 

[binky]

that is a 110V Ameican spec.

OK, so you need 4A for each 5m roll, so logically 10m should be 8A (I'm sure someone will correct me later). Now you are talking 150W total at 12v, so AC supply will be 0.6A at 240V, so anythng over 1A will work on the AC side, though there will be losses in stepping down to 12V so I would aim for 2A minimum supply on the AC side. I have to say I'm not sure of the ins and outs of LED strip

 

[Denards]

that is a 110V Ameican spec.

OK, so you need 4A for each 5m roll, so logically 10m should be 8A (I'm sure someone will correct me later). Now you are talking 150W total at 12v, so AC supply will be 0.6A at 240V, so anythng over 1A will work on the AC side, though there will be losses in stepping down to 12V so I would aim for 2A minimum supply on the AC side. I have to say I'm not sure of the ins and outs of LED strip

So from that i get, 

To power my 10M string i buy a 12V 8A Power adapter = http://www.ebay.ca/itm/-/131742312335?roken=cUgayN

Then to power the 5M string use a standard 12V 4A = http://www.ebay.ca/itm/12V-1A-2A-3A-4A-48W-new-AC-adapter-power-supply-cord-for-LED-Strip-Lights-Canada-/311561220250?roken=cUgayN

Im sorry for the noob questions and answers 

 

[Blue Duck]

you in Canada? 

We get a lot of Canadians here, we are a uk based forum though that shouldn't stop us from being able to help you.?

it's just the output you need....

Be wary of adaptors from eBay, I bought one once and the polarity was incorrect. Chinese Junk.  :|

Do you have a local electrical / lighting supplier you could ask as something like what I posted previously would be more suitable I think, but the one I linked to is for UK voltages 230(ish)v.

 

[Denards]

Well i just contacted a Canadian supplier, this is what he wrote..

"If you installed two 5 meter sets together (10m) or more, you need two power adapter ;

 One 8A (96w) and one 5A (60w) and 2 Controller Remote RF. "

Now the good quality ones like your talking about from this Canadian seller sell for $40 CND (8A) and $30 CND (5A).. 

The one you linked http://www.ledlightszone.co.uk/led-driver/196-12v-dc-led-driver.html .. would this work better and would it be able to power all three ?

Thanks

 

[SLIPSHOD & SLAPDASH]

Do NOT join  2,  5m  strips together and power from one end. You have to power from both ends  or the middle. The strips are so thin you will get volt drop over the 5m & the leds will get dimmer the further away from the power. 

Make sure any PSU is DC.

 

[Denards]

Do NOT join  2,  5m  strips together and power from one end. You have to power from both ends  or the middle. The strips are so thin you will get volt drop over the 5m & the leds will get dimmer the further away from the power. 

Make sure any PSU is DC.

Ive decided to go a safe way and will power each LED strip off its own 12V 5A transformer. This will also allow me to create my "actual daylight" dimming effect.