IKEA LED light strips wired directly into 12V - need resistor?

[airdreamers]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

Outwater Plastics has a lot of LED units.

What a great source of supplies, Whew!! Just browsing their catalog is a kick!

[Papou]

Originally Posted by AStreamJake

Thanks for your help, Michel. Great information.

I forget few things in my last communication about the material required:

Cable Stranded wire 18AWG (Quantity : 24/36 inches)
NTE 25-Ft. 600V 18AWG Stranded Wire - 105°C (White) : Hookup wire | RadioShack.com

LED Indicator (Quantity : 1)
Note: Be careful to have enough space in the depth of your plastic box to handle the LED indicator length located in the box cover.
Red LED with Holder : LED Holders | RadioShack.com

Spade Terminal (Quantity : 4)
#8 Insulated Spade Terminals (16-Pack) : Spade Terminals | RadioShack.com

Butt Connector (Quantity : 4)
Before and after your box for easy connection to your LED strip and to power (trailer) source
INSTALL BAY RNBC Butt Connector (Red 22-18 gauge) : Wiring & installation | RadioShack.com

About the strain relief that I use (that I cannot find any trace in Radio Shack web site) you will find below a picture of them (Quantity: 2 required)

Happy hobbling!
Best regards
Michel

[Papou]

I put the wrong Hyperlink on the Spade terminal. Here is the good one:
Spade Terminal (Quantity : 4)
#8 Insulated Spade Terminals (16-Pack) : Spade Terminals | RadioShack.com

Sorry,
Michel

[photomikey2]

I have been using these LED lights in the back of my work van for 3-4 years now, they seem to handle 12V no problem and when the vehicle is running and the alternator is turning they seem to handle 14V no problem.

[AStreamJake]

Originally Posted by photomikey

I have been using these LED lights in the back of my work van for 3-4 years now, they seem to handle 12V no problem and when the vehicle is running and the alternator is turning they seem to handle 14V no problem.

Thanks. That's good to know. At the low cost of these lights, if I get three years out of them, I'll be happy.

[Forrest]

I've been using these lights for several months now without diode, just directly off 12+/- volt feed and have had no problems, except that when set on automatic they either turn on and don't turn off or they won't turn on. That not too much of a problem for me though, since I've wired them to a more convenient switch (the switch on the light itself is so small that it's hard to use). However! I love the output and color of the light, which is as warm as an incandescent.