LED lighting, due to its energy efficiency, is increasingly replacing traditional light sources in homes. Due to energy savings, its installation usually pays for itself in less than a year. LED strips are characterized by a wide range of colors and the possibility of selecting a lighting program tailored to our preferences. Therefore, they perform not only functional but also decorative functions. In addition to choosing the color or operating mode, it is necessary to take care of the appropriate equipment - LED power supplies. How to choose a power supply for the LED strip? What to consider when choosing a power supply? Why is choosing a good power supply so important? Today we will answer these questions and dispel common doubts.

Why is choosing a good power supply important?

In order for the LED strip to serve us as long as possible and to shine with equal light along its entire length, it must have an appropriate power supply. How to choose a power supply for the LED strip to extend the life of the strip?
When buying, let's pay attention to a few details:

• PSU power - the greater the power of the tape, the higher the power of the PSU should be,
• model dedicated to LED strips - if we choose a power supply that is not intended for connecting tapes, it can be quickly damaged,
• stabilized voltage - LEDs are sensitive to the relevant power supply parameters, so choose the constant voltage ones.

What to consider when choosing a power supply - types of power supply

We should start choosing the right power supply for the LED strip from the conditions in which we want to install it. There are various versions of LED power supply available on the market. What power supplies do we have to choose?

• Hermetic - will be a good choice if we want to install them outside. They are resistant to dust and increased humidity. The sealed housing provides them with additional protection against changing weather conditions,
• wall-plug - they will work in places where we do not need high power and uncomplicated installation is important to us,
• mesh - are one of the most frequently chosen ones, they are perfect for use inside the house, where they will not be exposed to harmful conditions. Their design ensures free air circulation, and thus adequate cooling.

One of the factors that many people consider when shopping is, of course, the price.
However, it is not worth saving on the power supply. An alarmingly low price may indicate poor product quality, which will translate into problems with the operation of the entire system. There may also be problems with the so-called current peaks that will damage the diodes. A cheap power supply will have much worse efficiency, which will translate into the amount of electricity bills. We choose power supplies from proven manufacturers, made of high-quality components and equipped with appropriate protections.

How to calculate the power of the power supply?

If we want to avoid failure of the power supply, it is necessary to correctly calculate its power. We can calculate the power by ourselves using the formula - (tape length x tape power). The length of the tape is defined in meters, its power is usually given in watts per meter. The above formula allows you to calculate the minimum power necessary to power the LED strip. Remember that for installation we can use a power supply with more power, but never with less - it will overheat.
In order to obtain even illumination along the entire length of the strip, it is recommended to power it
every 5 meters - it is assumed to be the maximum length due to voltage drops. 5m long tapes and below it is enough to feed them on one side, for 10 meters of tape it is enough to feed them from both sides. For optimal operation of the power supply, add 10% - 15% to the power of the power supply in relation to the tape. When deciding on longer strips, remember that LED power supplies cannot be bridged - that is, connected with each other.

Use only dedicated power supplies

We often ask ourselves if we can use the old power supply - the answer is obvious, we should not use a power supply that is not intended for LED strips. Otherwise, you may need to buy new LEDs or a new power supply. When buying, verify the energy efficiency of the power supply - it has a large impact on its quality. Efficiency is the ratio of the power at the outputs of the PSU to the power consumed from the mains. It is converted into a percentage value - the higher the efficiency, the lower the energy loss in the power supply.
Usually the power supplies are 50 - 60% efficient, the better quality ones are often 85% or more. When choosing a power supply for the LED strip, let's take into account the voltage of the current, let's first check the value of the entire set that makes up our lighting. Never connect the LED strips directly to a 230V socket - this significantly increases the risk of damage to the installation and poses a real threat to users' lives. How to choose a power supply for an RGB LED strip? The rules will be the same as for ordinary led strips. However, we can add appropriate controls to the set to conveniently manage the lighting in our home.

LED strip does not light up?

It happens that we have incorrectly connected the tape to the power supply - let's check if we connected the plus to the plus and the minus to the minus. Also, verify the voltage of the power supply with a meter - when connected to a 230V power supply, its output should be constant voltage of 12V or 24V.