converting battery powered leds to ac help needed

T

Tsunami

New member
I was in Costco today and saw they sell a 3-pack of super bright leds strips.
Each strip is very narrow and has either 4 or 5 leds and is about 1 foot in length. I am in the process of putting together a t5 retro and thought about adding these leds for shimmer affect.
My question: can i convert these battery powered leds to run off of ac?
Each strip runs off of 3 AA batteries and has an approximate run time of 80 hrs. I wanted to wire all three (3 foot in length) to one ac adapter so I can put them on a timer and of course not worry about batteries.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks
 
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The way to do it all depends. Is there any info about the current rating on the LED's? Are they wired in series or parallel?
 
Three batteries is 4.5 volts. Now you just need to figure out the current. Do you have a meter? Then look for a REGULATED wall wart of 4.5 volts and the current you measure * 3 (for each section) + 20% or so. Then wire each fixture to the wal wart. I would not recommend trying to wire them in parallel.

If you can find out what the LEDs are then there maybe some other options.
 
thanks
I will return to the store tomorrow and either purchase or try and get all the specs.
Pretty neat led fixture if it can work out.
I doubt they're water resistant but that shouldn't be a problem the way they will be mounted.
for the 3 1'strips they are asking $20.
No, I do not have a meter. should probably get one.
Sorry, but I do not know what a "wal wart" is?
 
I am assuming a wal wart is a dc converter, similar to a phone charger that looks like a big wart in your outlet, love the term if thats what it mean

What color temp are these costco lights?
 
If each strip runs at 3AAs (4.5V ea), and you have 3 of them, that is: 3*4.5V=13.5V

Put all three of them in series & put a REGULATED 12VDC wallwart on & youre good to go.

Stu
 
I thought that was what a wallwart was but I didn't recall it being called that.
thanks

o.k. so I'm gonna have to buy these tomorrow and give it a shot.

Oh, and I don't know what color temp the leds are. I just remember the package saying it was either ultra bright or something like that white leds.
I am only considering these for some shimmer effect not for coral growth.
Once I find out the color temp. I will let you know.
 
Yes a transformer that plugs into the wall is a "wall wart".

Stu you really think they are better running in series. If one goes out what is going to happen to the reat? Based on the 4.5 volts I am thinking they are all wired in parallel on the inside. Which is why I picked parallel on the outside/ Just for fun what is your reasoning? Thanks
 
TheFishMan65 said:
Yes a transformer that plugs into the wall is a "wall wart".

Stu you really think they are better running in series. If one goes out what is going to happen to the reat? Based on the 4.5 volts I am thinking they are all wired in parallel on the inside. Which is why I picked parallel on the outside/ Just for fun what is your reasoning? Thanks
Click to expand...

The problem I see with running them in parallel is that if one goes out the other 2 are going to get an extra 2.25v. If ones goes out & they're run in series then the circuit would break & current would stop flowing.

What do you guys mean by regulated transformers? I have a couple from old cell phones & an airsoft gun recharger laying around I want to use for some projects.
 
Dustin- thanks for that idea. Didn't know they made something like that.
Hopefully I'll have a chance to pick up lights today and start playing with them.
 
Everyone, if they are in parallel they all get 4.5 volts, if one goes out (becuase of an open) it just doesn't draw any current and the transformer works less. if it shorts it will take all the current and maybe overload and damage the transformer. In series it depends if it shorts then each of the others will get the extra 2.25v and maybe damage them if it opens then no current will flow and they will all go out.

A regulated transformer can output a much larger current it relies on a load to keep the current current. If the load does not match the transformer the voltage can be high or low. At least that is the way I understand it.

I regulated transformer will keep the voltage at the right level independent of the load up to the ratings of the transformer. IMO
 
That power supply may work. I can not tell if it is regulated. Measure the voltage with no load and if it is about 4.5 volts then it is probably regulated. If is 7 or more then probably not.

It will be able to supply about 500 ma per module. So you still need to know how much current each fixture needs.
 
That power supply may work. I can not tell if it is regulated. Measure the voltage with no load and if it is about 4.5 volts then it is probably regulated. If is 7 or more then probably not.

It will be able to supply about 500 ma per module. So you still need to know how much current each fixture needs.
 
Tsunami said:
I was in Costco today and saw they sell a 3-pack of super bright leds strips.
Each strip is very narrow and has either 4 or 5 leds and is about 1 foot in length. I am in the process of putting together a t5 retro and thought about adding these leds for shimmer affect.
My question: can i convert these battery powered leds to run off of ac?
Each strip runs off of 3 AA batteries and has an approximate run time of 80 hrs. I wanted to wire all three (3 foot in length) to one ac adapter so I can put them on a timer and of course not worry about batteries.
Thoughts? Suggestions?
Thanks
Click to expand...

Can U tell me how to put a tread on here 4 every one to see on new on here. Can U help me out????
 
Not exaclty sure what you are asking.

To create a new thread. Click on the forum button near the top under the advertising banner. Select the appropriate forum. Click the new thread button on left just above the list of existing threads.

To create a link. Go to the thread you want to link and copy the address from your web browser. Come back here and click the the world with a paper clip (?) and paste the address.

Hope this helps.
 
I don't know if your going to get a shimmer effect. If your running t5 ho chances are its going to wash out the led shimmer. I had my lights on this morning and grabbed my led strip I use for work its extremely bright similar to a 150 halogen work light and I got no shimmer except in the rock shadows and it was very minimal. I would suggest just placing one above tank and see if you get resulys your looking for before wiring them up and what not.
 
TheFishMan65 said:
Everyone, if they are in parallel they all get 4.5 volts, if one goes out (becuase of an open) it just doesn't draw any current and the transformer works less. if it shorts it will take all the current and maybe overload and damage the transformer. In series it depends if it shorts then each of the others will get the extra 2.25v and maybe damage them if it opens then no current will flow and they will all go out.

A regulated transformer can output a much larger current it relies on a load to keep the current current. If the load does not match the transformer the voltage can be high or low. At least that is the way I understand it.

I regulated transformer will keep the voltage at the right level independent of the load up to the ratings of the transformer. IMO
Click to expand...

All of this really depends on the lighting and how they wired it to begin with. Thinking about it a bit more it could be a couple different ways and my recommendation may not even work.

Looking at how they rated it for up to 80 hours using 3 AA batteries, they may have the batteries themselves wired in parallel to get a larger mAh rating at 1.5v. On the other hand they could have wired them in series to begin with at 3 LEDs each drawing 1.5v.

The best thing to do if you wanted to use these is to buy them and see how they are wired, then we can tell you how to power them with a wall plug.

Also, as mentioned, you may not see the shimmer effect you are looking for. The intensity is probably fairly low. I know even when I was running power compacts with LED moonlights you couldn't see anything. If you are wanting to power them with AC you might go ahead and try one of the DIY LED threads and just build a short accent strip. Those high power LEDs are far more likely to give you the shimmer if I'm not mistaken.
 
I didn't think any LEDs had a forward voltage less than 3 volts. That is why I assume everything inside is parallel. I just figured they dropped the little extra with a resistor.
 
It's not uncommon to have some 1.5v, though not typical. I just wouldn't want him to go out and buy something if there's a chance it may not work.

Whatever they are and however they are wired, there is a way to power them easily with some type of AC adapter, just need to know for sure what we're dealing with. Imported electronics can vary widely, haha, I might as well just say electronics can vary widely.
 
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