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Main => Main Forum => Topic started by: bperkins01 on May 20, 2018, 08:31:25 pm

Title: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: bperkins01 on May 20, 2018, 08:31:25 pm

Hi Everyone,

Hopefully a simple question. 
My marquee had 4 LED strip lights and was pretty washed out as seen here..
(https://bperkins.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/img_5244.jpg?w=736)

I removed two of them and then made the other two point up / down instead of at the back of the marquee.. 
It is still a bit brighter than I would like..
Has anyone 'dimmed' LED strip lights?  I found a dimmer on Amazon and maybe that is the way to go..
Any other suggestions or gotchas?
thx
Bob

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: Nephasth on May 21, 2018, 12:03:10 am

Run em on 5v.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: barrymossel on May 21, 2018, 02:57:12 am

Something like https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pack-Mini-Remote-Control-Dimmer-for-Single-Color-LED-Strip-LED-Ribbon-L-N3N0/182948828810 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Pack-Mini-Remote-Control-Dimmer-for-Single-Color-LED-Strip-LED-Ribbon-L-N3N0/182948828810) or https://www.ebay.com/itm/Controller-RF-Remote-Dimmer-for-RGB-LED-Strip-DC-5-24V-E5S2/192452150260 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Controller-RF-Remote-Dimmer-for-RGB-LED-Strip-DC-5-24V-E5S2/192452150260)

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: bperkins01 on May 21, 2018, 08:10:47 am

hmmm

I'll give the 5V a try - good idea..
After that - little dimmer thingy.
Thanks!

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: Jakobud on May 21, 2018, 11:52:52 am

You could also just paint the interior of the marquee area black. That would lessen the amount of reflected light and should make it more dim.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: bperkins01 on May 21, 2018, 11:56:50 am

Thanks all.

I tried the 5V option - didn't work at all..
Then I found a dimmer on Amazon for $5.85  - Hopefully that works..  Not 100% sure of how *bright* it will need to be in its final location..  So for $6..  I guess I'll have some flexibility.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: processedmeat on May 21, 2018, 11:58:27 am

Not sure how you mounted your leds but if you can direct them upward at an angle instead of straight onto the marquee that should diffuse the light some. 

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: pbj on May 21, 2018, 12:15:41 pm

Put a piece of masking tape over the lights.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: MartyKong on May 21, 2018, 01:47:39 pm

The set I ordered from fleabay came with a dimmer on the remote. Cost like 19.99 and makes it easy to dial in. 8)

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: Ian on May 21, 2018, 04:03:03 pm

Use better back lit material... Like from https://www.gameongrafix.com/ (https://www.gameongrafix.com/)

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: bperkins01 on May 21, 2018, 04:05:28 pm

Thanks all -

The marquee is from Game on Grafix... its their Ultimate package with diffuser.
The LED dimmer will get it just right and give me some capability to adjust it for different lighting conditions if I want..

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: Ian on May 21, 2018, 05:19:30 pm

Quote from: bperkins01 on May 21, 2018, 04:05:28 pm

Thanks all -

The marquee is from Game on Grafix... its their Ultimate package with diffuser.
The LED dimmer will get it just right and give me some capability to adjust it for different lighting conditions if I want..

Wow sorry... then yeah you could even use wax paper, or even check out this thread about a quarter of the way down.... http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,149265.80.html (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,149265.80.html)

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: JudgeRob on May 21, 2018, 07:05:21 pm

5v is a pretty big drop off in intensity for 12v led strips.  Try 9v.  That's probably where you'll end up with the dimmer.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: matsadona on May 24, 2018, 03:20:13 am

Dimming a LED strip is best done with PWM, not changing the voltage.

Title: Re: Dimming 12v LED strip lights
Post by: bperkins01 on May 24, 2018, 07:45:32 am

All.. problem solved for $5.85

(https://i0.wp.com/bperkins.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/img_5266.jpg?ssl=1&w=450)

Dimmer works perfect.  If you are in the process of a build and are using LED strips for backlighting, I'd just get one and make it part of the design.
Super simple and you will spend much less time trying to mask LEDs or having to guess how many strings of lights you should use.