Both of you are right. I have goofed around with LEDs since they first come out. They only need about 3.3 volts and a miniscule current. The strip I have is about 20 inches long with the LEDs and a dropping resistor visible under an epoxy. The strip itself is about 1/4" thick by about 1/2" wide. So the electronics is very small. Given the life of LEDs if they last 10 years I will be happy. The only thing I can think that might take them out is a power surge. But for around $17 a 20 light strip they are WAY cheaper that anything else I can find around here.