Dimmer suggestions for led strip lights?

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Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#204591 8-Oct-2016 17:11

Hi all.

I have a couple of 5050 led light strips that I have used to make some studio lights. I’m hoping to dim the led’s with step-down converters to avoid strobing when doing video work. The led’s have 12 volt 6 amp power supplies. The led strips have 60 led’s per meter which apparently will draw 6 amps.

I'm looking for suggestions on what I can use to dim these led strips? Doing local google searches I found some circuits but the ones I came across were only rated to 3amps max. I'm happy to build some units if there are clear instructions that I can get hold of. Otherwise I'll go for ready-made units.

Thanks

pipe60

127 posts

Master Geek

#1647759 8-Oct-2016 18:11

Using a couple of these at the moment seem to work ok.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-8A-Wireless-RF-Remote-Controller-Dimmer-Switch-for-5050-3528-LED-Strip-Light-/322072825210

richms

28058 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1647761 8-Oct-2016 18:31

pipe60:

Using a couple of these at the moment seem to work ok.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-8A-Wireless-RF-Remote-Controller-Dimmer-Switch-for-5050-3528-LED-Strip-Light-/322072825210

Those do PWM so will give nasty artifacts at higher shutter speeds, and can even cause some banding as low as 1/240

The "apparently" draw of most LED strips is generally BS, if you are dimming them tho it will draw less. You want to get some sort of constant current buck converter to drop the power down. Constant voltage gets really iffy as they heat up they will change brightness.

I would start with one of these - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-Hot1pcs-Step-down-Power-DC-DC-CC-CV-Buck-Converter-Supply-Module-7-32V-to/32529942796.html or similar. 12v in might be a bit of a limiting factor as it needs some overhead, but you should be able to get at least a good 9ish v out which will give you a very dim light. Ideally you want to have more in, so like 15v in so it can then be set to a voltage limit of 12v, and then you can turn the current down to control the brightness. Thats what the 2 blue adjustments on the end are.

Richard rich.ms

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1647874 9-Oct-2016 09:20

Thanks for your response pipe60. As richms pointed out, the dimmers in the link you posted are PWM dimmers. I actually have some PWM dimmers and they cause a banding/strobing affect when used for video work.

Mastiff07

16 posts

Geek

#1647877 9-Oct-2016 09:24

Thanks richms. I was hoping to find something local that I can use this week but it looks like I need to exercise a bit of patience and wait for a couple of units to come from overseas. Thanks for your help.