LED strip lighting

A few thoughts...

strips are probably 12V, how do you deal with track voltages over 12V?

strips are DC, would work better with rectified DC from the track

Gunrunnerjohn makes a regulator with constant voltage that would work with this.

https://hennings-trains.shopli...regulator-2-pcs.html

So far I haven't had any trouble with using AC power on this.

@Tom M posted:

Gunrunnerjohn makes a regulator with constant voltage that would work with this.

https://hennings-trains.shopli...regulator-2-pcs.html

So far I haven't had any trouble with using AC power on this.

Tom,

Slight correction, and meant with the best of intentions: Constant current.

Light output from LED's is proportional to current, not voltage.  So @gunrunnerjohn's regulator is a current regulator, not a voltage regulator.  Think of it as a transformer (power pack) that puts out an adjustable current when you turn the throttle, instead of an adjustable voltage.

To most of us, adjusting current to control something is quite foreign, because almost everything is controlled by voltage -- except for LED's.

Mike

I used constant current as it allows a much finer adjustment with a simple one-turn pot.  Since the current "knee" for an LED is very sharp for a slight change in voltage, using constant current allows a much finer adjustment of intensity.