led resistors

[goutoe]

I have been replacing my 12 volt fluorescent tubes with 5 meter 5050 led strips it is great lighting but I think the leds are running hotter than they should, do I need to install a resistor in line even though there are resistors built in to the strip? I know you need resistors on led turn signals, I had the same problem with led puck lights in the kitchen of the bus I installed a dimmer on them and that seemed to take care of that issue. any Ideas? what am I doing wrong! >>>> John.

[Iceni John]

One thing I noticed for nominal "12V" LEDs is all their different operating voltage ratings.   Some are rated at just 12 volts, some are from 9 to 14.8, some are 11 to 14.8, some are only up to 14.2, and there may be other rated voltages out there as well.   What is the rated voltage of your LED lights, and what is your bus's actual DC voltage?   Also, the latter will vary depending on whether you have the generator on or are feeding directly off only the house batteries.

I wouldn't have thought that this should make any difference, but who knows?   When I buy LEDs I make sure to only get those rated to at least 14.8 volts because my solar charge controllers can output up to 14.7 volts in Absorb mode.

John 

[goutoe]

Good point John, my voltage does vary some with my converter on, runs over 15 volts sometimes, maybe I should start there, i got the lights from ebay came from china so no directions. John.

[Dave5Cs]

Here is the converter I used and you put all of them on it. That way when my charger kicks in on the inverter and charges up the 12 volt system at 14.8 or even the 24v system it can't go above the 14.8 volts that they can handle.
Dave5Cs

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-DC-Converter-Regulator-24V-Step-Down-to-12V-20A-240W-/140654732253?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20bface3dd