voltage regulators
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: General Mobile Electronics Questions and Answers
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=129808
Printed Date: July 05, 2025 at 3:06 AM
Topic: voltage regulators
Posted By: led guy
Subject: voltage regulators
Date Posted: December 22, 2011 at 10:30 AM
I need to install two arrays of LEDs which will use 3amps each. I have access to some regulators that are rated for up to 2300mA each.
I don't know if I can use the regulators in series or parallel to achieve this goal of 2x3 amps load.
Has anyone encountered this before?
Replies:
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: December 22, 2011 at 12:41 PM
Can you repost this. Do you mean 3 volts each and if so the answer from 12 volts is a resistor rated at about 800 ohms.
3 amps would mean approximately 400 LEDs and what relevance are regulators when the resistors cost pennies.
On the other hand if you are using these as running lights, then the regulators would be fine. But please check your load, apart from turn on on-rush, a halogen headlight bulb only consumes about 5 amps.
------------- Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: led guy
Date Posted: December 22, 2011 at 1:32 PM
Let's say I'm going to install some 12volt ribbon strip on a boat and it would serve as general illumination. I need to protect the LEDs from the charging system. The application calls for two strips if 5meters each whick will draw 3amps.
The largest voltage regulators I can get quickly (already have some) are rated up to 2300mA each.
Since that particular regulator is not rated high enough, should I wire additional regulators into the line in series or parallel to effectively protect the LEDs from the charging system?
Posted By: howie ll
Date Posted: December 22, 2011 at 3:35 PM
Cut the strips in two and use 4 regulators, or one or more higher rated.
I just worked it out theses strips would have to contain the equivalent of 600 LEDS to pull 3 amps!
------------- Amateurs assume, don't test and have problems; pros test first. I am not a free install service.
Read the installation manual, do a search here or online for your vehicle wiring before posting.
Posted By: oldspark
Date Posted: December 22, 2011 at 10:37 PM
I doubt that you need a voltage or current regulator.
They are probably 12V strings and hence fine with a charging system.
Otherwise a resistor should do, though for 3A?!!
The only "current regulated" LEDs are the superbright types that do consume Amps each (as opposed to the typical 20mA each, or per 3 or 4 n a typical 12V string).
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