Also keep in mind individual LEDs are best run on 5 volts. If you run two individual LEDs in series, you'll need 9 volts. Three in series requires 12 volts. If you connect individual LEDs to 9 or 12 volts you'll waste a lot of power. This gets dissipated as heat by the inline resistors.
The idea is to keep your voltage and current to a minimum to avoid wasting power and generating heat. I'd have a master power supply at 12 volts. Connect this to your CR boards (assuming that's what they require, it's been so many years now I can't recall). Then, add a step-down buck converter from 12 volts to 9 volts and run any LED strip off that. This reduces brightness, current draw, and maximizes the life of the LED strip. If you want to run individual LEDs, add another buck converter at 5 volts. This should keep everything as efficient as possible.
If you need to dim LED strip lights, that will require some more heavy-duty circuitry. You can use an off-the-shelf PWM dimmer but it will create flicker. You won't notice this but if you try to film the model the camera will pick it up. But, it's the easiest way to dim LED strip.
If you're on Facebook, check out my profile and go to Photos and then Albums. I posted a copy of an article I wrote on lighting a spaceship miniature for a sci-fi short film.
The idea is to keep your voltage and current to a minimum to avoid wasting power and generating heat. I'd have a master power supply at 12 volts. Connect this to your CR boards (assuming that's what they require, it's been so many years now I can't recall). Then, add a step-down buck converter from 12 volts to 9 volts and run any LED strip off that. This reduces brightness, current draw, and maximizes the life of the LED strip. If you want to run individual LEDs, add another buck converter at 5 volts. This should keep everything as efficient as possible.
If you need to dim LED strip lights, that will require some more heavy-duty circuitry. You can use an off-the-shelf PWM dimmer but it will create flicker. You won't notice this but if you try to film the model the camera will pick it up. But, it's the easiest way to dim LED strip.
If you're on Facebook, check out my profile and go to Photos and then Albums. I posted a copy of an article I wrote on lighting a spaceship miniature for a sci-fi short film.
Charles Adams | www.StarshipBuilder.com | Follow me on Facebook
Author, MODEL DESIGN & BLUEPRINTING HANDBOOK, Volume 1 SECOND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE
Author, MODEL DESIGN & BLUEPRINTING HANDBOOK, Volume 1 SECOND EDITION NOW AVAILABLE