Power regulation is crucial for LED performance and longevity. Our Power & Drivers category includes constant voltage power supplies, which deliver a steady DC voltage, and constant current LED drivers, which regulate current by adjusting voltage to ensure LEDs receive precise, safe power. Available in wall plug-in, enclosed, and hardwired options, these power solutions support a wide range of applications, including dimmable and non-dimmable setups for greater lighting control.  Not sure which power supply or driver you need? Read our guide to choosing the right power supply or understanding LED drivers and how to choose the right one. 

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Choosing the Right Power Supply for Your LED Strip Lights

Whether you’re buying a new LED strip light or repairing or retrofitting an existing fixture, you’ll need to find the right power supply for your LED lights. Choosing the right power supply for your LED strip lights can be more complicated than you might think. Factors such as power and voltage play a key role in the selection process, and there are often more than one power supply available for your particular project.

Make Sure You Can Control the Current to the LED First

Most LED strips require a current-limiting device, either a driver or a resistor, to prevent the LEDs from being overdriven. This constant-current driver or current-limiting resistor is used to regulate the current flowing to the LEDs, ensuring their safe operation and maximizing their life.

The electrical characteristics of LEDs change as the temperature rises; if the current is not regulated, the LED will absorb too much current over time. This over-absorption of current can cause LED brightness to fluctuate, leading to high internal heat generation and ultimately LED failure.

Most LED fixtures or LED strips already have a built-in driver or resistor to regulate the current. If you don’t have a current limiting device, then the first step is to find a driver; however, if your LED product already controls the current, you can follow this post to find a constant voltage power supply.

Constant Voltage Power Supplies

Constant voltage power supplies can be used to power LED strips or LED lights that already have resistors or constant current drivers in the system. These types of products usually require a constant DC voltage. If you are battery-powered or happen to have a constant DC voltage that is suitable for your strip, then you are in luck. Nine times out of ten this is not the case, and you will need a power supply to convert the power to a safe DC voltage for your strip lights.

For example, DC12V LED flex strip lights have on-board current limiting resistors. If you want to install it in a car, it does not need any power supply. Since car batteries provide approximately 12VDC, and it is perfectly suited to your strip. However, to install these strips in your home, you will need an AC to DC converter to convert 120VAC standard household voltage to 12VDC.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Power Supply

You need some type of constant voltage power supply that can convert household AC voltage to safe DC voltage. There are many factors to consider to find the right power supply for your needs.

Power Consumption

The best way to determine the power supply you need is to look at the power rating of the LED strip to be used. We use the following general rule of thumb: make sure that the power rating of the power supply is at least 20% higher than the total power of the LED strip. To calculate this value, follow the formula below:

Length of LED strip in meters x wattage per meter / 0.80 = minimum rated LED power supply needed to power the strip

Voltage

LED strips typically operate at low voltages of 12V or 24V DC. It is also important to verify that the output voltage of the selected power supply is compatible with the voltage of the LED strip. In addition, make sure that the input voltage of the power supply is also compatible with the input voltage of the mounting location.

Another factor to consider is the voltage drop over a long period of time; LED strips will show a significant voltage drop after a certain distance. Beyond this distance, there will not be enough voltage to light the next length of strip. This depends on the type of strip and the length used. Refer to our blog post on how to prevent voltage drop during long runs.

Dimming

If you wish to adjust the brightness of your LED strip, you will need to ensure that your chosen power supply is capable of dimming. The power supply specifications should list whether the power supply is dimmable and the type of dimmer control it uses. In addition, you can connect a PWM controller to a non-dimmable power supply to achieve the same effect.

Here we will briefly describe the two types of dimming control:

TRIAC Dimming: This type of dimming allows the LEDs to be dimmed using a standard dimmer. You must check the specifications to ensure that the power supply meets the AC (TRIAC) dimming requirements. These power TRIAC dimmable LED strips operate by varying the power on the AC side of the circuit with a TRIAC dimmer. The change in power generated by the dimmer on the AC input side will change the voltage at the DC output and control the brightness of the LEDs.
 

PWM Dimming: Also known as Pulse Width Modulation dimming, it can be used on all power supplies. Even power supplies that are not labeled “dimmable” in the specifications on our website can be dimmed with a wall-mounted or remote PWM dimmer. This is because the PWM dimmer is connected in parallel with the LED strip and dims the 12VDC side of the circuit. PWM dimmers actually pulse the light at a high frequency to change the way the naked eye perceives the light; the higher the frequency, the brighter the light.

Environment in Which the Power Supply Will Be Used

An important factor not to be overlooked when selecting a power supply is the area and environment in which the power supply will be used. Power supplies operate most efficiently when used within safe operating temperature parameters.

In addition, each LED power supply is labeled with an IP rating, so users can choose the right waterproof standard power supply for their environment. For example, for an indoor dry environment, choose an IP20 or IP33 power supply; for a wet/outdoor environment, choose an IP65/IP67 waterproof power supply.

Efficiency

The efficiency of a power supply represents the amount of power actually used to make LEDs shine. The higher the percentage efficiency of the power supply, the more power will be saved in the end. For LED strip applications, it is a good idea to choose a power supply with an efficiency of 80% or higher.

Size

When choosing a power supply for an LED strip project, it is important to know where the power supply needs to be mounted. If you want to fit it into a product being manufactured, the power supply must be small enough to fit in the space provided. If the power supply is outside the application, there should be a way to mount it nearby. There are a variety of power supplies available in different sizes and shapes to suit your needs.

Class II or Class 2?

It’s easy to confuse these two ratings, so now we’re about to learn about the two standards for LED power supplies. Class 2 power supplies meet the limited power levels defined by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and meet the requirements of standard UL 1310. Class 2 power supplies are limited to 60 VDC and 100 watts.

Due to their limited power, Class 2 power supplies are not able to power LEDs other than those rated. At this point, you must determine whether you want to run a power supply for longer distances or stick with the safety of a Class 2 power supply, which is fire and shock resistant.

Class II ratings really only mean that the input and output wires are double insulated. Class II drivers are popular because they do not require a ground connection.