[quickthrowman]

I strongly suggest not buying any electronic components from Amazon, but 5VDC LED light strings should be OK.

Do not roll the dice on the power supply, buy a UL listed one. If you buy some shitty Chinese PSU and it lights your house on fire, your homeowners insurance will deny the claim.

This one puts out 30w @ 5VDC and is also UL listed: https://poliledsigns.com/shop/poli-5vdc-30w-waterproof-led-p...

Even though it says ‘waterproof’, it needs to be installed in an enclosure, NEMA 3R rated enclosure if it’s installed outdoors.

[harrall]

This is some major myth. Crack open your insurance policy — it’s not going to say “UL listed appliances only” or anything like that. Insurance also covers mistakes.

But you should get a good power supply anyway because the hassle is not worth it.

[quickthrowman]

My bad on perpetuating the myth regarding homeowner’s insurance and UL listing, I appreciate the correction.

You’d need to read what the policy has to say about uninspected electrical work performed by or at the direction of the homeowner. If you use a hardwired power supply, non-UL/cUL equipment won’t pass an inspection [0]. You can bypass the inspection by using a cord and plug 120V rectifier which wouldn’t need to be UL listed since it wouldn’t need an inspection.

[0] NEC Section 110.3(c): https://up.codes/s/examination-identification-installation-u...

> 110.3 (C) Listing Product testing, evaluation, and listing (product certification) shall be performed by recognized qualified electrical testing laboratories and shall be in accordance with applicable product standards recognized as achieving equivalent and effective safety for equipment installed [1] to comply with this Code.

[1] ‘Equipment installed’ means hardwired.

[moregrist]

You might need permits, inspections, and to worry about code if you’re permanently wiring this into your house electrical system. If you’re doing that, you’re probably well beyond asking about Christmas lights on HN.

[xattt]

ESA in Ontario, for example, allows you to do your own electrical work. Self-notification, I’m sure, is a CYA formality by them.

(1) https://esasafe.com/compliance/diy-electrical-work/

[thereticent]

Ah, good point. I was picturing this setup as hardwired.

[lukevp]

Do you have proof that claims are denied due to power supplies not rated correctly? That seems like fear mongering otherwise. Your insurance still covers your house even if you make mistakes on construction or repair yourself, I can’t imagine them denying a claim over a purchased part that you have a good faith reason to believe it will function correctly.

Also why do you specifically call out Chinese parts as being shitty? Where do you think the majority of electronics come from? This feels like xenophobia. The power supply can be cheap and crappy and come from anywhere. Or it can be great and come from anywhere. That one you linked, by the way - Made in China.

[quickthrowman]

I clarified in a sibling comment, I was incorrect about UL listing being required for homeowner’s insurance but UL listing (or testing by another nationally recognized test lab) is required to pass an inspection if you’re hardwiring a piece of equipment, and fires caused by unpermitted DIY electrical work are not covered by insurance.

Amazon does not have audited supply chains. The power supply I linked is sold by Sylvania, it has a warranty, and it’s UL listed, not sold on Amazon by Xfrtteg or Psygwist. You can have quality goods manufactured in China, it’s Amazon that I don’t trust.

[xattt]

> Also why do you specifically call out Chinese parts as being shitty? Where do you think the majority of electronics come from?

OP is making a distinction between directly-sourced parts, versus those commissioned by a Western or Western-affiliated company that’s gone through the “trouble” of a CSA/UL certification. One is built to a price point, one is built to limit liability.

[thereticent]

My understanding is that insurance will not cover issues caused by DIY work if you did not have it permitted and inspected properly afterward. I sincerely doubt that an insurance company would be required to cover losses due to DIY electronics using parts that have not been properly safety rated. I'm surprised you think the opposite is obvious. Could just be my US perspective.

[sokoloff]

I fully expect that if I built (or bought) a power supply, plugged it into the wall, and it caught fire due to my own negligence (unintentional), that the resulting losses to the structure would be covered. (I'm in the US.) It would seem no different than if I built a fire in the fireplace that caused the issue, had a 3D printer catch fire, or had a grease fire cause the issue.

[KPGv2]

> My understanding is that insurance will not cover issues caused by DIY work if you did not have it permitted and inspected properly afterward.

I would be shocked if that's true, considering here in Texas you don't need a permit or inspection to do DIY work on your own house.