Strip LEDs

[ajcooper4]

I'd like to fit some lighting in my buildings. I wondered about the strip LEDs which you can cut to length and solder wires onto for the power feeds.

I guess lots of you have done this - any advice on the best ones please and the power supply required?

Thanks.

[Brian]

Power supply - Use a Regulated DC power source ideally 12 volt DC rated with at least 1.5Amp or greater output.
I buy Warm White strips form China ebay sellers in rolls of 300 LED/strip.. Obtain the non waterproof type. Cut up into 3, 6 or 9 way strips. I often add an additional series resistor too to reduce the LEDs brightness. 5K0 may be a good starting place?

Typical 12v Power Supply 2.0Amp Example link

Typical 5Mtr (300 LED) LED warm white strip... LED strip example

[ajcooper4]

Thanks Brian. I was thinking of running a power supply to a switching board - a switch for each house/station/building for independent control. I imagine I could solder a resistor, like the one you advise, on to a piece of veroboard and run the power from there to the switches as described.

Does that sound ok?

[Brian]

Hi
No, do not fit the resistors (various values for differing levels of illumination) at the switches. They need soldering to the Positive pad of a cut up strip, the other end of the resistor to the Positive supply wire. - One resistor per strip to suit. Or try an LED strip without an additional resistor and see what they look like! You of course can switch individual feeds thereby allowing a selection of whats On or Off.

[ajcooper4]

Thanks again - so one resistor per lit building, as it were?

So put the resistors between the switch and the light strip each time.

[Brian]

Wire like this examples...

[ajcooper4]

Fantastic Brain, thank you so much

[ajcooper4]

I have a power supply and my LED strips. What resistance would you advise Brian - I am fairly tech competent but this is familiar but not confident territory.

[ajcooper4]

Sorry should have added - power supply is 12V DC 2 Amp. LEDS are 60SMD/metre.

[ajcooper4]

Having done some beginner's research briefly I am thinking maybe the number of LEDs I use in each building is going to be a factor.

Maybe there's a basic calculation I can use? I am familar with Ohm's law but not sure of my calaculaton for this set up.