Led series or parralel wiring?

[Gracias]

I have been bouncing back and forth between series and parallel wiring a new fixture and was wondering if I can get some advice/experiences on wiring up a new fixture?

Thanks

 

[Gracias]

any advice on best direction to be would be appreciated -

 

[qy7400]

This will depend on how many LEDs you're planning and which drivers.

 

[lnevo]

If you do parallel you will need to wire in fuses. Serial is more straightforward and easier imo.

 

[Paul B]

If you do parallel you will need to wire in fuses. Serial is more straightforward and easier imo.

I think you mean resistors.

 

[lnevo]

No i meant fuses. If you lose an led while wired in series the circuit is broken. If you lose an led while wired in parallel you suddenly double the current to the remaining string, and can cause damage to your leds (potentially depending on drivers and how much your driving them).

 

[Gracias]

If you do parallel you will need to wire in fuses. Serial is more straightforward and easier imo.

Thanks for reply, leave it to my RA pal to give me the reply.:wink1: I decided to go the series route afterall.

 

[Gracias]

This will depend on how many LEDs you're planning and which drivers.

Thanks for response but I was asking for experiences on each type of wiring rather than how many leds a particular driver could handle by going with parallel wiring vs series wiring but thanks for your response.

 

[Gracias]

Hey Paul and Inevo - tremendous respect for both of you and in this case looks like your both right - see link....

http://reefledlights.com/wiring-diagrams/resistor-and-fuse-close-up/

This photo is series wiring but you get the point.

 

[Paul B]

Cool, but in that diagram they are wired in series with a fuse at the end of each string.
I never put any fuses in the parallel hook up because whatever driver or power supply I use will only supply what that particular circuit of LEDs use, I use a resistor to limit the current across each LED in series, but you can put in fuses if you like.

 

[smoq]

IMO definitely series. It's much easier and faster to do. I've had a DIY lights over my reef for over 4 years and no single LED died on me (not saying it can't happen though). If one LED is broken and whole string shuts down you just have to find the bad one with a multimeter or a 3V tester and replace it. Running parallel makes sense when you have a circuit board with resistors already soldered in, with DIY approach it's too much of a hassle in my opinion.

 

[qy7400]

Hey Paul and Inevo - tremendous respect for both of you and in this case looks like your both right - see link....

http://reefledlights.com/wiring-diagrams/resistor-and-fuse-close-up/

This photo is series wiring but you get the point.

IIRC that pic is from 2 parallel strings of 12 LEDs in series, this is why I mentioned depends on the driver. A typical Meanwell ELN-60 will run 12 to 14 LEDs is series, it will run 2 parallel strings and this is where the resistor and fuse come in; a Meanwell HLG driver can run up to 6 parallel strings of 12 and this is where the fuse becomes critical should one string fail you can burn up all 72 LEDs.

http://reefledlights.com/wiring-diagrams/

 

[lnevo]

And this comment in that article...

Whenever you use a driver with a current over 1000mA its always a good idea yo use a 1 amp quick blow fuse in series with each string of 12 LEDS. Also ensure your driver is unplugged when connecting it to your LEDs. Failure to do so my damage your LEDs

Oh and this part too...

The use of fuses is primarily for insurance. In our listed circuit the Mean Well 60-48D is putting out a measured 850mA per string. If one LED fails open or an open happens in a solder joint 850mA x 2 or 1700mA will rush through the other string of LEDs causing damage in seconds. If you have a 1000mA fuse this will blow saving you LEDs.