12V DC is the voltage of low-current automation: sensors and readers, CCTV cameras, interposing relays, RFID readers, LED indication and cabinet backlighting. This is not consumer home LED — it powers the auxiliary circuits in a panel, alongside PLCs on 24 V and the power section. Keep the physics in mind: at the same power, 12 V draws twice the current of 24 V, so the wire to the load must be thicker and the line shorter; which voltage to build the circuit on is explained well in the guide which voltage to choose for a power supply. The catalog carries 12V switch-mode DC supplies from two makers: Mean Well (HDR, MDR, DR, NDR, LRS) and Delta Electronics (DRP, PMT), in two form factors: compact DIN-rail units and enclosed cases for higher currents. All models share a universal 85–264 V input plus overload, short-circuit and over-temperature protection.
Sizing 12V by power
The logic is the same as on other voltages, with a current caveat: at 12 V the amperage is double that of 24 V at the same power, so add a 20–30 % margin and check the wire gauge right away. A few sensors or indication is 15–20 W (Mean Well HDR-15-12, 1.25 A, from UAH 485). CCTV cameras or a bank of relays is 50–75 W (Mean Well LRS-75-12, 6 A, from UAH 596). A loaded low-current node is 100 W (Mean Well LRS-100-12, 8.5 A, from UAH 654).
| Model | Current | Power | Mounting | From, UAH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Well HDR-15-12 | 1.25 A | 15 W | DIN | 485 |
| Mean Well MDR-20-12 | 1.67 A | 20 W | DIN | 586 |
| Delta DRP012V030W1AZ | 2.5 A | 30 W | DIN | 1036 |
| Mean Well MDR-40-12 | 3.33 A | 40 W | DIN | 808 |
| Mean Well LRS-50-12 | 4.2 A | 50 W | enclosed | 540 |
| Mean Well HDR-60-12 | 4.5 A | 54 W | DIN | 858 |
| Mean Well MDR-60-12 | 5.0 A | 60 W | DIN | 868 |
| Mean Well LRS-75-12 | 6.0 A | 72 W | enclosed | 596 |
| Mean Well NDR-75-12 | 6.3 A | 75.6 W | DIN | 1060 |
| Mean Well LRS-100-12 | 8.5 A | 102 W | enclosed | 654 |
DIN vs enclosed
Anything that mounts in a row with breakers goes on the DIN rail — compact and tidy, the standard for low-current circuits in a panel. Enclosed cases (Mean Well LRS, Delta PMT) win when you need high current at the lowest cost per watt: at 12 V that is especially noticeable, because the amperage is high and the LRS series gives the cheapest watt. For example, LRS-100-12 (102 W, 8.5 A) costs less than DIN units of the same power. If the node is small and lives in a row with the rest of the automation, take DIN (HDR, MDR); if you need a dense high-power case, take the enclosed LRS or Delta PMT.
What to check before you buy
Current margin — at least 20–30 % over the calculated draw; at 12 V the current is high, so the margin matters more. Wire gauge — the key 12 V trait: at twice the current of 24 V the wire to the load must be thicker, and keep the line short to avoid voltage drop. Mounting type — DIN rail for a standard cabinet, enclosed for high-power or remote nodes. PFC at 12 V — only the Mean Well MDR-100-12 (90 W) has it; the rest of the line has no active correction, and for low-current circuits it is usually not needed anyway. Unsure about the configuration — send us your load list and we will size a unit within 1 business day. Genuine products with warranty, shipped from stock. How to calculate cabinet power — see the guide how to choose a power supply for an automation cabinet. The full DC-source category lives on the power supplies page.
