Need a few to power about 20 LED's. (Locations may too far apart to run connecting wires.)
Any ideas? Need to be really well controlled as I don't want to vaporize any LED's.
Is there enough power in the Z4000 14V tap to do this and power a TIU as well?
Thanks!!
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This thread will help you.
14VAC tap on Z4000 can supply 3 Amps...that's about 40 Watts (Watts = Volts x Amps).
A typical LED requires, say, 1/20th of a Watt. So 20 of them only requires about 1 Watt. Power capacity is not the issue.
You will need a method to convert 14V AC to DC and control/limit the current so as not to "vaporize" the LEDs. Many inexpensive options - maybe $5. Suggest you tell us what specific LEDs you have and what you're trying to do. Some LEDs come pre-wired with built-in current limiting components.
When you say Z4000 is powering a TIU "as well" I assume you mean the Z4000's main outputs are driving the TIU (and track)? Not a good idea to use 14V tap to power TIU via AUX POWER INPUT barrel jack.
Dallee electronics has what you need. It runs off of AC power and puts out DC at 1/2 amp. You’ll need resistors as usual with LED’s. Not a $5.00 item but well worth the price.
I use a 12VDC wall wart to power 17 Tortise switch motors with a maximum of about 4 motors operating at the same time. My backup is a retired HO Power Pak.
While LED's are DC elements, I have done a long test with LED bulbs (that are LED'S with an enclosed resistor). I have been running them on my homes outside landscape lighting system from 12 Volts AC for three years ( 6-7 hours per night) and they are all still working. While this is not common practice they seem to be working and lasting. I can only make the assumption that running LED's w resistors on AC is OK.
They work on either AC or DC. Looking for a plug in 12V AC transformer that will not blow the LEDs. Thanks
Specs are:
Operating Voltage: 12V, AC or DC Compatible,
Operating Current: 20mA.,
wired with Resistors for 9~18V operation
A bit confused here. When you say you want a plug in 12V AC transformer do you mean something that plugs in to the Z4000 14V tap? Or do you mean something that plugs in the 120V wall outlet?
In any case, your specs suggest the LEDs are pre-wired with the current limiting components and can operate over 9-18V. This suggests you can just directly connect them to the 14V AC tap.
If you've already tried this and 14V AC makes the LEDs too bright, you can use, say, 6 diodes wired up in back-to-back pairs to lower the 14V AC to about 12V AC. Diodes are very inexpensive - from another thread I just responded to:
If you meant you want a wall-output transformer that puts out 12V AC, note that your LEDs are marked "DC compatible". In which case I'd get a 12V DC-output wall-wart which would be much easier to find and less expensive than a 12V AC-output wall-wart. From another thread I just responded to:
stan2004 posted:A bit confused here. When you say you want a plug in 12V AC transformer do you mean something that plugs in to the Z4000 14V tap? Or do you mean something that plugs in the 120V wall outlet?
In any case, your specs suggest the LEDs are pre-wired with the current limiting components and can operate over 9-18V. This suggests you can just directly connect them to the 14V AC tap.
If you've already tried this and 14V AC makes the LEDs too bright, you can use, say, 6 diodes wired up in back-to-back pairs to lower the 14V AC to about 12V AC. Diodes are very inexpensive - from another thread I just responded to:
If you meant you want a wall-output transformer that puts out 12V AC, note that your LEDs are marked "DC compatible". In which case I'd get a 12V DC-output wall-wart which would be much easier to find and less expensive than a 12V AC-output wall-wart. Fr
Looking for a wall plug in AC transformer if possible, could go DC if that is better. Will the Z-4000 14V tap run 30/40 LED's? In the process of installing all the under table wiring so I'm not sure how bright they are at this point.
Since your particular LEDs are AC or DC compatible I don't think using one or the other is "better." I will note that 12V DC-output plug-in wall transformers will be easier to find and less expensive.
Your LED spec says 20 mA operating current or 0.02 Amps. So 30/40 LEDs at 0.02 Amps each would be 0.6/0.8 Amps total. As noted earlier the Z-4000 14V tap can provide 3 Amps so no problem there.
I use the buck converters here. Cheap and use them all over layout.
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