Hey everyone! I'm a bit of a newbie when it comes to electronics, and I'm trying to figure out how to handle a higher current load. I'm wondering if I could take two 12V adapters and connect them in parallel. Would that actually work? I was thinking of using a diode, like the SR3200/100, to ensure safety. Alternatively, would it be better to just purchase a 120 or 60-watt power supply that's specifically designed for LED strips? Currently, I'm only able to run my component at about 30-40% of its capacity because I'm limited to 1.5 amps.
2 Answers
You might want to look into getting a second-hand PC power supply. They tend to be pretty affordable and could handle your needs better. Plus, designing your own power setup can get a bit complex. If you can, it’s usually easier to buy one that’s already made for this purpose!
Be careful with those adapters, especially under overload or short conditions. If you're going to parallel them, try to use power supplies made for that purpose, like those from Meanwell. You could also connect them at different ends of the LED strip and use Schottky diodes to avoid any backfeed issues. Just be mindful of the voltage drop of around 0.2V-0.3V from the diodes.
I'm working with an 11V BLDC (1000kv and 13T, a2212). I understand the voltage drop, but I'm not too sure about the specifics of the two adapters. One’s definitely linear, but I need to check the other one. They both automatically shut off in a short circuit but resume fine. I guess I should research overload protection too.
Great idea! I’ll see if anyone in my family has an old PC I can snag the supply from.