Quote Originally Posted by mx4intx
Ya I didnt say it was going to be easy but it makes me go hmmm.

If you just must try it, here are some tips:

You need to hang a MOV, (Metal oxine varistor, and a small capacitor across the input, use a diode bridge with 4 more caps for rectification, a large electrolytic cap for DC filtering along with a tantalum cap for HF noise on the output. And a series inductor across the electrolytic to smooth the "sawtooth" ripple.

The inductor adds yet more problems at high current, so now you need "steering diodes to sink inductive spikes.
All that helps, but is still a risky supply for non-linear loads.

That can be addressed with an AC line regulator,
They are not inexpensive.

And without pre-regulation and transient suppression,
the complexity increases as does the parts count.

I found it less expensive and less worrisome to just do it right the first time.
(well, in my case, the second time)

A DC current limit supply is the best way to drive leds.
YMCV*, but I doubt it. (*Your Mileage Could vary. You might be a very lucky person.)

Do it any way you wish, of course, but keep in mind, once that "magic smoke" gets out da leds are toast.

Aloha,
Weezard