Electronics Running LEDs from mains

Hi guys,

I wanted to put some LEDs in my custom built wardrobe. I have a socket on the inside of the wardrobe (its built into the wall) so wanted to power them using this, with a switch on the inside that I can turn on/off.

Is there any easy way for me to power these, or will it require some complex home made transformer kinda malarky.

I can solder!

 

No problem at all, what voltage are the LEDs?

 

In the thread below (on OCUK) I discuss and show a few different ways of powering LEDs including using a wall mains adaptor.

LEDs are low voltage DC devices and need the AC voltage converted from 240v AC to a more manageable low DC voltage.

 

There's also the Phobya flexlight system if you dont feel confident doing all the soldering.

http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/customer/All-MultiColour-RGB-Lights-cid-2260.html

 

There shouldn't be any soldering if he has decent LED tape / modules.

 

Any, I probably need quite bright ones though (god, does that even make a difference to their voltage? I don't know!)

Thanks for this dude! I'm going to have a read through!

 

I've done it using a lower powered adapter for a laptop etc. I've got some 5v and 12v output supplies that work fine for something like this. I just put the right resistor in as required and jobs a good one. Depends a little on if your using LED strip etc but I found it the best way with the least work involved so ran with it

 

You can just use a mains to USB power adapter, chop the plug off a cheap USB lead and wire the LEDs up to that.

Most White LEDs are 5v so USB power adapters are perfect

 

Only USB LED strips will be 5v. A 12v LED strip needs at least 10v. A discrete LED would need 3.5v@20mA.

 

I would just buy some LED tape and a 12 or 24V driver.