Need help with DYI LED project

LostInTheDark · Jan 4, 2017

I took apart my old Ocean Revive S026 and tried to use the parts to make a six foot long LED bar to compliment my T5s. I wired all the LEDs together in 2 groups of 24 just as the lights were. I checked them with a pair of "AA" batteries and everything looked great. When I tried to hook up the power supplies the lights continuously flicker as if they are shorting. It happens exactly the same on both sets of 24. I checked all the connections and can't see any shorts. Is there something I am missing? I have a "-" and a"+" going from the power supply to the lights. No ground. The LEDs are hooked up in parallel, + to + and - to - . Seems simple enough. What am I missing?

tgp4274 · Jan 4, 2017

should be in series...
+ - + - + - etc

LostInTheDark · Jan 4, 2017

Is parallel not an option? I read it should work either way.

tgp4274 · Jan 4, 2017

when you run parallel to volts stay the same and it uses more amps
series drops volts but keeps amps the same
if the leds are rated for 12v and your running 36v and wired in parallel then you trying to push 36v thru them
three 12v leds in series would require a 36v system..
follow?? try rewireing it again in series..
start at power + to led + then led- to next led + etc till you get to number of leds as before
last led- should go to power -
I've never seen them ran in parallel.......

LostInTheDark · Jan 4, 2017

Thanks Makes sense. The reason I ran in Parallel was because I thought they had to be + to + and - to -. If it goes in series I didn't its + to -. I'll give it a try.