LED Strip Wiring/Power/Amp Question

quintrex4

Novice Member
Joined
Nov 10, 2013
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Age
30
Hi Guys,

I'm putting up some 12v RGB 5050 LED Strips for part of my Christmas display. The total run length is 14metres. It would be run something like this:

Power Supply > Wire to First LED Strip (10m) > 5m of LED Strip > Joiner > 50cm of LED Strip > Joiner > 2.5m of LED Strip > 4m Joiner > 3m of LED Strip > Joiner > 3m of LED Strip

There are 150 LEDs per 5 meters, which equals 3 amps (according to the specs) so all up I should have 8.4 Amps of Lighting (14/5=2.8, 2.8*3=8.4). The wire I am using is Cat 5.

First question, does this mean the minimum size of transformer should be 9 Amps?

(I have a power supply that is 12v AC, 200VA, 16.7 amps. I'd assume LED's run on DC though. This isn't specified on the strips.)

Second Question, the Strips came with RGB controllers, model number IR44B, this is all I know about them. To run this length, would I need an RGB amplifier?

Thanks!

* My second option would be to run them with two separate power supplies, would these calculations be correct?

Section 1: 8m

3/5 = 0.6

0.6*8 = 4.8 amps

12 Volts, 4.8 amps

Section 2: 6m

3/5 = 0.6

0.6*6 = 3.6 amps

12 Volts, 3.6 Amps
 
Last edited:
All your calculations are spot on. You'll need a 10A 12V DC supply - your 12V AC supply is not suitable.
The controller is only good for 10m of 30/m strip so you will need an RGB Amplifier - you could use seperate psu's (5A each) for the controller and amplifier if it was easier.

You will get some serious dimming using CAT-5 cable - even if you double up all the 8 wires into 4. Ideally, use 6A 0.75mm2 csa (cross-sectional area) cable for the long 10m run, 3A 0.5mm2 csa minimum. CAT-5 is 0.2mm2 csa and rated at only 0.6A per conductor.
 
Last edited:

The latest video from AVForums

Is 4K Blu-ray Worth It?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom