Mixing LED light strips with other LEDs

Kitkat · Post by **Kitkat** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 11:45 am

So I'm lighting up a Nebula Class model (conversion kit from DLM). I'm using a variety of different LEDs including the 360 degree variety. The idea for lighting the blue grills of the warp engines was to use LED strips from Modelers Brand. When I light the strips separately, they're fine. But when I hook everything up together, they dim. The rest of the LEDs are fine, just the light strips dim. Anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing this? Solutions?

Kitkat · Post by **Kitkat** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 12:33 pm

Forgot to mention, I'm running everything off of 9V. Would using a bus bar to separate the circuits help?

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 5:14 pm

Sounds like you don't have enough amperage to run everything. Are you using a 9v battery or power adapter?

chiver · Post by **chiver** » Sat Mar 30, 2013 9:45 pm

Don't forget there is resistors built into the strip. So if there is another led with resistor in the same circut that could affect it.

Kitkat · Post by **Kitkat** » Sun Mar 31, 2013 11:10 am

I'm running everything on a 9v battery for now (testing). I'll be using a wall wart once assembled.

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:25 pm

But that may be part of your problem - the battery probably isn't delivering the amperage you need to make things run properly. If you don't start with the right size power supply, all your other math for making things work will be thrown off.

Kitkat · Post by **Kitkat** » Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:55 pm

Good point. So I should calculate (or re-calculate) the amperage I need and use an appropriate power source?

Ziz · Post by **Ziz** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 2:18 am

Yes. Get all your electronics worked out before you start modifying the kit so that you don't need to re-modify anything as you go.

Kitkat · Post by **Kitkat** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 9:58 am

Yup. You were right. 9v batteries only generate 300 mA. I hooked up a power source rated at 600mA and everything is working perfectly now.

And there was no modifying or re-modifying of anything. I was in the testing stage getting the electronics worked out.

Thanks.