No, but I think maybe we are talking at cross purposes. I thought you meant that the LEDs didn't light at all (whereas normally they light up and then extinguish as POST contiinues) but after reading your post again I understand what you meant. You wanted them on as the "Christmas tree effect". For that yes you do need to use DES.
The 24 phase is split into 12 and 12 in sequential turns and if one were to fail the other would take over.