Running Two LED Kits? Here’s Why You Need the 60W Driver
You know what’s better than one light? TWO. Don’t take our word for it, let your eyes feast on these bathrooms.
Whether you are doing two small niches or a niche and a vanity we get the question all the time of why do we need to upgrade the driver if the standard has enough power?
For the nerds out there like us who want to know The Why.
Each of our 1-meter LED strips draws about 11 watts, so two strips together add up to roughly 22 watts, well under the 30W limit on our standard driver. Sounds fine, right? Unfortunately, watts only tell part of the story.
Power = Voltage × Current (W = V × A). Our system runs at 24V, which means each strip also draws around 0.6–0.7 amps of current. Hook up a second strip, and now you’re pulling close to 1.25 amps total, right at the edge of what a 30W driver can handle.
But here’s the real problem: when LEDs first turn on, they spike. For a split second, they pull more current than their steady-state rating while all the diodes fire up. That inrush current causes your 30W driver to think it’s being overloaded — so it shuts itself off to protect itself. Then it restarts. Then it shuts off again.
The result? Your lights blink. Over and over. Even though “on paper” you’re within spec.
The fix is simple: our 60W Upgraded Driver gives you the headroom to handle both strips comfortably, including that startup current spike. It’s the same driver we include when you order the two-niche kit, and it’s the only driver we recommend any time two LED strips are involved. |
Call or text us at (817) 841-9839 if you have any questions. We’re happy to help make sure your install goes perfectly.
Tom & The Thunder Bunny Team⚡
