When you buy an LED strip light from us, you also need a power supply, i.e. a transformer. The same thing can also be referred to colloquially as a voltage source and a power source. Led strips are the only product group at LedStore where the transformer is purchased separately. Panel and spot lights can also be connected to almost any of our LED power supplies, most commonly 24 VDC, if a common transformer is required for the group, for example for wireless dimming or intelligent control.
When choosing an LED power source, at least the following points should be taken into account:
- whether the transformer voltage is 12 V or 24 V. The voltage of the Led strip and the transformer must be the same.
- whether the power supply is moisture resistant. This can be seen in the IP protection class, which is indicated in the product information.
- how much power (watts) the transformer has. The length and power of the Led strip is used to calculate the size of the transformer needed for it
- whether the power supply is dimmable. Depending on the desired dimming mode, a transformer is also selected. Adjustable ballast, i.e. type of transformer, and link to an example product:
- TRIAC transformer
- DALI transformer
- 1-10V transformer
- RF transformer (with built-in RF receiver)
- Zigbee transformer (with built-in smart receiver)
- non-dimmable transformer (only dimmable from the secondary side with a dedicated receiver)
Length of Led strip and transformer wattage
The length of the Led strip affects how powerful (wattage) a transformer is required. Since the LED strip can be cut into the required lengths, it is good to know how to determine the need for an LED transformer. The maximum length of the Led strip for a given transformer can be found by a rule of thumb: divide the power of the power supply by the power of the Led strip per metre. Then add at least 10% of the funds so that you do not load the transformer at its maximum power.
For example, a 24VDC/36W power supply can be connected to a maximum of 2.2 m 24V HELMEILE 14.4W/m led strip, because
36 W divided by 14.4 W/m * 0.9 is 2.2 metres.
If you choose a lower power LED strip 24V HELMEILE 7,2W/m strip, the same power supply (24VDC/36W) will power a maximum of 4,5 meters, because
36 W divided by 7.2 W/m * 0.9 is 4.5 metres.
If you know how much LED strip you need, multiply the number of metres of strip by its wattage to find out how much transformer power you need.
Example: two metres of 14.4W/m Helmeile tape needs a transformer with a power rating of at least 32 watts.
In practice, it is therefore a good idea to size the LED power supplies so that there is a 10% margin compared to the maximum load of the transformer. In the previous example, the transformer requirement for strip lighting was calculated as 14.4W/m * 2m * 1.1=31.68W.
Led-ribbon voltage and power supply without light output reduction
In addition to the fact that the LED strip needs a sufficiently powerful transformer, the power supply is also affected by the voltage of the strip. It is advisable to have separate power supplies at each end of the strip if the 24V LED strip is 10 metres or more in length. For 12V led strips, on the other hand, for continuous feeds of more than 5 metres, there may be a problem of reduced light output if the current is only fed from one end of the strip.
Humid or dry state transformer
The table below gives more details on the IP rating used for transformers. The first number of the classification reflects the protection against foreign bodies, dirt and dust. The latter number describes moisture and water resistance.
There are a number of rules for choosing electrical equipment between dry and wet rooms, such as the distance of the transformer from the water point, the location of the transformer in the roof structure and the enclosure of the transformer.
We can advise on these, but the safest thing to do is to have the work done by an installer. Especially in the case of an LED ribbon transformer without a plug, it is advisable to have the transformer connected to the mains power supply by an electrician. If you want to know more about what electrical work you can do yourself, take a look at the STEK website article What electrical work can an ordinary electricity user do?
Voltage source for led strip – dimming options
All our LED strips can be dimmed. Led strips operate on 12 or 24 DC, i.e. VDC. When you want to dim the LED strip, you can either choose a dimmable LED power supply, or buy a wireless dimmer to go with the non-dimmable power supply. The most versatile power supply that works with wired wall dimmers is the so-called. 4in1 model, available in a few different power classes (30W, 100W, 200W). They can be found on our TRIAC transformers page. Below are a few types of 24VDC transformers:
Dimmable TRIAC power supply
The power supply suitable for dimming controlled by conventional rotary wall switches is the TRIAC transformer. These transformers are available in both 12 V and 24 V, so they are suitable for all our LED strips.
Dimmable DALI power supply
Power supplies compatible with home automation, known as DALI power supplies, are also dimmable. They are available in several sizes. These power supplies do not have a plug, so installation by an electrician. Our range of DALEs can be used with both monotone and colour temperature adjustable lights.
Non-dimmable, or secondary dimmable power supply
Wireless wall button and/or remote controlled dimming, so-called secondary dimming, can be implemented on our non-dimmable transformers by adding a receiver of the VaLO product family. You also need a wall button, a dimmer, which you can position as you like because it is wireless, and from which you can then adjust the light a. If the LED strip does not need to be dimmed, these non-dimmable power supplies are obviously the best choice.
Discover the VaLO family of wireless dimming products. For smart lighting control, we have a dedicated category for Zigbee products. The category includes. smart lighting dimmer options and receivers that can be paired with smart lighting systems.
Check out other power supplies, such as 36v power supplies in our online store: transformers from LedStore.
Led lights transformer broken?
If you have an LED lamp that no longer works, our experience has shown that it is always a good idea to try replacing the power supply first. LED circuits are often longer lasting than transformers, so just by changing the transformer you can easily get more years of use out of your luminaire.
When does an LED luminaire not need a power supply?
Led luminaires usually always need a power supply in order to be connected to the mains. There are also some LED strips that plug directly into the mains, such as our range of 5 metre NEON light strips. These have plug-in wires ready, to indicate that it can be connected directly to the mains. On the other hand, a transformer is not needed if the installation site uses low current, such as boats, vehicles, and photovoltaic systems.
Other articles on power supply in our blog
We have also written about other topics related to LED power supplies, such as troubleshooting and different types of dimming in more detail. See for example the following articles written by Janne Halttu. In the category Lighting control you will find more information about transformers. The differences between constant current and DC voltage transformers are discussed in this article. When troubleshooting the LED strip, it is also important to know what contribution the transformer may be making if the LED is not working properly.
About LedStore
LedStore has been an expert in LED lighting and lighting design since 2010. We have our own brand and product design, and our products are technically state-of-the-art. For transformers we rely on MeanWell quality, and we have also selected a range of other high quality transformers that we import.
We focus on light colour temperature controlled and high colour rendering index lights. We do around 500 lighting designs for our clients’ sites in a year. Read more here or order a design.
We offer custom-made LED strips as a service, i.e. custom-made LED strips in aluminium profile. The installation is also done by LedStore itself.
We are always on hand to support you with lighting choices and installation issues along the way, by email(myynti@ledstore.fi) and by phone (045 251 4510). Feel free to share photos of your own projects on social media #ledstorefi on IG and ledstore.fi on FB. We love to see the cool things our LEDs do, and it helps to provide inspiration for those who are unsure about the power and awesomeness of LEDs.
Photo gallery of Led lights to help you choose your lighting
Did you know that we already have over 3 500 pictures of our LED installations in our Gallery!
Product gallery: Pictures of products in different installation locations
Indirect light: Indirect light in different spaces
Room-specific: Led lighting in different rooms
References: Complete houses that have been photographed
