LED strips are not as straightforward to install and configure as traditional incandescent light bulbs, when it comes to installation and configuration.They require a power supply device that converts 120V/240V AC (depending on your location) into the voltage signal which LED strips can use ,because they operate at a low voltage DC.

Do strip LEDs operate on ac or dc?

In most applications, a direct current (dc) power supply can power led strips. LEDs produce light by consuming direct current (DC); however, the LED will only illuminate when the current flow is in the proper direction when using alternating current. When an LED applies alternating current (ac), the LED will blink on and off, and when the frequency is high, the LED will lit continuously.

What is the difference between  DC LED strips and  AC LED strips?

Most LED drivers are built to deliver constant currents to the array of LEDs they are controlling.

Therefore, LED strips DC are defined as LEDs ,  which rely on an external driving circuit to maintain a consistent current level throughout their operation cycle.

On the other hand, an alternating current (ac) source,can power the led lighting system.

12v LED strip lights an alternating current or a direct current?

A direct current (DC) power supply can drive LED strips

but alternating current (AC) power supplies have several significant advantages. If you want to run an LED-based fixture from a mains supply (e.g., 120 V AC), you'll need electronics between the supply and the devices themselves to provide a DC voltage (e.g., 12 V DC) that can drive several LEDs at the same time.

Which is more efficient: alternating current or direct current power?

LED strips DC power is more efficient than alternating current and has lower line losses than alternating current lines. As shown in the diagram below, AC travels only on the conductor's skin, whereas DC travels throughout the entire conductor and not just on its skin. However, resistive losses will exprience both C and DC transmission lines.

What percentage of LED strips are direct current (DC)?

LED strips are typically set up to operate at 12V or 24V direct current (DC). It is necessary to convert the power from a standard mains supply power source (e.g., a household wall outlet) to a low voltage direct current signal to operate the system. DC power supplies are the most common and straightforward method of accomplishing this.

What is the best way to power LED strips?

 Direct current (DC) (direct current) powder led strips. Therefore, you will not be able to directly plug an LED strip into a wall outlet (alternating current). Instead, you'll need a power supply to convert the alternating current (AC) power from the wall into direct current (DC), which the LED can use.

What do you need to select LED Power Supply?

To get the most bang for your buck, you'll probably want to invest in some incredibly bright, high-quality LEDs. You should save money on a power supply. However, investing the cash upfront in a high-quality power supply will almost always pay for itself over time.

What kind of power do you require?

First and foremost, you must determine how much power your strips will consume to select a power supply that is the proper size.

Every LED strip vendor should provide a list of the power consumption of their products. In either case, multiply the power per unit length by the total length of the strip you intend to use to arrive at your answer. We are confident that this number will be sufficient. However, depending on how your LED controllers manage your LEDs, it may be way too much in some cases (this post explains more).

Don't be concerned; it is unnecessary to obtain an extremely accurate number. It's sufficient to be close.

A good rule of thumb is to multiply your estimate of the power consumption of your strip by 0.8 and then multiply that figure by another 20 per cent (strip power / 0.8). Then choose a power supply that can deliver a power output that is greater than or equal to that amount.

Increasing the available capacity for a long life for the power supply is necessary. Heat is a common cause of power supply failure, just as with LEDs. Furthermore, running a power supply at total capacity will cause it to heat up.

The LEDs' power supply voltage must be compatible with the LEDs' power supply voltage.

The LED strip must power a power supply with the same voltage as the LED strip.

In the case of a 12V strip powered by a 24V power supply, the LEDs will shine extremely brightly (overpowered) for a brief time. They will soon become overheated and burn out if this continues.

A 12V power supply connected to a 24V strip, on the other hand, will result in the underpowered LEDs failing to illuminate at all.

Are our LED strip lights waterproof?

The IP rating system determines the rating of a power supply enclosure.

Protection against sold objects  represent the first number of the IP rating (e.g., fingers, dirt, dust).

Protection against liquid represent the second number (e.g., dripping, spraying, immersion).

How do you know that your led strip lights are Waterproof?

If looking for a waterproof power supply, I recommend to look for an IP67 or IP68 rating on the device. It is anticipated that these will be completely submersible.

Power supplies with an IP65 rating, marketed as waterproof, are also available. These are protected against water spray but not against submersion or drowning.

The price difference between IP65 and IP67-68 is typically insignificant, making the additional protection worthwhile.

How do you know that your led strip lights are Dustproof?

Even if you aren't concerned about water, a sealed power supply is beneficial to keep dust out of your system.

Any power supply with an IP rating that begins with the letter "IP6" will be dustproof.

The accumulation of dust on internal components of power supplies is possible, if they expose to the elements (open to the air). This contributes to the build-up of excessive heat, which can shorten the life of the power supply as a result.

What is the efficiency of the power supply?

Your power supply's efficiency can make a significant difference in the amount of power you consume overall. Power supplies typically have efficiencies ranging between 70 and 90 percent based on their size.

As an illustration:

ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER, if I have an LED strip that consumes 100W, a power supply with a 70 percent efficiency rating will consume 100W/0.70 = 143W of electricity.

A power supply with 90 percent efficiency, on the other hand, will only consume 100W/0.90 = 111W.

When it comes to increasing your power supply's efficiency, you will almost always have to pay more money. In most cases, the size of project will determine whether it is cost-effective to pay for increased efficiency or not 

How can you install the power supply?

According to the manufacturer, if you plan to plug your LED power into an existing outlet, you won't have to worry about breaking any building codes. As long as you are not connecting to the mains voltage or running wires through walls, you are safe from prosecution.

If you're doing a large installation, on the other hand, you probably don't want wires dangling everywhere. The use of multiple LED driver power supplies and the routing of cables through walls , which are usually required for a clean installation in this case.

Consider putting all of your power supplies in a single enclosure if you want a neat, professional appearance for your workspace. Bring the line voltage into the enclosure and wire up an outlet inside the enclosure to complete the circuit. After that, install the power supplies and connect them to an electrical outlet.

Invest in a power supply with a class 2 rating. Using this method, if you are running wires within walls, you will ensure that you do not exceed the power requirements. A class 2 power supply has a maximum output power of 60 watts at 12 volts and 96 watts at 24 volts.

Using a single power supply to split the power into multiple outputs, as long as each is within the power limits, a single power supply can exceed the limit.

If you're installing wires inside finished walls, you should use class 2 compliant (CL2) wiring instead.

It is not recommended to connect your power supply directly to line voltage. Instead, attach a three-prong plug to the device's input (120V) side and plug it into an electrical outlet.

Installing the power supply inside a wall without an access panel is not good. It should go without saying, but there's always that one guy who comes up with something. Power supplies do fail, and if they're stuck inside the wall, it can cause a significant amount of trouble in terms of maintenance.

Conclusion

After reading numerous studies and articles, we concluded that LED strip lights bulbs do not care whether AC or DC powers them. These lights have specific operating conditions that must be met to function correctly. Even though they are generally referred to as DC lights, we have concluded that they could work on both DC and AC power, but only with the assistance of a few devices.

References

Everything you need to know about LED strip lights | Waveform lighting. (2017, June 25). Next Generation LED Lighting | Waveform Lighting. https://www.waveformlighting.com/led-strip-lights

How to choose a power supply for your LED strip project. (2018, January 16). Next Generation LED Lighting | Waveform Lighting. https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/how-to-choose-a-power-supply-for-your-led-strip-project

The ultimate guide to LED strips. (2022, February 2). The Smart Cave. https://thesmartcave.com/led-strips-guide/