How to choose LED power supplies in 2022? When it comes to LED power supplies, there are two main types: 12v and 24v. So, what’s the difference between them? 12v and 24v are output voltage connecting to led lighting.
Input voltage of a constant voltage power supply is 110-120v or 220-240v in different cities. The output voltage of the power supply is a fixed value and does not change regardless of the input voltage. This is why a 12v or 24v LED power supply works with either 110-120v or 220-240v input voltages even 277 vac. The LED power supply isn’t the same as the LED driver.
If you have to purchase lights to install a low voltage lighting system, you may encounter a 12v vs. 24v LED power supply. But you might be confused about what to choose and which is best? How many categories of LED power supplies? How to control the 12vdc or 24vdc? How about the price difference for both power supplies? Well, here is the solution to your problem. In this article, we are going to tell you about the difference between 12v vs. 24v LED Power supplies.
The decision about choosing the right LED strip light might be perplexing. It’s a bit confusing which one ac dc power supply to opt for a continuous and safe power supply that can alternate current to low voltage. However, several factors that differentiate the 12v from 24v power supply should be considered while selecting the most suitable LED power supply. If you are not familiar with these factors, don’t worry. Because in this article, we are going to explain the remarkable differences between 12v vs. 24v, which will assist you in making the right decision.
So, let’s take a plunge and explore the main distinction between the two constant voltage LED power supplies.
1. Cut Points
Depending on the project, you should consider the cut points of both of the power supplies. If the project consists of more corners and irregular surfaces, you should install a 12v LED strip because it involves more cut points.
However, if your power supply is at a distance from LED strips, you should select 24v LED strips because it always has shorter cut points in contrast to 12v. With the fewer cut points, 24v can carry the current farther away without dropping the voltage on several points.
Besides, we can observe that there are usually 3 LEDs between the cut points on the 12v LED strip while the 24V LED strip is cut off with 6 or 7 LEDs.
2. Number of Connected Strips
Generally, a 24v LED supply is perfect for carrying the current to longer distances when connected in series. It can illuminate leading lights for more time and prevent voltage drop by reducing the resistance and allowing the smooth electrical flow in the circuit. But this would be suitable if you had one power supply.
However, 12v LED power supply would be best if you have to supply power to perpendicular areas for sustainable light. It consists of more cut points, which cause the voltage to drop at several points, so you should avoid using it for extensive units.
Usually, a high-density 24v LED supply shows a voltage drop of 5%, which you can observe by measuring the electric potential at the beginning and end of the strip. In contrast, a voltage drop of more than 20% is recorded in the 12v LED power supply, which can disturb the light output if you have a prolonged distance strip set up.
3. Power Supply
When we measure power supplies in terms of physics, as we know, power equals current times the voltage. We will observe that the voltage difference impacts the current flowing through the LED strip. For instance, if a 12v-LED power supply strip utilizes 10 watts per meter which runs at 12-volt dc, the current in the strip would be 0.83 Ampere. And suppose if the 24v-LED supply strip has the same watts, runs at 24-volts dc that changes to 0.416 A in the strip.
Hence, it states that a 24v LED strip would draw less current from the circuit and adjust the less voltage drop and resistance, to provide the maximum light output. Moreover, it can regulate the power from high to low according to requirements in the circuit.
4. Requirement of Conductor Gauge
While choosing the ac LED power supply, you should also inspect the requirement of conductor gauge by LED power supplies. It refers to the compatibility of the LED strip with the conductor and the current carrying capacity of the strip in a safe manner.
Under the same power supply, we can observe that 24V requires less conductor gauge because the dc LED power supply has the capacity to draw less current and regulate the current flow in the conductor to deliver safe and sound electrical power.
Comparatively, a 12 ac LED power supply draws more current, which increases resistance inside the conductor and can cause the damaging of the conductor.
5. Energy Dissipation
When it comes to energy dissipation, it refers to the lost energy, and the system ends up releasing heat. In dc led power supply, efficiency values in terms of percentage indicate the proportion of used light energy, and the remaining would be heat lost. Mostly, a 12V LED strip light will dissipate 25% of electrical heat because of more resistance.
However, in a 24V LED setup, only about 12% of energy is lost during the illumination because it consists of more resistors.
6. Brightness
Brightness is the most crucial factor in distinguishing 12v from 24v ac dc LED Power supply. Some believe that there is not a significant difference in the brightness of both LED strip lights. This is because the difference is quite slighter, which might be challenging to observe with the naked eye.
Technically, the measurement of lumen output is one of the standards to measure the brightness of LEDs. A good quality LED strip should consist of 450 lumens per foot.
Moreover, a high-density, 24v dc LED strip comprises 60 LEDs per meter which encloses 1080 lumens, and a 12V LED strip has 30 LEDs which means it consists of 540 lumens. So, it interprets that the brightness of the 24V strip will be slightly higher than the 12V LED power supply strip.
7. Price
The price for 12v LED power supply & 24v LED power supply at the same power, like 200w 12v comparing 200w 24v are at the same price if all components are same except transformer usually.
Final Verdict
The choice regarding the selection of LED power supplies depends upon the needs and requirements of the projects. Here we have mentioned the main differences that compare 12v vs. 24v LED ac and dc led power supply. It would be wrong to decide only in favor of one LED strip light because both have pros and cons.
However, for small installations like in cars, under the cabinets and shelves, behind computers and TV screens 12v LED power supply would be best. But for significant lighting projects such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and bars, 24v would be more suitable.
Now that you know the difference between 12v and 24v LED power supplies, you can make a more informed decision when choosing which type is best for your needs. 12v power supplies are ideal for smaller installations, while 24v power supplies are better for larger projects. Keep in mind that higher-density LED strips to require 24v power. As for what kind of power supply to look for and what the IP rating is, we will talk about that in another blog.
