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Corvette Reefer
06-04-2011, 11:06 AM
what can you use to prevent a short on all the leds? i dont want to lose my new leds again.

jimsflies
06-04-2011, 11:46 AM
I'd guess a fuse...but lets see what the led gurus say.

CableGuy
06-04-2011, 04:20 PM
For starters....

Make sure all connections from the drivers to the LEDs and then from every LED to LED and then back to the driver are exterememly fastened and will never get disconnected unless cut.

Also, never put a switch in the LED power circuit, only before the driver or on a 120v timer/controller

A fuse might work, maybe something in the 750ma to 1a range, but you would need to do some testing with that. Start at like 700ma (if you can find them that small) and then work your way up if needed.

Paulo
06-04-2011, 07:36 PM
Fuse may work but make sure it is not a slowblow fuse. Otherwise your LED will fry. I do believe that you could put a sacrificial LED or diode to act as a fuse but i'm sure that evil can provide you the actual info. Slowblow fuse have to be overcurrent for longer periods of time and only trip fast if way over current. Takes no time to fry leds.
Paulo

Corvette Reefer
06-05-2011, 08:10 AM
I went to radio shack today and got a 750ma fuse, we will see how that does.

evilc66
06-06-2011, 10:24 AM
Most fuses don't blow fast enough to protect the LEDs unfortunately. There is no harm in adding them, but it's not something that I would rely on. Paying attention to what you are doing will save you more headaches.