 Joined: 29/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 957 Location: Mount Barker, South Australia
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If this is in the wrong topic, can moderators please move......sorry  This might be a stupid question to the electronics experts out there, but............................................ Just purchased LED strip lighting and was advised that I required a 12 volt (Australian) power source to light the strips. Me not thinking, asked if a model train transformer would be sufficient and the answer was yes. Unfortunately the salesperson couldn't read my mind that I was thinking of a Märklin transformer....doh!. So, can a Märklin transformer (the accessories part) be used to power LED strip lights? Or will they burn out due to AC being supplied to them? Many thanks  |
Dusan V
'I find your lack of faith (in Märklin) disturbing' |
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Hi!
The question should be in the crystal ball forum.
The question is good, but cannot be answered without additional information.
Depending on the diodes on the LED board it may work safely with AC.
If it was made for 12 V DC then 16 V AC may still be too much.
Yes, AC could be a problem.
Yes, 16 V AC could be a problem even if 12 V AC were OK. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS  |
 1 user liked this useful post by H0
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 Joined: 03/10/2010(UTC) Posts: 1,293 Location: Cape Town, South Africa
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Hello, My recommendation is that you do the following : You purchase a RECTIFIER and a 12v REGULATOR. The RECTIFIER converts AC into DC (two wires AC coming in, two wires DC going out), and the 12v REGULATOR will regulate the voltage to 12v. For added reliability, get a small piece of circuit board and get 2x socket connectors for in and out and solder the parts on the board. I can give you a circuit diagram if you require. Regards,  John
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1 user liked this useful post by Johnvr
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: Johnvr  The RECTIFIER converts AC into DC (two wires AC coming in, two wires DC going out),
and the 12v REGULATOR will regulate the voltage to 12v. That's a safe way. Depending on the specs of the LED board there may be cheaper options. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS |
1 user liked this useful post by H0
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Joined: 29/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 957 Location: Mount Barker, South Australia
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Originally Posted by: H0 Hi!
The question should be in the crystal ball forum.
The question is good, but cannot be answered without additional information.
Depending on the diodes on the LED board it may work safely with AC.
If it was made for 12 V DC then 16 V AC may still be too much.
Yes, AC could be a problem.
Yes, 16 V AC could be a problem even if 12 V AC were OK. It states on the package 12V 6000K light 720LM P/M, is that of any help? It also states that the LED strips, must not exceed 5 metres, when used in a DCseries circuit...is that of any help as well. |
Dusan V
'I find your lack of faith (in Märklin) disturbing' |
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 Joined: 14/03/2005(UTC) Posts: 15,870 Location: Gibraltar, Europe
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Are the strips cheap? Try it on a short strip and see what happens. If you smell burning switch it off! Obviously you need to take precautions to prevent injury to you and damage to your work surface. |
Ray
Mostly Marklin.Selection of different eras and European railways
Small C track layout, control by MS2, 100+ trains but run 4-5 at a time.
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1 user liked this useful post by RayF
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Joined: 29/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 957 Location: Mount Barker, South Australia
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Originally Posted by: Johnvr Hello, My recommendation is that you do the following : You purchase a RECTIFIER and a 12v REGULATOR. The RECTIFIER converts AC into DC (two wires AC coming in, two wires DC going out), and the 12v REGULATOR will regulate the voltage to 12v. For added reliability, get a small piece of circuit board and get 2x socket connectors for in and out and solder the parts on the board. I can give you a circuit diagram if you require. Regards, John Thanks John, for a newbie in this field that's a lot of info, and it'll take me a while to digest , as I'm looking for a simple solution (if there is such a thing ) . What about if I used an old computer drive transformer (that is still in operating order of course), cut off the plastic plug, split the wires and join the LED's to the split wires...........or is that too simple and could cause big problems. |
Dusan V
'I find your lack of faith (in Märklin) disturbing' |
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Joined: 29/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 957 Location: Mount Barker, South Australia
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Originally Posted by: RayF Are the strips cheap? Try it on a short strip and see what happens. If you smell burning switch it off! Obviously you need to take precautions to prevent injury to you and damage to your work surface. Ray, that was my initial idea, but I thought that maybe there might be an answer where I can bypass that process . Doesn't look like it, so I'll have to have an experiment |
Dusan V
'I find your lack of faith (in Märklin) disturbing' |
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Joined: 15/03/2003(UTC) Posts: 9,592 Location: Australia
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Make sure that you do the experiment away from open cans of fuel and Samsung washing machines!  |
Adrian Australia flag by abFlags.com |
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Joined: 29/11/2009(UTC) Posts: 957 Location: Mount Barker, South Australia
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Originally Posted by: xxup Make sure that you do the experiment away from open cans of fuel and Samsung washing machines! Funny you should say that, especially about two weeks ago some guy was transferring LPG from canisters to his truck in the carport, went had a cup of tea while that was happening, only to have first that LPG tank blowing up, and when he ran from the house, the rest of the tanks went up as well. When I heard the bang I thought the missus had fallen down the staircase You might have seen this on your tv or internet Explosion |
Dusan V
'I find your lack of faith (in Märklin) disturbing' |
1 user liked this useful post by DV
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Joined: 16/02/2004(UTC)
Posts: 15,443
Location: DE-NW
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Originally Posted by: DV It states on the package 12V 6000K light 720LM P/M, is that of any help? Not really. Are the connectors for power marked with "+" and "-"? If so, I would assume it is DC only. A switching mode power supply for 12 V DC would be a simple solution. PC power supplies are not safe for children - grown-ups have to decide whether they can take that risk. A short circuit on the layout may lead to unexpected results. Some use extra fuses to protect the power supply. |
Regards Tom --- "In all of the gauges, we particularly emphasize a high level of quality, the best possible fidelity to the prototype, and absolute precision. You will see that in all of our products." (from Märklin New Items Brochure 2015, page 1) ROFLBTCUTS |
1 user liked this useful post by H0
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 Joined: 23/07/2014(UTC) Posts: 8,469 Location: ENGLAND, Didcot
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