I bought this 12V 10W LED floodlight to see if it used a current regulator or just a simple resistor. It turned out to use a current regulator based on a common CL6807 1A chip designed for use with LEDs.
I wondered if it was possible to use just a resistor to run a typical 3x3 10W LED directly on a 12V supply. Note that the resistor value I chose is only suitable for LEDs with a matching forward voltage. It would not be suitable for lower voltage LEDs.
Using a resistor also allows you to tweak the floodlight to run at much lower power like 5W for longer battery life and also much longer LED life. You could even add a switch to select between a high and low intensity mode.
Typical standard resistor values might be 3.3 ohm, 4.7 ohm, 5.6ohm, 6.8ohm or others. I'd suggest using 5W resistors to help with dissipation and also to make it easier to stick them to the case with a high temperature adhesive like silicone.
If you enjoy the channel you can help support it with a dollar for coffee, cookies and LEDs at https://www.patreon.com/bigclive
I wondered if it was possible to use just a resistor to run a typical 3x3 10W LED directly on a 12V supply. Note that the resistor value I chose is only suitable for LEDs with a matching forward voltage. It would not be suitable for lower voltage LEDs.
Using a resistor also allows you to tweak the floodlight to run at much lower power like 5W for longer battery life and also much longer LED life. You could even add a switch to select between a high and low intensity mode.
Typical standard resistor values might be 3.3 ohm, 4.7 ohm, 5.6ohm, 6.8ohm or others. I'd suggest using 5W resistors to help with dissipation and also to make it easier to stick them to the case with a high temperature adhesive like silicone.
If you enjoy the channel you can help support it with a dollar for coffee, cookies and LEDs at https://www.patreon.com/bigclive
I have put one of those cheapo meters across the mains ti see what would happen……..it didn't end well. most cars actually charges at between 14v to 14.5 depending on load
I rewired a 240 v Les spot into 12v but it was a messy affair with cutting the board and welding leds in parallel. Could you show us a more straightforward way?
Just watching this now adn can't help but think the sooty skid mark is from a mains power supply driver smoking itself and the whole thing being recycled as a 12volt light :).
Those cheapy meters are great for general use. I love them for basic use.
Very nice
I have one of those yellow meters by blue spot
they are for sale at harbor freight tools for 99 cents US this month limit 9
When a car is running it puts out 14.4 volts
@bigclivedotcom Can I ask how did you get the 900mA initial estimate? I've got a similar LED lamp with the same regulator circuit and chip (I blew my rectifier diodes up by stupidly plugging it into the mains. Super sparky and magic smoke! =__=), but has a white colour.
I've tested it on my power supply, and am getting 15V 0.66A (to get to the ~10W output). Any pointers on how I can get the proper operational voltage and current?
The packaging on my lamp didn't have this information (and because I haven't touched this light in over 2 years, the eBay page is gone ๐ ).
i ran a 10w led flood light on 13v battery they got hot lol
I actually connect cheap chinese meter into mains (~230V) set to 200 or 20 mA and nothing spectacular happened, it's blown (with a bang) the fuse for the amps measure and some resistors inside, but the rest of the functions were just fine, i'm still using it from time to time
HELP
BigClive, I need your help , I've started a project and I don't know what I am doing. I thought I had a fair idea about wiring a few parts together But the wiring wording and diagrams are not what I learned . When I say learned , I mean wiring simple 12V to a switch and then off to a light ,ETC.ย HELP.
I use a similar cheapy meter as a 2nd/backup meter and I was happy with it for what it is until I blew the fuse and when I opened it to replace I found that there wasnt even a fuse holder, the fuse was actually soldered to the pcb. built down to a price is fine, I paid less than 5 quid for it, but seriously thats cost cutting taken too far