Led lighting strips Rectifier question

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Alinatty

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I would like to put some Led strip lighting in some of my coaches. I have a Massoth Central Station with my Track voltage set to 22v dc, Track current output 12 amps.

If I wire two 12v led strips in series, would this split the supply voltage in half, so 11 volts each strip ?
Assume I will need a Full wave bridge rectifier for flicker free lights ?
If so what type of rectifier is required and does anyone have a simple wiring diagram as I haven’t done this before.

Also, do I also need a Capacitor to store energy ? What size and how is it wired ?
Would a bridge rectifier and capacitor the only components I would need ?

Thanks
Alison
 
Last edited:
Wiring in series will work as you mention.

A bridge rectifier will work to give you full wave DC, but a diode will work just as well.

For either rectifier or diode make sure it has a 24V rating, 30V even better.

A capacitor will help smooth the DC, again a 30V rating best. You will need to allow for polarity if an electrolytic type. 100uF would work across the output of the bridge rectifier.

Have a look at EBay for AC-DC converters rated at 24V. There are plenty of ready made circuits for £3-4....
 
Alinatty said:
If I wire two 12v led strips in series, would this split the supply voltage in half, so 11 volts each strip ?
Click to expand...

That depends very much on who manufactured the "strips" concerned. They may not act as simple fixed energy consumption devices if connected in series. Are you able to tell us more about your "strips" and perhaps post some photos?
 
Thanks Gizzy for your suggestions. Like the idea of using a ready made circuit.

Would it be a AC-DC buck converter, step down converter, like LM2596, step down to 12v and just use one led 12v strip ?
Or
would an AC/DC Recifier Filter power supply board work with the two 12v strip wired in series, see below ?

Attached a photo of my two 12v led strips.
 

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Alinatty said:
Thanks Gizzy for your suggestions. Like the idea of using a ready made circuit.

Would it be a AC-DC buck converter, step down converter, like LM2596, step down to 12v and just use one led 12v strip ?
Or
would an AC/DC Recifier Filter power supply board work with the two 12v strip wired in series, see below ?

Attached a photo of my two 12v led strips.
Click to expand...
You could use either....
 
Just bear in mind that neither of these options look to have any inrush current limiting - you may find that your DCC Command Station (CS) will see a short circuit on power up / if you put these onto the track whilst it is powered.

This is, basically, because capacitors will draw as much current as you let them. If they are not limited even a little capacitor like that will see the (example) 10A you have available from your CS and take it in an instant.

When I build coach lighting with capacitor smoothing I always use a 50 Ohm 2W resistor in parallel with a 1n4007 diode on the positive to the capacitor. It's the same idea as a 'stay alive'. An example here: The 2mm Scale Association
 
Cobalt6700 said:
Just bear in mind that neither of these options look to have any inrush current limiting - you may find that your DCC Command Station (CS) will see a short circuit on power up / if you put these onto the track whilst it is powered.

This is, basically, because capacitors will draw as much current as you let them. If they are not limited even a little capacitor like that will see the (example) 10A you have available from your CS and take it in an instant.

When I build coach lighting with capacitor smoothing I always use a 50 Ohm 2W resistor in parallel with a 1n4007 diode on the positive to the capacitor. It's the same idea as a 'stay alive'. An example here: The 2mm Scale Association
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, will look into it.
 
Alinatty said:
I would like to put some Led strip lighting in some of my coaches. I have a Massoth Central Station with my Track voltage set to 22v dc, Track current output 12 amps.

If I wire two 12v led strips in series, would this split the supply voltage in half, so 11 volts each strip ?
Assume I will need a Full wave bridge rectifier for flicker free lights ?
If so what type of rectifier is required and does anyone have a simple wiring diagram as I haven’t done this before.

Also, do I also need a Capacitor to store energy ? What size and how is it wired ?
Would a bridge rectifier and capacitor the only components I would need ?

Thanks
Alison
Click to expand...
You need this ...
Track Accessory Power
from G-Scale Graphics
 
I tried the newer led DCC strips by MD electronics and can remotely turn the lights on and off. And with the MD_electronic strips you program the 2 leds in parallel and have a single address for all 8, or control each led and have 4 on a single address. Newer add on parts are getting better and better!!
 
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