Help replacing three transformers with one.

[marcode]

Hi,

I am looking for assistance in replacing three Philips Hue transformers (output: 24V / 0.83A / 20W each) with a single transformer capable of providing enough power to run the three strip lights. I’m not familiar with transformers, so I’m unsure where to start and would appreciate any guidance.

Ideally, I’d like a solution small enough to fit into a recessed wall box (170 mm x 120 mm) above a door, though this is not a strict requirement.

Thank you in advance for your help.

[Someone-Else]

If you have a light that uses 20 watts then you need a power supply that can supply 20 watts or more at the voltage your lights require. (24v in your case) so a 15w power supply would be no use as it is too small, but a 30w power supply will be fine as you only need 20w.

Like wise if you have 4 x 20w lights you would need a power supply that can supply 80w (as 4 x 20 = 80) anything bigger than the minimum (80 in this case, is also fine.) a device (Light, TV, drill etc) will only pull/draw as much current as it needs, that is why you can use a bigger rated power supply, but not a smaller one.

NOTE: A transformer is NOT a power supply. (Don't worry today why) but what you do need is a Power supply that says it has an OUTPUT of 24v D.C. at a minimum of (The total of the watts you need)

The downside is that if the big single Power Supply fails, since it is powering multiple lights, none of them will work, but if you have 3 smaller power supplies, and one fails, you will still have 2 lights working.

[ericmark]

The word "transformer" was for many years used to describe a wire wound device which would transform the voltage, there were current transformers, but they were for specialist use, only seen them as a power supply for aircraft runway lighting, and were often called drivers, but the lighting industry likes it seems to describe a new device using the old name, so we have transformers, power supplies, and drivers which often do the same thing, but one has to carefully read the description as the names seem to swap around.

As far as I can tell, the Philips Hue uses a 24 volt DC supply, I personally would not call that a transformer, although it clearly does transform the supply. A google found me a 100 watt version with two output connections, but seems odd as most the strip lights are 20 watt, so would have expected five output connections.

I have TCP and Lidi strip lighting, and they can be cut and a non illuminated joint used to span an area not wanting to be lit, but the 20 watt of power needs to travel through the strip, so even if a 40 watt power supply was available it would likely overload the strip as it passes through it.

So if you need to have three 20 watt outputs from the power supply, one has to ask why not use three independent power supplies? Combining into one big supply seems pointless.

Mine I thing have 6 tracks in the strip, which I assume are return, high colour temp, low colour temp, red, green, and blue. The total the strip can put out in watts is something like 60 watts, but it would burn out at this power, so the controller will not allow full output on all together, both makes are similar, so would expect to find this is a common way to ensure the strip and power supply are not over heated. That return track carries the current for all the LED's what ever colour or colour temperature they are.

Mine cost around £25 each, and I would not want to do anything which would result in them needing replacing, on Amazon I found a 100 watt "transformer" labelled as being Philips Hue, at £80, but it is shown powering uplights, wall lights, and spot lights, not strip lights, the advert is here https://www.philips-hue.com/en-gb/p/hue ... 9514414273 however in around 2015 I decided to use Philips CFL golfball bulbs in the living room and dinning room, up to then I had considered Philips as a good make, but it seems they were no longer a good make, and the bulbs had to be all replaced within a year when spec said should last 5 years, they it seems are no longer Dutch, but Chinese, and not good Chinese either, so I now keep away from Philips, it is over priced tat in the main. Pity they were good. Have V2000 video for years, the best of the three. But now living on their name, but no longer the good quality they were.

[Bob225]

There are 2 types of LED driver, constant voltage and constant current

3x20w=60w allow for 10-20% overhead, so 70-80w

100w 24v LED driver will be a common off the shelf product

Eg. Aurora AU-LED10024IP

[OnlyMe]

Thanks for mentioning the overhead Bob225 that is important. I would want 20% minimum.