12V power supply for LED lighting - lounge setup

[techead]

I have a TV unit against the wall, with my TV standing on top of that. Next to the unit are my floor standers, and next to those are the bookshelves. 1.8 tall, one on each side. I was going for the symmetrical look

I got a 5m strip of 2600k LED lighting, which Im planning on mounting on the back of the TV unit and the bookcases.

I know 12v is required, but the guy said something to me about regulated power, otherwise it will damage the LED's over time. So I was thinking of using a computer power supply, reckon that would be a good idea? If I remember the yellow wire is 12v

 

[Metalspawn]

Great idea I use PSUs for many of my electronic components as they are efficient and provide stable power . Use the Yellow and common wires where Yellow would be you + side and common your -. As easy as that . Also LEDs can't be damaged (with a reasonable voltage) if connected incorrectly.

 

[techead]

Great idea I use PSUs for many of my electronic components as they are efficient and provide stable power . Use the Yellow and common wires where Yellow would be you + side and common your -. As easy as that . Also LEDs can't be damaged (with a reasonable voltage) if connected incorrectly.

cool thanks man. Need to pick up some heatshrink tubing on the way home, wanna cut the 5m length I have into the pieces I need and put connectors on all of them.

Anyone got a spare power supply lying around that I can have? Cape Town

 

[techead]

why cant I use a 12V adapter from a router or modem or something? Its not a stable power souce, but Im told it doesnt matter?

edit : and does a PSU only draw what it needs? or will it draw the full 220v the whole time, take what it needs for the LED's and then waste the rest??

Thinking in terms of electricity usage...

 

[Spazmatic]

I used a normal 12v supply on my aquariums LED, two 1.5m strips, ran 9 hours per day for over a year with no issues. Sold the tank.

http://www.greenlightled.co.za/contact-us.html

 

[techead]

normal 12V or one from that website?

 

[Messugga]

why cant I use a 12V adapter from a router or modem or something? Its not a stable power souce, but Im told it doesnt matter?

edit : and does a PSU only draw what it needs? or will it draw the full 220v the whole time, take what it needs for the LED's and then waste the rest??

Thinking in terms of electricity usage...

You don't seem to understand electricity very well.

Firstly, a 12V adapter from a router or modem could work, but it is likely that it cannot deliver the required current which will probably end up in the adapter overheating. Some are built crappy enough that they can actually catch fire if abused. Make sure that the current drawn by the LEDs isn't more than the powersupply, whatever you end up using, can provide.

Secondly, Voltage is potential. It, for the sake of simplicity, stays constant when it comes to a powersupply. Whether you have 1 LED running off of it or 10, it will provide 12V. Current is a different matter. The powersupply will provide only the amount of current drawn by the circuit, meaning that if your LEDs require 1A to function, the powersupply will provide 1A. However, as the powersupply isn't 100% efficient - a good PC PSU will be 80+% efficient at its optimal operating load, an excellent one will be 90+% - a percentage of the wattage put out by the powersupply is converted into heat. Generally PC PSUs become significantly less efficient the lighter the load on it is, with efficiency peaking at its optimal wattage and then dropping off again as you start overloading the unit. Thus it's not a great idea to have a 20W load on a 1000W PSU as you'll be wasting a chunk of electricity through the PSU simply idling.