LED Strip Power?

[Mgmny]

Hi Everyone!

I want to buy an LED light strip from AliExpress (like this one linked at the bottom), but I have no idea how to power it. I live in USA, and I'm worried that my voltage or setup might be wrong from the power supplies they are selling, and it confuses me how to get power to the power supply. Basically, I'm trying to bring light into a dark closet in my bathroom, and I figure 15 feet of LED lighting would probably do the trick. The string is less than $10, but i would probably want it on some sort of motion sensor as well. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance!!




 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-SMD5050-12V-flexible-light-60-leds-m-LED-strips-5m-lot-White-Blue-Green/1599651146.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.10.qbMWw8&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_1_10152_10065_10151_10130_10068_436_10136_10137_10157_10060_10138_10155_10062_10156_10154_10056_10055_10054_10059_9911_10099_10103_10102_10096_10052_10053_10142_10107_10050_10051_10084_10083_10119_10080_10082_10081_10178_10110_10111_10112_10113_10114_10181_10037_10183_10182_10032_10078_10079_10077_10073_10070_10123_10120-9911_10120,searchweb201603_4,ppcSwitch_5&btsid=a2a61963-9851-40e9-b899-1ff46cf709fa&algo_expid=42c169ad-34af-4790-b937-90cb301d32b6-1&algo_pvid=42c169ad-34af-4790-b937-90cb301d32b6

[maizefolk]

This doesn't include the power supply or the connector to plug the LEDs into a standard power supply if you bought one. By the time you bought both of those it'd probably be cheaper to just buy something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/HitLights-LED-Light-Strip-Kit/dp/B00713R2ZK/

(Note that this is a white LED only strip. The one you linked to is programmable RGB, so if you wanted to wire it up to an Arduino or Raspberry Pi you could probably set it to change colors. I'm assuming that doesn't have much of a use case in closet lighting, but I could be wrong.)

[BlueHouse]

+1 to maizeman.  I'm not a fan of buying from ali baba because of the shipping issues (customs) and return problems for the same. 
I use similar LED strips in a few locations in my house.  Love them.  One is set up to my home's motion detector so it turns on under the TV cabinet when I enter the LR.  Kind of cool.

[Mgmny]

Ok, those strips still look inexpensive, so I'll just go with those. How do I hook up a motion sensor though??


Thanks!

[Spork]

The strip posted above looks to be a plug in model.  You probably want something hard wired.  You could have a switched receptacle... but that seems silly.

If you really want motion sensor turn on... get something like this: http://www.lutron.com/en-US/Products/Pages/Sensors/Occupancy-Vacancy/MaestroOccVacSensors/overview.aspx

I will warn you: I have them.  They last me about 2-3 years before I have to replace them.  They're not perfect.

If it is in a closet and you want it to come on when the door opens, you might get a door jamb switch.  That would be off when the door is closed and on when it is open.

[Mgmny]

If it is in a closet and you want it to come on when the door opens, you might get a door jamb switch.  That would be off when the door is closed and on when it is open.

I'll look into this! It is a closet door, so this would work! Thanks! There's (for some reason???) an outlet in this closet, so it doesn't matter to me if it's hardwired or plugged in.

[TheThirstyStag]

I've had really good luck with LEDs from Oznium.com.  Something to consider if the shipping issues with aliexpress worries you

[sokoloff]

I installed several of these (in some closets, under the kitchen sink, under the bath sinks) and they were instantly popular with my wife.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-Stick-on-Anywhere-Portable-10-LED-Wireless-Motion-Sensing-Closet-Cabinet-LED-Night-Light-Stairs/32602596392.html?

Run for 6+ months (and still going) on 3 AAA batteries with typical light usage. (Daily usage might be more, but they're not battery hogs for sure.)

[Mgmny]

I installed several of these (in some closets, under the kitchen sink, under the bath sinks) and they were instantly popular with my wife.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/DIY-Stick-on-Anywhere-Portable-10-LED-Wireless-Motion-Sensing-Closet-Cabinet-LED-Night-Light-Stairs/32602596392.html?

Run for 6+ months (and still going) on 3 AAA batteries with typical light usage. (Daily usage might be more, but they're not battery hogs for sure.)

Cool! i would need 4 of these, so about the same cost as the strip maybe? I'll try ordering one though, it can't hurt!

My track record at AliExpress is like 9/10 things make it to me (sure it takes a couple weeks, but what's the rush?).

[Mgmny]

So that one you linked me only had 2 previous orders which made me nervous, but i ordered it. I'll report back in a month or so when it (if?) it gets here!

[sokoloff]

Yeah, the place I ordered it from no longer sells them, but my track record on Ali is similar, maybe more like 19/20 arrive. When things are 1/2 the cost typically, 19/20 is good enough for me... ;)

[Mgmny]

Just got the in the mail on Saturday. They mounted very easily and work VERY WELL so far. I'm interested to see how long the batteries last. It takes 4 AAAs, so it should have a lot of electricity to run the lights/sensor, but we'll see how long the batteries stay alive for. Thanks for the suggestion!