I know that LED's hooked to mains is a forbidden topic, and I am not planning to try it (anymore). I was just wondering why LED projects always seem to have rectifiers to supply DC to the LED. Since LED's are diodes and diodes are used to make rectifiers, I figured why not just make a rectifier out of LED's and voila! LED lamp. I have seen some projects that use a lot of LED's in a cluster as a light bulb replacement or flashlight, but they all use DC converters to supply the LED's. One project I saw took a socket from a regular bulb and replaced it with a few LED's and a AC to DC power supply. I thought that if you jammed in more LED's instead of a power supply you could get more light out of it. Is such a thing really that unsafe?

 

I was just wondering why LED projects always seem to have rectifiers to supply DC to the LED. Since LED's are diodes and diodes are used to make rectifiers, I figured why not just make a rectifier out of LED's and voila! LED lamp.

The short answer is because the reverse breakdown voltage of LEDs is low compared to silicon rectifier diodes. They would be destroyed.

 

Hello,

According to the newly published ToS, the mains powerd leds are not allowed:
Terms of Service

Quote:
6. Restricted topics. The following topics are regularly raised however are considered “off-topic” at all times and will results in Your thread being closed without question:

• Any kind of over-unity devices and systems
• Automotive modifications
• Devices designed to electrocute or shock another person
• LEDs to mains
• Phone jammers
• Rail guns and high-energy projectile devices
• Transformer-less power supplies

Bertus

When you try it again, it will result in a ban