Inexpensive under-cupboard LED project.

[marcopolo]

I want to try a cheap experiment: LED's to replace my tube CFL's under the kitchen units (the ones that shine onto the counter).

I've bought some inexpensive 10mm LED's but I'm undecided as to how to drive them. Could anyone comment on the most inexpensive/best method:


1) Direct rectification of mains with smoothing capacitor running a large string of series LED's

2) Dedicated LED driver.

3) Wound transformer + bridge rectifier/cap supplying strings of series+paralell, each string having it's own resistor.

or any other ideas appreciated

thanks,

Marco.

 

[blasterman]

Use a dedicated LED driver, some 1 x 1/8 aluminum bar (hardware store) and some decent power LEDs like neutral/warm white Crees on stars.

Cheap and easy way to build a robust and effective fluorescent tube killer.

 

[lonesouth]

i was in home depot yesterday and they had an LED bar about $50US with 5 LEDs that were too bright to look at when on. I didn't get a real good look at it was mounted to a display out of reach, but they were definitely not the cheap 5mm LED bars most places sell. I figure $50 isn't a bad price for Joe Blow, but no way the wife would let me get one...besides, I can build it more/better/cheaper once my stuff arrives from China...

 

[blasterman]

I'll have to check out my local Home Depot's and see if they have the same thing. Curious about what type of components it's using. Biggest thing about DIY is you can use a decent power supply.