Driving a single 3W LED

[Drake122]

Hey guys!

Its a noobie question again Do I need some super complicated circuitry to drive a single 3W LED from 12V ? I know I could use a power resistor that wouldn't fry over the higher current, but that wastes a lot of energy. So, what is the simplest circuit to drive that thing?

[SeanB]

Simplest is to order some 3W led driver boards on line, and use them. There are plenty that are tiny and have all the required circuitry on there, the input bridge rectifier ( so it will work on AC or DC supply), the buck converter and the current sensing, all in a small $1 part. I bought a couple of them as part of another order, and they are about the easiest solution as a plug in part.