Hi all. new to this and hoping someone can pity on me!
I've bought a LED light tape kit which comes with a 3pin 12v transformer.

I plan to put the LEDs to back-light a mirror on the wife's bedside table (she looks better in dim light!!!! :)

The transformer will plug straight into a normal 3 pin socket but that's behind the bed so I need to wire in a switch. so here's my question, do I need to have the switch on the 240v side (between the socket and the transformer) , or could I put a 12v 20amp toggle switch between the transformer and the LED tape. the second route would be much neater if it worked technically. so to be clear, the transformer would be permanently plugged in and live, but power would be switched on the 12v dc side of the circuit.

thanks guys
 
Hi. Thanks. Ive already bought the led kit. If i could do a simple switch I'd prefer that to a remote control, especially as we'd lose it!
 
Transformers tend to get warm when left powered up with an open secondary. However with the size of it, probably not an issue.

Both would work.
 
Also make sure the transformer/PSU is located somewhere where it can get some airflow around it, and its not trapped behind the bed.
 
You could put the switch in either the mains or ELV side of the LED power supply.
IKEA (and others) have the switching on the ELV side. As an electrician, my training tells me that switching the 230V power off is better and safer.
 
I agree, my instinct was to want to switch everything off but then I saw a backlit Mirror in John Lewis where the switch was on the ELV side. Thanks guys.
 
I wouldn’t want to fly off on holidays leaving a “made in China to the lowest cost” power supply plugged in.
 
Best EV Chargers by Electrical2Go! The official electric vehicle charger supplier.

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc

Advert

Daily, weekly or monthly email

Thread starter

Joined
Location
maidenhead

Thread Information

Title
where to switch a 12v LED circuit?
Prefix
Forum
Lighting Forum
Start date
Last reply date
Replies
9

Advert

Thread statistics

Created
neilinmk,
Last reply from
MJPD29,
Replies
9
Views
1,265

Advert

TrueNAS JBOD Storage Server

Back
Top