question on LED landscape lights

[Jeff Ivers]

Can someone educate me on an issue? I always thought a diode only allowed current flow in one direction, thus had a positive and a negative end. I thought LED lights were a version of a diode. So, I have a bunch of Malibu landscape lights around the property running from Malibu timer/transformers. I understand the output of these transformers is 12 vac which seems to be verified by my multimeter that reads voltage on the ac voltage scale but zero of the dc voltage scale. I wanted to add some spotlights, so bought some really inexpensive LED spotlights that say they work on 12 vdc. I hooked up a couple of them to my Malibu transformers and they come on and appear to work fine. What gives? Any problem with continuing to use these?

 

[nehog]

LEDs have a maximum reverse voltage and you should not exceed that voltage. The reverse voltage limit is typically about 1.5 times the forward voltage--so about five volts for a three volt LED.

In your case you should be fine. But if you worried about it, you could add a power diode to limit the reverse voltage.

 

[Citation]

The led lights have rectifier circuits and can handle the AC input. Not an issue. I have the same thing.

Also, if they are true DC only then they are probably strobing at 60 hz. They would be on at 50% output but most of the time your eyes wouldn't notice there strobing.

 

[taumac]

I swapped out my halogen bulbs to led replacements on all my landscape lights. No issues and now only use one transformer for all my lights.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

Thank you, everyone, for the clarifications.