LEDs can just have a current limiting resistor added and connected to 12volts. I have bought some of these and they are good for replacing interior lights and use appx 1/10 of the power. Here is a
site for resistor calculation. Using the calc program you can see the Endor Star would need a whopper of the resister, couple ballast resisters would be needed.
So with high powered LEDs it best to use a current limiting device. You could build your own with an LM3403 chip and few other parts, but they have a driver already built and in a "potted" package. There are several models and types
click here I bought the BuckPuck
3021 and the harness with a dimmer pot. This driver also has a 5v ref for drivin other items like a and can accept input for a strobe feature too. An LED driver gives you better efficiency over a resistor and better control. Basically if you running high power LEDs you really need a driver to control them. You can get a basic driver for 14.99. The driver with all the bells and whistles will cost you $17.99 plus $4.99 for the dimming wiring harness.
For you first project you might not what to use those Endor stars as they are not cheap at
$17.49 each plus a driver your looking at $40 bucks for one light.
Do you really need all that much light? I think the 55 watt lights are a bit overkill when you running 2 on the front bumper, 2 behind the front tires, 2 in front of the rear tires and 2 on the rear bumper.
Since this is my first build of high power LED devices. I opted for some smaller
cheaper LEDS. These are less than $5 each. and put out 3 times the light of the
Roundeyes LEDs. But since I will use a driver, vs a resistor I sure these will be closer to 5x the light. (No I ain't got a lumen meter ) just my eyes
I might get a few of
these as there are twice as bright and still under $8 bucks each.
Here a pic of a rigs with the cheaper P4 LED,s and these are low on the lumen's scale when compared to the Endor Star. Which means even lower amp draw. I will be build these in this rightup and 3 of these lights will pull 1 amp of current!!
