5. Tips To Help You Choose an LED Power Supply
If you are on this page, chances are that you are looking for a power supply to convert AC voltage into DC voltage. Keep in mind that you need to consider a lot of factors when looking for the right LED power supply to meet your needs. Given below are the tips to help you opt for one.
- Wattage
First of all, you should calculate the wattage your LED lights will require. Ideally, you should have at least 20% more power just in case. All you need to do is multiply the total wattage by the figure 1.2. The resulting figure is the rated power your device must support.
Typically, this rating is written on the back of the device. You can take a look at the specs of the unit to find out how much wattage it can support.
- Voltage/Current
If you want to replace a faulty power supply or build an LED system, make sure you know that the voltage generated by the supply is compatible with the system that you need to run. For instance, if the system requires 12 volts, make sure the power doesn’t generate higher voltage or the system will be burnt.
Apart from this, make sure that the power supply unit can tolerate the input voltage. If it doesn’t have flexibility when it comes to handling the variations in the input voltage, you will be at the risk of burning the unit.
- Temperature and Weather
Most power supplies are designed to work efficiently only if they are operated in a certain temperature range. So, you may want to make sure that the unit can be run in your part of the world where the temperature is too low or too high. Also, the unit must have a built-in ventilation system to deal with the heat.
- Efficiency
The power supply efficiency refers to the power that is used to light up the LEDs. You can save a lot of power if the unit has a high efficiency rating. As far as LED applications are concerned, you may want to go for a power source that comes with at least 80% efficiency.
- Size
If you are looking for a power supply for your LED system, make sure you get a unit that can easily fit in the space you have. You can choose from supplies of different sizes. Based on your needs, you can go for the right size and shape.
If the unit is too big, it will require a lot of space in your room. Therefore, it can create problems for you. Therefore, we suggest that you check the device size before placing your order. This is even more important if you are buying online.
Summary
If you are looking to buy a power supply for your LED system, it’s important to consider the tips given in this article. These factors will play a great role in helping you opt for the best device to meet your project needs. Therefore, considering all these factors is of paramount importance. Hope this helps.
