What should I use to power my MR16's

[Sloanhaus]

I have no idea how to power these things, I bought the MR16's and the MR16 board and parts.

I read that someone bought a power supply, but do I need one if I run them off of the MR16 Board.

What if I want to just turn the MR16 on to see how brite it is, can I just attach it to some SPT1 and hook it up to my wall, or could I take a bulb out of one of my led sets and stick the wires into the socket?

Thanks

Sloan

[vairmoose]

Plugging directly into the wall will give you the wrong kind of blinky flashy....  and probably will release a large puff of magic smoke..... 

recommend that you use a 12 volt wall wart if you want to use the MR16.   

Larry

[Ron]

Larry is right, you need a 12v power supply to run your MR16 lights from the MR16 controller.  That is what the 12v inputs are for on the right side of the MR16 board.

Ron

[WWNF911]

Here's what RJ recommended for me. Worked great and should be PLENTY of power.

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EDIT - Just re-read your post Brad.

Sorry, If you're just wanting to see how bright etc,.. the wallwart idea is the way to go. Remember these are polarized. If you hook it up and see no light swap the leads. Wouldn't leave them hooked up backwards for long.

[wjgiles50]

I am using an old power supply from a computer to power mine.  There is plenty of howtos on the web for working with these.  You might even have one around the house or know someone who does.

[REM]

What I want to know is what most people do with the power supplies to protect them from the elements.  My front yard is very big and I want to use it to illuminate the trees way out from the house.  I could make an enclosure I guess out of treated wood but maybe someone has a better idea?

--Ron

[wbuehler]

I use the same case that we use for the Lynx Express.
That case for me is big enough to fit the old computer power supply that I am using.

Bill

[REM]

Interesting Bill. With the power supply alone or with the MR-16 board in there too?  Got any photos of that?

[wbuehler]

Interesting Bill. With the power supply alone or with the MR-16 board in there too?  Got any photos of that?

Just the power supply alone.  I can take a photo when I get home this evening.

Bill

[WWNF911]

If it were me I'd use a watertight container under that tree tastefully disguised as a Christmas present.

[Sloanhaus]

Here's what RJ recommended for me. Worked great and should be PLENTY of power.

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EDIT - Just re-read your post Brad.

Sorry, If you're just wanting to see how bright etc,.. the wallwart idea is the way to go. Remember these are polarized. If you hook it up and see no light swap the leads. Wouldn't leave them hooked up backwards for long.

OK, I bought this and now I need some help. It has like 20 wires coming out of the back of it. What do I use to power my board, It seems that all the connectors have black and yellow, and that some have red and orange wires. Any help would be great.

Brad

[WWNF911]

Hey Brad,

Here's what I used. I'll check here on the board though and see. There's a link here somewhere.

Leon

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[WWNF911]

Here's a GIF of the pinout of the ATX power supply.

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[Sloanhaus]

So is there any way for me to connect the power supply to the MR16 board w/o building another board?

Thanks

Brad

[Aussiephil]

Brad

Of course, just use the pinout for the ATX supply to determine correct wires to use and connect  a switch up to turn on the supply.

Black will generally be earth/ground

Yellow should be the 12v lines and the 4pin connectors will usually have the most 12v wires.

All the adapter board does is make this simple without having to worry about cutting and splicing wiring

Cheers
Phil