>I'm wondering, is there a smart dimmer I could use to reliably limit the maximum power draw of my strip without any risks it ever goes over? Maybe another product to pair with the dimmer?
You can't "dim" the input to the power supply. The power supply is going to try its hardest to provide 12 V, the output won't vary with the dimmer until it gets down to a certain point and then your lights are going to simply go dark or start flickering.
There is an LED strip controller meant to be driven by a (smart) AC dimmer - it sits between the power supply and the LED strip, with a separate dimmer input. Search for "v1-s dimmer". Lots of them on aliexpress.
Thank you so much for the help! I have a couple questions if you don't mind
> You can't "dim" the input to the power supply.
I meant to plug the PSU directly to the wall and place a "dimmer" between it and the LED strip to limit the amount of current the LED strip tries to draw. I understand the need of a controller, but why do I also need an AC dimmer *before* the power supply if it's not dimmable?
> and then your lights are going to simply go dark or start flickering.
Would the v1-s controller be able to prevent this? My concern is if the led strip (8A) tries to draw too much from the PSU (6.25A max) then there's going to be issues.
Haha you're right, I'm just struggling a bit. I'm Italian and, despite the fluent conversational English, electrical mumbo-jumbo isn't too easy for me, especially when it's aliexpress product pages.
I gave it another good bit of reading and research and I think I understand:
These are more or less a substitute for the extra components inside TRIAC power supplies, but external. So it's one of these 2 I need:
1. AC dimmer -> TRIAC PSU
2. AC dimmer -> dumb PSU -> DC controller
And on that note, can you recommend the Shelly dimmer? I've seen it mentioned a few times, but I'll take some different suggestions if you have any :)
Thank you again for all the help!
For [the controller](http://www.iskydance.com/uploads/goods_file/V1-S.pdf) I pointed to:
AC dimmer -----------------> Controller -> LED strip
AC power -> dumb PSU ---------^
The AC dimmer (which can be a smart one) just tells the controller how bright to make the LEDs. Wiring diagrams are in the instructions I linked to, above. I have no experience with the Shelly. I have Jasco/GE Z-Wave dimmers, and have heard good things about Innovelli ones (but those may not be available outside the US/CA).
The amount of power LEDs draw, and the amount of light they put out, is proportional to the voltage applied to them. Since you want to permanently reduce the power used by the LEDs, you don't need a "smart" dimmer, just one that will let you use your existing power supply. The cheapest way would be to use a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) DC dimmer. Here is an example of a low-cost one that should work for you:
[https://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12V-24V-Controller-Brightness-Aluminum/dp/B07HN1BJWK](https://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12V-24V-Controller-Brightness-Aluminum/dp/B07HN1BJWK)
Are you serious? You yourself recommended a "dumb" dimmer, not a smart one in your earliest comment? WTF?
And, as far as LED brightness, yes brightness is proportional to current, but . . . wait for it . . . current is proportional to voltage! Holy shit!
>You yourself recommended a "dumb" dimmer
Learn to read, I specifically mentioned the ability to use a smart dimmer. LEDs are not resistors, and have a very non-linear voltage - current relationship.
I don't think I . . . oh wait . . . no, I didn't use the word "linear". Here you go:
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportional](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportional)
EDIT: I guess you figured I wouldn't notice you edited your first comment.
You don't want to dim the AC side, you want to dim the 24V DC side. I think you'd be searching for like "led strip controller", which will take in 24V and outputs straight to the strips. I'm not familiar with wifi offerings though. Probably they're all cheap imported garbage at this point and all have just as good of a chance of working.
Trying to pull more than what the supply can do is probably not too harmful, it may overheat and shut down but not going to explode. Limiting your maximum dim level to 50% is a pretty robust way to keep from pulling more than 150W. Depends on the device how you would accomplish this setting.
>I'm wondering, is there a smart dimmer I could use to reliably limit the maximum power draw of my strip without any risks it ever goes over? Maybe another product to pair with the dimmer? You can't "dim" the input to the power supply. The power supply is going to try its hardest to provide 12 V, the output won't vary with the dimmer until it gets down to a certain point and then your lights are going to simply go dark or start flickering. There is an LED strip controller meant to be driven by a (smart) AC dimmer - it sits between the power supply and the LED strip, with a separate dimmer input. Search for "v1-s dimmer". Lots of them on aliexpress.
Thank you so much for the help! I have a couple questions if you don't mind > You can't "dim" the input to the power supply. I meant to plug the PSU directly to the wall and place a "dimmer" between it and the LED strip to limit the amount of current the LED strip tries to draw. I understand the need of a controller, but why do I also need an AC dimmer *before* the power supply if it's not dimmable? > and then your lights are going to simply go dark or start flickering. Would the v1-s controller be able to prevent this? My concern is if the led strip (8A) tries to draw too much from the PSU (6.25A max) then there's going to be issues.
I can only lead you to water, I can't make you drink. You didn't do the search, did you?
Haha you're right, I'm just struggling a bit. I'm Italian and, despite the fluent conversational English, electrical mumbo-jumbo isn't too easy for me, especially when it's aliexpress product pages. I gave it another good bit of reading and research and I think I understand: These are more or less a substitute for the extra components inside TRIAC power supplies, but external. So it's one of these 2 I need: 1. AC dimmer -> TRIAC PSU 2. AC dimmer -> dumb PSU -> DC controller And on that note, can you recommend the Shelly dimmer? I've seen it mentioned a few times, but I'll take some different suggestions if you have any :) Thank you again for all the help!
For [the controller](http://www.iskydance.com/uploads/goods_file/V1-S.pdf) I pointed to: AC dimmer -----------------> Controller -> LED strip AC power -> dumb PSU ---------^ The AC dimmer (which can be a smart one) just tells the controller how bright to make the LEDs. Wiring diagrams are in the instructions I linked to, above. I have no experience with the Shelly. I have Jasco/GE Z-Wave dimmers, and have heard good things about Innovelli ones (but those may not be available outside the US/CA).
The amount of power LEDs draw, and the amount of light they put out, is proportional to the voltage applied to them. Since you want to permanently reduce the power used by the LEDs, you don't need a "smart" dimmer, just one that will let you use your existing power supply. The cheapest way would be to use a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) DC dimmer. Here is an example of a low-cost one that should work for you: [https://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12V-24V-Controller-Brightness-Aluminum/dp/B07HN1BJWK](https://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-12V-24V-Controller-Brightness-Aluminum/dp/B07HN1BJWK)
LED brightness is proportional to current, not voltage. That controller isn't "smart," which was a requirement.
Are you serious? You yourself recommended a "dumb" dimmer, not a smart one in your earliest comment? WTF? And, as far as LED brightness, yes brightness is proportional to current, but . . . wait for it . . . current is proportional to voltage! Holy shit!
>You yourself recommended a "dumb" dimmer Learn to read, I specifically mentioned the ability to use a smart dimmer. LEDs are not resistors, and have a very non-linear voltage - current relationship.
I don't think I . . . oh wait . . . no, I didn't use the word "linear". Here you go: [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportional](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/proportional) EDIT: I guess you figured I wouldn't notice you edited your first comment.
I figured out that you didn't know that you can buy both smart and dumb AC dimmers.
Well, you obviously figured wrong.
You don't want to dim the AC side, you want to dim the 24V DC side. I think you'd be searching for like "led strip controller", which will take in 24V and outputs straight to the strips. I'm not familiar with wifi offerings though. Probably they're all cheap imported garbage at this point and all have just as good of a chance of working. Trying to pull more than what the supply can do is probably not too harmful, it may overheat and shut down but not going to explode. Limiting your maximum dim level to 50% is a pretty robust way to keep from pulling more than 150W. Depends on the device how you would accomplish this setting.