Hi ppl,

I'm new here and I didn't see an introduction page, so I'll introduce myself here . I'm bart and I'm new to electronics. I want to experiment with LED lighting in my house. I've got some questions and I hope there are some people out here who could help me out.

I have the common 5m LED strip 5050 rgb (300 LED SMD). I have a power supply with 12V 5A output (thus 60W, DC). I want to connect multiple strips to one of 13,7 meter. I wonder what power supply I need for this setup. Can I connect about 3 strips directly or will I run into trouble?

I want optimal light output with max lifespan.

These are the exact operating details:
PCB Black 5050 RGB 300 LED SMD strip
Ø Color: RGB（Colorful）
Ø Protection class IP60 (Non Waterproof)
Ø Operating voltage: 12V DC
Ø Operating current: 6A / 5 Meter
Ø LED quantity: 300 LED / 5 Meter
Ø Operating temperature: -20 to 50 °
Ø Viewing Angle: 120 °
Ø Life time:>50,000 hours
Ø Size: L500cm (5M) × W1.0cm x T0.25cm

With best regards,

Bart

 

U said you have 300led 5m strip rated at 5A @ 12VDC

So 1 strip is already fully loaded the supply.

To run 3 strips of 12V, 5 Amps you would need a 12V @ 15Amps rated supply.

Next is daisy chaining the Strips.It is tricky as the First chain will carry 10 to 15 Amps.
You need to find from the seller that how many strips can be connected one after the other.
If the specs say you can daisy chain 2 strips that is 600Led total then it means the conductor in the LED strip can only carry 10Amps MAX.

The other was to not to daisy chain but operate 3 strips separately and connect each strip to power supply 12V separately.
The supply should be capable of supplying 15 Amps

PS: there is a thread " Who are you? "

 

Hello,

I just answered you here:
http://www.elektronicaforum.nl/led-strips-5050-rgb-14meter-t16765.html

Bertus

 

Hey Bertus, is that German ?

 

It's Dutch . He already answered the question: I need 14,4 watt per meter. Thus 13,7 mtr = 197,28 Watt. That's about 16,44A 12V power supply. Isn't that too high for the chain?

 

You need to measure the exact current per 5 Meter.
I know it will be lower than that.

Multiply that current by the no. of chains and you will have the total current needed.

 

What i mean is this: if I have 3 strips (5+5+3,7 meter) at 16,44Ampere. The first strip gets 16,44 ampere, the next gets 10,44Ampere, and the last gets 4,44Ampere.

Isn't that too much for the first led's, won't it burn or get destroyed?

 

Hello,

It can happen that the carrier of the leds may burn at that high current.
At the dutch site I gave him the advice that is given at the led site.
It uses some kind of "amplifiers" that can couple the powersupply to the next led strip.

Bertus

 

Did not I tell u in the second post about that.

 

Besides the LED's will be OK but you might fry the conductors in the strip.