Cheap LEDs online

[tguidry1]

Does anyone know where you can get cheap LEDs online or is it just as cheap to get them at local places

[JBullard]

A cheap LED is a cheap LED.

I only buy full wave, sealed LEDs.

The strings I bought in 2007 are just as good today as the ones I bought last Jan during the presale from CDI.

Just my opinion. No need to spend extra money building snubbers to make them dim properly, and sealed means no rusted pins that destroy them.

EDIT: Full Wave LEDs also do not have the irritating flicker (to me) that the local retail stores sell.

[scubado]

Define what you are looking for, led light strings or individual leds?

[tguidry1]

led light strings...using only 16 channels due to limited budget and want to get the most out of only 16 channels

[aurickle]

Bear in mind that not only do the cheaper LED's typically flicker because they're not full wave, they also cannot be dimmed. Attempting to dim them will result in them staying full strength until they suddenly switch off at a random point during the ramp. (Vice versa if ramping up.)

So they won't look very good AND you will be very limited in what you can do with them in your show. So if you're wanting to get the most out of your 16 channels, buy smart; not cheap.

[stanward]

I too was one who fell for the cheap LED strings from the big box stores, only to find out they didn't last 2 weeks in the weather (the LED leads rusted out).

I then went out and purchased the full wave and fully sealed LED strings from LED Holiday Lighting and CDI.

[scubado]

Wally World and Menards are the best places for prices and variety. Some people have gotten some great deals at Lowes. You have to constantly shop your local stores for sales or pricing mistakes. Some guys on here have gotten steals with coupons too. I've had good luck using these lights so far.

[Jim Saul]

aurickle wrote:

Bear in mind that not only do the cheaper LED's typically flicker because they're not full wave, they also cannot be dimmed. Attempting to dim them will result in them staying full strength until they suddenly switch off at a random point during the ramp. (Vice versa if ramping up.)

So they won't look very good AND you will be very limited in what you can do with them in your show. So if you're wanting to get the most out of your 16 channels, buy smart; not cheap.

I've used a few dozen Walmart ones for 3 years now, still working and dimming without issue.
They are not full wave and they do the annoying blinking thing, specially noticeable if you have a few sets close together.

[scubado]

I haven't had much problem with fading either. The flicker isn't really that noticable anyway sinse I'm flashing them already.

BUT, when I view other LOR user's video's, those with full wave lights really stand out! I'm hoping to order a case of CDI's lights next year to see firsthand the difference.

[Dave Boros]

aurickle wrote:

Bear in mind that not only do the cheaper LED's typically flicker because they're not full wave, they also cannot be dimmed. Attempting to dim them will result in them staying full strength until they suddenly switch off at a random point during the ramp. (Vice versa if ramping up.)

So they won't look very good AND you will be very limited in what you can do with them in your show. So if you're wanting to get the most out of your 16 channels, buy smart; not cheap.

I didn't think of this till I read this post. Incans, are they dimable?

[LORi P]

Dave Boros wrote:

aurickle wrote:

Bear in mind that not only do the cheaper LED's typically flicker because they're not full wave, they also cannot be dimmed. Attempting to dim them will result in them staying full strength until they suddenly switch off at a random point during the ramp. (Vice versa if ramping up.)

So they won't look very good AND you will be very limited in what you can do with them in your show. So if you're wanting to get the most out of your 16 channels, buy smart; not cheap.

I didn't think of this till I read this post. Incans, are they dimable?

I think there are many people on here who have had good experiences with 1/2 wave LEDs. If I recall correctly jstorms used LEDs from Walmart in last years display and they looked great.

I too have big box store 1/2 wave LEDs. I put them side by side with incandescants and they faded exactly the same. Though I am told that if I had more LED strings on the same channel and/or if my fades were 5-10 seconds instead of the 2-3 seconds I did in my tests, that the fading would be worse.

So I built a bunch of snubbers and will use them to combat any problematic dimming.

There are people on here who swear by full wave and I probably will start buying those in the January pre-buys. But this time of year the full waves are expensive and lights at Big Lots, Walmart, Home Depot are where I get my lights.