I'm wiring a series of 10 LED overhead lights in a modified camper/RV. I've already run all the wiring and installed wooden ceiling and wall panels with holes cut out for the lights. For this reason, it will be very very difficult to modify my wiring in major ways (hot linked image removed) I'm trying to install 10 of these LED lights in a van - with 6 of them wired in parallel to one string (with its own on/off switch) and 4 of them wired in parallel on a separate string and switch. I cut off the AC wires and the included AC Driver box, and I had originally connected them directly to a 12v auxiliary RV battery with their red and black wires. This worked at first, but later caused the lights to flicker/flash and burn out. I now learned that I need to use a special DC LED driver or resistor. My question:
What can I install and splice into my wiring (ideally not at every LED) to make sure I don't supply too much current to these lights, but keep them on?
I'm having a hard time finding the exact specs and forward voltage (Vf) of these lights, but they are made by CREE and their little built in plastic AC driver box shows an input current of 300mA and 3-13V.
Since my lights are in parallel and not series, and they (seem to) call for an input voltage in the range of 3-13V, I should have adequate voltage with my 12V system. But for regulating the current, do I need a driver that provides a constant current of 3000mA (300 x 10?) even though there will be times with just 4 lights on? They don't even seem to make these. Could I wire multiple smaller drivers in parallel?
Thanks
What can I install and splice into my wiring (ideally not at every LED) to make sure I don't supply too much current to these lights, but keep them on?
I'm having a hard time finding the exact specs and forward voltage (Vf) of these lights, but they are made by CREE and their little built in plastic AC driver box shows an input current of 300mA and 3-13V.
- Can I wire an LED driver into my common 12v DC power supply which goes to both strands and all 10 lights? If so, do I size it for 10 lights even though there will be times when there are 0, 4, 6, or 10 lights in use?
- It will be much harder, for wiring reasons (no access to my "NEG-") to wire an LED Driver after the wiring splits and has the 2 individual switches for the 2 strands, but this might be possible as a last resort. If so, what type of driver or resistor can be wired in?
Since my lights are in parallel and not series, and they (seem to) call for an input voltage in the range of 3-13V, I should have adequate voltage with my 12V system. But for regulating the current, do I need a driver that provides a constant current of 3000mA (300 x 10?) even though there will be times with just 4 lights on? They don't even seem to make these. Could I wire multiple smaller drivers in parallel?
Thanks
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