Transformer requirement for LED lights

[calo247]

you could also use a switching supply to cut DC voltage but that introduces it own set of problems and would still require the output voltage to be set

[Aquacrazed]

12v it is I ordered this one: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B01...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

12v 5A

[mike31154]

That should work fine. With respect to how the Dual Ramp Timer works, none of us have the internal circuitry so we can only guess at how it really functions. If you look at page 1 of the instructions, the diagram shows "12-24VDC Transformer" for both hook up configurations. There are no warnings or cautions regarding using one voltage over the other. There are plenty of DC to DC voltage converter circuits that can reduce a given voltage without the use of large heat sinks or heavy transformer coils, particularly for low power applications such as this. Could be as simple as a zener voltage regulator diode, or more complex. In any case, getting the 12 volt supply is your best bet. You can use it on your LEDs without the Dual Ramp Timer if you wish.

[calo247]

Originally Posted by mike31154

That should work fine. With respect to how the Dual Ramp Timer works, none of us have the internal circuitry so we can only guess at how it really functions. If you look at page 1 of the instructions, the diagram shows "12-24VDC Transformer" for both hook up configurations. There are no warnings or cautions regarding using one voltage over the other. There are plenty of DC to DC voltage converter circuits that can reduce a given voltage without the use of large heat sinks or heavy transformer coils, particularly for low power applications such as this. Could be as simple as a zener voltage regulator diode, or more complex. In any case, getting the 12 volt supply is your best bet. You can use it on your LEDs without the Dual Ramp Timer if you wish.

there are no warnings because they give you the list of compatible lights and they intend for you to use the power supply that is included with those lights.

if you ever find a transformer that works on DC you should notify the world, you would be a very rich man

there is no such thing as a zener voltage regulator diode, in order to get a voltage drop out of a zener diode you need to introduce a current limiting resistor (ie. heat) before it, and you would need to have so many of them as they have a very tight tolerance, so you would need differently rated one for each level of dimming you wanted.

in terms of the circuit we are not really guessing, it says its pwm based, which makes sense as it is really the most efficient


hopefully the adapter comes with the same size barrel connector, it would suck to have to lop it off

[Aquacrazed]

Ok so I got the 12v 5A adaptor and my Fluval light bar is not as bright now. It is a fair bit brighter with the 13.5V 1500ma power supply it came with.

[mike31154]

Are you running the light through the timer/dimmer or straight off the power supply?

[Aquacrazed]

The dimmer doesn't seem to have any effect, it simply seems to just pass the current. So weather I connect it through the dimmer or not, the brightness is more when I connect it with the 13.5v power supply.